College for all - right?

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by Tom

For what it's worth, since I graduated college and started pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, not a single prospective employer has ever expressed the slightest interest in my education. Experience and (especially) recommendations are all that they have been interested in.

Ahh but you do have a degree on your resume. Unfortunatley a lot of the time without that line on your resume it's tossed and no one bothers to look at your experience. And now with computer programs you can be deleted without a person ever actually even looking at it.

I don't have a degree. And it has been an issue. I'm not sure what sort of degree would prepare anyone to be an Assistant. Do they have classes in picking up cleaning, the fastest way to get to the airport in a hurry, how to calm down angry clients who's calls your boss can't be bothered to return? It's all stuff you learn on the fly. And you can't teach the patience of Job.

If you look at ads for entry level admins and receptionists a vast majority will have degree requirements.

To be honest I cheat a bit on my resume (something I learned from a former boss who also didn't have a degree). I did go to college for two years and I do have an AA from a Community College as well. I list the AA and then have "Attended" San Jose State with the major and the dates. I do not list a degree but a lot of people don't look that closely. And it is truthful I did go - I just kept changing my major. Then I had to get a job to pay for it all which left me with no time to finish it. Unfortunatley with online forms I can't get away with this as much. If I have to fill in actual degree information and graduation date then I have to leave it blank - which means I'm auto-tossed.

Maddy's future high school has just had a major cheating scandal. Grades were changed, tests were stolen. Mostly because of this huge pressure for EVERYONE to get into the RIGHT college. Not every kid can go to an ivy league school. But it's very much looked down upon to even attend Community College. At my high school a large group did go to college, a great portion of that to community college first because of costs. But there were other alternatives, mechanics, military, beauty school or just working your way up from courtsey clerk at the supermarket to an assistant manger.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

In my limited experience, it seemed that the degree got me my first job, and experience every other job after that.

[Gemini Cricket]

I thought college was one of the best experiences of my life. I couldn't tell you what I studied or if I learned a lot, but it was an important step for me. I learned independence, travelled a great deal and made a ton of new friends. I wished I was out to everyone in college, I would have gotten laid more but oh well.
I think everyone should attempt college, because I learned a lot about life while I was there.


Oh, and people should go to college away from where they were brought up. See things from the other side of the fence.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Oh, and people should go to college away from where they were brought up. See things from the other side of the fence.

One of my biggest regrets was not going away to college. I lived at home, worked for my Dad, and the University was a 12 minute drive away......

Just call me Mr. Independent

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Oh, and people should go to college away from where they were brought up. See things from the other side of the fence.

Not everyone can afford that these days - out-of-state tuition was completely impossible for me (but I went to a very good school, two hours away from my home town. It had a very different 'feel,' though, so it may as well have been across the planet.)

[Kevy Baby]

Going to school in San Luis Obispo was life changing in many ways.

[BarTopDancer]

I regret not [being able to] go away to college and getting that experience.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by 3894

I am from an academic family and I am married to a newly-retired professor and former chair.

Sounds like a Monty Python bit.

[Kevy Baby]

On a separate note, I have always been an advocate of getting GE (General Education) requirements out of the way (possibly getting an AA) at a community college and then transferring in to your four-year institution for your major stuff.

1. It is much less expensive
2. It (usually) makes it much easier to get into your preferred university (I know at Cal Poly, they put a higher priority on CC transfers)
3. Generally speaking, GE classes are the ones that always give people trouble at the University level.
4. You (often) transfer in as a Junior or close to it. This sometimes gives you a little priority in class selection, etc. (see #3).
5. You sometimes meet your wife (or husband)*

I am not sure what the downside would be - if someone has feedback on this, I am curious to know.





* Susan and I met at Fullerton College

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

I regret not [being able to] go away to college and getting that experience.

I too regret you not going away.



Oh wait...