College for all - right?

katiesue · 05-20-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

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 · 05-20-2008, 01:21 PM

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

Gemini Cricket · 05-20-2008, 02:22 PM

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 · 05-20-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

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 · 05-20-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

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.)

Gemini Cricket · 05-20-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

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.)

I hear ya. But my family couldn't even afford the plane ticket to send me away. But we made it work somehow. Scholarships, grants, loans and an award helped me go. I believe there's always a way if you want it bad enough.

I was the first in my family to go to college.

LSPoorEeyorick · 05-20-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I hear ya. But my family couldn't even afford the plane ticket to send me away. But we made it work somehow. Scholarships, grants, loans and an award helped me go. I believe there's always a way if you want it bad enough.

I was the first in my family to go to college.

I'm very glad you were able to. But there's a weird level of income where one is too wealthy to merit any financial aid, but one's public university tuition is a total drain on the parents' income. (I paid what I could, including the ONE loan I was eligible for, but it hardly made a dent on my University of Michigan tuition bill.)

But you know what? It had the best theater directing program in the country, so I was lucky it was in-state.

katiesue · 05-20-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

I'm very glad you were able to. But there's a weird level of income where one is too wealthy to merit any financial aid, but one's public university tuition is a total drain on the parents' income. (I paid what I could, including the ONE loan I was eligible for, but it hardly made a dent on my University of Michigan tuition bill.)

But you know what? It had the best theater directing program in the country, so I was lucky it was in-state.

I was in this position as well. Mostly because my flipin Mother would not quit claiming me on her income taxes. Anyway I didn't qualify for anything so I had to work to pay for it all.

€uroMeinke · 05-20-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

Not everyone can afford that these days

I don't know - I just went into an obscene amount of debt getting a degree in something that I knew wouldn't land me a job outside academia - I mean, what are they going to do reposes my education if I can't pay the loans?

3894 · 05-21-2008, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

I don't know - I just went into an obscene amount of debt getting a degree

This year, both Pomona and Stanford went automatically tuition-free if your parents make less than $100,000. (I think that was the figure.)

On the other hand, the very cool Antioch went out of business. It's touch economic times, even in higher ed.

05-20-2008, 01:21 PM	#2
DreadPirateRoberts Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,483	In my limited experience, it seemed that the degree got me my first job, and experience every other job after that.
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05-20-2008, 02:22 PM	#3
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	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.
	Submit to Quotes