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  1. #41
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    Quote Originally Posted by muto View Post
    Uh what? If I do well in my first two years I can earn scholarships to four year colleges, and I don't plan on wasting general study elective credits, as I plan on taking a lot of math classes up to physics. I'm also going to try and find a job working on campus, and do the work and study program.
    I think he's saying that it's a waste of money to go for a general studies degree when you could take time off research and read up on something you would care for and immediately find out what you need to take to get there. That way, you know that you have direction instead of wandering around through classes hoping that something is appealing. It also depends on what type of associates you do since requirements are different and not everything you take will transfer to it.

  2. #42
    The Lightbringer Shakadam's Avatar
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    I'd never go to university/college if I had to pay tens of thousands for it, no way. Not worth it.
    It is strange how different financing can be for Uni's around the world :O. I pay ~120€ a year in student union membership fees, that's it. Meanwhile I get state funded study allowance that pays for my apartment rent and most of my other living costs every month.

    Also:
    Mr Thomas now owes $130,000 in student loans. He is paying 8.25% interest on the money he borrowed to finance his law school tuition and living expenses, having deferred his student loan payments while he set up his own law practice, which he runs out of his home.
    8.25% interest? What in the actual fuck?
    My bank offers me a student loan with 2.1% total yearly interest currently.

  3. #43
    Quote Originally Posted by brickerz View Post
    This probably the worst advice. Going into Gen Studies will get you a hefty bill(a lot of colleges have reduced aid for gen studies/undeclared), a paper that means less than your diploma, and no usable skills. Take a year or two off, work somewhere, get a library card and start reading non-fiction. You'll make money and learn more than wasting time and money taking Gen Studies.
    It may differ from institution to institution, but a community college is a perfect place for that. I can't see why anyone would do that at a university, but a CC is cheap enough to justify academic exploration.

  4. #44
    Quote Originally Posted by Slummish View Post
    I have two undergrad degrees in the fine arts and a master's degree in philosophy. You don't need to explain their importance to me. However, I clearly needed to explain the importance of strong academics to the OP... which is what I was doing.
    I think you're ready for the Internet Debate Team, gogogogo... As a side note, I do not need to you educate me on the importance of education, keep your condescending remarks to yourself, thank you.

  5. #45
    Merely a Setback PACOX's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Annapolis View Post
    I think people should just have an idea of what they want to do when they go to college. It used to be a pretty nice place to inexpensively party and in the mean time earn a degree that will guarantee you more money later. As others have said that just isn't the case anymore. It still can be extremely financially beneficial, but that isn't as guaranteed as it used to be for everyone. It is way too expensive of a place to just party too. There are plenty of cheaper ways to party. Just treat it with the same thought you'd give to anything that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars and partly decides your future.
    At lot decision 18 year old kids coming out of high school have to make, they have no business making. Think about it, you're fresh out of high school making a decision that potentially decides the course of your life. You are to sign yourself into a life of debt at the stroke of a pen. And technically most 18 year old son are dirt poor and at the mercy of their parents who don't have to financially support them. The system is designed to make you fail. It's amazing that si many make it out sane.

    With that said, I love college, not even being sarcastic. But it can sucks, a lot.

  6. #46
    3 years BSc + 2 years MSc*....about 10-12k (total cost, no housing, no debt) Socialism...it's awful.


    *University ranked 84th worldwide (in 2012-13) by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

  7. #47
    Quote Originally Posted by Shakadam View Post
    I'd never go to university/college if I had to pay tens of thousands for it, no way. Not worth it.
    Well, it surely is still worth it, as long as you're picking a reasonably decent major. Consider this:



    ---------- Post added 2012-12-11 at 07:58 PM ----------

    Quote Originally Posted by phenix View Post
    3 years BSc*, 2 years MSc*....about 10-12k (total cost, no housing, no debt) Socialism...it's awful.


    *University ranked 84th worldwide (in 2012-13) by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
    I'm not really sure what this has to do with socialism (at least compared to the quasi-socialized, quasi-privatized US system). I went to school in the United States, graduated with a Ph.D., and had ~$15K in student loans.
    Last edited by Spectral; 2012-12-12 at 12:59 AM.

  8. #48
    Quote Originally Posted by Spectral View Post

    I'm not really sure what this has to do with socialism (at least compared to the quasi-socialized, quasi-privatized US system). I went to school in the United States, graduated with a Ph.D., and had ~$15K in student loans.
    Thats 15k in loans...how much did it cost you total? Im not saying socialism is the solution (or the problem)...im mostly showing that the cost for 'quality' education is nuts in the US.

  9. #49
    Quote Originally Posted by phenix View Post
    Thats 15k in loans...how much did it cost you total? Im not saying socialism is the solution (or the problem)...im mostly showing that the cost for 'quality' education is nuts in the US.
    It cost me $15K. I never paid anything out of pocket for education.

    To be clear, that's partly because of direct government aid, subsidies to colleges, and scholarships. That's "socialism" in a colloquial sense, but not in any meaningful way.

  10. #50
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    Quote Originally Posted by Toxigen View Post
    Here's a tip for high school and early college students:

    Go into a trade. I don't care if its carpentry, electrician, plumber, machine programming (CNC, wire EDM, etc), whatever...the number of kids becoming apprentices is shrinking every year. Starting pay in these fields will continue to increase. You'll never have to worry about not having a job, and one day (with enough ambition and a little bit of capital), you can work for yourself.

    Go to college for 4+ years and study liberal arts, good fucking luck to you.

    This is very true. Starting wages for a CNCer are around the £12 an hour mark. Thats pretty damm high, and it keeps getting higher.

  11. #51
    The issue isn't with majoring in humanities or social sciences. The problem is what people expect to do for work after college, and that flies across the board in a lot of ways. You can be successful with virtually any degree, but you have to be willing to work at it AFTER college.

    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_1...loyment-rates/

    If you look at that list, there are *plenty* of technically oriented degrees with higher unemployment rates than some humanities and social sciences. Even with HISTORY, only US History is on that list.

  12. #52
    What I also find funny within this thread are the posters who say, "Well I didn't pay for my education, the government paid for it." The problem with that is that the government still has to pull the funds for your education from somewhere. Do you think your government just prints money for your education? Nothing, absolutely NOTHING is free. Someone, somewhere must still foot the bill.

  13. #53
    Quote Originally Posted by Netherfall View Post
    I think he's saying that it's a waste of money to go for a general studies degree when you could take time off research and read up on something you would care for and immediately find out what you need to take to get there. That way, you know that you have direction instead of wandering around through classes hoping that something is appealing. It also depends on what type of associates you do since requirements are different and not everything you take will transfer to it.
    Ya I am, I'm going to take chemistry, math, and geology classes.

  14. #54
    Quote Originally Posted by Dhurn View Post
    With your military tuition do you know if it limits what courses you're able to take on their dime? I only ask because I knew a guy in the Air National Guard who got his school paid for, but had to either major in Electrical Engineering or Criminal Justice so as to develop the skills he would need for his post, just curious if this is a regular thing or a case by case basis.
    Sorry, was away. I'm out now, so I'm using the Chapter 33 (I think, lol) Post 9/11 GI bill. I can choose any major I wish and they will pay up to 24 credit hours worth of courses in full - the only exception are courses that don't apply to your degree in any way. It covers 36 months (which is 4 years including the summer break - but you can push through it all in 1 go if you wanted). Additionally, it pays up to 1000 dollars for books a year, depending on your credit hours. Finally, E-5 with dependents BAH tax free, which is 1300 in my area. Not a bad deal getting out, esp since you can get 2 years of Unemployment payments (and by going to school have no work search requirements) for being prior military.
    Last edited by NoRest4Wicked; 2012-12-12 at 03:27 AM.

  15. #55
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rimrot View Post
    This is a very good article for you to consider as you're trying to decide not only which college should I attend, what should I major in but how am I going to pay for my education and ensure that my education costs don't end up having a negative impact on my financial stability post graduation.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20663550

    I have a BA in History with a focus on early colonial America, my choice of degrees was large in part in my wanting to experience college in a way that made partying easy and getting decent grade easy. I'd chosen economics and moved to aerospace engineering and finally history, because frankly history required very little effort and didn't interfere with partying.

    The problem was that after I graduated I have no real job skills, I'd limited myself in the types of jobs in which I'd be able to use my degree but I'd had a fucking lot of fun in college. Then the problem with how do I pay for all that?

    I am all for a person seeking a career in doing something they enjoy and makes them happy but you can't expect others to have to bare the brunt of your poor academic choice when you can't pay for the loans because either you didn't plan well or you picked a career that doesn't pay well.

    Think before you leap..
    Wow. You are my twin!

    I double majored in History and Classics. I worked full time at a pharmacy during high school/ college worked there over 6 years. I had decent grades and great references. What i didnt have was job experience of a really useful degree- to me at least.
    I had a really hard time finding a job. I was planning on going to law school but I have since changed my mind and am finishing prerequisites for another bachelors one that is in nursing.

    in the mean time i worked at a semi-dead end office job, I was just let go- no fault of my own

  16. #56
    Quote Originally Posted by Rimrot View Post
    What I also find funny within this thread are the posters who say, "Well I didn't pay for my education, the government paid for it." The problem with that is that the government still has to pull the funds for your education from somewhere. Do you think your government just prints money for your education? Nothing, absolutely NOTHING is free. Someone, somewhere must still foot the bill.
    Indeed, and when someone, somewhere pays for the education of the younger generation, that younger generation is then better able to pay for the education of succeeding generations, and so on.

  17. #57
    Quote Originally Posted by Rimrot View Post
    This is a very good article for you to consider as you're trying to decide not only which college should I attend, what should I major in but how am I going to pay for my education and ensure that my education costs don't end up having a negative impact on my financial stability post graduation.



    I have a BA in History with a focus on early colonial America, my choice of degrees was large in part in my wanting to experience college in a way that made partying easy and getting decent grade easy. I'd chosen economics and moved to aerospace engineering and finally history, because frankly history required very little effort and didn't interfere with partying.

    The problem was that after I graduated I have no real job skills, I'd limited myself in the types of jobs in which I'd be able to use my degree but I'd had a fucking lot of fun in college. Then the problem with how do I pay for all that?

    I am all for a person seeking a career in doing something they enjoy and makes them happy but you can't expect others to have to bare the brunt of your poor academic choice when you can't pay for the loans because either you didn't plan well or you picked a career that doesn't pay well.

    Think before you leap..
    That is a complete mockery of my degree. You picked it because it was easy and you didn't feel doing work? Come on, you complain that you have no job skill. Maybe you should of thought ahead before looking like a moron. Trust me the degree isn't easy. If you actually want a good grade you actually have to read and participate. So next time you should think before you leap before you pick something to give time to party. If partying was that important you could just skipped your classes regardless of the major anyway. This is pretty much all your fault.

  18. #58
    Pandaren Monk
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    Quote Originally Posted by lordmatthias View Post
    I don't think it is necessarily a question of whether or not these fields are important, I believe most people would agree that they are. I believe the question is why so many people choose to go into those fields, and realistically how many people those fields can actually support.
    I think many people have a gross misunderstanding of the purpose of a Bachelor's degree. The major you choose--regardless of whether it's math, physics, history, etc--is going to be mostly irrelevant with respect to how well you do in the workplace. A BA or BSc is not "job training" that leads directly into a particular job. When I hire people, I don't give a shit about what they majored in. I only care 1) that they finished, and 2) that they have good references and work history.

    Now, once you get beyond the BA/BSc level, the major you chose does tend to have more relevance as far as the jobs you can get. But if you're intended to stop after the Bachelor level, it really doesn't matter what you major in. The best bet is always to pursue what you're most passionate about, as it typically increases your likelihood of doing well and finishing the degree.

  19. #59
    I have payed for college in cash for 4 years and it sucks. I wont have a huge debt when I get out of school. On the other hand I can't go on dates, buy clothes, eat decent food or drive anywhere. I guess it's worth it in the end lol. The only problem is my major I am going for is extremely competitive. I do have backup plans to join the Navy if I don't find a job, they will pay for me to go to college again so I can choose a major that is useful :/

  20. #60
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spectral View Post
    Well, it surely is still worth it, as long as you're picking a reasonably decent major. Consider this:

    [COLOR="red"]
    And remember kids, not every major that sounds useless is. My BA in theatre may sound useless, until you look at what Union wages are for techs (20-40/hour minimum. Even more once you have a name as a designer)

    Yay for a crafting profession
    Theron/Bloodwatcher 2013!

    Quote Originally Posted by Alsompr View Post
    Teasing, misdirection. It's the opposite of a spoiler. People expect one thing? BAM! Another thing happens.

    I'm like M. Night fucking Shamylan.

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