How many of you have gone to college? Was it worth it?

[Mosaud1998]

I am 22 years old currently working in the automotive industry (selling cars) and also attending my local community college. I am thinking about transferring over to a 4-year university after the spring semester is over (5/2021) and pursuing a Bachelors's degree in information and decision science. With what's going on, I am not sure if a college education really is worth all that money, effort, or stress. The 4-year university will roughly cost me $31k for two years and that's not including rent and other fees. I am not too confident about how the job market will look in 3 years or how the economy will be because of the pandemic. I am kind of stuck between keeping my sales job and potentially moving into a management position after a few years or quitting, going to the 4-year university, and risk not getting a job after graduating. I really enjoy my job but my parents (Asian parents) want me to go to school and get an education even though I made a decent amount of money my first year at Kia (made around $55k). I know $55k isn't a lot of money if I had a family, mortgage, and whatnot but for a 22 year old, that's a lot IMO. I am the youngest salesperson there behind the Finance manager that is 25 years old and makes about $80k-$100k/year (depending on how many extra things he sells like warranty, protection, and maintenance packages). I am hearing he might get promoted to the General Sales Manager position since the original GSM got fired.

[henrylee]

It really depends on what a 4 year degree with give you? If it will open more doors for higher paying job opportunities, then go for it. If the answer is no and you're getting a degree "just to get a degree" then my answer would be no.

[Peter5498]

Currently working on mine at a very slow pace (3-4 classes a year) while in the military. 2 classes down and I could have learned more in one day than I have in 18 weeks. While my situation is a lot different from yours, I look at it as a piece of paper to get my foot in the door, like a lot of other people.
For you, if you look at your current job as a career and they'll pay you more with a degree, go for it. I've heard that a few jobs also will help out on tuition.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by Peter5498

Currently working on mine at a very slow pace (3-4 classes a year) while in the military. 2 classes down and I could have learned more in one day than I have in 18 weeks. While my situation is a lot different from yours, I look at it as a piece of paper to get my foot in the door, like a lot of other people.
For you, if you look at your current job as a career and they'll pay you more with a degree, go for it. I've heard that a few jobs also will help out on tuition.

Honestly, I might go to college to get my bachelor's degree and get back into the automotive industry. But, instead of selling cars, I'll be the one in charge of managing inventory and what not.

[Peter5498]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

Honestly, I might go to college to get my bachelor's degree and get back into the automotive industry. But, instead of selling cars, I'll be the one in charge of managing inventory and what not.

Yeah that's great. Honestly if that's your long-term goal then definitely plan for it whether that's going to college or staying in your current position and getting promotions.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by henrylee

It really depends on what a 4 year degree with give you? If it will open more doors for higher paying job opportunities, then go for it. If the answer is no and you're getting a degree "just to get a degree" then my answer would be no.

This.

[Mosaud1998]

With the bachelor's degree, I am working towards, I can get an occupation in tons of things from Data analyst to Information systems manager. So, there's a broad array of jobs I can get with this degree.

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

With the degree I am getting, I can get an occupation in tons of things from Data analyst to Information systems manager. So, there's a broad array of jobs I can get with this degree.

Is this the Associates Degree you are working toward that will give u the positions listed above ?

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Is this the Associates Degree you are working toward that will give u the positions listed above ?

The bachelor's degree I am working towards will.

[MBM340]

Yes, and my mom always told me just get your undergrad degree because if anything it will open doors that you would not get into without.
May I suggest the reverse view on this topic? What do you WANT to do and does that require a degree? That is the way to look at it if you ask me.

Just my .02

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by MBM340

Yes, and my mom always told me just get your undergrad degree because if anything it will open doors that you would not get into without.
May I suggest the reverse view on this topic? What do you WANT to do and does that require a degree? That is the way to look at it if you ask me.

Just my .02

I would rather stay at the dealership and see how far I can go in 2-4 years. I am also planning on getting into real estate and selling/flipping houses with my friend whos been flipping houses for a few years with his dad now.

[overcoil]

I would be worried that in 15 or 20 years (comes around quicker than what a 22 years old imagines) that the way cars are sold won't be very lucrative for sales people.
The automobile dealership experience has been pretty stable for near a century and that many be its shelf-life. I do believe personal transport will be even more entrenched particularly after this pandemic. But selling dealer add ons, and negotiating profit - I'm not sure that's the future.

[hubbahubba]

Originally Posted by henrylee

It really depends on what a 4 year degree with give you? If it will open more doors for higher paying job opportunities, then go for it. If the answer is no and you're getting a degree "just to get a degree" then my answer would be no.

Originally Posted by MBM340

Yes, and my mom always told me just get your undergrad degree because if anything it will open doors that you would not get into without.
May I suggest the reverse view on this topic? What do you WANT to do and does that require a degree? That is the way to look at it if you ask me.

Just my .02

Both of these. It really comes down to what you want to do, and if it requires a degree to get there. I have found that good people go far whether they have a degree or not in a lot of situations. If you love what you do, your company treats you well, stick it out and see where it goes. If you are the right guy, they will train you for whatever you want to do, or what they need you to do. Most important thing is that you like what you do, and it isn't a chore to get out of bed and go to work.

[MBM340]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

I would rather stay at the dealership and see how far I can go in 2-4 years. I am also planning on getting into real estate and selling/flipping houses with my friend whos been flipping houses for a few years with his dad now.

I suggest taking a few real estate classes on the side then to start working toward that and look into some different folks who also flip houses...and talk to them about what is good and bad about doing it. Learn what you can before you step into the deep end.

[muniz_ri]

There is value both to you and to society overall of having an educated populace, pragmatism aside. The saying, "we don't know what we don't know" is true. And ignorance is dangerous. I'm with your parents...get the education.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by muniz_ri

There is value both to you and to society overall of having an educated populace, pragmatism aside. The saying, "we don't know what we don't know" is true. And ignorance is dangerous. I'm with your parents...get the education.

Agreed.


OP, become educated. It shows discipline. It shows that you can complete a job. And it is, literally, the ONLY thing that can't be taken away from you.

[stilem235]

I did not. Went into the military for computers. Got out after 4 years at the start of y2k. College didn’t matter In my career field back then. Now I would say it is a requirement

[BMW F22]

It is pretty much a requirement these days. A 4 year degree is equivalent to HS and many companies look at graduate degrees nowadays. Some industries and roles don’t require a degree and you can make it big with experience. However, if you want to change industries or start in corporate, virtually all of them ask for a 4 year degree. Here’s a thought: see if your work will pay for your college education, or at least part of it. Then if you decide to go elsewhere, see if that company will pay for grad school. I paid for my grad school but that’s because the timing wasn’t right. I went before I got into companies that would have paid for it. I have some friends/colleagues that worked FT jobs while going to school at night (also what I did) and the company reimbursed them for it. That way you get a nice degree and save a bunch of money.

[chowser51]

I have a bachelor of science in physics with minors in mathematics and computer science. took me five years.

i've been a city police officer for 22 years. If I skipped college, I could be retired by now. lol

If I went into the military like originally planned, I'd also be retired by now.

871 days to retirement.

[joshmkb24]

I have a degree thats pretty worthless. Like stated earlier, I'm 1 of the ones who got 1 just to have one. I'm in sales/marketing and I knew there was nothing I'd get from college that would benefit me, but I also didn't want to have doors shut for not having a degree so I did it.

I feel I'm fairly successful and honestly there was no benefit from the degree besides the whole no doors shut and having an excuse at homecoming to get really drunk haha

[MisterF80M3]

Biochem degree, which I never used once.

But I was able to land multiple jobs with a degree that is unrelated to the field.

[bosstones]

Personal thoughts:
College is not for everyone just as trades aren't for everyone. Both provide ample opportunity for success. Some people are just better wired for one over the other. Based on you jr college, are you able to manage your time effectively?

Perhaps most importantly, be sure to consider:
1. What will your major buy you (ie what can you do with it and how does it fit in with YOUR plans for the future)?
2. What earning potential does your major have?
3. What is your projected debt (eg student loans/loans) coming out of college? You'll want to weigh that vs your reasonably expected income post-graduation.