-- Posted by BritchesAndHose at 9:40 pm on June 29, 2009 ..when a 4 year degree isn't even going to ensure you a good job...or a job at all. -- Posted by Niick at 9:41 pm on June 29, 2009 Because these people actually put effort into getting the job. Nothing is ever "ensured" you hav e to do the work to get that job yourself. -- Posted by matto at 9:41 pm on June 29, 2009 public university fo' meh but yeah, there's lots of financial aid available.  and there's lots of rich parents.  and there's always the education itself to consider :P -- Posted by The Falc0n at 9:42 pm on June 29, 2009 I realized this after freshman year. This is why I'm transferring home, and spending the cash on graduate school. -- Posted by no day but today at 9:47 pm on June 29, 2009 For me the word isn't so much "expensive" as it is "four-year school." I'm just after the college experience... you know, the whole going off to school when you're 18, living on your own for the first time, expereincing roommates and all that jazz. Going to a community college would be hella cheaper, and you don't need a big name school for your first two years, that's for sure. But I think you just miss out on so much as far as the non-education-related stuff goes. Just my two cents. -- Posted by NetParicite at 9:48 pm on June 29, 2009 i got it all paid for -- Posted by jamesish at 9:48 pm on June 29, 2009 That's the thing, with my degree I AM almost guaranteed a job.  I'm in Nursing school.  I have many options. -- Posted by Charolastra at 9:51 pm on June 29, 2009 I wish I went to a more inexpensive school actually. -- Posted by Porcelina at 9:52 pm on June 29, 2009 I go to a private school that costs $50,000 a year. I pay about $2,000 after all of the assistance I get. Going to a state school would actually cost me about $6,000 a year. Plus I feel pretty swanky when I get to tell people I go to some fancy, tiny liberal arts school. -- Posted by BritchesAndHose at 10:00 pm on June 29, 2009 Eh, I wouldn't pay a ton just to say I went somewhere fancy. Grad school of course, but not undergrad. -- Posted by TigressaLynnMae at 4:46 pm on June 30, 2009 ..when a 4 year degree isn't even going to ensure you a good job...or a job at all. Because it DOES guarantee you a job. A good job, at that. -- Posted by JennyColada at 3:54 am on July 1, 2009 Quote: from TigressaLynnMae at 4:46 pm on June 30, 2009 ..when a 4 year degree isn't even going to ensure you a good job...or a job at all. Because it DOES guarantee you a job. A good job, at that. Funny, since where I work just sponsered a job fair for out of work graduates of the business college from the University of Southern California (a highly acclaimed private university). Many of these out-of-work people had graduate degrees even. In this day and age, a college degree does not guarantee employment, especially GOOD employment. I am around college students every day, some graduating, and a common worry amongst them is not being able to find work after spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on their degrees. -- Posted by TigressaLynnMae at 11:51 am on July 1, 2009 In this day and age, a college degree does not guarantee employment, especially GOOD employment. It does in Louisiana. Without a college degree, an undergrad degree, you're fucked, pretty much. That's why they're pushing more and more for students to go to college, rather than go straight into some pathetic little job. I know not one graduate in the past four years who has been either worried about finding a job in their degree plan, nor who hasn't found a job. Every degree I've ever been in, or known someone in, guarantees job placement. Graduate school is pretty much null/unecessary these days. You can graduate uni, and go straight into a 40-50K job, within a few months of graduation. -- Posted by JennyColada at 1:45 pm on July 2, 2009 I don't really care if you don't know a single out of work person with a college degree (although, according to other posts of yours, omg the economy is SO bad and you are lucky to have a job working fast food!), because I do. So what you said is pretty much null and void. A degree is great. Get it if you want it. Some people love school and love accomplishments. But don't be so blind to think that only a piece of paper will have people running to hire you - it won't. Sure, having a degree may make getting jobs easier, but it still takes effort and work to find a decent job. -- Posted by TigressaLynnMae at 2:37 pm on July 2, 2009 So what you said is pretty much null and void. So, your way is the way to follow, then? I could say the same for your statements: "I don't care if you do know a single person out of work with a college degree, because I don't. So what you said is pretty much null and void." Sure, having a degree may make getting jobs easier, but it still takes effort and work to find a decent job. Of course it takes effort, but with a college degree, you're going to find a job, almost damned fucking guaranteed. Without a college degree, you're pretty much fucked, and stuck working fast food the rest of your life. But don't be so blind to think that only a piece of paper will have people running to hire you - it won't. Actually, in my case, in my state, it does. -- Posted by JennyColada at 12:56 am on July 3, 2009 So are you trying to tell me that I, without a college degree, am not making more money and have a job with better benefits than my college-degreed friends? You are saying "This happens always" I am telling you "I know people that that didn't happen." Something can't always happen and sometimes not happen at the same time, that's not scientifically not possible. I fail to see how you can even try to claim that my statement is not the way to follow? Sure, for a lot of people having a college degree makes finding employment easier, but you may want to look into why it's easier: connections (often people want to hire those that have something in common with them: a greek group, a school, or even what state they grew up in), life skills (which you can gain from college or out of school), personality skills (having to interact with teachers and students can help you gain interpersonal skills that would definitely be beneficial in interviews), etc. etc. Many skills that help someone get a job really don't attribute to their actual college degree, even though college may have helped them (I went to college for a few years and it was definitely a good experience, and something that I learned a lot from although I chose to not continue to earn my degree). When so many people attend college nowadays, to try to pretend that a college degree always garauntees a job is quite false. I know people who were promised jobs without college degrees and people with college degrees who are still (a year and a half after they walked with their diploma) unemployed. If you want to stick your fingers in your ears and say "nope. La de da. College degree = job" then that's fine, but it's that kind of thinking that leads a lot of people astray. They fail to do internships, they fail to get work experience, and they fail to take the time and means to understand HOW to use their diploma (instead of simply how to GET a diploma). -- Posted by TigressaLynnMae at 9:18 am on July 3, 2009 So are you trying to tell me that I, without a college degree, am not making more money and have a job with better benefits than my college-degreed friends? Did I say that? Did I speak those words? No. JC, stop putting words into other people's mouths. "This happens always" Again, did I say those words explicitly? No, love, I did not. But in my state, the chances of getting a job are pretty much 100% with a four year degree program. Without it, you're fucked. I fail to see how you can even try to claim that my statement is not the way to follow? Oh, I get it. Your highness, I did not realize your way was THE way. My fucking bad. Let me bow out gracefully...oh, but, wait. Neither of us are right, nor are neither of us wrong. we have only our personal experiences, and apparently, each state varies with job placement upon a degree, whether it be a high school diploma, or a college diploma. I know people who were promised jobs without college degrees and people with college degrees who are still (a year and a half And I know quite the opposite. But which of us is right? Neither. They fail to do internships, they fail to get work experience, and they fail to take the time and means to understand HOW to use their diploma You know what, honey? I'm not going to argue with someone who is so holy, that they can't see a varying opinion. You're the child with her fingers in her ears. Just b/c you've had a bad experience, doers not mean it's like that, everywhere. Grow up, and look around, honey. It happens. And it doesn't happen. You're ntiehr right, nor wrong. Nor am I either. But that's the differenc b/w you and I: I know how to state an opinion versuss a fact. -- Posted by TigressaLynnMae at 9:21 am on July 3, 2009 I know, based upon my own personal experience, these statements are true upon my state and colleges/their degrees: Without a college degree, you're not going to work anywhere but a simple part time experience. With a high school diploma, you're fucked. Good luck getting anything above 5 to 10K a year. With  a four year dgree program undr your belt, good luck! You have it better than anyone else. Yo'ure going to find jobs willing to pay you about 50-80K a year. With a four year degree program, you're almost 100% guaranteed job placement after graduation. People will start calling you, once you file resumes. You've got the diploma, they want to see you apply your skills. Internships and jobs await you. I've yet to see anyone in any degree program not get some sort of job applicable to their field of study. And I"ve been in college four years. I've seen 10 graduations. I've seen family, and friends, go without haste into jobs, three to four days after graduation. The wait period between graduation and a job seems to be a week to a couple months. That's it. You just have to get out there, put your resume out there, and show them your diploma. -- Posted by JennyColada at 1:42 pm on July 3, 2009 I think that where you live is quite lucky then. I work at a University, I've also worked in unemployment agencies as well as retail and restaurant work (which hires people pretty often, so I see a lot of people coming through my doors looking for work). I'm not trying to claim that having a degree means that you won't get a job, it just makes me sad when I see day after day so many disheartened graduates that feel like their degree has failed them. Is that their fault? Most absolutely, but it's enough to scream to me that the piece of paper won't erase their own faults in finding a job. You seem to be saying two different things: a degree guarantees a job nearly 100% and that you have to put forth effort to use your degree wisely. It can't be both. You can be nearly 100% guaranteed to find a job without a degree (as I have so often over and over again). It's about how you use your skills and about how you sell yourself. Not about what paper you have in your file. It sounds like you're putting too much effort on outside resources and not enough effort on the internal ones, which isn't a bad thing if life goes your way, but if life takes a turn and you need to solve a problem it can hinder your ability to understand where to look for the solution. I also don't understand why you need to sound so snippy all the time. It really takes the fun out of having a discussion. :/ -- Posted by TigressaLynnMae at 7:07 am on July 4, 2009 I also don't understand why you need to sound so snippy all the time. It really takes the fun out of having a discussion. :/ Because I'm tired of you LW idiots claiming "I'm right, you're wrong, na na na na." Or, "My way is THE way!". a degree guarantees a job nearly 100% and that you have to put forth effort to use your degree wisely Your point? It can't be both. Are you daft woman? Do you know how a degree program works in the end, AT ALL?' You can be nearly 100% guaranteed to find a job without a degree Oh, no you cannot. Not here. Not ever here. Like I said: Without a college degree, you are FUCKED. Emphasis on "FUCKED". Unless you enjoy working the register in the back drive through at Burger King. It's about how you use your skills and about how you sell yourself. Not about what paper you have in your file. Wrong. That piece of paper is EVERYTHING. Without it...well, I don't feel the need to repeat myself, you can just see my quotatoin above. Sure, applying yourself is one thing, but you cannot even think about going forward to apply what you have learned, without that piece of paper. Why d o you think such great emphasis is put onto college, now? They've got a new diploma for high school students. They pick their college major, now, early into their high school career. And they do it for a reason: To make sure they get into college, they go forward with their degree, and get a job.