Going back to college.

[Dawn Patrol]

I know most of you don't care, but after being forced to leave school because of medical reasons over two years ago, I'm quitting my job and heading back to school to finish my degree, and I'm pumped! The drive from Buffalo to Warren, vt every weekend is going to suck, but it'll be worth it.

[advres]

Good for you bro! I took 3 years off and decided to go back and get my degree. It was the best thing I ever did. It sure was hard getting back into the routine of studying and writing papers though.

Good luck!

[skibuminwyo]

good luck mang!

[Blurreds_left_nut]

I know most of you don't care, but after being forced to leave school because of medical reasons over two years ago, I'm quitting my job and heading back to school to finish my degree, and I'm pumped! The drive from Buffalo to Warren, vt every weekend is going to suck, but it'll be worth it.

You will look back in 10 -15 years and realize it was one of the better decisions you made in your life. If you want a decent job, you need a degree. I understand jobs exist for those w/o a degree (ie carpenter, plumber, union jobs).

[gimpy]

college is overrated. it teaches you how to think but unless you're going for a masters or phD, it doesn't do that much anymore in the job market. just my 2 cents

[MOHSHSIHd]

college is overrated. it teaches you how to think but unless you're going for a masters or phD, it doesn't do that much anymore in the job market. just my 2 cents

so your saying I should quit school then?

[Brock Landers]

I know most of you don't care, but after being forced to leave school because of medical reasons over two years ago, I'm quitting my job and heading back to school to finish my degree, and I'm pumped! The drive from Buffalo to Warren, vt every weekend is going to suck, but it'll be worth it.

Congrats, good decision. Once its over youll be almostbutnotquite set up for working out exactly what you want to do with your future.



But WHY THE FUCK BUFFALO? Transfer your creds and hit UVM.

[Nik]

I just finished my first semester after over two years off, and i think that it was my best yet. Going back is a great idea. Good luck man-

[Dawn Patrol]

Thanks guys! I'm going back to Buffalo because I'm about 17 credits from my EE degree there, and I'd take a big hit transferring. After working in the engineering field for 2.5 years, I don't think sitting in a cubicle is for me, so I'm going clear my head over the next semester while I get my degree, and try to figure out what I want to do with my life. Seems like a much bigger decision now than it did when I was 17....

[Dawn Patrol]

I'll be driving back to Warren to ski every weekend (hopefully), so if any mags on the way need a ride I'd be happy to help out.

[Blurreds_left_nut]

college is overrated. it teaches you how to think but unless you're going for a masters or phD, it doesn't do that much anymore in the job market. just my 2 cents

good luck finding a job making over $25000/yr. Our company will not even interview anybody w/o a 4 year degree

[4matic]

good luck finding a job making over $25000/yr. Our company will not even interview anybody w/o a 4 year degree

I 2nd that. When I got hired by a major software company twenty years ago they said they only hire college grads...because they could get them and it made the screeening process easier. Although they weren't looking for any particular degree. Just a degree because they wanted a diverse work force in that respect.

I hire corporate jobs now and while I can't always get 4 year degrees it's the first thing I screen for.

[Telenater]

college is overrated. it teaches you how to think but unless you're going for a masters or phD, it doesn't do that much anymore in the job market. just my 2 cents

That depends. If you have significant skills (carpentry, mechanic, plumbing) there are fairly good jobs out there for those without an AA/BA/BS. Withing a corporate or buisness environment, there isn't much beyond the very entry level jobs that you can get into without a degree. Even many of the jobs that used to be largely blue collar are starting to require a significant educational base (electricians, machining, automechanics) that may not be a "college education" but are certainly comparable to a 2 year degree.

But, as another that has gone back to school after a 6 year hiatus after completing my BS, school is good, and learning is better.

[hutash]

Smart move going back to school. A BS isn't what it used to be, but it is still a dam site better than no degree. People who say you don't need a degree usually don't have one. You can do very well with out one, but it is easier with it. If for no other reason it show employers you are willing to make the effort to finish things.

Of course, I biased too, with two BS degrees and Doctorate; some of us spent too much time in school.

[Long duc dong]

B.S. is far better than no degree. Not having a degree will really limit you in many fields.

[Grange]

You'd have a very hard time even getting an interview in the environmental field without at BS. Now the difference between two years experience with a BS and MS without experience is negligble from what I've seen.

[Smiley]

My bachelors has done shit for me...I've only been able to score sales jobs. While I can't complain about the money, sales is not for me, but I had no choice and needed a job quick to pay bills. Now my resume says "sales" and no one wants to hire me for anything else. I graduated with a B average, but have been passed on several times for people with no experience and a masters and also for people with no degree at all but lots of experience.

A word of advice: KNOW what you want to do and what you can do before you finish up otherwise you will have lots of bills and a job that you hate. You cannot expect to get a job doing forestry with a finance degree. You need to be specific.

[gimpy]

i totally understand and agree w/ y'all that most all high $$$ intro jobs require a degree to even get your foot in the door. and thats the big step in getting a good corporate/academic job. just getting your foot in the door. i've got a bs and had a few jobs straight out of college that put it to use. but, in all those jobs i really didn't see a bright future w/o going back to school which i had no interest in doing. all my higher ups had phD's or at least a masters degree and made it pretty clear that one was needed to make the big bucks. there were some better job options if i was willing to move to the midwest or the big city, but i wasn't willing to do that. prolly also relevant here is that i graduated in 1992 when there was a serious glut of college graduates looking for jobs which i believe has changed since then. so, i'm not saying that a degree is useless cause it will help you get that interview, but it ends there. useless-no, overrated- yes.


what you really need to ask yourself what it is you want out of your life. do you want to live in a big city or some other shithole town in east bumfuck, making big bucks and only getting to visit the mtns on weekends and vacations?? or do you want to do whatever job is neccessary to be exactly where you want to be and doing what you love to do??? nobody starts off in mtn towns making big $$$, but they gain experience and connections and earn a reputation if they are a stand up hard working guy. and w/ those things, you will succeed in making it happen in the mtns. yeah, i work my ass off doing physical labor that is not so fun at times. but, i make $40-50,000 a year, i live exactly where i want to live, i ski 100+ days a year, and i have few regrets.

sorry bout the long and prolly somewhat self-righteous rant but thats my take on college. most people (like myself) do it because they've been conditioned to think that thats what they're supposed to do w/ their life and i'm just here to say that its just not true. since this is a forum full of dedicated hard-core skiers, then i assume that most would want to live in the mtns. sooo, how many mtn town jobs (that aren't already filled by lifers) require a degree???

"said i'm all right (he's all right), said i'm all right (he's all right), said i'm all right now....................................'cause i got a degree"

[uglymoney]

college is overrated. it teaches you how to think but unless you're going for a masters or phD, it doesn't do that much anymore in the job market. just my 2 cents

The worst advice I've ever read. A good friend of mine has a bullshit four year degree from a major state U in "Leisure Studies". She has done well because that degree gets her resume in the door and with her steeze that is all she needs.

Without a degree, many, many doors are slammed shut. Success is still very possible, but its a tougher path - especially if you want the freedoms and flexibility that most white collar jobs offer...

edit...for acknowledgement of the general pattern of thought in gimpy's follow up post rising above the level of horrible advice.

[TBS]

DP, the skills you gain in your EE program will put you in an excellent position for any technical job. Very smart to go back.

My $0.05 worth - get the degree, find the best EE job (not necessarily highest comp) you can in a large co., with the idea you will be there two years. During that period, look around at other jobs in the company. Suck up to the managers in those depts and get some guidance. Use that knowledge to decide what you want to do when you grow up - maybe even go back to school again.

[MOHSHSIHd]

Im getting a fucking BA in film......not gonna do me ANY good im sure. I should get my BFA but that would mean being here alot longer.


Maybe when I am self sufficient someday I will go back and get my BFA just for the hell of it.......fuck I should get my MFA but im a horrible student. If all my classes were hands-on I would have at least a 3.8.....I just suck at reading and writing.

[dallread]

definitely good decision to go back to school. Although I'm having trouble finding a job anywehre and I got a descent GPA and a degree in econ. Hopefully I find something over the next couple of months and hopefully somewhere in ski country. But good luck with your second crack at it. It will be tough but worth it.

[intheways]

Living in a mountain town opens a whole shitload of weird situations. I busted my ass in undergrad in a shithole area, and then went to grad school in a kickass area, getting lots of pow. Now that I'm about to graduate, there are a whole new set of questions. I've got a job at the U for at least a few years, but when that runs out, I don't know what I'll do. I've got loans up the ass. If I would have saved my pennies rather than constantly buying new shit, I would have been in a better situation. At least my wife has a real job with insurance.

It just seems like such an individual thing. Good luck!

[UTpowder]

Great decision to go back. If you don't where wll you be in 5-10 years. Prolly doing the same job making the same money. Why bust your ass for somebody else to make money off your hard work. Best to get the skills and that piece of paper that says pay up I know my shit. If you don't do it 10 years from now you'll sure wish you did. If money is a problem find somewhere to work that will pay for your school. I'm finishing up my doctorate and between my work paying some and a scholarship I make money on the whole thing.

[Steepdeepnlong]

Education is one thing they cannot take away from you. Ever.