Education is overrated.

[Ysh]

How many people actually work in a field related to their degree these days? I'm not so good at finding graphs to illustrate my point. It's interesting though.

Same number of men who acquire degree without having plan to leverage this paper for employment later. I have no issue to find good work related to my degree (computer science) after I graduate. My friends who have similar degree also find work easily, even with only moderate GPA (less than 3.0). I see and hear of many case in this industry where coworker is total incompetent also, so it will be easy to outcompete these men for jobs. Yet my other friends who take degree in more esoteric (''useless'') field have trouble to find good and relevant work.

For me, I take out six figures of United States American dollars in loan to get degree, and I think it was worth this price. So in my case I can not call this education to be overrated, even if sole purpose is make money. Though I can easily see why some men who are hornswoggled into debt to buy degree with poor wage and/or availability of labors will be cursing this system. Question is if this is a problem of players or a problem of game?

[MagicManICT]

Finishing my PhD, can basically confirm this. Engineers might be the exception, but in basically all cases, the Master's is where the earning potential is. PhD is about personal achievement, or making a contribution to the sum body of human knowledge.

You make me think of a line from one of Neil Stephenson's books. To paraphrase, "Those who can become scientists. Those who can't become engineers." (Cryptonomicon, Waterhouse Sr to Waterhouse Jr during some conversation or other or something like that... been a while since I've read it.)

I think the rule of thumb has become if you want to get ahead in your career and you plan to get it, get your Master's immediately instead of waiting. Only college professors can afford to get their Doctorate immediately after their masters (or those that have the "great idea" and get investors/backing for it). The rest of the world has to work off the rest of their debt first.

I have no issue to find good work related to my degree (computer science) after I graduate.

A large part of this is willing to do whatever it takes to get that job. Some of us weren't willing to do so for various reasons (like family and relocating). When you start competing for limited jobs, then it really does come to needing to have that "perfect resume."

[Ysh]

I have no issue to find good work related to my degree (computer science) after I graduate.

A large part of this is willing to do whatever it takes to get that job. Some of us weren't willing to do so for various reasons (like family and relocating). When you start competing for limited jobs, then it really does come to needing to have that "perfect resume."

And I am sure some of the men are not willing to work in this computer science field for one reason or one other. I do not mean to say that to do well you must take path that I have taken, only that there exist good paths to take. I think the problem is that the men do not consider his own path enough and will end up getting degree that proves worthless to him for securing life he will want. Or it is that he is unrealistic about what his degree will do for him, or how he will like to live his life. To get this degree is not a foolproof method to happiness nor success.

[kitsune121x]

college is no longer worth it you just going to get a nasty debt you cannot pay

[shubla]

college is no longer worth it you just going to get a nasty debt you cannot pay

Maybe in some bad countries, like united states.
In Finland it is free to study at university level, of course you will have to pay for accommodation and food and other stuff like that, which state does not give enough money to do. So you either have to work or take loan. (Backed by the state, with like 1% interest)
If you graduate on time/early, government will pay a big cut of the debt away, so you can actually "Make profit" by taking the loan and then finishing your studies on time, getting part of it paid by the state. Even if you wouldn't graduate on time, paying it off is not an issue really. If you find a job, no issues paying it back. If you don't find a job, well, its backed by the government, so it does not really matter, then you can just not pay it back.

[Jalpha]

Question is if this is a problem of players or a problem of game?

Question is if there's a problem at all.

There's plenty of room for individuals to fail in life. The playing field is uneven, the game is rigged. More and more people are turning into parasitic cannibals and prey upon each other. Some people who shouldn't fail often do, through no fault of their own. Education and its failures are central to much of this.

I swing between thinking something should be done and not caring at all.

There was some other stuff I wanted to respond to but too wrecked right now.

[Wonderful]

Difficult to learn things like Astro physics, anatomy, medicine dosages, chemistry, physics, ect... without a formal education of prior trial and error.

[MagicManICT]

Difficult to learn things like Astro physics, anatomy, medicine dosages, chemistry, physics, ect... without a formal education of prior trial and error.

A formal collegiate education in any field is all about trial and error. Don't think I've taken a class one that didn't involve trying something new and figuring out the results. (new to you, new to the world, does it matter?) The kicker is with a formal education vs self education is you have someone experienced to get some feedback on instead of beating your head against the wall. To each his own on the matter I guess.

The flip side to this is many educators refuse to acknowledge a school of thought other than the one they hold. Just look at Einstein's struggles in education until he was published. You're almost better off learning on your own, then, as there's a good chance you'll have a more rounded education in your field.

[Granger]

You're almost better off learning on your own, then, as there's a good chance you'll have a more rounded education in your field.

There are three ways to learn: the hard is to try stuff till it works, the noble is to think it completely through before trying, the smart is to visit a library.

[peanutzrgud]

I think an education is the best thing that could have happened to me. I am fortunate to be able to pursue my passion with a computer engineering degree. I do think that an education goes to show work ethic, professionalism, and the ability to manage time. Not that non educated people do not posses these, but I'd argue college can hone them even more.