College degree or not?

[crazelion]

No flames but just keep in mind the last 4 years have been an anamoly (sp?)
Some experts think between 2007 and 2008 we were losing up to 11,000 jobs a day. You could have had degrees flying out of you know what lately and if your employee was cutting back nothing could have saved you.

this recession was about cutting cost so no matter your education or your experience nothing could have saved you.

Previous poster is right, it's a combination of things BUT in todays market where there are some thing like 200 applicants for every job, my thought process is every advantage I could have over the other 199 applicants is better. So for SAHM's re-entering the job market, that may mean.

1) degree
2) volunteering or internships
3) networking
4) starting out at a lower paying job to build work history.

I just know at my job (a fortune 500 company based in wilmingto de), you have to have at least 2 years college to apply for the janitors or cafeteria work.

Thank You. I love the example you give about janitors and or cafeteria workers that need degrees. Which I think is crazy.

The place work for went through 10 people before she give me a chance. She told I was not the right fit when she hire me but she was willing to give a chance. She could believe I know cook from scratch without a recipe. The kids actually eat the food now. I actually like the job and give me a raise.

 

[NotUrsula]

I hope her two degrees were not in English.

That particular poster has stated before that she has a learning disability having to do with language. I think that her degree is in math or some kind of related discipline.

 

[dogluva]

HS Diploma yes is good
College Education was total waste of my time. I 2 degrees and several certificates and work at day care cooking

College degree has not help get a better job at all. I was working teacher until I got fired. Then went to get minimum wage jobs because I could not find nothing better.

I will let my kids decide whether not want go college. I will not force them go. I will make sure they get high school diploma.

By the way my I got total free ride to college for both degrees. I have no student loans at all.

Now flamed away.

Did you even reread what you wrote? Sorry, but you did say flame away. I hope your degree was not in English.

 

[Colleen27]

I just know at my job (a fortune 500 company based in wilmingto de), you have to have at least 2 years college to apply for the janitors or cafeteria work.

That's just disgusting IMO, to require a 8K+ investment in education to "allow" someone to push a broom or run a deep fryer. But I suppose in this job market there are enough unemployed people that they could probably require a bachelors for those positions and still have applicants.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I couldn't afford to get more than a 2 year degree. It hindered me greatly. Many companies wouldn't even interview with me once they saw on my resume I didn't have a 4 year college degree despite my 25+ years of work experience.

Now between me being home for nearly 6 years and no 4 year college degree, I'm sure I'd have a nearly impossible time finding a well paying job if I needed to.

I think it is extremely important to have a college degree nowadays.

As far as the person who feels like they would waste their degree if they stayed home with their child, it won't be a waste. Someday that child will grow up or the mother will need to work again and having that degree will make all the difference for her.

 

[Spoodleink]

there was a letter to Dear Abby a few years back, and I wish I had cut it out. I will paraphrase:
let's say the letter writer was about 54 years old. she always wanted to go to school, but her chosen field would require 8 years of school. "abby, in eight years, I will be 62 years old!"

Abby's answer, "how old will you be in 8 years if you DON'T go to school?"

Just wanted to add my MIL is 65 and a kindergarten teacher she loves her job and is always saying she is going to retire "in a few years" Don't let your age stop you from doing what you want.

 

[msmama]

I was raised in a home where college was not an option. My parents agreed to pay for the local state school (actually free since Dad worked there) and then they'd pay what they could if I went somewhere else. I graduated with about 20K in student loans which I just finished paying back.

I think that college teaches so much more than whatever your degree is in. For me, it was the first time I ever lived alone. The majority of my friends are from college. I met my husband (ok, soon to be ex) in college!

I am surely a smarter person for going to college, I beat people at Trival Pursuit, but I don't know if I'm more marketable. My son is now in preschool and I just started back for my Masters (that "one year off" turned into a decade).

I think anyone who thinks all you get out of college is a few letters after your name probably wasn't successful at it.

(In my bookclub, there are 3 women with PhD's and 3 with Masters degrees that are all SAHM's now and they couldn't be happier).

 

[rchristiansen]

But you know the problem with that movie was that it wasn't especially realistic for that era, in that the two coeds who decide to get married DO finish their BA's. At the time that wasn't the norm; most women dropped out if they became engaged before graduation, especially if the fiance was an upperclassman.

That's true - most women didn't even go to college back then But, what keeps me going is truth in the fact that you are not any less smart if you are a SAHM. Also, that when it comes to "feminism", you have the choice to do whatever you want - even if you want to be a housewife with no kids!

My dad asked me what am I going to do with my PhD when/if I finish. I joked with him and said: "I don't know, maybe just hang it on the wall!" But seriously, I think the big point made in this thread is that education is never a waste

 

[lunalibre]

I'm a software engineer with a bachelor's degree in computer science. I have never for a minute regretted getting my education. I watched too many women of my mother's generation end up flat broke after getting divorced after 20+ years of marriage. All of them had stayed home and done everything they could to support their husbands' careers, and they were left with nothing and having to start over in their 40's and 50's.

Every adult needs to have the capability to earn a living. Because I have children, I owe it to them to figure out how I would provide for them if their dad died (like the father of a good friend of mine's did while we were in high school) or if their father and I got a divorce. Now...I'm not saying you actually have to have a college degree, but you do need to have plans A/B/C/D... for earning money if life throws you for a loop. The rotten economy for the last couple of years is proof that you need multiple backup plans!

I'll be honest -- I haven't worked full-time since my kids were born, and DS is 14. In my particular area of expertise, working full-time means a minimum of 45 hours/week, and lots of time up to 60 hours per week. I wasn't about to do that with kids at home. However, the computer industry moves so fast that I knew I couldn't be a SAHM for more than a year or two and still have any hope of getting a job.

Also, while I loved my slightly-extended maternity leaves (~5 mo. with DS, 6 mo. with DD), I was READY to go back to work. I love what I do and I know I was (and am) a better parent for having a few hours away from my kids every day.

OP, I hope your neighbor has a brutally honest conversation with her husband. Even if they can afford for her to stay home with the baby, it should still be her CHOICE to stay home. She needs to find out the real reason he's so adamant that she needs to quit her job. Maybe her current job isn't a good fit for parenthood -- but there may be something else out there that would work better IF she wants to work. Also, it took two of them to bring the child into the world. Why does she have to sacrifice her job for his?

I don't mean to sound so down on SAHMs. If you can work out the finances and the logistics, and it's something the WOMAN wants to do, I think it's great. After all, the women's movement was all about *choices*. I can see what families give up to have a SAH parent, and I'm glad that choice is available to them. I'm just equally glad I have the choice to work.

 

[StephMK]

You're never too old. And 31, my dear, is young. I went to law school more than 20 years ago and there were several "older" students in my class. They were the best students and had the most to offer in discussions.



I'm glad you quoted this. It was exactly what I was thinking of when I saw the post.

I totally agree, you are no way close to being too old!! The time will definitely pass and I wish I'd made the leap to return many years ago when I kept thinking I couldn't do it. There are a handful of non-traditional students in all of my classes & there's no reason it can't be done at any age.

I finally went back at age 39 to get my MA and go into a new career and will graduate this May, 3 days before I turn 41. Now that I know what I can accomplish, I don't plan to stop here.

My kids know that we feel higher education is not optional but they may choose their program.

 

[Pembo]

When my kids were toddlers I was in a sahm playgroup, we were all college educated. I am very greatful for my degree, which I didn't "use" at all before we had kids. However I was able to pick up better paying part time work when my kids were little because of that degree. Now that my kids are in school, I went back to college to continue my education and have a very well-paying part time job.

Staying home with my kids was the most important job I've ever done. But that is another discussion...

SAHM or WM - the choice is personal and my degree never was part of the decision making. What was best for me and my kids was how I made the decision.

 

[JaymeC]

This whole issue is so weighted with personal choices to me. I don't think a college degree is ever wasted personally. Even if you don't use it, just the experience of getting it can be great.

For my family, I have a bachelor's in accounting. It sadly hasn't helped much in this economy I'm horribly underemployed, which truthfully doesn't surprise me much. I got my degree WHILE staying home with the kids. For us, it was a good balance. I did about half of it before the kids came along and about half post-kids. It was enough adult interaction to keep me feeling okay and enough flexibility to really let me feel like I was there for my family. Now my children are 4 and 6 and I'm working full time again while my husband goes back to school. When he is done in 3 years, I'll cut back to only part time work (a flexibility tha accounting very much allows and that I took into consideration) so to me my degree still isn't 'wasted'. Even after the kids leave the house honestly I'll probably stay at part time and use the extra time as a house wife, mostly just because my husband and I did that route before kids and found out it's very convenient for both of us.

 

[SPBendersky]

I can tell you that I think a degree can't hurt. If you have one and don't use it for the first 5-20 years when its time to get back out there I am sure it will be useful. Not having a degree in my opinion doesn't hurt as well depending on the field you might be looking to go in to. Raising a family is a just cause to not use your education in the shoert term.

 

[jmpellet]

I'll be honest upfront and then put on my flame-proof suit. I've worked at colleges for my entire career and I certainly believe strongly in higher education. And so do the numbers. While there may be outlying instances of someone without a college degree earning well, and trades comes to mind, all statistics show that your earning potential is greatly increased with a degree. Picking the appropriate area to concentrate in is very important and and I hope to instill that in my children. In my case, I have an associate's degree in computing and continued through a measter's degree. I'm a vice president and could not be one without this credential.

On to the flame-proof part. Our country is falling behind in education very quickly and we need to educate our country if we are to compete in this global economy. We need to help our children value education much like the way the Chinese and Indian do. They are filling all the high paying jobs!! Most people will meet their future spouse in college so both might likely earn a credential. They value education and will promote it with their children. I'm not sure if you could compare that equally to a family whose parents have not attained a college degree. This attainment divide is a problem for our country.

 

[rchristiansen]

On to the flame-proof part. Our country is falling behind in education very quickly and we need to educate our country if we are to compete in this global economy. We need to help our children value education much like the way the Chinese and Indian do.

Very true - I'm in grad school now. Last year in one of my 700 level classes we had to use a certain math equation - a variation of the slope equation from algebra: Y = mx + B --- The instructor said: "Remember you all learned this back in junior high or high school? Well...for those not from the United States, remember you learned this in 2nd grade?" Sort of sad.

 

[crazelion]

I hope her two degrees were not in English.

God no. I still have flash back sitting through English class wondering if pass this time so I could get degree.

Both is IT degrees.

 

[juliebean]

I'll be honest upfront and then put on my flame-proof suit. I've worked at colleges for my entire career and I certainly believe strongly in higher education. And so do the numbers. While there may be outlying instances of someone without a college degree earning well, and trades comes to mind, all statistics show that your earning potential is greatly increased with a degree. Picking the appropriate area to concentrate in is very important and and I hope to instill that in my children. In my case, I have an associate's degree in computing and continued through a measter's degree. I'm a vice president and could not be one without this credential.

On to the flame-proof part. Our country is falling behind in education very quickly and we need to educate our country if we are to compete in this global economy. We need to help our children value education much like the way the Chinese and Indian do. They are filling all the high paying jobs!! Most people will meet their future spouse in college so both might likely earn a credential. They value education and will promote it with their children. I'm not sure if you could compare that equally to a family whose parents have not attained a college degree. This attainment divide is a problem for our country.

This is SO true - whether people want to hear it or not. My husband has a mathematics degree - they cannot FIND enough qualified americans with math degrees to fill $100k+ jobs . I also used to find students (mostly 16 or 17 year olds) who couldn't stand to struggle and really work on a problem. They couldn't deal with the fact that so much of any science or engineering project is failure and finding a solution anyway. Obviously, we have a lot of well educated posters - but I don't think is the norm for the US, sadly. Good for you pointing this out!

 

[sheryll]

college degree will give u a option of a job and even a feeling of independent....now its up to u choose something that makes u involved in it and at the same time new...

 

[luv2mickey]

Your kids are not young forever and you never know what the future holds. My sister did not get a degree, got married, had kids, stayed home, lived a country club life, kids got out of high school, stayed in an abusive marriage for 24years because she didn't have an education and didn't feel she could support herself, got divorced last year and struggled to find a job, and in the process her husband (an alcoholic) lost everything and now she may not even get her spousal support.

So no I feel an education with a degree that will translate to a job is extremely valuable. No psych or anthropology majors in my house. Its not the college experience its planning your future!

 

[eliza61]

That's just disgusting IMO, to require a 8K+ investment in education to "allow" someone to push a broom or run a deep fryer. But I suppose in this job market there are enough unemployed people that they could probably require a bachelors for those positions and still have applicants.

I totally agree and your absolutely right. I am happy to say that last year my company (chemicals) did a excellent year and have decided to start hiring again. I know one of the women who is in HR, she's not in hiring but she said that even the HR manager said it was ludicrous to have these "blanket" requirements, so hopefully it will change.