Would you give up your degree?

[wdwfan16]

No way.

 

[lspst8]

I expect both of my daughters to earn degrees in area that would allow them to work profitably. If, after they earn those degrees, they choose not to use them, FINE. But I want to know that they COULD work if they want to or need to do so to support their families.

That's what my dad always told my sister and me. He didn't want us to ever have to depend on anyone else to "take care" of us. I'd never say it to his face, but my dad is a big feminist when it come to his daughters. He alweays encouraged us to do well in school and get the best jobs we could. I'm a lawyer, and my sister is managing people 30 years older than her for a major hospital, so it seems to have worked out for us.

 

[golfgal]

Since I would immediately be fired from my job if I didn't have either of my degrees, I would have to say no. Luckily, I had some big scholarships, so I wouldn't even get that much money refunded back to me.

Don't you think that your employer would get that if your college refunded your money just for turning back in your diploma it wouldn't matter--you still have your education which is what they really want.

That's not the way I read the OP - I thought she meant getting the college money back having foregone the degree AND the education.

This is a completely different senario and not what was asked. I would never give up my EDUCATION but handing back a slip of paper-heck, I would even give back the nice leather folder it came in to get back the $100,000 I spent getting my education.

This would be a HECK of a marketing tool for a college--spend 4 years here and in 20 years ONE student from each class gets a refund of costs. Since it is a refund of your money, not taxable. For larger schools-you could even pick 2 or 3 students. I would say they would need to put stipulations on it like you had to have paid back your student loans in a timely and responsible manner and you had to attend the school for at least 4 years but this could be a HUGE marketing deal for a school . You wouldn't REALLY lose your degree-just have to turn back in your paper diploma.

 

[MarilIncredible]

I interpreted the OP to mean that you no longer had any claim to the degree, no way to verify the knowlegde for employers. You couldn't substantiate a claim that you have all the knowledge of an XYZ University graduate with B.A. in Blahblah, or wouldn't be able to declare that you earned the degree but sold it back in a fiscally shrewd move.

I absolutely would not want my money back. I have a B.A. in economics and a J.D., and I work as an attorney. Without my degrees (and Bar membership) I'd be fired on the spot.

 

[golfgal]

That's what my dad always told my sister and me. He didn't want us to ever have to depend on anyone else to "take care" of us. I'd never say it to his face, but my dad is a big feminist when it come to his daughters. He alweays encouraged us to do well in school and get the best jobs we could. I'm a lawyer, and my sister is managing people 30 years older than her for a major hospital, so it seems to have worked out for us.

That goes for ALL of our kids-not just our daughter--get a degree in something that is marketable--we will not help you get an art history degree, sorry. Frankly, unless you are in a specialized field like medicine it doesn't really matter what your actual diploma says anyway--employers want someone that is trainable and educated.

 

[emer95]

No way! You can't do my job without either of my degrees. I love my job and I want to keep it!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I interpreted the OP to mean that you no longer had any claim to the degree, no way to verify the knowlegde for employers. You couldn't substantiate a claim that you have all the knowledge of an XYZ University graduate with B.A. in Blahblah, or wouldn't be able to declare that you earned the degree but sold it back in a fiscally shrewd move.

I absolutely would not want my money back. I have a B.A. in economics and a J.D., and I work as an attorney. Without my degrees (and Bar membership) I'd be fired on the spot.

That's what I thought too. The university would not be so accommodating in handling any requests from you or your employer. Essentially they would've washed their hands of you and owe you nothing after you sold back your diploma.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I wish I could have my money back , but there is no way I could give up my degrees. I need them to keep my job.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Undergrad no, JD yes.

 

[EthansMom]

If the college gave you back all of your money in exchange for your degree. I would.

Last night DH was opening the mail and there was a letter from my alumni association. I was joking around and said it was a letter saying I didn't really graduate. So DH posed the question. I immediately answered yes. I'm not using it since I'm a SAHM and I'm planning on going back to school in a few years to get my nursing degree.

I'm a SAHM, not currently using my degree. But, if something happened to our situation and I needed or wanted to get a job, I would NEED my degree to get a good paying position.

Added to that, to get my degree now would cost at least 4 times what I (and my parents) paid for it.

So, no way I'd rather have the $$$ than the degree.

(Another thing... I'd never have met and attracted my husband without my degree. So, without my degree, I wouldn't be married to my husband, have my kids, etc...)

 

[wdwfan16]

I want to change my vote. I will let them buy it back when I start retirement. That cash would be nice then.

 

[WriteDisney]

No way! Not only do I value the education I received and how it led my to my career now, but I wouldn't give up all the experiences I got there too (the friends and the activities). I learned alot more then just the things I was taught in class and I would never give that back for any amount of money.

Plus I imagine that in this scenario you would give everything back, experiences, who you met there, etc. And then I wouldn't have met my DFiance And what a sad world that would be.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

In a heartbeat!

 

[DVCLiz]

This is a completely different senario and not what was asked. I would never give up my EDUCATION but handing back a slip of paper-heck, I would even give back the nice leather folder it came in to get back the $100,000 I spent getting my education.

With all due respect, the OP's question can certainly be interpreted both ways, and until she comes back and clarifies, I don't think either view is the only way to interpret her post.

 

[Darcy03231]

There's no way I'd give mine back. That "piece of paper" has guaranteed me an interview for every job I've applied for (and so far I've gotten all but one).

 

[OK!]

Never. Not in a million years. I worked entirely too hard for it and, while I'm not currently using a lot of the precise skills I learned while obtaining it (I have a computer science degree with an emphasis in information management), I wholeheartedly believe it gave me a leg up on the competition to land the job I have now, which I love. I work from home and it doesn't really feel like I'm even going to work; the only reason I look forward to weekends is because I get to sleep in an extra hour or two. I still get a little thrill when I see my diploma or tassel or the stuffed graduation Mickey I got at WDW on my graduation trip, and there's no way I'd trade that for anything.

 

[rufus jones]

I wouldn't give it back since it was free (scholarship), but I just wish it had a different course of study on it.

 

[Pakey]

No I would not. I'm only a few years from retirement but those degrees gave me a wonderful career.

 

[FireDancer]

Not in a million years. Not only does the degree pertain to my career but even if it didn't it is a symbol of the hard work and effort I put in to work a 48 hour per week job while putting myself through college in 3 years. The value of my degree is more than just the diploma, it is the time and effort that went into it.

I want to go back and get my MBA not only for the paper but because I welcome the challenge.

 

[james'mommy]

I'm not sure how I originally meant the question. DH never clarified. I would give up the degree itself. I wouldn't give up experience. Without going to college I would have never gotten the part time job where I met my husband. I would however give back the experience of dating some of the guys I did.