Would you give up your degree?

[Denine]

I will keep my degree! I worked hard for my BSN and I am proud of it. I am mostly a SAHM right now, but I still work a few hours a week.

 

[mickeyboat]

I would not give up my degrees, and proudly display the "papers" in my home. Even though my career took a different direction, my education has served me in many ways, both professionally and personally, and has made me the person I am today.

 

[dogluva]

Never. You could take everything away from me (not my family or dogs just materials) but don't dare touch my degrees. I worked like a dog to get them and have used them to the extreme. I work in the field I graduated in (sped teacher) since I graduated (19 years) and I feel very fortunate.

I am so proud of my degrees. I had a baby in college and finishing school was very hard. I got my masters with four kids, that was hard as well. Those degrees are full of my sweat, blood and tears. THere is no way I would give them up.

 

[dogluva]

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.

No, in my field I must have a teaching degree. I am certified. If they took away my education, they would take away my certification and they, yes, I would no longer be allowed to teach.

 

[mill4023]

I'd give up the first one.
BS in General Science, which ended up being rather useless.
I didn't know what I wanted to do and after 10 years of on again, off again, part time classes, that was the major that I was closest to completing, so I did.

My 2nd degree (BS Computer Science) changed my life and has enabled me to earn a good living, support my family, and allow DW to be a SAHM while our kids were little.

I've been a software developer for 8 years now.

 

[wendy46001]

Nope, I love my degree (the piece of paper and the experience) how else could i justify bumming around italy for a few years if i wasn’t doing "research"

 

[bumbershoot]

Although I personally never understood the value of an English degree, I believe that employers do like it. I tried for a job once as a last ditch effort to get out from under my idiotic manager, it was a proofreading position (I might make errors in grammar, but I can catch the errors that others make easily, and spelling errors I can catch with just a glimpse), and I couldn't even interview for it, because their line in the sand was an English degree. Didn't matter that I had a BS that required a research thesis that took a year, didn't matter that I have a doctorate, nope, they wanted that BA in English.

Heck, my sister in law got a degree in French of all things (from Duke!), and that basic education (b/c just like my university, hers gives you a broad education to open your mind, not just train you) enabled her to get an MBA and then a law degree from her undergrad alma mater, and she's now doing brilliantly well (how's that for a phrase, LOL). Without that initial degree she wouldn't be where she is today, though it's not clear how knowing French can help her in her career now!


Also, as another SAHM, I feel we use our education every day. It's extra helpful for me b/c we'll be homeschooling.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

They would have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands.

 

[crz4mm2]

NOPE! Worked long and HARD for it. I love what I do.

 

[emma'smom]

Nope! Still paying off those loans....but a doctorate from an Ivy League institution has opened many doors....without that degree, my whole life would be different. The work behind all of my degrees built character---it made me who I am--without those degrees, I would be someone different with a whole different life---and I like the life I have! =)

 

[Planogirl]

I have never been able to actually use my degree (Industrial Engineering) so it's a thought. I was awfully proud when I received it though and I'd hate to give that up so I guess not. It's a shame that it really only matters to me (and it mattered to my Dad.)

 

[a1tinkfans]

Nope, I enjoy knowing that I worked hard and persevered thru college landed a job, worked up into management and years later, left to start a family.
I did not go back into the corporate world, instead choosing to open my own business and am satisfied being self employed. Would not have been able to be in this situation without degrees, experience and being proactive!

College= Success in my book! Independence is a Wonderful Feeling!

 

[Kitty 34]

No. I'm proud of my degree and even though I chose to sub with my teaching degree I still would never give it up.

 

[waltskids]

No way! I love my career and eventhough I am on maternity leave this school year, I will go back in September. And without my degree, I wouldn't have a job that I really love.

 

[si-am]

No way. My degrees are awesome (Major: English, Minor: Mass Communication/Journalism, Masters: Instructional Tech.)

They qualify me for tons of jobs that I love, and I have no interest in staying at home or working a job that wouldn't require a college education.

 

[princessdi81]

I can honestly answer "yes". I have a BBA (business administration) from the University of Illinois - a fairly prestigious public university, and my degree is absolutely worthless! I can't get a decent job to save my life.

Yes, I am employed, but a college degree is not needed for my position. My job doesn't offer any benefits, so I had to get my own health insurance. Unfortunately, I applied to all the companies in area and have been turned down by all of them due to pre-existing conditions. I had to get on ICHIP (IL comprehensive health insurance plan), for people who cannot get health insurance due to pre-existing conditions.

You don't even want to know how many people think that I "don't want a real job" because of the job I have. I am continually reminded of the fact that I "have a degree from the U of I" and that companies/businesses would kill to have somebody with that particular "piece of paper" working for them...Sad thing is that I can't even get a job interview - it took me over a year to secure this job!

So, yes, I would gladly trade in that "piece of paper" for a full refund. The U of I isn't inexpensive, and I'm am paying out the you-know-what for that education, an education that has proved itself worthless to me, time and time again.

 

[mefordis]

No way! My proudest and happiest day of my entire life was the day I graduated from college. I am also a SAHM now, but worked for 10 years after college and had a blast at my job. I made a lot of $$ too in that time. But it's never enough is it?

 

[Schmeck]

My specific degree allows me to get paid almost twice as much as someone without one who is doing the exact same job. Nope, I'd never give it back, with or without the experience included.

 

[tasha99]

Nope because you need a BA to get the Masters I'm working on. Now, if I could go back in time and NOT major in English, but rather Communication Disorders and Sciences, that would have saved me a year of postbac work. That I would do.

 

[crazelion]

I am would give the piece paper back degree. My degree is worthless. I have BS Computer Information's Systems degree. I have not had job in my field period. I know how to fix computers to. They say me one more time I need experience I scream.

I am teaching right now because I could not get a computer job.