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Is a college degree all that important?

  • 27-07-2017 09:05PM
    #1
    TheBiz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭


    Every conversation with my parents about my future ends in 'oh yeah sure, after you have your degree'.
    Everyone unless they make a point of not going to college, goes to college. It's just the norm.

    But is a degree really that necessary to succeed nowadays?


«1

Comments

  • #2
    diomed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,744 ✭✭✭diomed


    Yes. Start studying.


  • #3
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    It depends. How do you see yourself spending the rest of your life? What do you want to do?


  • #4
    Falthyron
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,835 ✭✭✭Falthyron


    My brother earned ~160 points in the Leaving Cert. He is now practically a manager for one of the largest software developers in the world in the U.S. He has no degree, or diploma, beyond the Leaving Cert. He earns a lot more money than I do and I have a postgraduate degree.

    In short: It entirely depends on what you want to do. A degree is no longer the be all and end all of employment prospects, but having some sort of a third level education can enable you to have a broader toolset for a great many things both inside and outside of employment.


  • #5
    The_Valeyard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,452 ✭✭✭✭The_Valeyard


    Honestly depends if the degree is the road map to your career.


  • #6
    Psychologeeee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 234 ✭✭Psychologeeee


    As with everything- entirely depends on what you would like to do in life.


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  • #7
    Fr_Dougal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭Fr_Dougal


    Hit the books OP, you're more likely to get a job with one. Lot of US companies insist on them, even if they're not relevant to the role you're applying for.


  • #8
    TheBiz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭TheBiz


    Yareli Gigantic Horsefly wrote: »
    It depends. How do you see yourself spending the rest of your life? What do you want to do?

    I am actually in college at the moment, studying business.
    I want to specialise in the area of IS/Information Management, but it's not going too well (I don't like most of the course.) I want to learn to invest, I want to own properties (rental, selling)..

    Mainly, I want to be self employed down the line. I want to learn about data analytics, big data, systems, SEO/what its changing into.. but I also like things like Jewellery design, style etc.. so I'm not sure, there are a lot of areas I enjoy and if I end up not continuing with college I will try to get my IT certs, learn programming languages, Software security etc, try to get some experience on my resume be it free web design for shops or something to that effect.. I know not having a degree will hinder me in the long run but considering I don't want to work for others unless it is in a start up I'm early into, or as a way to learn about a new area I don't feel like not having a degree will be as big of a hinderance.

    I'll still try to continue with my degree, but I'd rather not be flat on my arse if it comes down to me not moving on.
    I got on quite well in my Leaving considering I heard the phrase 'never amount to anything' more times than is polite.. but I got 425 for someone who just learned English quotes I liked.


  • #9
    Pelvis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,744 ✭✭✭Pelvis


    Yes is the short answer. There are exceptions if course, but they are just that.


  • #10
    368100
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭368100


    Its not essential but it opens up more opportunities as a lot of jobs require a degree. I don't know how much It benefits you from a skills point of view though, depends on the degree and chosen career I guess.

    I didn't do a degree starting out and I feel like I'd to work harder than peers who did have a degree to get jobs. I've done one since though.


  • #11
    Tsipras
    Closed Accounts Posts: 493 ✭✭Tsipras


    It's great craic anyway, who cares if it's worth it, you'll have 4 years of partying with no responsibility


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  • #12
    daheff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,152 ✭✭✭daheff


    3rd level qualification or a professional qualification opens alot more doors and more easily than not having them.

    Sure you always here about the one who did exceptionally well without a degree...but you never hear about the thousands who are barely getting by.


  • #13
    jive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,762 ✭✭✭jive


    TheBiz wrote: »
    I am actually in college at the moment, studying business.
    I want to specialise in the area of IS/Information Management, but it's not going too well (I don't like most of the course.) I want to learn to invest, I want to own properties (rental, selling)..

    ....


    I got on quite well in my Leaving considering I heard the phrase 'never amount to anything' more times than is polite.. but I got 425 for someone who just learn English quotes I liked.

    Just plough on and get your degree which will open plenty of doors and even if you never need it the skills you will learn in getting the degree will be applicable to many areas of your life.

    You can still do everything that interests you and have a degree to fall back on if they do not work out. You can still pursue your interests while attaining your degree too; there's no point in limiting your options just because you don't like the course - the curriculum is what it is, it does not mean you would not enjoy a job related to the degree.


  • #14
    Burial.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,131 ✭✭✭Burial.


    Just think of it as a ladder. A degree in your back pocket has you several rungs higher than someone without one. Some jobs will require a degree to even get on the ladder but discipline, hard work and creating and taking opportunities can help you bypass someone with a degree in a host of occupations.


  • #15
    r93kaey5p2izun
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,962 ✭✭✭r93kaey5p2izun


    Depends what you want to do. There are of course exceptional cases, but I think either a degree or an apprenticeship is pretty important if you have the opportunity.


  • #16
    JohnCleary
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,211 ✭✭✭✭JohnCleary


    Funny how I thought a degree was so important. I came out with a 1:1.

    Took me 1 year in the corporate world (working for a multinational software company) to realise that I hated the 9-5 office job. Started my own consultancy and few years later it's now well established and earning a decent living.

    Did getting a degree aid this? ABSOLUTILY. I learned a lot (I practice now what I learned back then), it also gave me confidence etc... you have to think of the in-direct benefits.

    Was it essential? Not at all, could have learned the lot online / self-study.


    If nothing else, go to college for the craic (as has been mentioned above). While it's not the responsible thing to say, college will most likely be the most craic 3-4 years you'll ever experience. But don't forget to study etc... there are genuinely thousands of people who would love to college but will never get the chance.


  • #17
    mzungu
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,311 Mod ✭✭✭✭mzungu


    Considering everybody has a degree now, it is almost expected that you will have one when applying for most jobs. Whether or not that applies to you OP, depends on what you wish to do after school.


  • #18
    Yourself isit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,256 ✭✭✭Yourself isit


    Falthyron wrote: »
    My brother earned ~160 points in the Leaving Cert. He is now practically a manager for one of the largest software developers in the world in the U.S. He has no degree, or diploma, beyond the Leaving Cert. He earns a lot more money than I do and I have a postgraduate degree.

    In short: It entirely depends on what you want to do. A degree is no longer the be all and end all of employment prospects, but having some sort of a third level education can enable you to have a broader toolset for a great many things both inside and outside of employment.

    Practically a manager?


  • #19
    Alpha_zero
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 907 ✭✭✭Alpha_zero


    The_Valeyard wrote: »
    Honestly depends if the degree is the road map to your career.

    Stop spouting gibberish


  • #20
    Fathom
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 9,666 CMod ✭✭✭✭Fathom


    TheBiz wrote: »
    But is a degree really that necessary to succeed nowadays?
    Can't speak for Ireland. In America 20% of population has 4-year degree or above. Highest paying positions normally demand it.

    Cmod Science, Health, and Environment



  • #21
    LirW
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,825 ✭✭✭LirW


    Don't like the misconception of degree = smart.
    There are plenty of degrees you do not need to be overly smart for and you can get them by basically sitting through the 3 or 4 years.

    Really depends on the area. In jobs that are very skill-based like proper art jobs or programming it matters very little.


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  • #22
    The_Valeyard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,452 ✭✭✭✭The_Valeyard


    Alpha_zero wrote: »
    Stop spouting gibberish

    It makes perfect sense. Try reading it again.


  • #23
    cajonlardo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,027 ✭✭✭cajonlardo


    Thread on this very recently http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=104008398


  • #24
    HONKEY TONK
    Closed Accounts Posts: 779 ✭✭✭HONKEY TONK


    Deffo. Do a degree in Arts and Music.

    Multinationals a screaming out for people with these degrees


  • #25
    andekwarhola
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,687 ✭✭✭andekwarhola


    Everybody will trot out a story about somebody they know that got a brilliant job without a third-level education but that's still a relative rarity. Personally, I think you should always get as much education as you can, especially if you come from a modest background. It's not about hackneyed notions of smartness, just easing your way into a career as smoothly possible, not to mention the life experience that accrues from applying yourself to further study and attending college.

    I remember Jonathon Philbin Bowman on TV years ago advising people not to go to college and 'go for it' and it made me furious. Easy for people like him to say.


  • #26
    rounders
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 374 ✭✭rounders


    TheBiz wrote: »
    I am actually in college at the moment, studying business.
    I want to specialise in the area of IS/Information Management, but it's not going too well (I don't like most of the course.) I want to learn to invest, I want to own properties (rental, selling)..

    Mainly, I want to be self employed down the line. I want to learn about data analytics, big data, systems, SEO/what its changing into.. but I also like things like Jewellery design, style etc.. so I'm not sure, there are a lot of areas I enjoy and if I end up not continuing with college I will try to get my IT certs, learn programming languages, Software security etc, try to get some experience on my resume be it free web design for shops or something to that effect.. I know not having a degree will hinder me in the long run but considering I don't want to work for others unless it is in a start up I'm early into, or as a way to learn about a new area I don't feel like not having a degree will be as big of a hinderance.

    I'll still try to continue with my degree, but I'd rather not be flat on my arse if it comes down to me not moving on.
    I got on quite well in my Leaving considering I heard the phrase 'never amount to anything' more times than is polite.. but I got 425 for someone who just learned English quotes I liked.


    Have you ever heard of a course called Business Information Systems? Massive amount of jobs in it and covers a lot of what you mentioned above!


  • #27
    368100
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,062 ✭✭✭368100


    Yourself isit wrote: »
    Practically a manager?

    And I'm practically CEO ...;-)


  • #28
    Ray Palmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,351 ✭✭✭Ray Palmer


    TheBiz wrote: »
    I am actually in college at the moment, studying business.
    I want to specialise in the area of IS/Information Management, but it's not going too well (I don't like most of the course.) I want to learn to invest, I want to own properties (rental, selling)..

    Mainly, I want to be self employed down the line. I want to learn about data analytics, big data, systems, SEO/what its changing into.. but I also like things like Jewellery design, style etc.. so I'm not sure, there are a lot of areas I enjoy and if I end up not continuing with college I will try to get my IT certs, learn programming languages, Software security etc, try to get some experience on my resume be it free web design for shops or something to that effect.. I know not having a degree will hinder me in the long run but considering I don't want to work for others unless it is in a start up I'm early into, or as a way to learn about a new area I don't feel like not having a degree will be as big of a hinderance.

    I'll still try to continue with my degree, but I'd rather not be flat on my arse if it comes down to me not moving on.
    I got on quite well in my Leaving considering I heard the phrase 'never amount to anything' more times than is polite.. but I got 425 for someone who just learned English quotes I liked.

    There is so little money in web design you might as well do it for free. Learn program languages is by far more difficult than you think. You won't get lose to your own development without having to learn how to fix other peoples' code. You won't get hired to even learn that without a degree and a couple of certs won't cut it.

    As for property the market no matter what is going to be radially changed over the next 20 years that it will be more luck than anything else for a novice to make money.

    Degrees with IT are not vital by any means but you need it in many ways stating out just to get somewhere. Being self employed consultant requires experience.

    Not being a downer but you need to really be very sure about this.


  • #29
    Permabear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 38,989 ✭✭✭✭Permabear


    This post has been deleted.


  • #30
    TheBiz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭TheBiz


    rounders wrote: »
    Have you ever heard of a course called Business Information Systems? Massive amount of jobs in it and covers a lot of what you mentioned above!

    I have, I've talked to the head of the department in my college, other lectures, I've actually looked at transferring to an IT college for BIS but I went with the advice of my lectures as they said I would better off with a degree and a masters in relatively the same time span (3 year degree, a year maybe two for masters as opposed to a 4 year degree) not to mention I can probably further specialise into a specific area.


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  • #31
    Falthyron
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,835 ✭✭✭Falthyron


    Yourself isit wrote: »
    Practically a manager?

    He is to be made manager by the end of the year. The work he is doing at the moment, is 'practically' the work of a manager.


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