Is a college degree essential in life?

PHB · 2005-09-05 23:02:15

I've recently realised I am without a doubt brainwashed by the department of education, so I was wondering what everyone else thought. Do you actually require a college degree to get a decent job? Does it just make it easier? Does it actually make it easier? If you are highly capable and could succedd in college if you…

#32 06-09-2005 03:42PM

BigEejit

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ADUB? wrote:

Did your boss have any qualifications himself? I take it he didnt have a masters/post grad. Are you sure was it not the case of green-eyed monster?

Did your boss, not realise that quite a few master/post grad students work full time and do post grad's part time/ evening.

Would that not qualify your boss as much more of a layabout then?

He had an electronics degree from UL and went working for an employer for a while before striking out on his own .... i think he made his decisions regarding post grad people while he was in college, and to be fair I have seen a lot of complete wasters stay on to do the masters because they liked the college life a lot rather than any desire to be heavily qualified ...

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#33 06-09-2005 03:59PM

ADUB?

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So BigEejit

In answer to my question
NO your boss did NOT have a Masters/post grad qualification. I question his ability to have opinion on something he knows, at best, very little about.

Labelling people that are further educating themselves
('complete wasters stay on to do the masters because they liked the college life a lot rather than any desire to be heavily qualified')
is a bit rich, how do you know their motivation??? Can you read minds??

Nobody said you cant do the job if you dont have a degree, we'd all be able to train someone else to do our job degree or not! But a degree isnt going to hamper you, in fact it brings positives to the table, at very least it shows your ability and want to learn.

People often get promoted within companies without the qualification but getting a first job or job in another company without degree etc willl be much harder than if you had one.

On that front I think you are the exception to the rule in regard to jobs with degree etc, Hopefully you dont go for a job someday and come across a candiate looking for the same job as you, and they have their 'Heavily qualified' bit of paper and experience, and you have ?? just experience

Bit of a no brainer who we'd hire now isnt it?

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#34 06-09-2005 04:06PM

BigEejit

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hehe ... it may come to that ^ but I really doubt it ... next you are going to tell me that people doing masters are all doing it because they want the best possible qualifications? or so that they can get a job ahead of someone who only has a degree?

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#35 06-09-2005 04:23PM

ADUB?

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BigEejit wrote:

hehe ... it may come to that ^ but I really doubt it

Hope it all keeps fine for you! But I stand by the statement 'Heavily qualified and experienced is Better and will generally get the job over just experience.

I couldnt comment on ALL people doing Master's/post grad motivation. But I can say with high level of certainty that, a good deal of people doing these courses are there cos they want to learn and succeed. If they wanted to go on the beer they would go to a pub its easier.
Having actually done one I can assure you that its not the party you think it is, it requires alot of work and time.

While doing a Post grad/ masters wont guarentee you get ahead of degree/non degree people it wouldnt hamper you and would help.

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#36 06-09-2005 04:31PM

vector

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<pointless essay style post>
The terms of reference are too wide in scope.Therefore in order to present an adequate consideration herein, it is first necessary to distill the keywords. Life may be replaced with employment.

The oft-cited study of Watson et al. (1989, p55) is critical of the "degree", lambasting the parchment as over valued. However Smith & Hawkesberry's (2004, pp54-59) contemporary treatment demonstrates the empirical necessity of the "degree". Their diametrical conclusions however, were only possible after descent from academia into the private sector, and are thus subject to self interest.

In conclusion the author submits to the refuge of the academic scoundrel, and "sits on the fence".
</pointless essay style post>

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#37 06-09-2005 05:28PM

OLDYELLAR

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djmarkus wrote:

I would say yes, but in the ireland of today its "Not what you know, its who you know"

Totally agree!!
Looks good on a CV alright but yea basically what was said above , if ya know the right faces ya`ll go to high places or whatever that saying is.

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#38 06-09-2005 05:35PM

weak infant

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snaps4vector

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#39 06-09-2005 05:47PM

CiaranC

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dublindude wrote:

For example, my computer science degree, i could have thought it to myself in about 3 months. And none of it can be applied to the work place. A complete waste of time.

Interesting. Where did you do your degree?

I did mine in Blanchardstown IT, and find I use the stuff covered every single day. There was no end of hands-on, practical stuff.

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#40 06-09-2005 05:51PM

AARRRGH

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CiaranC wrote:

Interesting. Where did you do your degree?

I did mine in Blanchardstown IT, and find I use the stuff covered every single day. There was no end of hands-on, practical stuff.

DIT Kevin Street. The college for mongos

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#41 06-09-2005 06:16PM

CiaranC

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lol

I must have missed that in the prostectus

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#42 06-09-2005 06:26PM

Nermal

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dublindude wrote:

For example, my computer science degree, i could have thought it to myself in about 3 months. And none of it can be applied to the work place. A complete waste of time.

either your degree was too easy... or your job is too easy... or you're a bad coder and the people who apply what they learned get paid more than you to fix your messes

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#43 06-09-2005 06:34PM

jd

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BigEejit wrote:

I think the need for the bit of paper is mostly only in heavily unionised jobs (used for pay scales etc) ......

Doctors,Scientists,Engineers,Architects etc? mm

As an aside, TCD Graduates always had an advantage if they became teachers..
Teachers are paid extra if they have a masters. However, if you get a BA from TCD, you can buy an MA two years after Graduation.

The "real" masters from TCD are M.Litts,M.Phil and M.Scs.

So there ya go!

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#44 06-09-2005 06:54PM

Triton

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I've a friend with a Degree in Business who can't get a job at all. Everywhere just wants experience which she could of got without a degree anyway.

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#45 06-09-2005 07:18PM

Ann Elk

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How can she get the experience if she can't get a job at all? Surely she's more likely to be able to get the experience if she has the degree???

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#46 06-09-2005 07:27PM

Gazza22

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I wouldn't say a degree is essential in life. Everyone has different approaches to training and education and college life just doesn't suit everybody. It would be essential if you wanted to enter into a technical career in the areas of science ect.

You can definitely make it in life on your own without third level qualifications. A close family member of mine didn't complete his leaving cert, but now owns his own company and is making more than any college grad would make.

But imo, college is the way to go. Your better off with a third level degree.

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#47 06-09-2005 07:31PM

netwhizkid

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For the original poster, I’d advise get your college degree, although it is about the last thing needed to get on in life, I quit school at 15 and have made €3million and I am now looking forward to my 19th birthday and retirement. The only thing is that no matter how hard you hate it, you will always have it (if you succeed). It is hard but you’ll get there. I had to do mine the hard way without the junior cert.

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#48 06-09-2005 10:24PM

Ri_Nollaig

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netwhizkid wrote:

For the original poster, I’d advise get your college degree, although it is about the last thing needed to get on in life, I quit school at 15 and have made €3million and I am now looking forward to my 19th birthday and retirement. The only thing is that no matter how hard you hate it, you will always have it (if you succeed). It is hard but you’ll get there. I had to do mine the hard way without the junior cert.

u never did the junior nevermind the leaving cert? and made 3 million euro.... and when did u wake up from this dream? didnt u say something about wanting to own boards.ie before lol
ur now 18 obviously never did a degree and giving advice?

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#49 06-09-2005 10:26PM

0utshined

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dublindude wrote:

DIT Kevin Street. The college for mongos

Hey! Some of my best friends went to KST. As long as you don't get sucked into the black hole of the snackery you'll do alright there.

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#50 06-09-2005 10:29PM

0utshined

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Ri_Nollaig wrote:

u never did the junior nevermind the leaving cert? and made 3 million euro.... and when did u wake up from this dream? didnt u say something about wanting to own boards.ie before lol
ur now 18 obviously never did a degree and giving advice?

You can do the junior cert before you're 15 you know. I wouldn't outright dismiss his claims even though it seems unlikely. Anyone could make €3 million in three years, depending on timing and the decisions you make.

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#51 06-09-2005 10:43PM

Ri_Nollaig

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0utshined wrote:

You can do the junior cert before you're 15 you know. I wouldn't outright dismiss his claims even though it seems unlikely. Anyone could make €3 million in three years, depending on timing and the decisions you make.

yes i no u can do the junior at under 15 what difference does that make?
but seriously? ill believe this guy who cut up a 7800 to fit in a pci slot or this guy who claimed he was going out with some model he just found pics of online before i believe this guy dropped out of school at 15 and has made 3 million since?

and never heard of in any local paper or anything im sure a selfmade 18yr millionaire wud appear atleast once

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#52 06-09-2005 10:45PM

AARRRGH

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Nermal wrote:

either your degree was too easy... or your job is too easy... or you're a bad coder and the people who apply what they learned get paid more than you to fix your messes

The degree was simple. My class were a bunch of retards (all got over 400 points, but were not very bright. Or at least, not technical.)

To pass the exams, you just needed to get the class average. Mongotastic.

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#53 06-09-2005 11:03PM

0utshined

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Ri_Nollaig wrote:

yes i no u can do the junior at under 15 what difference does that make?

You presumed in your previous post that becuase he left school at 15 he hadn't done his junior cert. Maybe he hasn't but what are you basing that off?

Ri_Nollaig wrote:

...
and never heard of in any local paper or anything im sure a selfmade 18yr millionaire wud appear atleast once

Mate, I know a number of millionaires and the last thing they'd want is to be in a two page spread in the local paper. Maybe Netwhizzkid is making it up but neither you nor I know that.

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#54 06-09-2005 11:25PM

Ri_Nollaig

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well cuz junior means nothing! y else wud he say it? and can u get into college without been a mature student (23+) or without doing the leaving? dont think so.
so do u think he left at 15 skipped the junior cert and then did the leaving?
but selfmade millionaire's stories often go around as success stories for eveyone else to go "damn wish i did that"
also i remember reading is blog before and it didnt look like a millionare wrote it

and something along the lines of when i own "boards.ie someday..."

maybe he ISNT making this up but like ive said i wud believe those other stories before this

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#55 06-09-2005 11:30PM

Ri_Nollaig

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0utshined wrote:

You presumed in your previous post that becuase he left school at 15 he hadn't done his junior cert. Maybe he hasn't but what are you basing that off?

I had to do mine the hard way without the junior cert.

but serisouly does that make sence? takes what 3-4 years for a degree. he is 18 how did he get in at 15? and made 3 million in meantime :rolleyes:

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#56 06-09-2005 11:31PM

vector

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weak infant wrote:

snaps4vector

<politician mode>
vector acknowledges receipt of your communication of the 6th September.
Because of the large volumes of communications vectors receives it is not always possible to reply individually, however all comments are read

</politician mode>

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#57 06-09-2005 11:37PM

0utshined

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Hadn't spotted that Ri_Nollaig.

He could still have made €3 million although it is unlikely and I don't think he claims to have gone to college.

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#58 06-09-2005 11:38PM

Gazza22

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Ri_Nollaig wrote:

but serisouly does that make sence? takes what 3-4 years for a degree. he is 18 how did he get in at 15? and made 3 million in meantime :rolleyes:

Ri has a point netwhizkid, is this just a lie? Poorly planned if so!

Maybe you should elaborate a bit more netwhizkid...i would like to know your success story

How did you make this €3 million...well done if you did

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#59 06-09-2005 11:45PM

Tha Gopher

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Depends what job

There are lads who left school with LC or less who are in their late 20s to early 30s who are rolling it in, 50 grand a year plus, because rather than listening to their mothers and going to college to do a mickey mouse degree in a subject they hadnt an interest in, they tried out building, plumbing, cable laying etc etc etc. Basically jobs that were sh1te when they got in but improved in status as the economy grew.

Personally Im of the opinion that a certificate from a PLC or an IT is worth more than a degree in a "I did this course so I could say Ive been to university" course like Arts. Doing a certificate course myself now in an IT . I wouldnt have minded journalism and if I bothered my arse studying couldve got the points, but they way I see it why work your arse off for 4 years and graduate with 2000 other journalism students into a sector with maybe 200 openings per year. Bollix to that

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#60 06-09-2005 11:59PM

Right_Side

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Triton wrote:

I've a friend with a Degree in Business who can't get a job at all. Everywhere just wants experience which she could of got without a degree anyway.

Probably got a crap final grade. So many business grads you need top results to stand out.

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#61 07-09-2005 12:14AM

Ri_Nollaig

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0utshined wrote:

He could still have made €3 million although it is unlikely

post 1 wud a millioniare value boards.ie like that
post 2 wud a millioniare need his parents credit card :rolleyes:

and might like to see the replies here

still think Thomas O 'Reilly is a selfmade millionare?

right back on topic

im only going into 2nd yr of my CS degree so i cant give any personaly experenice other then college is great fun and even if a computer science degree gets me a nice job in macdonells atleast it was fun

and i didnt need to lie on a web forum to prove im something im not

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