Compensation without a degree...

[audiman08]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

If I had to do it over again, I would have joined the military (like USAF) or get a degree in engineering/construction management and then join the military.

If I could do it again, I would have done ROTC and had a guaranteed commission...

[Icemaster]

Originally Posted by silverwhaletail

Graduated from HS in 1982
US Army Military Police 1982-1985

Job Offer from Los Angeles PD in late 1985 (easy 50k per year in late 80's). Went home to Cincy instead. U of Cincinnati 1985 till 1990. Your right, should have attended business school instead of liberal arts. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid...Graduated 1990

Drove 914 2.0 back to SoCal in 1990 for Cop-Job.

Immediately started working lots of overtime and saving money...bought first house in 1991. Married a RE agent. She became a RE Broker. Started Property Mgmt Company...

I wasted 5 years in college.

You wasted 5 years at UC. Fellow alum, I was there at the same time, I feel your pain.

[Hugh R]

BS in Environmental Engineering & MBA been in the workfoce 32 years since college got MBA about 25 y/o at night. Also a Certified Industrial Hygienist, Registered Environmental Assessor,Qualified Enironmental Professional. I did consulting for 20 years now do motion picture and TV production safety. Use my degree in one way or another every week. $200K+/yr.

[MotoSook]

I did in my post about technicians making more than me. And you are right.

Surprised no one has brought up the white collar vs blue collar issue. A lot of plumbers, mechanics, etc in their prime, make over 100K a year, while people with degrees are making half that.



BUT...



25 + years later, the white collar guys will be playing golf on Fridays and making over 100K and the blue collar guys will be busting their a$$ and making less and less every year.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by audiman08

Definitely, I worked at the History Museum for Springfield-Greene County. There is nothing in Lebanon/Laclede County...I'm here because my wife works here...but I'll keep trying

I think Ft. Leonard Wood would be your best bet. But about a 40 mile drive one way for you.

[silverwhaletail]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I don't believe that any degree is "useless." But people need to have realistic expectations. College has little to do with content and more to do with process.

My point exactly. The "content" that I picked up in college makes for more lively after dinner conversation but hasn't helped me make more money. I wish that I could have picked up some content in plumbing, carpentry, stonework, landscaping or MIG WELDING. Those are "contents" that would have added to my bottom line throughout the course of my life.

I learned more in 2 years and 7 months in the Army (right after high school) than I did in 4.5 years in college (after I got out of the Army).

25 years later, I'm still close to my Army Buddies and only keep in close touch with one guy from college. And the guy from college, I met at my part-time job. Rarely even saw him on campus other than sporting events or drinking events. As a matter of fact, this March I'm flying to Florida for the 12 hours of Sebring and am being hosted by... one of my Army Buddies.

And therein is my complaint with college. It didn't "improve" my chances for success. My strengths are written/verbal communication, negotiation/persuasion and an ability to discern efficiencies overlooked by others (attention to detail?), all of which I had developed by the time I was 21 years old.

Luckily, between the Army College Fund and my part-time jobs, I got out of college with zero debt. If I had run up a ton of debt, like the many USC grads that I work with now, I would be very resentful. (100k in student loans??? Are you kidding me?)

[silverwhaletail]

Originally Posted by Icemaster

You wasted 5 years at UC. Fellow alum, I was there at the same time, I feel your pain.

I'm not saying that I didn't have fun.

[artplumber]

I'm shooting for the most school...

College 4yrs
Med School 4yrs
tried a specialty (training) 2 years
Internal Medicine Residency 3yrs
CV fellowship 3yrs
Interventional 1yr
now I take a test to renew certificates in the latter 3 specialties every 10years, + certificates in Nuclear and soon CT.

I'm tired...of school

[porsche4life]

Wow.... I thought spending ~6yrs for Pharmacy sucks.... Yet another reason to not go to med school

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by artplumber

I'm shooting for the most school...

College 4yrs
Med School 4yrs
tried a specialty (training) 2 years
Internal Medicine Residency 3yrs
CV fellowship 3yrs
Interventional 1yr
now I take a test to renew certificates in the latter 3 specialties every 10years, + certificates in Nuclear and soon CT.

I'm tired...of school

Yea but looks whats in your sig...

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by masraum

You can do well without degree. I think there are folks who excel in a certain field or are driven to succeed. They may do very well with no formal training. I got lucky, and was at the right place at the right time to get OTJ training in a great field that I enjoy and am good at. I have had on occasion where I was very well qualified for a job WRT the technical qualifications, but the company required a degree. I'm not distraught over not finishing my degree, but in would like to have a degree. The big problem that I had was ignorance over what jobs were out there and what jobs I might have wanted or enjoyed.

Good point. I was lucky I made it through HS. Tried for the CG Academy but my grades were not good enough. Other than that I had no desire to go to college, although my parents would have sent me to any one i wanted to go to.
26 yrs later, Now I'm an EE with no formal training other than OJT and job realted stuff. I make the same if not more than the guys that have degrees. Plus I know my job way better than they ever will. and, I still considere myself "blue collar"

I luv the new guys that know "way more than me" because they have a piece of partchment hangin on their wall.

[audiman08]

I've always wanted to sell exotic cars...I remember visiting a local exotic car dealer when I was young, just to look around. They let me sit in a Countach...I thought it was so cool.

They are still there too:
TEAM Motorsports | Sales and Leasing | Exotic cars

I think they only have a couple of sales guys, not a lot in the way of job opportunities. If I could do that for a living, I wouldn't worry about going back to school.

[artplumber]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Yea but looks whats in your sig...

Unfortunately, don't get to use them much.

[rattlsnak]

Good timing. this was an article in TIME this week..:
Where U.S. Jobs Are: Finding Work in a Not-Great Recovery - TIME
Where the Jobs Aren't: Grappling with Structural Unemployment - TIME

[Hard-Deck]

Philosophy degree. I make $130k + / year with full benefits (including fully paid post-grad education) and 30 days paid vacation/year. The best part....I LOVE my career.

[KarlCarrera]

Another K-12.... +.... Electrical Line Apprenticeship (4 yrs). 100K+ for the last few years.
I was in the office the last 10 years, add 10-20% for the linemen in the field.

Electricity isn't going anywhere, it's not that hard, and we're all retiring. Lots of opportunity for some folks.

Karl
88 Targa