Why do I feel like the new woot polls are just slightly disguised demographic/marketing tools?

The VA paid for me to go to College, and I did try my best to spend your money well.

Honestly all college did for me was to open doors, I had the basic skill set to do the job I have now before college. I am now in Engineering and while I'm not making fat stacks I do alright and I have paid the government back a few times over in taxes so I guess it was worth it for them.

Now people that went to college for things that have nothing to do with a job after college and complain about how they can't get a job, I have no pity for them, and I do expect them to pay back back their party loans. They can call them student loans, but lets face it, for people that took "underwater basket English art history" (yes all one word) didn't use that money to do anything but party. They should also be proud to occupy that job in fast food that their skill set qualifies them for.

Totally, but then I did get a G.I. bill stipend, some aid from my Dad in return for season tickets to football, and I didn't major in Liberal Arts! Engineering for the win. :-)

Got my Degree in Computer Information Systems, never got a IT job, ended up in the workers comp field of private insurance. Don't get me wrong, i make over 70k a year so the money is good, but this job doesn't really require a college education. I started out in the mail room as a temp and worked my way up and still climbing. Strictly speaking for the computer field, they would rather see certifications then a degree

Socially? Yes. Intellectually? Yes. Job skills? No. I have a master's degree in Accounting and an undergrad in Philosophy. Needless to say, the undergrad degree was a lot more enjoyable to get, but also why I had to get the master's. Now I'm an accountant doing a job I could've learned to do just as quickly with just the undergrad degree.

Yes in every way. Had to pay my own way through school, but it led to a great job, great wife, great children and two great grandchildren. That is on top of all the fun I had there.

Since I went with the state paying my way, a free education was a good education. It got me my second job (the first was the army, and not through choice) which was my last.

For me it was worth all that and i apply what i learned there all the time at work. i currently work at a shop and will be taking it over when the owner retires, something i have worked incredibly hard for. The other day, for what ever reason some customer came in with her son, and we ended up talking about college and she was trying to use me as an example to her son as to why college was a waste. (look at this girl Andy, she went to all sorts of college and now shes just working in a shop sort of thing) she didn't like me defending my opinion that college was worth it for me, and that i use what i learned on a regular basis. and kept informing me that no, it was not in fact worth it and that she knew i didnt use my education. (sorry lady but i think i am a little more qualified to make those distinctions) upon me defending my hard earned education and job she insisted i give her examples, which i did, which finally made her leave. College is not for every one, but seriously I do not understand why some one would act like this woman did. I wasnt trying to conince her to send her son to college (she didnt want to, apparently because he was a slacker) but who the hell acts like this woman? worst part is that she is a customer, so i had to be nice in defending myself.

This is more of a question based on the topic.. but does anyone know someone that got a degree from ITT Tech and was able to get a good job with it? I'm looking onto going for their Network System Administrator A.A.S. degree.

nickexperience wrote:Socially? Yes. Intellectually? Yes. Job skills? No.

Agree 100%

In addition, I have long contended that a college degree isn't so much proof that you have the necessary skills for a given job, but an indicator that you have the maturity and sense of responsibility to see a long term task to completion. Not saying that is the "goal" of a college education, but when I am evaluating two otherwise equal candidates, that is why I would favor the college graduate.

I work in the IT field, I have tons of student loans and feel that I really didn't need the degree just got it because it seemed like the right thing to do, plus I was one of those first in the family to get one. If I were to do it all over again I would have skipped college but not the parties and I would be less in debt at the same pay rate and which is just shy of 6 figures. All the jobs I see to move into the six figure range all say Bachelor Degree but it doesn't say its necessary and that they also will weigh on experience. Plus, there are a lot of people out there running companies and managing people without college degrees. As for opening doors I am glad it worked for some people but I'll get my own door.

College just puts you at the starting line of a long race. From that point forward it is up to you and how hard you want to work to achieve your goals---if you actually have goals.

I'm one of those individuals that went to college, earned a degree, and now do nothing related to my degree at all. I make about 2.5x what I would working with my degree though. I still voted that going to college was well worth it. And why? Because it opens doors. I would have been able to perform the work that I'm in now without my degree, but the company I work for doesn't even talk to people without a degree, unless you want to replace light bulbs, sort mail, or mow grass. I firmly believe that it is possible for people to be a success without a college degree, though I think that we should be honest and admit that most people do not have the capacity to make it big without an educational pedestal to stand upon.

Time, yes. Money, no. Holy carp that was expensive considering what I got out of it for my degree.

For all the people on here that did IT/Computer related jobs/degrees, what company are you working with and what's your salary?

I'm currently in the Air Force with a Security+ Certification and some college hours. I'm not planning on staying in so I'm trying to check out the opportunities in the civilian world.

I went to a community college for telecommunications (IT) at first and the market took a dump in the late 90's. Attempted to go back to school at a "real college" for engineering and what a waste of money it was (for me). I gave up a year and half in because I was in over my head, about 15K in the red and nothing to show for it. I really wanted to start over but I was in too much debt and work interfered too much for me to devote the time I needed to obtain the grades I wanted to get. So I went to a certification school for MSCE and when I went to redeem my tests the company went under and took my money with them. But I have a decent job now doing alarms, cameras and access control its related to IT and I'm doing ok, but bottom line the community college was the best education I had received and was 75% less. The big college to me just seemed like a paper spitting money grab where your just a number. I'll take a class of 20 over a class of 200 anyday. Just my 2 cents, I wish I had a do over.

For those of you just starting out I HIGHLY recommend you look at the job market of your field BEFORE enrolling. My wife for example is up to her ears in debt from her masters degree, I'm so proud of her but its so sad she cannot find a job in her field. Just remember you have to pay back what you take out and if you went in for basket weaving, you had better make sure there is a demand for basket makers. Learn from our mistakes.

No college for me though it's one thing I wish I completed.
I'm not rolling in the dough but we have enough..a wife, a house in the burbs and a kid running around (hopefully a second soon). I work in corp. America and while I think my job is secure, I know I could be laid off without notice and that scares me. I think I may have a hard time finding another job without that degree should the worse case scenario happen.

ROGETRAY wrote:The world can take your job, your spouse, you assets and your house but it can NEVER take away your education.

This, always this.

Even though my degree has nothing to do with my job, I daresay it has gotten my foot in the door in a lot of places just for having one.

I want moreeeeee....moreeeee degrees. Well, once I decide which one I want most.

Jason Toon wrote:I bailed on college after three years because I was immature, and I've been paying off huge student loans ever since. So for me it was largely pointless, but not because of anything inherent in college.

It's not you, college, it's me.

But here's an interesting thing: out of our departing founder/CEO, our CTO, our Creative Director, and me, none of the four of us have Bachelor's degrees. And none of us are exactly mowing lawns or sorting mail.

here's another interesting thing: me & all the guys around me skipped out on college, and now we all get to wear these cool orange jumpsuits. sometimes we get to go on field trips to pick up trash by the side of the highway. fun times!

College isn't for everyone, despite what the "marketing" would have you believe.
For those inclined to it, it's invaluable.

ROGETRAY wrote:The world can take your job, your spouse, you assets and your house but it can NEVER take away your education.

unless the world gives you a bad head injury.

My computer science degree has helped me a few times, mostly to get into the stack of resumes that are to be considered for a job, vs the resumes that are discarded. However I will say that most everything I've learned that is related to my trade, I've learned on my own. Furthermore, many of my peers don't have degrees, and are quite successful in my field.

I got a part-time job while in college in the design industry. Once I started to find myself doing the same work for college (that I was paying for) and my job (that I was getting paid for) the answer became pretty clear.

And that only became more obvious once my job transitioned into web design and the colleges were still trying to figure out what the Web was.

In my opinion, college is well worth the time and expense. But it depends on what you expect to get out of it. If all you want is a job, then a trade school would be a better use of your time and money. But if you want an education, if you actually want to learn something that may enrich your life, you aren't going to get that from trade school.

nickexperience wrote:Socially? Yes. Intellectually? Yes. Job skills? No. I have a master's degree in Accounting and an undergrad in Philosophy. Needless to say, the undergrad degree was a lot more enjoyable to get, but also why I had to get the master's. Now I'm an accountant doing a job I could've learned to do just as quickly with just the undergrad degree.

HA. That's exactly my resume. I thought I was the only sick one.

j5 wrote:College isn't for everyone, despite what the "marketing" would have you believe.
For those inclined to it, it's invaluable.

I think if you are going to a school that you find out about from marketing, you are doing it wrong.

That said, I went to a school where pretty much everyone (I knew) had high paying jobs after graduation, so if I went here my opinion might be different.

This is purely opinion, but I'd wager that 90% of everyone that has ever or will ever enroll in a college/uni would be better off saving the money and just moving to a good college town and spending 4 years hanging out in college bars buying cool people beer.

It's all in who you know. A college degree only gets you so far. Trust me. I have a Ph.D.

It was worth it for me in the long run. I did a 4-year hitch in the Navy so I could get the G.I. Bill. I chose poorly in my field. I couldn't make enough to live on in TV production. I was a studio camera operator at a small TV station.

I then swallowed my pride, and went back for my current field of Kinesiotherapy. Now I am a federal employee making four times what I did at that crappy TV station. Great job security, and benefits too.

I'm getting paid much better. But still not good enough (blame the economy). But I'm still strapped with at 10 more years of school loan debt with which to pay off, after spending the past 7 already paying it off. And my school loan was small comparatively when I finished.

College is more the learning experience rather than the educational experience. If you do not learn to become independent there then you have not learn anything in college in my opinion. Everything else you can easily pick up by reading, watching or asking question to people who may have answers.

BA in Multimedia. Didn't have the money to go to California for all the expos and conferences. A field where you need to know someone sucks in a non-tech state. 1 year out of school your knowledge is 3 years old. 37,000 bucks later and what have I done? Computer Tech, and now Sercurity. Great thing I know Photoshop and 3DMax. Could have done all these things without knowing even about Max.

j5 wrote:College isn't for everyone, despite what the "marketing" would have you believe.
For those inclined to it, it's invaluable.

Or for those who don't want their resumes thrown in the trash when looking for a job.

Paxxor wrote:No college for me though it's one thing I wish I completed.
I'm not rolling in the dough but we have enough..a wife, a house in the burbs and a kid running around (hopefully a second soon). I work in corp. America and while I think my job is secure, I know I could be laid off without notice and that scares me. I think I may have a hard time finding another job without that degree should the worse case scenario happen.

Why don't you just finish school then, instead of deliberately bringing children into the world without knowing if you will continue to be able to support them? If you're doing okay, why not invest your free time and extra money into finishing up?

srivkin78 wrote:Got my Degree in Computer Information Systems, never got a IT job, ended up in the workers comp field of private insurance. Don't get me wrong, i make over 70k a year so the money is good, but this job doesn't really require a college education. I started out in the mail room as a temp and worked my way up and still climbing. Strictly speaking for the computer field, they would rather see certifications then a degree

I got a degree in computer science as well and got a job immediately in CS (lined up before I even graduated). My company only hires IT/Software Engineers with degrees in Computer Science... not certifications.