Poll of the Day > Do you think in this day and age that a college degree is still a good....

(+) Yeah! (+)

....investment in the u.s.? Do you think it still is? What do you think?
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If you can't (or I guess won't) go into a trade, yes.

A degree of any kind opens a lot of otherwise closed doors. And it's getting more and more common for jobs that shouldn't require a degree to require them...

As of right now, the trades are a vastly better option I think.
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Sure, if you choose something marketable.

College is like insurance; not quite mandatory, but you're usually fucked without it! :D

Depends on the college - it's more about branding than what you study. A Rosetown* magnum will never be as good as an Ivy League slacker


*Made-ups-ville
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Lokarin posted...

Depends on the college - it's more about branding than what you study. A Rosetown* magnum will never be as good as an Ivy League slacker


*Made-ups-ville

you really believe this? never as good as an ivy league slacker?
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From my understanding the numbers suggest that it generally is. That doesn't necessarily mean it's best for everyone or that there aren't better options though.
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Blighboy posted...

From my understanding the numbers suggest that it generally is. That doesn't necessarily mean it's best for everyone or that there aren't better options though.

Yep.

https://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/02/11/the-rising-cost-of-not-going-to-college/

https://trends.collegeboard.org/sites/default/files/education-pays-2016-full-report.pdf
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Lokarin posted...

A Rosetown* magnum will never be as good as an Ivy League slacker


*Made-ups-ville

There's a Rosetown in my province. I haven't gone there in a while. They had a nice minigolf course though.
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Joking incomprehended: Business connections are magnitudes more useful than the education itself.
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Depends on the degree and the person getting it

If someone is smart and knows how to network with people and get things done then even an art degree can be worth it, but many people think that getting a degree means you automatically land a great career and that just isn't enough in most fields.
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Education is a poor investment in the US due to exorbitant costs, it's pretty much a gamble whether you'll be financially better off than a carpenter.
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Some of the STEM fields still have a great ROI.

Kyuubi4269 posted...

Education is a poor investment in the US due to exorbitant costs, it's pretty much a gamble whether you'll be financially better off than a carpenter.

There are a lot of careers which pay it back in spades and then you have some public service careers where the loan is forgiven altogether after x years. Also tradesmen can make pretty good money. The real issue is careers which basically pay out retail management levels.
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I have a ton of respect for tradesmen - they build shit
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Naw

- Doesnt guarantee a job
- Debt
- Hands on experience is becoming more useful than a diploma
- Colleges are struggling to keep numbers (seems like you hear about a day time TV advertised college closing its door every 5-6 months)
- Good chance the field you're studying won't be useful in the future (ie - Game design, art, forensic analysis etc)
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