Is college necessary?

1. 83

   Max Daltonposted 12 years ago

   Is college necessary?
   
   I'm working on my second master's degree, so this question is a bit odd coming from me. However, I keep reading articles that talk about people being dragged down by college debt, how other people weren't able to find a job and so on and so forth. I also read a lot about how this country needs more and more people with technical skills, and people with degrees often can't fill those jobs because they don't have those skills. I'm fortunate to be in the group of people who can use his degree, but I don't plan on pushing my children into a college education. Thoughts?

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2. 65

   collegedadposted 12 years ago

   Skilled labor will always be a necessity. Over the years I've made more money from positions in the skilled trades than I have from those relying on my degrees. That said I am also continuing my education. I find that having a well rounded education has given me an upper hand in the work force. It has provided me with a level of thinking that my co-workers don't have. I believe that this has allowed me to advance at a quicker pace in many positions.
   
   Is college necessary.....no. Is college beneficial.......yes.

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3. 61

   Tiger Momposted 12 years ago

   Good question.  The answer is, it depends.  If you are looking to apply for jobs with minimum qualifications listed as Bachelors, Masters, or terminating degrees, then yes, college is necessary to even be considered for those positions.  If you are looking to strike out on your own as an entrepreneur, then no, you do not need to have any higher education on your resume.  Some find the academic environment extremely satisfying, while others find the whole experience a waste of time.  Speaking for myself, higher education has been both personally and professionally fulfilling and I recommend it highly for my children.  I do not recommend incurring a large amount of student debt.  Check out my hub on paying for college, http://tiger-mom.hubpages.com/hub/How-T … rents-Help

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4. 86

   SidKempposted 11 years ago

   I believe that college is extremely beneficial, but not necessary. I had two brothers. The more successful one dropped out of college and became an auto mechanic. The other has a Ph.D.
   
   These days, though, most colleges don't offer a good education. I think the key, really, is excellent learning throughout life. (I stopped formal schooling after college, but never quit learning, myself.) Teaching your children a love of learning and helping them find their passion in life is most important.

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5. 0

   Marntzuposted 11 years ago

   Depends on your goals. If your ideal career is a lawyer or doctor then yes. However you can find many examples, in fact some of the most successful people who did not graduate from college.
   
   Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg: in fact I have heard one serial entrepreneur state he feels that MBA's make the worst business owners as degrees simply teach you how to work for someone not how to run a business.

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6. 68

   Buzzbeeposted 11 years ago

   Not as much as we are led to believe. I think college is great for certain kinds of people and certain types of professions.  I wouldn't really want a doctor to be 'self-taught' for example. 
   
   But the entrepreneurs of society often are best left on their own to discover their success as a natural outcome of their drive and ambition. In many cases college is a waste of time and money and such people would be better off using the tuition and so on for the start-up fees.

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   1. 53

      John Gilleposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      college is a HUMAN TRASH machine...it creates DISEASE and DEBT...it creates JOBS for illegal aline from mexico....its over 50 percent GARBAGE CAN COURSES.....

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