11th grade ( yea I know so close yet so far)

Been working in the same industry since then. Have moved up through the ranks to where I’m now second in command at a major industry leading plant making a comfortable six figures. Not bad for a high school dropout.

I’m not advocating my path I’ve been lucky and it’s been harder than it may have been if I would have had the degree.
But then again I firmly believe that some people can be and are educated beyond their level of intelligence. I meet and work with them every day. Just because somebody has a degree doesn’t mean they’re intelligent enough to know how to apply their education.

Just listen to Dave Ramsey some day and you’ll hear calls from people who have big degrees and huge school debts because of those degrees but they make less than $30,000 a year.

quote Originally posted by Bullet: Just listen to Dave Ramsey some day and you’ll hear calls from people who have big degrees and huge school debts because of those degrees but they make less than $30,000 a year.

Here is what a degree does.....it allows a person to start out in the high paying position. If you don't have a degree, you have to work your way up to that high paying position. Degrees are useless pieces of paper nowadays. If the job market is in the toilet, you can have 5 degrees and still not have a job. I started my career in 1992 and have worked my way up to a major position in California in regards to Homeland Security. The unfortunate thing is it sets me in a tax bracket where the feds get most of my money back

I have a BA in Business that I have never used. I also have an Airline Transport Rating with a few aircraft specific type ratings. I do use that one. (The PIC CL-65 one currently).

I have an AA degree and 30 years of real world education. Yes, I know I'm 58; I'm a slow learner.

quote Originally posted by heybjorn: Yes, I know I'm 58; I'm a slow learner.

That part we knew.

quote Originally posted by heybjorn: I have an AA degree and 30 years of real world education. Yes, I know I'm 58; I'm a slow learner.

But I didn’t know you could get a degree from Alcoholics Anonymous.?



You know I was messing with you, right?

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: You know I was messing with you, right? Steve

Of course, Steve, I'm not that slow a learner.

The AA degree must be worth something. I quit drinking alcohol before age 25.

quote Originally posted by sarabear: ....And how successful or unsuccessful have you been in your career? < snip > I am honestly just curious if your education has really played a major role in how successful you've been within your job(s).

I have a Bachelors in Engineering from Fresno State and hands down without my degree there is no way I'd have even been cleaning the trashcans of the guy who would have this position had I not been the one who was lucky enough to fill it.

As per success, that is pretty subjective. I have opened the door for multiple contract opportunities that did not exist prior to my employment that have resulted in literally hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of work. There has been a technological shift as well in data acquisition / processing that has generated project requests that have never been requested before which can be completed in-house cheaper, quicker, and per our standards the first time which is something we struggle with.

While it can be stated that they are hiring the "degree" per say - what really matters is the individual they are looking to hire who holds that degree. I think that this point gets lost more often than not.

I just completed "my portion" of my annual eval - I'll let ya know here in the coming weeks if I've been as successful as I think I've been.

Good luck on your decision...

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Is this where I insert something witty?

Partial Masters Degree. The economy put the kybosh on my Economics Degree.

For now anyway

quote Originally posted by IMSA GT: Here is what a degree does.....it allows a person to start out in the high paying position. If you don't have a degree, you have to work your way up to that high paying position. Degrees are useless pieces of paper nowadays.

That's not necessarily true. Some jobs you can never even interview for if you don't meet the qualifications, meaning having a degree. The medical field is such, degrees, certifications, and licenses are required for just about all positions. There is no working up without them.

Dropped out of HS in Jan 1965 - 12 grade - close but no cigar - 17 years old
Got my HS GED while in the Navy
Married at age of 20 while stationed in Japan.
Discharged a few days after my 21st birthday.
I will retire this spring after an assortment of 20 jobs or so over the last 42 years.
(14 years now at my present job)
It's been a long haul and it's not been easy but I'm happy. I encouraged my son not
to follow my path but to get an education. He now is a neurologist with his own
practice. While it's true that money can't buy you happiness I feel that it certainly
helps.

Larry

I have a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, there's no way i would be in the position i'm in without them. For me getting my education was my way out of a little town in S.W. Okla. Sure i could of join the military but that was not the path i wanted for myself. I know several people w/o higher education and they're doing quite well for themselves but for me without my degree who's knows where i'd be probably still in S.W. Okla living the Okie dream.

BA in Communications(Radio-TV-Film) and MA in Western European History.

I worked in media for a number of years and the BA had no influence in any of my hirings. Many, many, talented people don't have degrees but they are much better at what I did than I ever was. Advanced education is good to get hired in some situations and absolutely essential in others such as my daughter's programming profession.

I never used my history degree except to answer stupid questions from coworkers ("Hey Richard. What was the battle where the Brits kicked the Frogs' butts?" My answer, "Which time?")

quote Originally posted by RotrexFiero: That's not necessarily true. Some jobs you can never even interview for if you don't meet the qualifications, meaning having a degree. The medical field is such, degrees, certifications, and licenses are required for just about all positions. There is no working up without them.

It's the same for the field of education; but, with future budget cuts, it seems we're going back to having a high school diploma being enough.

BA Psych
BS Comp Sci
"some" grad school.

Diploma in Civil Engineering Tech
Diploma in aviation with all the associated licences
Bachelor of Commerce
PhD in not giving a phruck anymore.

So I turn a screw driver for a living.

Yeh, education is a great investment. NOT

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 12-05-2010).]

quote Originally posted by DRA: Formal education has little to do with inteligence and common sense.

Somewhat disagree, Partially Agree
You can learn how to be smart and common sense isn't so common.

Education is the KEY to a better quality of life.
It really makes you very portable, and opens many more doors. You are NOT limited to your current "good" job.

BS in EET, MS in MIS, MS in PM

10th grade.
Obtained my GED
8 years as a U.S. Marine, (Air Wing).
Been a Industrial Maintenence Technician since.
I think that the Marine Corps gave me the better education/training that i've had.

Ed

My highest degree is a PhD in Counseling Psychology. My education did much more for me as an individual, providing me the personal growth I needed to be successful in businesses other than psychology. I am currently a Counseling Psychologist, but it is more out of love than a career interest. My other companies pay the bills.

I barely graduated from H.S. (1975) I was one of the kids that was a pain in class.

1st Career: (1975-1984) a little over eight years as a Medic. I joined the Navy & became a Hospital Corpsmen. I had a supervisor who saw potential in me and encouraged me to take some night classes so I did. I was a nursing major until I met my wife who is a nurse; she talked me out of it as the hours & pay were horrible. Some time was spent as a surgical tech, hemo-dialysis Tech, & time with the USMC (3/1) as a Field Medical tech.

School: (1982-1984) I went in the Naval Reserves as I went to a Trade school & studied engineering drafting & design. BY FAR THE BEST EDUCATION I’VE EVER RECEIVED.

2nd Career: (1984-1998) a little over 14 years as an Engineers Aide. Now back on active duty Navy I went to Dive school & finished my naval career as an Underwater Construction Diver/Engineers Aide. Was a great job for a young man, a little hard on the home life. I was a SEABEE (CB = Construction Battalions) with Underwater Construction Team ONE (UCT-1)

School: (1988-1997) Went to night school when home ported received a B.S. from St. Leo College, St. Leo, FL in Human resources. Then I used the troops to teachers program at night to earn a M.S. in middle school education from Old Dominion University on Norfolk, VA. I specialized in Industrial Technology (what we called shop as a kid).

3rd Career: (1998 to Present) Middle School Teacher. It took me over 22 years in the Navy to get ready for middle school, I’m not too sure how or if the M.S. helped.

School: (2001- Present) Continuing education possibly going to finish a D.Ed. Not because I want to. I need the title to write grants to get money for my program.

Summary: My wife is a 3 year RN heart nurse, the one who talked me out of nursing. She works part time and makes twice as much as I do! She has 3 years of education I have - well more than anyone should.

Bottom Line: It is better to go home to a small house from a job you love then go home to a big house from a job you hate. It’s not all about money; yes we all have to make a living but at least like what you do while doing it.

I have been so blessed to have three careers that I love. Did the education help me? Well it helped me qualify for the jobs! Sometimes I think a lot of it was just paying for credits to get your ticket punched so you can get the credentials to get the job.

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1986 Red s/e 2m6 5-sp, & 2006 Red Solstice 5-sp