I graduated highschool and then went on to a skilled labor trade (Pipefitting, plumbing, and HVAC) with a 5 year aprenticeship program. I got paid to be trained and have been in my trade for about 10 years while most of my friends that went to college just drank and got a degree in something they will never use. I would love to see more people get involved in a skilled trade instead of going to college...unless they have a real goal and pursue the classes to acheive that goal.

It just seems I find alot of people saying "I went to college!" and they get the degree but end up working a profession or job that has little (or nothing) to do with what they went to school for. less

I definitely agree with this - so many people have so little direction (including myself) and end up going to college just because it's the 'done thing' - I think there should be more focus on helping kids find their skills and passions. I really regret some of the decisions I made regarding my education, but alas, all you can do is look to the future. less

I went to community college for a semester and a half and then quit because I was going through some major depression and was unable to handle the stress at the time along with everything else that was going on.
I have signed up to go back in the fall, but it is not for sure yet. I really would love to go through with it this time, but we will see what happens. I am looking to get my English degree, eventually. less

I definitely agree with this - so many people have so little direction (including myself) and end up going to college just because it's the 'done thing' - I think there should be more focus on helping kids find their skills and passions. I really regret some of the decisions I made regarding my education, but alas, all you can do is look to the future. less

I randomly wondered this today. I know that a couple of our female members are graduating this year, and I became curious about everyone's relationship to college. The poll is anonymous because I know that it may be a personal subject for some, but feel free to share any thoughts regarding sex toy usage and college if you want. less

In my day having a degree was an advantage. Graduating in the 70's having a degree actually made a difference. However, since standards have been degraded and so many degrees are given - the value of a degree has been substantially diminished. As it turns out - having a BA today is more or less the equivalent of a HS diploma in the past.

In today's world if you want to stand out there are three avenues;
1. become an entrepreneur
2. a professional degree or certification like a CPA, MD or JD
3. a BS in engineering or a masters degree less

I know your post is four months old, but your information is solid. My Man and I are number 3 (he's an engineer and I have a MS. An IBCLC is a Master's level certification.) and we're still in debt. Although, that is because I took time off to raise kids and we lived on credit that was easy to get back then, thinking "We can always take some money from the house equity if we need it." Then about 2 years ago, the value of our house decreased by 50% and we owe more than it is worth. There is no chance of any equity borrowing now. But, it did help so I could stay home and raise our kids, so I don't regret doing it.

The idea of going back to school again is daunting, especially when you're in debt, have kids and a house and are not a kid anymore.

My hope is that my kids will get good degrees. My oldest has a degree in Early Childhood Education. She makes shit for money. Nobody values the people who raise their kids for them. My middle one just received a BA in English, Rhetoric and Literature. *sigh* She is starting grad school in the winter semester to get a degree in Library Science. God, I hope the libraries are able to get enough funding to be able to hire new people then. Art and Literature are always the first to go when they cut budgets, instead of making rich people pay what they owe.( My Man and I pay more in taxes than the average millionaire. There are many billionaires who pay NO taxes at all. GE paid not a cent in tax last year. It makes me want to barf. Shut me up before I go on a rampage about the selfish Rich.)

We're hoping our little one will go into either architecture or engineering. She wants to be teacher, but I don't know how well people with Auspergers do as teachers. She's a genius (really) but her ability to communicate what she is thinking is not the same as other peoples'. Although she writes astoundingly mature for such a young child. Then again, she is still 11. We think engineering, like her daddy would be a good course for her, but it is up to her. (As it is the English Major is living with us, still, and isn't able to make enough money to move out anytime in the near future.)

I worry more about my kids in this economy that I do about ourselves, even though we're broke. We saw some comfortable times, they may not. less

I randomly wondered this today. I know that a couple of our female members are graduating this year, and I became curious about everyone's relationship to college. The poll is anonymous because I know that it may be a personal subject for some, but feel free to share any thoughts regarding sex toy usage and college if you want. less