• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    people need to stop going to college if there is no monetary benefit to going

    Setting aside the idea of going to college for personal enrichment and social development (really fucking important life skills that have long term but difficult to explicitly calculate monetary benefits), its very difficult to say whether a particular college degree in 2024 will pay dividends by 2044.

    I’ve seen more than a few people poo-poo English degrees, but when a college degree is functionally mandatory for any kind of corporate employment that’s obviously not true. I’ve seen people laud STEM degrees, then go off and work in the Fivr mines for years earning less than they’d get in a mediocre Sales & Marketing gig (which you can score easily with any kind of BA). I’ve seen people talk up vocational training, but so much of that hinges on your employer and the state of the industry at any given moment (roofers and plumbers doing great in Houston right now, but that’s because home owners’ insurance hasn’t completely abandoned the state yet).

    It’s all a big fucking gamble.

    • Trainguyrom@reddthat.com
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      2 months ago

      I initially tried the “no degree” route and quickly observed the very low ceiling to what I could earn without a degree while working the white collar jobs that I’m good at, as well as how difficult climbing the ladder beyond that is. The pay bump and quality of work benefit from just a 2 year degree has been incredible