Post high school

[fannman]

I am going to go out on a limb and tell you college isn't always the best route for everyone. Before everyone starts giving me shit, let me emphasize a bit.

I know plenty of people who have 4 year degrees in many fields and have jack shit to show for it. So not only are they working in bullshit jobs, but they also have a nice amount of debt on their back. I personally don't like owing money in the long run, but to each their own.

The bullshit they feed you in school to tell you to go to college is turning into a propaganda in my opinion. "You'll make 1 million more over your lifetime than someone who hasn't gone to school" is one of the many quotes I have heard. What they didn't tell you is that you're paying student loans for the rest of your life. You feed the system, they will feed you the bullshit.

I was raised in a family under the assumption that hard work is key to success. Every one forgets about the "underdog" and "blue collar" jobs and automatically tries to shoot for the big bucks by being some business manager or vice CEO of a major company right out of college. Without these guys, none of us would have the resources that we have now.

In the end, follow what YOU think is right. You're still young. You will change your mind from age 18 all the way up to 24, at least. This is a time where you will be forming into an adult (being 18 does not cut it as an adult, I am sure most people would agree).

I can def relate to this. I graduated high school not know what I was going to do with myself college wise. So I decided to take a year or so off and see what happens. I started working at a local screen printing shop. I have worked my ass off for over a year now and I am the head supervisor for the printing production. We just hired a dead beat college graduate from JMU and all he did is party his years through college. I am a high school graduate and I am a supervisor of a college graduate. I make next to nothing as it is, sometimes college doesn't work out for some people. He is lazy and comes in hungover almost every day and just plays on his phone and does nothing with his life still! Making more money and being a supervisor to a college graduate feels good at times but I just was offered a chance to go to school within the next year or two and Im going to take it. Its nice making money full time but it isn't as "sweet" as what it seems.

I have matured a lot since when I graduated and now that my mind is in the right place I just was recently offered a chance to go to school and Im gonna take it! As much as I don't want the stress of work, and job to make some extra money. I know that it will pay off in the long run. Having that piece of paper opens doors to oportunities that you wouldn't be able to reach without it. Take r3vs advice and go to school. Start off at a CC and get your basic classes out of the way. Its cheaper and easier than going to a regular college for 4 years. Transfer to a good school and get a degree and go from there.

However military isn't a bad option. I've seen first hand how it can pay off. My gf's dad was in the air force flying f16's for a short time. Got out and it payed for his dentistry school. Now he's making more money that I ever thought of and has a Bentley Arnage sitting in his garage and has no debt. Just make smart choices and think long term before you decide what your gonna do.

P.S. sorry for the long post.

[KenC]

By the time you graduate college, you should have at least some idea of what you're interested in.

If you're interested in a professional trade of some sort, then research the appropriate apprenticeship programs.
If you're interested in something technical that requires a degree program, then find a good college that fits your needs.

Just be smart about it. College at any level isn't cheap. However, if you want to be an engineer or an attorney, don't let the price of tuition deter you. I'm about to take on ~$300,000 in loans for my next four years, but I have no professional desire other than practice medicine, and I know I'll be able to pay the loan back.

Everybody knows a millionaire who dropped out of high school. If you were one of those guys, you wouldn't be on R3v asking for advice.

[eskimo810]

Wow, this thread got far more attention than I anticipated. It's interesting to see so much interest/experience in the study of engineering. I really should have known, with this website being essentially a discussion of mechanics interrupted occasionally by the always-quotable slamminE28.

I won't pretend to know who you are, but you sir, are fucking hilarious.

I suppose I should mention that while I commend many of you for success in your respective fields of strongly academic study, I have no interest in pursuing an education in thermodynamics. Don't misunderstand, I'm not a fucking bum that wants to go to college for the sake of a degree and contains no academical prowess whatsoever, I'm just not interested in the general use of mathematics or science. I, like most, would go to college in order to get a better job. But not to get a job that may be financially satisfying, but as tedious as using a spoon to demolish a brick wall.

Not saying an engineering career is boring for everybody, I just can't imagine myself going through my life happily with a job like that.

I want to go to college. Very badly. It's just after 4 years of honors classes, early mornings and a 35 hour work week on top of everything; I haven't had any time to do anything I want to work on. I put my E30 in the garage this past December, and have not worked on it at all.

Now that I'm writing this I'm sure I come off sounding like a whiny bitch, my apologies for that. I suppose I only asked the original question to get some sort of reassurance that if I took a year off, or even a semester off that I could I just insert myself back into the infrastructure of education. I get the impression that I could, but it has to do a a lot with my character, and to be honest I don't know if I'd be up for it.

And there's no way in hell that I'd go into the military, this country's foreign policy is way to fucked up for me to even start thinking about that.

Regardless, thanks for all the advice and experience everyone.

[KenC]

I am going to go out on a limb and tell you college isn't always the best route for everyone. Before everyone starts giving me shit, let me emphasize a bit.

There are lists of "the top 10 party schools" or something similar to this and most people go to those for this very reason. How can anyone take a college/university seriously if they are basically paying $30K+ for 4 years of partying? Not to mention every average college student barely knows their head from their ass because of the continual use of drugs and getting smashed every night.

I know plenty of people who have 4 year degrees in many fields and have jack shit to show for it. So not only are they working in bullshit jobs, but they also have a nice amount of debt on their back. I personally don't like owing money in the long run, but to each their own.

The bullshit they feed you in school to tell you to go to college is turning into a propaganda in my opinion. "You'll make 1 million more over your lifetime than someone who hasn't gone to school" is one of the many quotes I have heard. What they didn't tell you is that you're paying student loans for the rest of your life. You feed the system, they will feed you the bullshit.

I was raised in a family under the assumption that hard work is key to success. Every one forgets about the "underdog" and "blue collar" jobs and automatically tries to shoot for the big bucks by being some business manager or vice CEO of a major company right out of college. Without these guys, none of us would have the resources that we have now.

OP, I went into the Army RIGHT after high school (literally 2 months after my graduation). In my brain, it seemed what was good for me at the time because I knew I had a solid future. I figured, "Hey, why not. I did JROTC for 4 years and I saw myself as a leader and could potentially be one". I went in as a Private First Class off the bat (because of JROTC) and there were people in there that did 4 years in college and all they had to show for it was one rank above me and NO common sense.

I work for Porsche and all I have is a high school diploma because I busted ass and showed to my superiors that I wasn't your average shmuck. Unfortunately, every employer wants a piece of paper that says you sat in classes for 4 years to identify you as "prospectable".

In the end, follow what YOU think is right. You're still young. You will change your mind from age 18 all the way up to 24, at least. This is a time where you will be forming into an adult (being 18 does not cut it as an adult, I am sure most people would agree).

What do you do for Porsche?

[mrsleeve]

I have some college course work. None of it pertains to what I do.

I am lucky, I work long hours, a long ways from home. But I make very very good living for my trouble. You can fall into a good niche, or a good trade and make a good hand of it and you can make a pile of money. We have 3 or 4 really young kids that graduated HS last summer grossed better than 60k by the 1st of this year. College is not always the answer, but there are lots of sacrifices and hard work involved with a bit of luck .

[Kershaw]

It's like I get why some get off on denigrating the liberal art/humanities and at the same time I dont get it..

Just saying.

i dont get it at all. to me, it's like the people who hate on gays wanting to marry because it ruins the sanctity of their marriage. (lol.) it's not your marriage/degree, so chill the fuck out/mind your own business. :up:

it's like they dont realize that DESIGNERS (not engineers) are responsible for how cars look, most of the time. and yes, we take responsibility for crap like the aztek too, sorry guys. Claus Luthe was a designer, guess what he designed?

[Cronopoulos]

I went to college for a year right out of highcool for computer networking/hardware and got burned out quick, it just wasn't for me. I make great money right now and i am taking online classes to get my associates in computer networking so at least i have something on paper for future promotions...

I'ts not for everyone but taking a year off or two to step back and really decide what you want to do for the rest of your life really helped me out.

[mtechnik]

Mechanical Engineering is well represented on R3V. :)

[Dozyproductions]

I wish I travelled first. It definitely has opened my mind and has made me able to realize a mission in life that I want to achieve. Will be going to school for that so yay!

[e30shmobberr]

My senior year in high school, i got a job at a local high performance and exotic shop. i loved what i did, even if some time i was the bitch boy. After graduating, i moved to full time in the summer and tried to go back to school that fall. Didn't go back, stayed with the job. Last november i quit and now picked up 18 units at a cc. its hard to go back but its necessary. I want to be a mechanical engineer so im shooting for my goals. taking a break can be hard. just my 2 cents

[Bimmerman325i]

I agree with everything iamcreepingdeath said, as have many others. Go to college, take it seriously, and if it really isn't for you, at least you gave it a solid try.

As an engineering student you can have a social life, good grades, or sleep; pick two. I rarely slept, but you won't party as much as your friends in HerpingAndDerping Studies. Get over it. I did really well in school and am now in graduate school, but I also had a good time. College is what you make of it, just take it seriously so you don't accidentally close doors for yourself unknowingly (low GPA, etc).

I'm seriously considering Navy Nuke as a post-grad job, sounds cool, pays well, great experience.

Sam-- tuba performance is a valid major, for a musician. The number of skilled tubists is very low, the demand is higher than you'd imagine....it's a solid career if you're really good at it and can double on other instruments. [tuba/trombonist]

[mtechnik]

I had to look up "denigrate". Just saying. ;)

I see what you did there.

I started off in business school with International Business but didnt like the strong financial aspect that much and found my groove in Communication. After that i thought i'd try and learn a thing or two about society and wound up in the liberal arts. Luckily there aren't too many 'hippy types' at my department. :pimp:

[iamsam]

It's like I get why some get off on denigrating the liberal art/humanities and at the same time I dont get it..

Just saying.

I had to look up "denigrate". Just saying. ;)

I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea, I have much respect for the liberal arts (just not as much for the ones I mentioned). Example: My dad majored in Russian at Princeton, then went to the Virginia School of Law, and he is a lawyer, and makes a very decent amount of money. I would sure be comfortable with his salary. I will probably never make as much.

[mtechnik]

It's like I get why some get off on denigrating the liberal art/humanities and at the same time I dont get it..

Just saying.

[iamsam]

I am going to go out on a limb and tell you college isn't always the best route for everyone. Before everyone starts giving me shit, let me emphasize a bit.

There are lists of "the top 10 party schools" or something similar to this and most people go to those for this very reason. How can anyone take a college/university seriously if they are basically paying $30K+ for 4 years of partying? Not to mention every average college student barely knows their head from their ass because of the continual use of drugs and getting smashed every night.

I know plenty of people who have 4 year degrees in many fields and have jack shit to show for it. So not only are they working in bullshit jobs, but they also have a nice amount of debt on their back. I personally don't like owing money in the long run, but to each their own.

The bullshit they feed you in school to tell you to go to college is turning into a propaganda in my opinion. "You'll make 1 million more over your lifetime than someone who hasn't gone to school" is one of the many quotes I have heard. What they didn't tell you is that you're paying student loans for the rest of your life. You feed the system, they will feed you the bullshit.

I was raised in a family under the assumption that hard work is key to success. Every one forgets about the "underdog" and "blue collar" jobs and automatically tries to shoot for the big bucks by being some business manager or vice CEO of a major company right out of college. Without these guys, none of us would have the resources that we have now.

OP, I went into the Army RIGHT after high school (literally 2 months after my graduation). In my brain, it seemed what was good for me at the time because I knew I had a solid future. I figured, "Hey, why not. I did JROTC for 4 years and I saw myself as a leader and could potentially be one". I went in as a Private First Class off the bat (because of JROTC) and there were people in there that did 4 years in college and all they had to show for it was one rank above me and NO common sense.

I work for Porsche and all I have is a high school diploma because I busted ass and showed to my superiors that I wasn't your average shmuck. Unfortunately, every employer wants a piece of paper that says you sat in classes for 4 years to identify you as "prospectable".

In the end, follow what YOU think is right. You're still young. You will change your mind from age 18 all the way up to 24, at least. This is a time where you will be forming into an adult (being 18 does not cut it as an adult, I am sure most people would agree).

(sorry for quoting this massive essay again)

But I agree mostly with that you have said above. Partying in school while getting some BS liberal arts degree (women's studies, africana studies, tuba performance - actual majors at my school) is useless, don't do it.

On the flip side however, busting your balls on an engineering degree that is actually applicable in the real world is worth every penny. If you are an engineer, you won't have time to party, you can't afford to be hung over, because you will instantly fail out. You will learn skills that you won't learn through experience (How to analyze a mechanical system for failure due to torsional, bending, etc loading, how to maximize the first few natural vibrational frequencies of a system to prevent an outside force from exciting a vibrational mode and destroying the system, etc), and the methods of thinking that you will be trained in will help you tackle real world design problems, which is useful, unlike, for example, being able to analyze the male and female social power dichotomy in society and the impact of the modern female on socio-economic standards. Or whatever.

Military ain't a bad idea either. I kinda wish I went back when I had the chance.