My school is r3v

[project86]

You can work for "the man" whether you have a degree or not. The presence of a degree just means that you will receive more compensation from the corporate machine in exchange for services rendered and work performed. Some people don't go to school just to ensure a high paying job in the future, some just like knowledge, learning and ideas, just the same as some people like cars. Eventually we all have to break down and get a job and make money somehow, but passion is more important. Congratulations on finding something that you are passionate about. Most people in college have no passion for anything that they do. Their souls are bought and sold like material goods. Others do have passion and school is what they love. No need for a blanket statement like college sucks or cars suck. Do what you love and do it with maximum effort and then no matter what happens at least you can look at yourself in the mirror and know that no one controls you, that no one owns you. Someone on this forum has a quote in his sig from Emiliano Zapata that says "it is better to die on your feet then to live on your knees." I think this pretty much sums up what I am trying to say.

[quikveedb2]

oh yeah, i forgot to add the ;)

lmao, classic

project86, you are a true philosopher

[Farbin Kaiber]

What are we looking at that one picture was not enough?

[PiercedE30]

I went to college, but I didn't stay for too long. The first time I went I fucked off and screwed up. The second time around I had changed enough to realize that it is difficult for me to learn anything without hands on stuff. College just wasn't something that I am good at.
Between going to college I was working as a Journeyman Iron worker doing industrial construction. I absolutely LOVED doing it. I was having fun, making money, being around people that were absolutely great. In six months I was able to make 45 thousand dollars. That was before I was 21. Right now I'm working at an independent shop. I'm not making anywhere near the amount of money I was making. I'm going back to working construction after the first of the year.

If you like what you are doing, you're happy, and making money, keep doing what you are doing.

[LivingLegend06]

I think I'm going to stick with my school. Average salary for a mechanical engineer is $73,861 and the entire workforce is employed. This is from Mondays article in the daily journal of commerce.

Average starting salaries straight out of college is 50k+ and some high %90 of graduates get work within the first year.

To me this just seems like an easy way to do things. I know that I'm going to make money and I know I'm going to be employed. Without a degree its still possible for me to be just as successful, I just feel that with a degree I have a lot more secure future and direction to my life.

[CorvallisBMW]

I think I'm going to stick with my school. Average salary for a mechanical engineer is $73,861 and the entire workforce is employed. This is from Mondays article in the daily journal of commerce.

Average starting salaries straight out of college is 50k+ and some high %90 of graduates get work within the first year.

To me this just seems like an easy way to do things. I know that I'm going to make money and I know I'm going to be employed. Without a degree its still possible for me to be just as successful, I just feel that with a degree I have a lot more secure future and direction to my life.

Exactly. We have a 100% placement rate for the last 5 years for industrial engineers here. Guaranteed job w/ benefits + $50K or more first year + excellent job security = FTMFW

[Dave]

i love all the people trying to rationalize underachievement

Slacker Nation!!!!!

[Turf1600]

i'm with you dude, 100%. i'm 22, own a house, lots of toys, good job, no degree (20 credits shy of a bs).

while i think school is really important, its not everything. 90% of my friends went to 4 year colleges... they don't have shit to show for it, but a $7/hr job and a bunch of school debt. us 10% still go to school, own houses, pay off school debt as it comes, and already make a good amount of money for our age. and one thing we have over the school boys... 4 years of real world experience! it cannot be replaced. guess how long its going to take them to catch up?

Thank god. I love you man! I was starting to doubt myself lol

[Turf1600]

uh yeah, except i worked in the field which i was studying while in school, so when i was done i had a degree and the 4 years of experience, in addition to the years of experience in the field i compiled before i started my college education. how long until the no school boys catch up to that?

;)

How long until you catch up to 2 fully funded IRAS?

[mudflaps]

just join the military, that way you can blow shit up and get a sweet paycheck.

[craig4ie]

I believe a person's success is in their own hands. Whether they have an education or not does not necessarily matter. Those who are motivated and driven to succeed will most often find a way to do so.

That said, In five months I will be graduating with my bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. I have a 50K+ job waiting for me (to start) that has huge advancement potential. I will be employable all over the world for the rest of my life.

This opportunity has been made possible by my education.

and...for the rest of my life, people with goofy arts degrees will serve coffee to me!!!

[LINUS]

I hope maybe one of you 18 year old kids will listen to me, as I'm the voice of 35 year old you telling you to stay in school. At least for those of you being lured by the money of trade work, thinking that that's a way better way to go than to rack up student loans.

I know the quick cash sounds good now vs. going to school, but do you really want to be out in the elements, doing blue collar work when you hit your 50th birthday?

I fell for the cash, and now due to blowing my back I'm being given, or converting what my situation is, the opportunity to go back to school. Somehow I made it to 35 without most of the scars (alimony, children, whatever) that a lot of people have.

But no more.

I plan to get dragged kicking & screaming out of graduate school somewhere - and honestly then it would only be for a job that I am passionate about & that pays well enough that I never have to balance a checkbook, just round off in my head. Paid well enough that I can comfortably afford my DD being a leased car, and not some Toyota Tercel either.

Don't get me wrong - I love working outside. I'm at home when I've got water dripping off my nose & I start the morning with a hot cup of coffee outside on a cold jobsite. The big "BUT" is that it's kinda heavy labor - and it's getting to be tough @ 35, let alone doing it on my 45th, 55th, and quite possibly my 65th birthday. F that.

Just because I'm good at most heavy trades doesn't mean I have to do it as a profession. Pick something that's not overly taxing, and save your skills for your fun time projects. I'd sooner finish law school & do that for work, leaving things like welding & such for hobbies.

But whatever - we all need mechanics & construction workers. Just realize that when you hit the salary cap quite quickly, that the degreed individual will still be increasing in his salary worth all through his late 30's, 40's, & 50's - he might even be so "into" his profession that he doesn't want to quit the very 1st day he's eligible for retirement.

Not to say that blue collar guys don't want to stay out there past the very day thay can retire, but your body is generally so worn out you are counting down the days until you can just call it good, stay home & give your body a rest from that trade work.

If you think I'm full of crap, whatever - Have a nice day.

[quikveedb2]

How long until you catch up to 2 fully funded IRAS?

ok, what does an ira have to do with education, i'd say thats more of a matter of ones financial allocations wouldn't you? the post isn't "r3v is my financial advisor." wow, what a great argument, its hard to reply when the statement has so little to do with the discussion. at what point did i or anyone say that you can't lead a fullfilling, successful life & career without a degree? it's been proven that college graduates make more, on average, that non college grads, repeatedly. your an exception, congrats, way to not brag. not everyone will be so lucky. are you picking me because i'm "new" here, because i'm not really new to the intraweb, or petty, insecure statements. get over yourself. those with educations seem to understand that we're not all cut out for higher education, while those without continue to justify themselves, while no one is arguing with them. and if you are in the process of getting a degree, what kind of anti-education leg do you have to stand on anyway. why not retire and let some other guy have your office & sweet job to better those who chose not to further their education, those you defend.

seems linus hit that nail, imo.

oh, and i get to paid to post to, while i work from home. the couch is my office, so is the chairlift.

[whiltebeitel]

This thread isn't "college vs. trade" either. it's "the guys at my tech school are just like the goofers on r3v"

Thread jack FTL

[StereoInstaller1]

OK since this thread has turned into kind of a shitfest, let me throw a bit more, please.

It is really easy to get a job as a ditch digger with a masters degree.

It is impossible to get a job as a (lawyer, doctor, engineer, whatever) without a diploma.

Get your degree NOW, while you can.

If I read this right, I am the oldest person to post in your thread.

I am 44. I have been doing what I do since 1980. I am the #1 most experienced stereo installer in the state of Oregon. Big fucking deal. That and $2 will get you a cup of coffee most anywhere.

When I was young, I was making $45K/yr on average...age 22 and on. Busting my ass, I made about $60K in 1985...WAY fucking more money than most any damn doctor or lawyer I knew.

I am a 9th grade dropout.

The money dried up...bad. In 1995, I made about $30K. Hows that sound...10 years more experience, HUGE inflation in cost of living, and I made half as much money.

How the hell was I to know the money would end? How was I to know I would hurt myself many many times....spend months on end lying on my back hurting so fucking bad it took 10 minutes to get up to go piss?

Trust me on this...finish your degree (ANY fucking degree!) NOW, while you can.

Luke