Undergrad Debt, how much did you incur?

[jimsill]

including my MBA, i racked up about $23K. Like many of you, i was disenchanted upon entering the job market after my schooling to realize that a degree from a competitive, nationally recognized private school does not guarantee competitive pay. Even with an MBA, intership experience, and solid undergrad acheivements, my best offer was $48K to start, and involved an out of state move. Dejected, i started working for my father in the business i now own, a painting and restoration business. I make close to double what my friends make who entered the job market out of school like i had intended to do.

On another note, as a small business owner who does alot of residential work where cash trasnactions are frequent, it really doesnt matter "how much you make", its "how much you keep", in the end, that really counts.

[Jonathan Chan]

College degrees don't get you high paying jobs (in most fields) - experience and willingness to bust your butt do. I know of a good number of people (myself possibly included) who quit college early to get into their respective field and after about 5-6 years were over the $130k mark with no school debt. Unfortunately I don't know too many colleges that teach you to be a good DBA (for example.) Logic, common sense and a drive to make yourself and your organization the best it can be is where the money is.

None of that applies to doctors, lawyers or financial planners :)

Actually, a college degree and experience get you high paying jobs, combined with that willingness to bust your ass.

An in regards to future pay, 5 - 6 years after a good undergrad program (and maybe a masters) will net you the 6 figures if you play your cards right. By then, if you're 100% stupid or retarded, you should be doing pretty well for yourself, regardless of what path you've chosen and if you stick with it.

What you said about logic, common sense, and personal ambition/drive is all up to you to pick up and learn. College isn't always what's taught in the classroom, but the life lessons everyone learns going through the experience.

If you want to be good at something (while in college) and sticking with the DBA example, you should be doing internships when you can while in school. That sets you apart from the droves of other people wanting to get into a field. Internships provide that real world experience, without having a lot of responsibility while you're taking a full class load.

I know that when I started college, it was the norm to think that you pick a good internship your junior year, and they'd hire you after you graduate. Now, in order to even get a decent offer, you need to load up on as many internships as you can (in the field you want to work in) and use that in your portfolio of skill sets.

That said.. I interned for four summers (and part time during the school year) at big ad agencies and market research firms. Now I'm going into systems engineering :rofl

[trashcop 80s 80s]

That is $14000 just for tuition and rent. Not to mention food and gas, because I still work.

What school are you going to attend?

[yberther]

I'm a freshman at UW and I'm 10k in :\

[kylebes1]

What school are you going to attend?

Kennesaw State. $7000.00 is for my housing, which is pretty much a university owned apartment complex. 6 hours over the Summer cost right at $1000.00. I have to take 14 in the fall and another 14 in the Spring. Maybe it is more or less, either way I got to get the grades from now on. Ain't no dumby, but I have messed up lately.