Does that little piece of paper really mean anything? That is something that has been asked by many, many people over the years and this is just my opinion......
I'm sure, that over a person's normal life time, if you get a college education in the traditional sense right out of high school, it likely will pay for itself. The individual still has to utilize the skills and knowledge they have obtained in the choosen field of study and aggressively pursue opportunities with greater responsibility. Pretty simple concept.
But, what about those of us who receive our degrees later in life?
Take me for example. I'll be 49 when I graduate from college. That is about 27 years later than many, 26 if you factor in a 5th year. I worked at one job nearly that long before making a switch almost two years ago. The money I've spent in order to obtain this degree has been on the level of, well.....let's just suffice to say that college is expensive, no matter when you go. So, am I going to suddenly start earning more money because I have a diploma to hang on the wall? Probably not. I'm going to have to follow my own advice and try and make it pay off well before my current employer can make it worth the effort it took to get it. Will that happen overnight? No, probably not. I like my job. I like the area we live in. I like my house. So why bother at all?
I've asked myself that many times the last few years. It became personal at some point. I've had a very supporting wife and family who have encouraged me along the way. I'm anxious to frame the diploma and put it right next to my wife's undergrad and masters diplomas. I want the sense of accomplishment that comes with it and I want to be able to answer that damn question about education with "college graduate" instead of "some college". You all know the one. (Like it matters).
Will I ever get the money back that I've invested? I hope so. It isn't every day that you have a nearly 50 year old college graduate, but I can tell you this.....its more common now than many of you think. Had a guy been able to purchase stock in the field of education 25 years ago, that money would be worth a lot more today. Since you can't, the value is an investment in self. That alone has to be worth something. What you do with it isn't necessarily where all the value lies.......
There are a lot of factors in life that make a person more marketable. A college education is only one of them and my personal feelings are that the education portion is over-rated and over priced. I will be no better or different when I finish in April than I was when I started. Having lived life and experienced some of the things life offers.......I can tell you without reservation that college has been much easier the second time around because of the those experiences. My feelings are those things are more valuable than showing a future employer that I had the fortitude and perseverance to finish college. Maybe that's too simplistic. It just seems, now having done it, to be seriously over-rated. And don't get me wrong, I certainly see the other side, obviously, and could argue the finer points of having an education and what it does for you. I'll save that for conversations with my grand-daughter. Hopefully, she travels the more traditional route in obtaining her higher education and takes a little friendly advice from grandpa in that regard.
I will tell her that education opens doors that otherwise might not open. That alone might be the greatest value of all. Is it right? Nope. But it is what it is. So educate yourself. Answer that question with "College Graduate". I am.
Yes, I too have asked myself this very same question and will continue to ask myself this question. I agree it is more than over rated and above all WAY too expensive. I would be considered the "traditional" college student, and even I question whether it will pay off. In addition to being a tradional college student I have already gained the knowledge that your degree will not suddenly make any difference in your paycheck or even be directly reflected in your current job position. I already know that the only way to be compensated for this "piece of paper" is by changing employers, and honestly...lieing about your last salary, lol. I am $150k in debt from school, it will be so long from now that this debt will be paid off, that I cannot imagine a life without $1,000/monthly payments. So at the end of the day, for my own personal justification and sanity, I too will/have convinced myself that having this piece of paper, gives me a feeling of accomplishment. (some days this mind game works, other days...not so much) :). I am very proud of you, you have earned it!
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