6 ms·

I am the first in my family to graduate from college. I grew up incredibly poor. It was presented as THE way out of poverty growing up. I work in a field comple

I am the first in my family to graduate from college. I grew up incredibly poor. It was presented as THE way out of poverty growing up. I work in a field completely unrelated to my degree. My university degree didn't help my earning potential. I ended up making plenty of money in tech, so my degree debt didn't matter much. I have a lot of kids. Only one of them has any plans on going to college. I try to dissuade my kids from going to college. There are a few degrees where going to school is the best path. But for most areas of higher education there are superior ways to learn the material, if the education is the goal. I majored in English Literature. Completely worthless degree. I should have just joined a few book clubs or hired a writing coach. Something like https://writeofpassage.school/ https://writeofpassage.school/. That would have been far less expensive and probably better. Higher education in the United States needs an overhaul. $34,000 in California is ridiculous. I hope they get their money on the path to us changing the foundation of higher education.

peanuty1 4y ago
Most tech companies' (like Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, etc) entry-level positions are new grad roles that require a degree.
polygamous_bat 4y ago
I believe there is a strong generational divide here. A lot of people from the previous generation seem to assume "My degree did not help me make it big/I made it big without a degree, so a degree is worthless" without realizing that the labor market has shifted (for various reasons, pick your favorite culprit) so much so that if you are looking for your first job, a lot of entry level positions will not even consider your application if you do not have a high level degree. I am glad you could make it big in tech without a degree in tech, but maybe it is necessary to rethink whether the same policy would work for your children.
- ndriscoll 4y ago
  Alternatively, work more actively to ensure that policy will work for them. e.g. develop enough of a network at a larger company that you know someone who can make exceptions to get them hired, work at a smaller company that has more flexible policies, or start your own company and have them work for you (which is really just the limiting case of approach 2).

peanuty1 4y ago

Most tech companies' (like Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, etc) entry-level positions are new grad roles that require a degree.

polygamous_bat 4y ago

I believe there is a strong generational divide here. A lot of people from the previous generation seem to assume "My degree did not help me make it big/I made it big without a degree, so a degree is worthless" without realizing that the labor market has shifted (for various reasons, pick your favorite culprit) so much so that if you are looking for your first job, a lot of entry level positions will not even consider your application if you do not have a high level degree. I am glad you could make it big in tech without a degree in tech, but maybe it is necessary to rethink whether the same policy would work for your children.

ndriscoll 4y ago
Alternatively, work more actively to ensure that policy will work for them. e.g. develop enough of a network at a larger company that you know someone who can make exceptions to get them hired, work at a smaller company that has more flexible policies, or start your own company and have them work for you (which is really just the limiting case of approach 2).