I think we have done a terrible job of expanding and reinforcing trade schools. And I agree is another form of a degree

Why do people without degrees always seem to find pleasure in knocking those with an education? Not everyone wants to put tires on a Chevy at some plant in Arlington their entire life. Sure, you may make a lot of money but so what? If money is all that drives you then great. However, there are people who are driven by things other than bank accounts.

Speaking as an electrician. I started at 19 got my license in 4 years. Yes you can make a living in the trades. My last stent in the electrical business I missed my daughters 1st Easter. I was working 60 to 80 hours a week. The construction business in and around the metroplex is nuts. The schedules have gotten worse and worse since I've been in the construction field. The more you make doing electrical work the less work you do but the more is expected of you. If you're a superintendent you don't schedule your vacation when it's convenient for you but vice versa. A good superintendent is making 6 figures in the dfw market but most work more weekend than not and have forgotten what an 8 hour day is. I walked away and don't plan on going back.

Goes back to the quality of life thing I was talking about.

As with everything in life, there are exceptions to the rule and peoples views will be swayed by what they are around or know, and not what the actual facts or research bares out.

I can tell you my degree has made a big difference in my ability to earn money. But that doesn't mean you can't make money without a degree. There are plenty of highly motivated people out there that will do just fine in life because they want to be successful financially There are plenty others out there who don't need financial success to feel successful and will be happy making less money but having more time to themselves. Everybody has their different idea of what they want and it is hard to quantify the quality of life across spectrums.

However, in the big picture, a degree is going to mean more earning power. An advanced degree even more. As SA said in this thread earlier, comparing top earners to top earners, degreed folks will win out 98-99% of the time.

I have no degree. College is good for some and not for others. in general working hard and always trying to better yourself and those you work for/work with is the difference maker.
I have never met a physically able person with want too and drive that did not make a good living, college or not.

No doubt about that!

Take a look at what those people hanging tires on Tahoes and Suburbans are making, and you will understand why new GM vehicles cost what they cost.

It also looks like UAW just came to a tentative agreement with GM for the workers to make more.

And yes, I have a Bachelors Degree that I actually use every day in my field. I also know people that are diesel mechanics with degrees from UTI that make twice what I make.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

The concept of having to pay to sit and listen to super weird professors for 4 years so that I could be successful in life always made me laugh. I didn't go and have zero regrets.

For sure college isn't for everybody and it really shouldn't be for everybody. The biggest fallacy put upon the people is that every deserves a college education, simply not true and is a big reason for several problems with higher education (1. the cost, 2. the useless degrees that are given, 3. the number of college dropouts, 4. the "collegel experience" vs education, 5. the whackadoodle professors, etc., etc).

Skilled labor is in demand and there simply aren't enough people willing to go that route, partly because the concept of having 4-6 more years of fun for "free" is appealing to most HS students, but also there has been a stigma applied to labor that I think Obama really laid heavy in a big travesty to the population.

College is not required to be a good productive member of society. College is not required to do well financially (not doubt it helps tho). College does nothing to help someones work ethic.

Yes. Ideally it's 98.6°F.

Ha, a family member has the same. I assume it's a tremendous value to their accounting job.

BS Computer Science

PhD in hard knocks here.

BS in BS

BS in Business Mgmt and Mktg

Went through and completed a four year apprenticeship with Carpenters & Millwrights of Houston & Vicinity and a three year apprenticeship with ExxonMobil Machinist. Not sure if that counts for much and doesn't affect my current position with XOM

I once dated a zero turn chick who has a Master in Bation

I guess I wadnt good enough

Great post. I do have a degree, and fully support the trade school route as well.

No degree, never even considered college.

On a more serious note : U still have dove?

Holy crap that made laugh out loud, especially where I work, in a kiddie prison, that is always observable....

No degree with me but I retired from the work a day world at 54 but I choose to work on my own and will as long as I am able.

Not if you are a dumbass...important things get lost in the translation

I told my kids, and now my grandkids, it is possible to make good money without a degree, but it's a lot easier with one. A degree opens doors. Without one, you will probably have to work harder and longer and you may never get past living paycheck to paycheck...but there are exceptions. Personality, competitiveness, social skills, entrepreneurial spirit, and just plain luck all have an impact, with or without a degree.

After high school, I attended a short training program and became an engineering technician with the highway department in another state. I worked side by side with degreed engineers and after a few months, I was doing nearly the same work they were doing, but I came to realize without that piece of paper I would earn half as much as they did for the rest of my life. That was my motivation. After four years of active duty military and penny-pinching through five years of college, I earned my engineering degree and things have been pretty good since.

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