The TAMU thread got me thinking.

These days with many colleges going WOKE and pushing crap to young people plus tuition costs are astronomical, especially with brandon paying for EDI tuition, is college really needed these days? Yes for doctors, nursing, etc.

Sports? Is your kid getting a full ride? is there a PRO future possible?

If your kid is not the brightest crayon like me, would they be better off learning a trade?

people like me are destine for sales because we have ADHD and can't concentrate on anything for very long.

Its so hard for kids these days if their lives revolve around social media.

Depends on what the kids what to do with their lives. Doctors, engineers, etc., like you said - absolutely yes.

College has never been necessary. Most of the richest people in the world are college dropouts. Now it's almost a negative.

The airplane was invented by two brothers who were high school dropouts.

This if the career choice requires it. Otherwise a good trade can have high earning potential. I would rather see my kids go to college and get a bachelor's at the least in a degree that will be used.

Do engineers make much yearly? I would be surpised if they cleared 125K per year.

Doctors seem like a lot of work and education for a long time until they start making money.

Same as others have said, depends on the career choice

I just have a high school education and my secretary had a masters degree.

I don't know about "necessary" but it's just as important as it ever was, if not more IMO. I was with the same company 28 years, made a change to a different company in the same industry almost two years ago. The degree requirement was in place at both companies.

On the related topic of making a change, the interview and hiring process had really changed. 28 years ago I had an interview and supplied a certified transcript. This one, three interviews, I had to give a 45 minute power point presentation to the management team on myself, career highlights, education, experience, projects completed, etc........., drug test, background investigation on everything I had told them about my education and work history along with other "events" that could have been out there.....they really want to know who they're hiring.

If the profession you want to pursue requires it, then yes. But I know MANY recent high school graduates going the trade route and already making good money. Several are working along side someone else, like an apprentice, and learning the profession. Some have taken certification courses for their new profession also, like real estate or mechanic. There are many jobs that do not require a degree.

100%

Not only does it depend on the job, it also depends on the major. I might offend a few folks, with few exceptions, I think a Liberal Arts degree is worthless in terms of applying it to most jobs. There are plenty of other degrees that aren't worthwhile either. But, other degrees like Business are still very applicable and almost nobody will get hired without a degree. My oldest son is a sophomore at the McCombs School of Business at UT. It's very demanding, but grads coming out of there will have solid jobs as soon as they graduate.

It really depends on the type of engineer and location. Mechanical, civil, chemical, software, etc. The bigger cities will obviously typically pay more but straight out of school, and depending on location, you could expect anywhere from 60-100k for a jr. mechanical engineer. Designers would be a good bit less. Big cities, I've seen software engineers in the 3-400k.

Even a bachelors in business isn't very desirable today in my opinion. Some kids major in sales. Sales?? Need to get an MBA and have it be in finance, international finance is even better.

Yep, McCombs turns out money makers. Everyone that I know including my son that come out of there, come out smelling like roses. Programs matter.

Different strokes for different folks. I went to a junior college for 3 semesters and was not for me. Make more now than 95% of the college educated people I know. Not bragging, "Just the facts Ma'am".

kids with sever ADHD also have the ability to channel extreme hyper focus. Excuses are dumb.

College is for STEM.

yes lots of engineers start off that high or higher.

A lot depends on the college. My son is seriously considering LeTorneau in Longview, incredible engineering program, they have a 98% job placement rate in the field he wants to go in and the starting pay is more than I make now. It is also a private school with Christian values and classes are small and hands on. But college has never been needed. Plenty of trade jobs that need to be filled and those are great options.

I will make 6 figures this year as a firefighter. Luckily my wife makes more than me. I have a degree but it’s been basically worthless and cost me about $45k.

We only encourage our children to go college if it’s required for what they want their career to be. Both my kids will likely finish in the top 5% of their class, one with a chance at valedictorian.

My youngest wants to go into the medical field so she will go to college most likely.

My oldest will likely finish as valedictorian or salutatorian, she has no idea what she wants to do so until she does I will not encourage her to go to college.

think college helps choose the path. It helps us figure out what we want without letting us get to far gone. There are exceptions like gender studies idiots.

If you are going to spend the money on college, you need a good idea what you are going to do with that degree. Don’t get what I call a garbage degree such as general liberal arts. Spend money (on college) to make money later. BOBO is right on the STEM degrees.

We have 4 grandkids. Oldest is a lawyer and will make a ton of money (had to have a degree). Next is a gal that works in the Mortgage business (had to have a degree). Number 3 is at Texas Tech and clueless about most everything. He’ll get a degree, but it’s a question mark on what he’ll do with it. I really don’t think he could go into the Trades. Zero useful skills. We worry. Number 4 is in Film School at Pace University in NYC. She knows what she wants to do, and she’ll be successful. She thinks Number 3, her brother, is a DA.

I am, or I was, a Chemical Engineer. Had a great career and made good money. Both younger brothers got degrees (general business). The older went into managing tractor dealerships. Made a lot of money. The younger went into Insurance. We thought he’d starve. He has out earned us all.

Every one of the brothers, sisters, kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews needed college degrees to do what they did and are doing. But Number 3 is still a concern. We shall see…

Speaking specifically of engineers, there are two basic types - the geek, and the commercial guy. At about 7 years of work as an engineer, there’s a fork in the road. Geeks stay in engineering because they live to do that. The commercial guys are generally recognized as such and move into a commercial role in the corporate office. I took the commercial path, as did the Chem E daughter and the Chem E fellow she married. She retired in her 40’s and the hubby makes something on the order of at least $400k a year plus bonus.

I'll add another +1 on the STEM and medical side. Youngest daughter got a degree in theatre design. 15 years and several other jobs later, she still doesn't do well financially. Middle daughter is majoring in nursing and will do well. Youngest will major in an operationally focused Cyber degree and will do well when he graduates.

One thing that doesn't get discussed much when people are pushing trade jobs is will you still be physically able to do that job when you are 45, 55, 65? Not everyone is cut out to be a chief. Most people will go their entire lives as indians. If you can't make the jump from an indian to a chief, you better save a lot when you are younger because you may not be physically able to do that plumbing/electrical/mechanical job when you get older. Compare that to a 60 year old stem guy guy sitting at a desk. Unless his brain goes on the fritz, he will still have the ability to sit there when he's 70. To me, that's one of the biggest things I worry about when I tell people they can make a lot of money in the trades and not with a meaningful degree that leads to a white collar job.

If the career you want requires it, then yes it’s necessary.

Now if you’re asking if a college degree’s cost is justified? Most likely no.

When my son starts college in 2036, it’s estimated that Texas Tech will cost $280,000 for a bachelor’s degree. That really makes college questionable.

My wife paid her way through college at UTD, came out with zero debt and had zero financial assistance while doing it. Sure it took her 8 years instead of 4, but she worked full time during those years and that is what lead her to the career she is in now.

solid plan