Reminder: Get your college degree

[Sammo]

Re: Different down under

Your slightly agrovated response was interesting WestCoaster.

Originally posted by WestCoaster
Have at it down under, but I'm working on the front lines in career counseling and talking to CEOS, managers, and so forth.

And they tell me it's only going to get more and more demanding in having to have that degree. I hear this on a weekly basis by the way.

Yes, you work at a university. Of course your going to hear that. Also, these CEO's are looking for people to work for their empire, so they want qualified people. However if you were to start your empire and build it beneath you rather then try to work your way up someone elses empire then you would never have people telling you to get a uni degree.

Think about it, trying to move up in a business involves you trying to prove yourself worthy to people above you while building the business from scratch involves people having to prove themselves to you.

It may be different in Australia.

It's different, but its not THAT different.

But who are you going to believe, someone who is talking to these CEOs on a regular basis and has factual information? Or some teenager in Australia, who is setting himself up for a huge fall just because he's too stubborn and/or lazy to make the sacrifice in college to better himself?

Yeah, who will you listen to? The fact that im a teenager is meant to mean i know nothing? I have done alot of reading and have considered it from all points of view.

The CEO's are giving you advice on working beneath them. "Get good qualifications because that what i look for when i want people to work under me. "

Also, i didnt like your tone in this post. I write back and i dont agree with you 100% so all of a sudden im stubborn and lazy? Listen up, don't think your point of view will always be more "factual" then mine just because of my age.

Stubborn? The only person here being stubborn is you my friend, you are telling me that im setting myself up for a big fall just because im "not going to uni". Nice one. I would never take advice from a person in such a bias position (such as, working at university).

It doesnt bother me though, it's people like you that tell me i can't do it that motivate me. You ever read a succesfull persons biography? I have read a ****load, and their filled with people like you telling them they wont make it. So go right on ahead, thats a sign that i've chosen the right road.

Go ahead, listen to some guy on the internet and not the CEOs and managers doing the hiring.

It's amazing that some people don't take this seriously and think they can change the minds of CEOs just with their own whacky beliefs.

Yeah guys, listen to the guys hiring, waste 3 years of your life in uni so you can work for them. People are always in it for themselves, never for you. When you meet someone they are ussually thinking about what they can get out of you. Friends and family are an exception.

Im not telling you to NOT GO TO UNI, i'm asking to look at all your options. Also, taking advice on wether you should go to college or not from a guy that works at one is probably not a good idea, you know what his advice will be no matter what the circumstance. People always think they have done the right thing with such a decision, so they think you should do the same as them.

Thanks for the motivation.

P.S. For the record im currently sitting on a 98 UAI which qualifies me to study law, actuarial studies, etc. at the ANU if i wish, so being stuborn & lazy isnt the issue. Maybe my ambition is more of the issue?

 

[Interpol]

If there is a good reason to go to college, it's for the experience and networking, not the degree.

The anti-college crowd is quick to point out that Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard. What they don't mention is that in the two years he was there, he met his business partner and MS co-founder Paul Allen.

Anytime you surround yourself with a group of the smartest, hardest working young people in the country (as you do by studying at an elite college) you immediately increase your chances of success tenfold.

Just remember, it takes MORE than just hard work to be successful in business.

 

[WestCoaster]

If you're a good entreprenuener, have at it

If you can build your own private business, have at it. I do know in the U.S., 9 out of 10 start-ups fail. All those dot.coms? Now dotbombs.

If you have venture captial and a steady flow of this venture captial, go for it. Remember, a steady flow of venture captial.

But if your business fails -- and there's a strong chance of that, unfortunately -- you need something to fall back on.

Actually, entreprenneuriars with degrees do the best because if their business fails, they can land better on their feet; and also rebound and start another business with better capital the next time around.

Sure, some of these CEOs may be blowing smoke, still I would believe them over a teen in Australia to be honest, and I think if you surveyed most Americans, they would, too. Not a flame, just the truth. If you went on the street and said, "A 16-year old Aussie says don't get a degree," people won't be lining up for that advice. But CEOs who lecture in the states draw 100's of people -- and I don't think the entire audience is stupid. So there's two lectures going on: A 16-year old who says don't get a degree; and a highly successful CEO who says get the degree ... I wonder which one won't be attended?

 

[comic_relief]

Sammo good luck

I sincerely wish you the best of luck on your venture but for the rest of you people that aren't planning on starting up your own business get the degree.

In my school, all of my teachers needed a degree and most in order to get more money need a masters in teaching. In my school, over half of the teachers have a masters degree.

Research the fields you are going to go into. Know what qualifications up your chances of getting that dream job. And work your a$$ off to get it. Even put it as a passion because this is a type of passion that can last you a long time.

Just ask any teacher or professional the question if they went to college and got there degree and I garuntee that alot of them had to or are going to get theres shortly like Westcoaster is saying.

This not going to college arguement is not a trap but if you don't know what you are getting yourself into it is most definately a trap.

Good luck in all future endeveors and plan accordingly.

 

[Stratocaster]

Look people....

Even if you go to college, it is common that you still won't make lots of money and your degree will not be useful.

The technique for college is to major in something that is actually lucrative. My step-brother is majoring in philosophy. Obviously, there isn't a damn person on the earth that is going to pay a philosopher $100,000 a year.

Most people where I go to school go to college with no idea what they are going to major in. The dumbass girls get their MRS. degrees. Other guys go to college cause thats what society says we should do. I totally agree. College is the gateway to lots of money IF YOU MAJOR IN SOMETHING THAT MAKES MONEY. If you can think of it, there is probably a major for it. But only those that are realistic and actually have concrete jobs pay the big bucks.

Folks,
Almost everything these days requires post high school education. Welders need to go to tech school, for example. Pick out a career you are interested in, and ask yourself "What do I need out of my education to start out with this job?"

Don't kid yourself, starting a wildly successful business without college has the same odds as becoming a professional football player.


More luck to you if you decide not to attend college. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Sammo]

Re: If you're a good entreprenuener, have at it

Originally posted by WestCoaster
If you can build your own private business, have at it. I do know in the U.S., 9 out of 10 start-ups fail. All those dot.coms? Now dotbombs.

If you have venture captial and a steady flow of this venture captial, go for it. Remember, a steady flow of venture captial.

But if your business fails -- and there's a strong chance of that, unfortunately -- you need something to fall back on.

Actually, entreprenneuriars with degrees do the best because if their business fails, they can land better on their feet; and also rebound and start another business with better capital the next time around.

Start-up business's ussually go under in Australia as well, this is a fact. However this is more because of people not getting enough research done before they start.

I can fall back on a normal job, it's easy to get in to the public service with out going to uni, (like my brother has) and he is earning a fairly decent income.

As i stated earlier, going to uni for 3 years just in case i fail seems stupid in my oppinion.

Sure, some of these CEOs may be blowing smoke, still I would believe them over a teen in Australia to be honest, and I think if you surveyed most Americans, they would, too. Not a flame, just the truth. If you went on the street and said, "A 16-year old Aussie says don't get a degree," people won't be lining up for that advice. But CEOs who lecture in the states draw 100's of people -- and I don't think the entire audience is stupid. So there's two lectures going on: A 16-year old who says don't get a degree; and a highly successful CEO who says get the degree ... I wonder which one won't be attended? [/B]

The things i come up with arent from me, they are from the people i have studied. Robert Kiyosaki, Richard Branson, etc. Im just passing their information on, so who would you rather listen to, these CEO's or some of the most rich and famous men in the world?

Ill say it again, as i said before i never said DONT GET A DEGREE, i said LOOK AT ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS.

Also, MOST people wouldn't listen to these peoples advice, and this is why most people arent rich.

 

[Centaurion]

i you are really into it, then go for it man. But before you take that step, sit down and think about this very carefully. Ask yourself if you are willing to commit yourself to something like this, starting up a business is NOT a part-time thing. You have to want it to succeed more than you ever wanted anything else, and also, you have to be willing to sacrifice a good deal of your time and resources.

I remember making my first profit, it was about 10 bucks, yeah i know it wasnt much, but it gave me this immense pleasure that is impossible to describe. I'd made something by myself

When i started up my business, I worked there everyday after school and on the weekends. This went on from the 6th grade till the 10th grade. Then when i started Senior HS, I cut it down to weekends and even took another job working at a supermarket.

I didnt have any sparetime besides school and work, and I got teased and made fun of ALOT during these years.

But it paid off. Funny thing is that after the business startet to pick up, these same kids that made fun of me, actually came to me and asked to borrow money, or a part-time job. And in my senior year, I went on vacation 6times, to different countries, I totally let loose and had a blast.

well, so much for that story.

if you want it bad, then by all means go for it, but remember it takes a lot of sacrificing to make it in the real world.

 

[Sammo]

Originally posted by Centaurion
i you are really into it, then go for it man. But before you take that step, sit down and think about this very carefully. Ask yourself if you are willing to commit yourself to something like this, starting up a business is NOT a part-time thing. You have to want it to succeed more than you ever wanted anything else, and also, you have to be willing to sacrifice a good deal of your time and resources.

I remember making my first profit, it was about 10 bucks, yeah i know it wasnt much, but it gave me this immense pleasure that is impossible to describe. I'd made something by myself

When i started up my business, I worked there everyday after school and on the weekends. This went on from the 6th grade till the 10th grade. Then when i started Senior HS, I cut it down to weekends and even took another job working at a supermarket.

I didnt have any sparetime besides school and work, and I got teased and made fun of ALOT during these years.

But it paid off. Funny thing is that after the business startet to pick up, these same kids that made fun of me, actually came to me and asked to borrow money, or a part-time job. And in my senior year, I went on vacation 6times, to different countries, I totally let loose and had a blast.

well, so much for that story.

if you want it bad, then by all means go for it, but remember it takes a lot of sacrificing to make it in the real world.

Thankyou for the warning, but yes i do want it that bad.