What's your highest degree earned ?

[oakpope]

French 'Grande Ecole' system is somewhat difficult to translate in American/British systems. But I'm an Ingénieur d'Etat in nuclear physics. (5 years after high school, the first two being a huge contest among the top students).

I got no job in physics ever, I'm being employed as a project manager in software development.

 

[JPGhost]

What are you on about? So many of the world leaders and business leaders are arts graduates.

.
..
huh?

 

[mbamike]

As the name implies, I have a Master of Business Administration degree.

 

[frankfrank]

I finished the 5th grade, failed the 6th twice, skipped the 7th, then did 3 months of the 8th grade, after this I finished the 9th.
Skipped the 7th isn't truthful, I had been expelled and did not return to a class room until the last quarter of the 8th grade.

I think this is the first time I've ever heard of somebody failing at least one grade AND skipping at least one grade.

Being expelled means that "skip" might not be the proper word, as you say...but when you did return to school, you skipped 7th Grade AT THAT MOMENT that you were re-enrolled into the 8th instead of the 7th.

I segued directly from first grade to third grade, skipping Second.

I got a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, and I stopped right then-and-there. I had no motivation at all for further schooling, and it wouldn't have done me any good for the type of person I was at the time - with NO ambition for having a position "over" a few (or tens of thousands) of employees, etc. I STILL don't have that personality.

I use extremely little of what I learned at University, but it still covered/covers everything that I needed.

 

[zombiekiller]

I didn't mean for you to take it literally that every arts graduate would become a world leader, just you were saying we are all a bunch of bitches that can do nothing in life because we made the awful decision to do a subject we enjoy rather than one that simply leads to a job.

I didn't say you are a bunch of bitches. I even said kudos to you if you really really want to go down that route.

The fact remains that there are certain majors where a large percentage of graduates end up working at minimal wage jobs. Philosophy is one. My old ethics professor even admitted that a lot of people he knew from grad school drove taxi for a living.

Engineering isn't what I want to do 100%. But it puts food on the table. It's also putting my boyfriend through college. During my free time, I work on my apps, something that I enjoy greatly.

And that's what I suggest people do. Make sure they can put food on the table first, then spend the weekend throwing paint against the wall to make the next modern art hit piece.

 

[peeonme]

I think this is the first time I've ever heard of somebody failing at least one grade AND skipping at least one grade.

Being expelled means that "skip" might not be the proper word, as you say...but when you did return to school, you skipped 7th Grade AT THAT MOMENT that you were re-enrolled into the 8th instead of the 7th.

It was an odd situation, I was a bit screwed up after my dad died, then we moved to a small town where I was not well received in the middle of my 6th grade year, the teacher flunked me, the next year went no better. Then the teacher claimed that I was retarded and
and I was expelled, the court stepped in and had some test ran on me, it turned out that my IQ was above average.
The teacher then told the judge that I needed to be "sent away", by this time I should have been in the 8th grade. The school that I was sent to told me to do 8th grade work, I did well, got A's and B's, then the next year I went into the 9th grade and did well again,
after this I was sent home, I really did not trust the school system and got the hell out as soon as possible.
I must admit that I have some envy for all of you that have a formal education.

 

[Kyanimal]

I agree with JonnyAnger; the time spent learning is more important than the final result.

Things other than book learning at university are life lessons such as managing your finances, negotiating your way home inebriated, and fending for yourself when you face the possibility of no fresh underwear by Friday and you need to do the laundry. Learning to cook or face another can of beans or instant noodle. I think character building is a very important thing you gained whilst in university.

The things I found most useful, post college, was all that I'd learned outside of the classroom. Nothing can compare to actual Experience.

Please take note of my sig.

 

[Taralen]

I graduated High School.

Dropped out of college four times the last time being around this time last year.

 

[Latimer]

Bachelor of Science (Microbiology and Biochemistry), Honours Bachelor of Science in Medicine (Clinical Pharmacology), Ph.D in Medicine (Clinical Pharmacology).




That said... should've been an accountant.

-d-

Why? Your resume' is very impressive, and I assume your career is equally so.

 

[travis82]

Bachelor degree in Accounting. Worst decision of my life.


I never knew how much I hated accounting. I basically sleepwalk through the entire course.


Then I discover life of an accountant/auditor is not blissful at all. Long, terrible working hours, never ending workload.....


And on top of that, most finance/accounting departments are heavily dominated by women.


Can you imagine I am practically the only guy in the accounting department of the company I used to work for ? All my colleagues were females!!!


And let's just say....having a female supervisor/ female account manager is not the best thing in the world.



Right now, I'm just relying on my diploma to help me get work.

 

[zombiekiller]

I graduated High School.

Dropped out of college four times the last time being around this time last year.

College isn't for everyone. I've known plenty of people who found their calling in fields that don't require a college degree.

 

[blackbeltninja]

I didn't mean for you to take it literally that every arts graduate would become a world leader, just you were saying we are all a bunch of bitches that can do nothing in life because we made the awful decision to do a subject we enjoy rather than one that simply leads to a job.

I'm not entirely sure I agree with this in practice.

There are too many people wandering around with masses of debt having done a degree in something like gender studies or art history or French literature who are completely unemployable simply because those fields are over-subscribed and/or irrelevant.

The University I lecture and work at produces hundreds of these people itself. What are you, a South African, going to do in this country with a double-major in Greek Classics and Philosophy? I suspect this can be applied to any country.

People should realise that there is a bigger world in vocational training, and phase out programmes which are costly with little benefit. That there are universities renowned for liberal arts programmes churning out unemployable debt-laden graduates in droves is just ridiculous in the 21st century with its horrendous economy.

-d-

 

[zoltanspawn]

I'm not entirely sure I agree with this in practice.

There are too many people wandering around with masses of debt having done a degree in something like gender studies or art history or French literature who are completely unemployable simply because those fields are over-subscribed and/or irrelevant.

The University I lecture and work at produces hundreds of these people itself. What are you, a South African, going to do in this country with a double-major in Greek Classics and Philosophy? I suspect this can be applied to any country.

People should realise that there is a bigger world in vocational training, and phase out programmes which are costly with little benefit. That there are universities renowned for liberal arts programmes churning out unemployable debt-laden graduates in droves is just ridiculous in the 21st century with its horrendous economy.

-d-

I couldn't stomach having a degree that is useful but meaningless. Gross.

Of course, I didn't pay as much as the current generation does for my education. So I endured far less stress over the economic value of it; which is as it should be.

 

[zombiekiller]

I'm not entirely sure I agree with this in practice.

There are too many people wandering around with masses of debt having done a degree in something like gender studies or art history or French literature who are completely unemployable simply because those fields are over-subscribed and/or irrelevant.

The University I lecture and work at produces hundreds of these people itself. What are you, a South African, going to do in this country with a double-major in Greek Classics and Philosophy? I suspect this can be applied to any country.

People should realise that there is a bigger world in vocational training, and phase out programmes which are costly with little benefit. That there are universities renowned for liberal arts programmes churning out unemployable debt-laden graduates in droves is just ridiculous in the 21st century with its horrendous economy.

-d-

And this is where (I think) political correctness again fails some young people.

Nowadays, the politically correct thing to say is everyone is special, everyone can achieve anything, everyone can become the president, everyone can major in art and become the next da Vinci, etc. It's a shame that not more people are willing to say to young people that they should have a more realistic expectation of life.

I say this because I've seen too many majored in something that has no use and ended unemployable or working a minimum wage job. Like I said earlier, I dated a guy who had a masters in art. He was good looking. Actually, very pretty to look at. Charming personality. Tried to get a job at various art institutes forever. Just ended up making coffee at starbucks.

Again, I'm not saying money is everything. But how are we suppose to pursue happiness if we have to constantly live paycheck to paycheck?

And what about following our dreams? I know a young lady with the dream of doing absolutely nothing. About 3 years ago, she inherited $70k after her father died. She quit her job. Her boyfriend quit his job. They went on a long vacation touring the country. Then they did absolutely nothing for the next year and a half. Ended up getting evicted from their apartment. Those 2 followed their "true calling" and look what happened.

The girl now lives with her mom and delivers car parts to car repair shops part time. Her now ex-boyfriend moved to Colorado and worked in his cousin's shop. He bragged on facebook about spending his entire first paycheck buying weed. Even posted a picture of how much he bought. Well, he is now again jobless as that shop went belly up.

There are plenty of dreamers out there. What's worse is there are plenty of dreamers who took out massive loans to pursue degrees that amounted to nothing economically. I know 2 dozen people who still have tons of student loan debts and work minimum wage jobs. Sure, they spent 4 years going after art degrees and philosophy degrees. What now? I would hardly call minimum wage jobs what they've dreamed to do all their lives.

 

[JohnnyAnger]

Some of the above posts really make me quite sad about how we now see education.

The removal of the grant and free education and its replacement with the student loan necessarily limits people who want vocational careers, and creates generations of people who feel the only purpose of education is to earn money. It has been going on for a long time now, and it has the vibe of campuses and the type of people who want to go to university.

This change was done deliberately to rid us of all these troublesome thinkers and artists, and of conscientious people. Thatcher started it; Stewart Lee points out some TV footage of her walking around a college at Oxford asking students what they studied. One of the girls she asked responded "Ancient Norse Literature", to which she responded "Oh, what a luxury". This wasn't pointed out to mean anything, but it does. It shows that our prime minister of the time placed no importance or value on the knowledge of another culture, history or language. However learn so much about our future and the modern world through the echoes of the past.

Now obviously there is not much of an economic future in learning about Norse literature, but we need people in society that know about and think about these things. This knowledge has a trickle down effect on society, and enriches us as a culture. To say "Oh, what a luxury" shows she place no direct financial value to it, and thus of no value and the pursuit of that knowledge was not worth subsidising.

 

[aaggii]

Bachelor degree in Management and Business Administration.

 

[zoltanspawn]

Again, I'm not saying money is everything. But how are we suppose to pursue happiness if we have to constantly live paycheck to paycheck?

You seem like you might be the kind of person who wouldn't find any satisfaction in a spartan material life. That's fine. But consider that there are those who realize their ambition with little regard to financial gain, and that should be fine too. I know people whose wealth is in their garden, or their music, or merely their ability to think.

 

[Kyanimal]

I went to a very expensive, prominent, university, and got a degree, because it was something I was expected to do. I wasn't purposefully pursuing a personal desire.

However, I do cherish, and appreciate, the experiences that granted me, and all that I learned outside of the classroom, although it took me years to pay for it.

Well ... not all of it. I was on a small scholarship, and a grant, plus a generous gift from my great uncle. Still ... it took my a decade to pay off the additional loans I had to take out to cover all of it.

Did I use that degree to financial, career, connections made, advantage? Um ... No!

To make a long story short, I accidentally "fell into" what I've been doing for that past 35yr. My high school graduation would have been "enough" to get me where I am now, but that degree did help me get into the company I'm employed by, over other applicants, at the time.

Though my degree did help a bit, and added to, what I ended up doing, it wasn't a prerequisite by any means.

I may have a "white collar" education, but I'm much more comfortable, and actually proud of, my "blue collar" job.

I'm certainly not nearly as "Successful" as my college buds. However, I'm pretty sure I'm "Happier" than they are.

 

[blackbeltninja]

Some of the above posts really make me quite sad about how we now see education.

The removal of the grant and free education and its replacement with the student loan necessarily limits people who want vocational careers, and creates generations of people who feel the only purpose of education is to earn money. It has been going on for a long time now, and it has the vibe of campuses and the type of people who want to go to university.

This change was done deliberately to rid us of all these troublesome thinkers and artists, and of conscientious people. Thatcher started it; Stewart Lee points out some TV footage of her walking around a college at Oxford asking students what they studied. One of the girls she asked responded "Ancient Norse Literature", to which she responded "Oh, what a luxury". This wasn't pointed out to mean anything, but it does. It shows that our prime minister of the time placed no importance or value on the knowledge of another culture, history or language. However learn so much about our future and the modern world through the echoes of the past.

Now obviously there is not much of an economic future in learning about Norse literature, but we need people in society that know about and think about these things. This knowledge has a trickle down effect on society, and enriches us as a culture. To say "Oh, what a luxury" shows she place no direct financial value to it, and thus of no value and the pursuit of that knowledge was not worth subsidising.

From the .za perspective, education is 90% sponsored by government. Students pay a fortune, but the universities get 9x that amount as a subsidy from the tax-payer.

I'd suggest the tax-payer's money is wasted on Ancient Norse Literature. I'd like to see the tax money spent on something useful, and frankly Ancient Norse Literature is not it. It would be a hobby if there wasn't a university course in it. So government pays 90% of the tuition cost to let someone fanny about with this, and then sponsors them to sit on the dole afterwards.

And we wonder why governments have no money and can't improve services?

-d-

 

[zombiekiller]

You seem like you might be the kind of person who wouldn't find any satisfaction in a spartan material life. That's fine. But consider that there are those who realize their ambition with little regard to financial gain, and that should be fine too. I know people whose wealth is in their garden, or their music, or merely their ability to think.

And I've no doubt that some people are really quite happy with just a garden.

The problem, at least for my boyfriend and I, is this. My boyfriend's last car suddenly needed a new engine. Since he wasn't working and needed a car to go to school, I had to buy him a new car. Same month, both of my front hub bearings went out. And while my mechanic was figuring that out, he found a crack in my oil housing. So, I had to shell out another $1500 to get all those things fixed. The following month, I had to shell out another ~$__k when I closed the house I was buying. After I bought the house, I shelled out another $3k to do some renovation to the place before we move in. So, for the time being, I have 2 mortgages until I could close the deal with this house with my parents and hand it back to them.

In the past 3 months, I've spent someone's yearly income there. Would not have been possible had I been living pay check to pay check or make coffee at starbucks as a job.

I've been dirt poor in the past. Both my boyfriend and I have agreed 100% with each other than we hate being poor. So many things to do in life. To us, why waste it on a life style that survives paycheck to paycheck and is always in danger of being evicted from our place of residence? We've seen several families split up because they got evicted from their places and had to go live with family that couldn't take in all of them. One particular case, the dad went to live with his sister, the 2 daughters went to live with their aunt, and the mom was in a homeless shelter.

So, yeah, I guess I agree with you that the spartan material life isn't for me. We'd like some comfort in our lives and also be able to save up for rainy days.