oddments
81674
1849
145
I just feel like they are all going for the name of the school and blatantly ignoring the idea of debt. One friend said "yeah I'm gonna be about 100,000 dollars in debt, but that's okay at least I'm going to a amazing college."
Am I crazy for thinking the number one thing to avoid is debt? I want to get my generals done at a community college (while working my butt off), and pursue my major at a state college. Any advice? Is this the right decision? Experiences? Am I'm lacking ambition?
Edit: I have to go to work now, but before I do I just wanted to thank all of you. I feel more confident with my decision now, and I'm actually feeling excited. I have read each and every comment. You guys have been WAY more helpful than my college counselor who's been pushing the idea of private universities onto everyone. You guys are the bomb.
FP Edit: Oh goodness I wasn't expecting FP, well thank you all again for your great advice! Its really made me feel better about my decision. Love ya Imgur community!
snoogans671
Not crazy at all. I went to a cheaper 4yr school and got my degrees, no debt and a decent job. I think its the better way to go.
da96whynot
Depends on where you want to work, some companies only hire from the top colleges. The debt is sometimes worth it, also networking.
SomethingOffensive
No. Expensive colleges are why people will never get out of debt. Shop around. Get the best deal.
NastyMango
You do You! I went to college and I got a good paying job + no debt
ClearBlue
You are doing it right. If you feel bad about it, give your private school friends a job in 5 or 10 years.
thelegendaryWhiteyDionysus
Community college is not lesser than universities or private schools. Fuck, it give you a chance to figure shit out AND work toward a degree
Kitastrophe
Uh, 2 year schools are definitely not on the same level as 4 year schools, and some 4 year schools are better than others. There's (1/2)
Kitastrophe
nothing wrong with going to a 2 year school first, but don't go crazy. Shelbyville Community College is not Harvard.
thedonnerparty
No, you'll be saving so much money! Honestly getting your geneds done/an associates degree will open so many more doors (and scholarships)
thedonnerparty
When you transfer, you could save even more. Im doing the same route, except I dropped out the first time. Trust me, you're smart.
reallylamelol
The first 2 years are the same anywhere
MehItCouldBeWorse
It depends on the college. If you can get into an Ivy or top 20 school and do a money making major, it's worth the debt.
TheUtahn
All my friends have bachelor's or better. I dropped out and make more money than any of them. And zero debt!
Ibreakiemytoie
And here I am going to an online college... who's embarrassed now??
kittykat
It is what you put into it. If you truly engage in the class forums, you'll get more out of it.
BuddhafuLife
Will Hunting knows!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azM6xSTT2I0
oddments
Thank you for this!! Made me chuckle
Seafood69
Do what you think is best for you, OP. And most importantly, do what makes you happy.
St0ckh01m5yndr0m3
Sounds like a good idea to me, OP. Colleges are profit centers for the most part. But if done correctly you'll be better off in the end
meowlistenhere
I went to a Community college then transferred to a tech school without graduating from the community college. Still, about 40,000 total...
meowlistenhere
But I'm making around $80,000. My sister did 4yr big debt makes less than 50k
FelixTheMusicCat
Don't be embarrassed get your education.
aiuta219
I have a good friend with $200000 in student debt and an MLS. She makes maybe $15/hour. That shit is nuts.
kittykat
Wow, someone worse than me.
uponstrangeshores
I suggest studying abroad @OP. Cheaper. More interesting.
oddments
I would love to study abroad, but I fear it might be a little late in the year to apply to any schools!
cannotusecharactersatall
Have you tried going through clearing?If you're on top of your paperwork then you might still have a chance,most universities start in Sept!
cannotusecharactersatall
For Europe that is! And try calling the admissions directly or if lucky... corse heads... shows your enthusiasm and it goes a longer way...
josephinebaxter
Come to Australia. Because of our different summer holidays our uni year starts in Feb or March. Though youd probably need a scholarship
uponstrangeshores
Won't know until you try mate. Many options on the table.
kapelophilus
@oddments you're perfectly fine. You have a lot of life ahead of you. Figure out what you want to do, THEN spend money on it. Sounds smart.
alabamaredhead
As a person who is still in undergrad after 6 years, forget them. College is a choice that society seems to make for us now a days.
alabamaredhead
If I could go back and tell 17 year old me to go to trade school I would. I would've much rather have waited to be able to afford college
alabamaredhead
Instead of jumping right in as soon as high school was done.
Maxgst
I disagree with most of the comments here. A good GPA in a great school can yield a job where you could make double the $ right off the bat
kittykat
This is true, but huge sums of debt aren't necessary to get a good education.
gmdave
It completely depends on the field you studied in, a blanket statement like that is not true.
insertsupercoolusernamehere
If you get similar degrees and have common sense/work ethic you will likely surpass them in your 20s or 30s, similar opportunity w/o debt
insertsupercoolusernamehere
Shit, in tech right now you're better off getting certs and a foot in the door than the ROI on a degree. It really depends but you're good
secretlibby
Especially in tech. By the time a textbook clears a publisher, it's already obsolete.
insertsupercoolusernamehere
Oh, yeah, don't forget you can do the bulk of your degree in community and with good grades transfer to a Uni to finish off, save $ @OP
impulsespeed37
I used to think like them...then I had a boss who went to a CC. He was incredibly smart...there was a reason he was the boss. A good reason
WelcomeToThePartyPal
Because he's a man.
Bravacado
I enjoyed downvoting you. Because I'm a man and therefore intrinsically evil :)
impulsespeed37
No, 'he' claimed to be a man...I have no 1st hand experience / data to contradict that.
ProphetTenebrae
He killed everyone that got in his way?
impulsespeed37
OK...I deserve that...I should know better with you guys. No, no - he was just very good at his job.
ProphetTenebrae
You could say he's the best there is at what he does...
icanhearjimi
which was killing people.
ThatSplainsItLucy
Did he have a particular set of skills that he learned over a very long career? Skills that made him a nightmare for certain people?
voiceafx
Ugh. I got an MS in electrical engineering and finished with zero debt. People plan on debt like it's unavoidable. It's not.
pgarc90
Eh, it depends on what you're studying. I'm getting a JD. There's no getting one without debt.
kittykat
This! My parents, family, mentors all advised me to go to a fancy school as though debt was inevitable. I'm glad I attended but not the debt
voiceafx
Yeah. I didn't go Ivy League, but I still make 6 figures.
BrofessorDumbleBro
Don't worry about the details man. If you're going for STEM jobs, certifications and specialties will get you farther than a broad degree.
angrybeards
Where I am in SC, BMW, Michelin, Bosch and their subtiers collaborate with the local community colleges, internships, specializations etc.
Rumpocalypse
Yeah but an engineering degree is where it's at here.
bingbangboomhamburgertime
and who you know. Internships help
Kitastrophe
I work for an Electrical Engineer and a BA or Masters is generally a requirement on most job listings for that kind of work.
jezzibylle
INTERNSHIPS. Everyone is graduatinf with almost the same classes. Internships=job/industry experience.
TonightLetItBeLowenbrau
Shit, in Tennessee the state PAYS for people to go to community college. Best deal around. Free fucking college.
jbilly90
Wow i wish
DoubleSunMoonMoon
Never realised the state of Tenessee was so good to its comrades. I'm tickled pink!
bingbangboomhamburgertime
socialism!
shhep
Real talk, this is fucking scary. Wanna know what the best deal is in EU? College with good profs, curriculum, classes and internships, not
shhep
the one that doesn't put you in $100k debt.
Sc00ba5teeve
Some CC's are great, others are shit. A lot of professors from 4-year schools teach part time at my local CC; same education for 1/6 price.
StephiesJets0020
Happened to me too!!
jezzibylle
LPT: do your own research on which of your classes transfer into your next college. Don't rely on a counselor !!!
Kitastrophe
"same education" ... That's pushing it. Professors teach courses. Your courses prolly aren't the same as someone getting a full 4 year BA/BS
Kitastrophe
Which is not to say it's not a good idea to go to CC if your field doesn't need a BA/BS or to get your gen eds done before transferring
dontaskmeimjustagirl
5 years after you graduate, no employer will care where you went to school. Stay out of debt. Normal people are broke. Be weird.
Kitastrophe
I mean... I'm 31 and my last employer did care very much that I went to a community college before my BA and my MS. Some people are pricks.
mayorpoopenmeyer
^this guy has it right... preech.
Grannyc
This! No one cares who you were In high school, and then afterwards, who you were in college.
BarbaryLionforContinuitysSake
...Unless you live in Hawaii. "Ho Brah, wea you wen High School?" "Kahuku." "You know Fate Yanagi?"
CrazyGuyOnABike
Good schools aren't just names. Community college is cheaper, but your education and experience there will not be as good.
MightySunfish
All I used my high school diploma for was to get into uni. All I used uni to was my first job. After that no one gives a shit.
superben
2 things. 1, a good school can get you a good 1st job that you can build off. 2, better school = better education & connections (on average)
IronMarla
I got an IT job at a legit startup despite having essentially zero (lol I went to art college for one year) school.
IronMarla
I had to do a shit job for a bit, but then I was done with that, and now I have something that means real work XP. It's what matters.
brelynnda
I say this to my kids all the time. I sent them a screen shot, so they know I'm not the only person who feels this way!
Halykan
Eh, kinda. If you get into the top tier schools, or get into the greek system, it'll make a lot of valuable connections for you.
Halykan
But for most people, the value of what they'd get out of the experience isn't commensurate with the cost.
bingbangboomhamburgertime
I wouldn't say they don't care but they definitely care more about your performance after school in that 5 years. The tricky part is a 1/2
bingbangboomhamburgertime
degree from a good school makes it easier to get your foot in the door for that first job. Its a balance for sure. My recommendation is 2/3
bingbangboomhamburgertime
make as many contacts as possible during community college and aim for internships with good companies.
brucom
He's right. With five years experience, the degree doesn't matter. My degree is in Russian and I'm a computer consultant/Cost Accountant.
Radiorifle
Was that a Dave Ramsey quote I just saw?
dontaskmeimjustagirl
Haha, yep. Well, he isn't wrong. "Normal" people are broke, and being broke sucks. I'd rather be weird in that regard.
somenerandom
Basically this. The hard thing is getting that first job to have on your resume.Once you have a good resume, experience outweighs education.
bingbangboomhamburgertime
how you present yourself is huge too
TypicalGayMan
So you're telling me... the 20 years we send in school is ONLY so we can get our FIRST job?
somenerandom
No, it's so you KNOW how to do your job.I'm saying that the school name on your diploma isn't the most important thing on your CV
somenerandom
As long as you're qualified and have already proven it by working at a good company,hardly any employer will give a fuck where you graduated
oddments
I've always wondered employers views on where people have gotten their degrees from. Never hear much about the job search after graduating/1
okayimfluffy
The only thing I see is that you set a long term goal to get a degree and actually accomplished that goal.
jezzibylle
INTERNSHIPS. Do an internship before you graduate. PLEASE
amaterasu93
As a former HR director, name doesn't matter. Degree and GPA does.
oddments
from prestigious schools, and if there's too much of a difference.
pirate77x
Only in very rare and specialized cases. The biggest issue I've seen is online vs traditional schools. You're doing it right!
legitchrispratt
Good universities offer you networking opportunities. Employers not connected with the university couldn't give less of a shit.
meligator
I work in investments and where you went to school is a HUGE deal. If you're thinking business, go for a good name.
dontaskmeimjustagirl
After your first job, your subsequent job interviews will be "telling stories about the great stuff you've done."
dontaskmeimjustagirl
Do they require a degree in XYZ? Sure. Does it matter where you got it? Not really.
repillager
Don't be embarrassed at all. You may well be in a job faster and ahead of them
Lifewithbats
Yup!
TooManySharpThings
I went to a year and a half long tech school course that put me back about 5 grand. My instructor had a job lined up for me before i had
TooManySharpThings
Even graduated, making over double minimum wage as a starting position. Tech school is one of the smartest choices you can make imho.
tarrbot
You mean... other than places like ITT. https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/about/announcements/itt
IronMarla
Yeah, don't go to ITT. Ever. It's just a big scam.
tarrbot
ITT was shut down effectively