Do you guys think college is always worth it?

[Goldy1]

Yes, I am definietly for education. I went to college right after high school so "I wouldn't have to be a receptionist for my entire life"

I just know a lot of people who are not using thier degrees and can't get jobs with them. Sure some of it is thier fault, but some not. A lot of my friends who became successful in thier chosen career paths moved to different states and some have moved more than once.

I am all for associate degrees b/c they get down to the nitty gritty of teaching some skills.
I am just sying it is presumptuous to pick a major, spend 5 years getting a b.s. degree assuming you will 1) get a job and 2) like it. which I did and it didn't work out.
But I have to change my attitude back to more positive and move on The past is over.
WE owe about 29K only on our home (paid a lot of extra prin payments and dh bought it way back in 1997 before we met) in a nice neighborhood I enjoy so moving and taking a chance to try and sell with a child on the way would be too much right now. Maybe one day I will open my mind up to it more. I think moving would be tough b/c cost of living might differ, and what if we get laid off in another state anyway? My biggest concern is our future earnings potential.

[SnoopyCool]

All this talk of CAD/CAM waxes me nostalgic...
My degree is in Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and I haven't used it a day outside of college (I worked throughout college doing paid co-ops and internships).

Anyway, I think if you can go cheap or free, then go! I'd love to get a Master's degree, but I would go into debt to get it so I choose to wait until that's not the case anymore. I might be 80!

[snafu]

There is no rule that requires you to limit yourself to degree related employment. A degree is often the basic requirement to make the cut to have your resume reviewed by someone higher than the office clerk who opens the mail!

By all means reject 'nursing' but have a look at the tech related jobs like Radiology Imaging MRI, UltrraSound, Mammography, or Forensic Sciences, or Lab Techs or Hygienists,
respiratory therapists, health diagnostics...the list goes on and on.

College/university is not for everyone but technical training and skill sets are important for work and success in the 'trades.' Just now we are importing police recruits from England as there are insufficient candidates to go to police training 'college' in Canada.

[jIM_Ohio]

He would be best off taking a Cetia class, for example (paying $2600) than getting a degree, IMO.

But apply without the Cetia. All the systems are the same, the buttons are just different. My company would hire a Cetia user in a second if they had the right experience for the job and train them.

Took me around 1 month to learn I-deas, used it for 4 years, then took 1 UG course and I had transferred between 66-80 percent of my knowledge of one software to another. The software is just a tool, it is not a skill. The skill is knowing how to apply engineering, manufacturing and drafting knowledge with the tool.

Your dh has most of his skill in cam... he should look for both solidworks and solidedge in the classifieds. He should look in the Carolina's, Texas and Tennessee for job listings. Maybe Ohio, Maybe Washington (state).

If he is looking to diversify his skill, he should consider looking at the pure cad and drafting sides of the software (so he could do design work), then also look at CAE once he knows cad. Or look at IT once he knows cad. Or look at pdm once he knows cad.

Most of the opportunities I have available to me are based on pdm (Teamcenter), and pdm is where the industry is growing most. Our cad lines grow at around 4-6 percent. Our pdm growth is 10-20 percent.

Have dh search for jobs with following words (and compare # of jobs for each search):
solidworks
Teamcenter
CAM
pdm
CAE

I would assume pdm or Teamcenter has the most jobs. If he understands CAM and the design process which created the data, pdm is where most of the jobs are.

[Goldy1]

thanks Jim, I can see what you mean;mostly cam work. I really liked the advice on not being fearful of applying for an EXACT software match, and it being a tool. I told him worst case scenario is it doesn't work out if you try it. He finds out tomorrow if he gets the grant / free tuition thru the state program. He is not worried as our emergancy fund is loaded quite well, but has expressed concern over forgetting the software if not employed for a long time again in cad cam.
ps
By the way, I like how practical people are around here.

[KatieNK]

I might also get the grant. I have a bacholer's degree in elem educatation since 2000. It was a total waste of 5 years of my life, and the ONLY regret I basicaly ever had. I went to school full time for 5 years, graduated with a 3.5, excellent reviews for internship, and NEVER even got a teaching interview b/c it is rare to get a job in MI in teaching.

I am a teacher and I feel the same way sometimes. People would be shocked if they knew how many education grads regret their degree choice!!!!!!

[Inkstain82]

I am a teacher and I feel the same way sometimes. People would be shocked if they knew how many education grads regret their degree choice!!!!!!

Pssh, talk to journalism grads.

Dying industry, awful job market, and pay lower than fast-food shift managers.

I don't regret going to college, but I definitely regret my major. This degree wasn't worth a fraction of what I paid for it.

(My fault, though).

[Goldy1]

Yes, I am very practical. I wanted a job that would translate into skills for employment. I didn't want soemthing vaque like communications or sociology, and I don't think my parents would have paid for that.

I get "womens studies majors" etc generally aren't going to be hot on the job market, but in my case, I thought teaching was a respectable solid choice. Also, I thought I was immune to teacher burnout and as much as I love kids, I am not. lol

My husband found out he got the training account for up to 2 years of school so he will be going back for more cad cam. He is required to go full time unless he gets a job in which case they allow part time.

[indycobra]

Wow this thread sounds like it could easily be about me! I have an associate’s degree from a local university and have been a cad/cam designer for 15 years for a machine builder here in Indiana. I work with Autodesk Inventor (Solidworks direct competition). I definitely feel your pain in the manufacturing sector. Our company has laid off a half a dozen people and cut the work week for the shop down to 4 days a week. If it wasn’t for the Japanese manufacturers here in Indiana we would probably have already gone out of business.
My wife was also working in the purchasing dept for a company that supplies parts to Cummins right before our baby was born 4 months ago. She is now starting a nursing program at a local college instead of returning to work. I am not confident in manufacturing anymore. I would second others advice on taking classes that have a promising future for employment.

[nmboone]

I hope you figure what you'd really like to do. I'm graduating in May with an Anthropology degree, because I think it's really interesting (most the time.) A lot of people don't know what that is, or ask me what I'm going to do with it. I don't know exactly yet, but I will find out. I will beat on every door to find a decent paying job until I find one. I am seriously going to send out resume's to every freaking body till I find a job.
BTW, there is a teaching shortage here in Baton Rouge. Some of the school's are terrible, but they'd snap you up so fast! I thought of getting certified myself in teaching as a last resort. I know that's not helpful to you in your position, sorry. Plus being pregnant complicates getting a job. If you have the opportunity to go to school for free or cheaply, do it. Especially if you aren't happy with the way things are!

[Goldy1]

I can't use my teaching degree in MI to teach, but ti's not a terrible thing to have. I worked as a paraprofessional in a school for a couple years before(basically that is a classroom aide doing things such as working with small groups, assisting) The pay was low hourly with no benefits, and no pay in summers etc, but it's an option for extra cash and getting out of the house down the line working similar hours as my son while he goes to school in the future. I never really liked subbing and the pay is also low, but you can literally work 2 days a month or way more if you want to.
I know there are many places I would get snapped up, and that is nice to know.

I am going to take notes on local programs and decide when/if I can use this education opportunity.

[spicy14lingo]

I completely understand what you mean when you wonder if college is/was worth it. I graduated in 2007 with a business degree from OU. During the five years that I attended college, I racked up about $50,000 in student loan debt. Upon graduation, I found out what millions have before me... Employers want you to have experience. To make a long story short, I had to start at the bottom, making about $10/hour. I have friends (that didn't go to college) making almost twice that because they immediately went to work and have spent the last five years moving up in the company. Turns out that $10/hour is not enough to service $50K in debt. Sorry for my little rant.

My advice would be to move towards a degree that has a specific job at the end of it. Also, if they are offering to pay for an education, take it.

[Well Spent]

Financially it's not always worth it. However, personally I found it very rewarding.

Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, utility workers, firefighters and cops are some of the jobs that can be lucrative and don't general require a bachelor's. Although in my town cops and firefighters now need BAs and cops get bonuses for Master's.

[ClearClouds]

I think that the profession and "who you know" falls into play more often than we are taught. College is always the best advice to give you own children it seems, but when you get older and see people getting great jobs because they know someone, or a athlete signing a billion dollar contract straight out of high school, opens your eyes.

[red92s]

Just to add to the discussion, below is my final tally for 5.5 years of in-state engineering school, including one BS, one minor, one semester abroad, and one year living in the dorms with a meal plan.

Total: $32,582.00
Tuition: $18,341.00
Scholarships (credit): $12,252.00
Book Scholarship (credit): $1,050.00

Other "big ticket items" included in the above total:
Parking Permits: $589.00
Parking Citations: $465.00
Dorm (freshman year): $3,236.00

Remainder of total not covered by scholarships (~$20k) was paid from a fund established by my grandparents, and some was covered by my parents. I graduated with $0 in student loans, thanks to the support of my family.

Immediately after graduation my first job paid in the $53k range. I think even if I had done it all with loans (no scholarships or family support), that is still a reasonable return on investment.