Some ways attending college impacted your life? Degree attained?

[Anonymous]

I was hired the summer after my Junior year by a prestigious firm because one of the partners was a graduate of my university and loved my sorority. Total accident but best first job ever.

[Anonymous]

I majored in accounting as an undergrad. Got a PhD in accounting and have taught accounting in college for 25 years.

I had to decide on a major in the fall of 1982 - a very depressed economy, with large(at the time) student loans piling up. I need to find something that could guarantee me a job.

And accounting still does today - so many could to this major to get them into the working world.

I can't tell you the number of students enrolling in MS accounting programs that majored in some liberal arts major and ended up with a $10/hour job. Last semester I had an art history major who told me her major was "lots of fun and useful if I was a contestant on Jeopardy." Another was a film major "I had a total blast for four years. Moved to LA and waitressed for 3 years and just couldn't do it anymore."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I majored in accounting as an undergrad. Got a PhD in accounting and have taught accounting in college for 25 years.

I had to decide on a major in the fall of 1982 - a very depressed economy, with large(at the time) student loans piling up. I need to find something that could guarantee me a job.

And accounting still does today - so many could to this major to get them into the working world.

I can't tell you the number of students enrolling in MS accounting programs that majored in some liberal arts major and ended up with a $10/hour job. Last semester I had an art history major who told me her major was "lots of fun and useful if I was a contestant on Jeopardy." Another was a film major "I had a total blast for four years. Moved to LA and waitressed for 3 years and just couldn't do it anymore."

Knowing the horrible economy in the early 80's, I did liberal arts in college, believing if I can figure out how to live my life first, the question of how I was going to make a living will follow. My father who had married an artist was not in the right position to tell me to go into accounting or something else practical. The economy was horrible into mid 1990's. I took odd jobs here and there while living in 30 different addresses in 3 states. I lived and enjoyed cheap places to stay - and those were the good ol' days. And here I am now with one foot in retirement. I am just fine. I may not be a millionaire, but I live a comfortable upper middle class life with a kid in a private liberal arts college.

[Anonymous]

I was raised in a toxic, dysfunctional family. My parents and my mentally ill brother (who sodomized me when I was 11- my parents knew, did nothing) continually told me how stupid I was and how I would never attend college.

Sadly, I believed them. Spent my 20’s working menial jobs-warehouse work, construction, etc. Married a woman I didn’t love. Had four children whom I love dearly.

I constantly struggled with the desire to attend college in my heart but with my family’s wretched words in my ears. At age 33 I landed a job as a night maintenance man at a major university. I convinced an admissions counselor to grant me provisional admission to the university, which he did reluctantly.

The university offered tuition remission for employees. I quit listening to the lies in my head and chose to listen to the desires of my heart.

I worked full time at night and attended class full time days. Completed the 4 year BS in 2 years and 2 summers, graduating with honors.

It can be done. Easy? No. Worth it? Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was raised in a toxic, dysfunctional family. My parents and my mentally ill brother (who sodomized me when I was 11- my parents knew, did nothing) continually told me how stupid I was and how I would never attend college.

Sadly, I believed them. Spent my 20’s working menial jobs-warehouse work, construction, etc. Married a woman I didn’t love. Had four children whom I love dearly.

I constantly struggled with the desire to attend college in my heart but with my family’s wretched words in my ears. At age 33 I landed a job as a night maintenance man at a major university. I convinced an admissions counselor to grant me provisional admission to the university, which he did reluctantly.

The university offered tuition remission for employees. I quit listening to the lies in my head and chose to listen to the desires of my heart.

I worked full time at night and attended class full time days. Completed the 4 year BS in 2 years and 2 summers, graduating with honors.

It can be done. Easy? No. Worth it? Yes.

terrific story - thanks for posting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I majored in accounting as an undergrad. Got a PhD in accounting and have taught accounting in college for 25 years.

I had to decide on a major in the fall of 1982 - a very depressed economy, with large(at the time) student loans piling up. I need to find something that could guarantee me a job.

And accounting still does today - so many could to this major to get them into the working world.

I can't tell you the number of students enrolling in MS accounting programs that majored in some liberal arts major and ended up with a $10/hour job. Last semester I had an art history major who told me her major was "lots of fun and useful if I was a contestant on Jeopardy." Another was a film major "I had a total blast for four years. Moved to LA and waitressed for 3 years and just couldn't do it anymore."

Another accounting major here. Can't recommend the major highly enough - I've never gone a day without a job, tons of different settings/opportunities in which to work, and the pay is very good. My incoming college freshman is pretty sure that's what he wants to major in and I'm thrilled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does your current employment require a degree? Do you feel well compensated?

Thank you!

No, I'm in IT (security). I make just below 300k. Colleagues of mine dont have degrees. One has an agricultural degree of some sort from Texas A&M. He grew up on a farm fixing his family's tractors and can fix anything. Its s mixed bag and is definitely not relevant to what we do. However I still expect my kids to get the piece of paper. Both are interested in technology and one has interned at my company last summer and will intern again this summer. Hope my younger son can intern when the time comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I majored in accounting as an undergrad. Got a PhD in accounting and have taught accounting in college for 25 years.

I had to decide on a major in the fall of 1982 - a very depressed economy, with large(at the time) student loans piling up. I need to find something that could guarantee me a job.

And accounting still does today - so many could to this major to get them into the working world.

I can't tell you the number of students enrolling in MS accounting programs that majored in some liberal arts major and ended up with a $10/hour job. Last semester I had an art history major who told me her major was "lots of fun and useful if I was a contestant on Jeopardy." Another was a film major "I had a total blast for four years. Moved to LA and waitressed for 3 years and just couldn't do it anymore."

Another accounting major here. Can't recommend the major highly enough - I've never gone a day without a job, tons of different settings/opportunities in which to work, and the pay is very good. My incoming college freshman is pretty sure that's what he wants to major in and I'm thrilled.

What do you like about your job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, so only the medical Dr and the school teacher report requiring their degree for work yet college was a worthwhile experience nonetheless for others. Sorta what I expected. Thank you! OP here.

No you are stupid OP. You just need to do your own research to look into how much more a person with a college degree earns on average more than someone without a degree. For me, I went to dummy State U and Dummy State Law School and achieved the American Dream. Anyone can if they work hard.

[Anonymous]

BA followed by an MBA. I do business consulting. The BA was required for the MBA and the MBA was required for my consulting career so yes, they were both worthwhile. I am also in a field that pays attention to credentials so the fact that the MBA came from an Ivy League school has helped far more than I expected. Compensation is quite high so it's paid off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, so only the medical Dr and the school teacher report requiring their degree for work yet college was a worthwhile experience nonetheless for others. Sorta what I expected. Thank you! OP here.

The plural of anecdote is not data.

The plural of anecdote is anecdata.

[Anonymous]

I moved to a different part of the country for college, met people I wouldn’t have known, got a liberal arts degree, had my horizons broadened by taking music appreci and lots of arts history and literature classes, moved to a city in that region ( figured out a career with that liberal arts degree) and created a terrific life. Had I stayed in my suburban NY town, and not gone away to college and graduated, I think I would be sad.

[Anonymous]

Elementary education and I got my Mrs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary education and I got my Mrs.

so underrated, and a very practical degree

[Anonymous]

It took me 17 years to get my Bachelors degree. At some point I started to have nightmares that I hadn't finished high school. The nightmares disappeared the minute I got my degree.
Haven't needed it to work menial jobs, but will need it now to look into becoming a teacher.