Reply to Is getting a college degree just a huge scam?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My college degree (from a public university, in-state, with a scholarship so I graduated totally debt free) was not a scam. It was great.

My law degree was 100% a scam. Still paying it off almost 20 years later. It boosted my salary earning but has not offset the financial investment plus opportunity costs. Law school meant I didn't really start earning money until my late 20s. And I didn't get a gig in Big Law, so those first few years, I really wasn't saving a lot. My income ramped up in my 30s, but I also had to scale back a bit when my kids were born for a few years (yes, had to -- I had medical issues related to my pregnancies, plus PPD). It wasn't this consistent trajectory. Also, while I used my degree to get my current job, I don't actually practice law anymore and could definitely do my job without the law degree. The skills I used most now are management/leadership skills (which I received zero training for in law school) and research and writing skills that I learned in college (I don't do legal writing). When I make my loan payment these days, it feels like just throwing money away.[/quote]

Did you stay instate for law school? I did. Easily paid off loans in 2 years as a public interest lawyer.

My two cents:

Stay in state! Minimize loans/debt by living at home or with a million roommates off campus.

Earn a meaningful degree.

When thinking about careers, factor in health benefits, retirement, etc. My partner stuck with a local government job for the pension and Cadillac health benefits (think: $10 copay, no deductible, $35 total for surgery, etc. For our family with weird health issues, these benefits are priceless.).

Lastly, don’t live in a high cost area. We’re stuck in the dc metro area because we care for elderly parents who refuse to leave. Once the last kid is launched, we are likely downsizing and moving on. [/quote]

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