Is a Bachelor's degree essential for a happy marriage?

[jman507]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut. In answer to some of your questions, while getting a BA is still up in the air, I have every intention of continuing to learn the rest of my life. As my future husband is going to be a theology teacher, I know that I need to keep my brain sharp so that I can help him with his work. Also, I do intend to homeschool our children (I was homeschooled myself) and while I know the many challenges that come from this, I also know many of the requirements. I will have an Associates degree in Liberal Arts, which is “timeless.” For both my future husband and I, we have two main reasons why we want to get married before I finish my BA, one is that we just are ready to get married, two is that we don’t want to start our marriage $25K in debt. If I stop school after my Associates, I will be able to pay back all of my student loans before I get married and have a good amount saved up to pay back his loans as well. I have paid for every penny of my education so I am definitely not used to have a Mom and Dad Bank. And further, I grew up in a family of 4 kids with my Dad having a salary of under $20K a year, so I know how to pinch my pennies. That is a little bit more of my background if it helps anyone answer my question better.

Well the good things are, I think you both are willing to live with a conservative budget. I think, while not having a complete grasp of everything (you cannot get that til you actually do it), you do have a good working idea what it takes in order to do what you plan.

I would wonder why your parents are pressuring you to get a BA or BS, when you seem to be going into a direction much the same as they are? First glance it might seem, they don’t want you to go through what they went through, but the details of why seem important. Do they think they should have done it differently? Do they think you cannot do it? Do they know exactly what your plans are? Are they still a bit on the outside, and are taking the safe bet? Are they still close enough to the situation to see real red flags, but if it was another person they might give approval? Then do you think they made a good assessment of the situation or not?

I think the question to get a BA or BS is very important in your case. With your husband going into theology, $25,000 is relatively a lot of money. If you do, do choose that path, you ought to be really active in making sure that you actually do stay employable even if you do go off the labor market. Budget is so important in your case, and your really need to be prudent and thoughtful with where you put your investments, given the capacity to generate income is not as high as it could be. Oh and make sure to get some life insurance.

Maybe with your interest in homeschooling and your husbands interest of working in the field of theology (I am assuming theology will come home, as he bounces ideas off of you), you could try to figure out a path to working with a director of religous education. In case you need a job, you could try to work on an ability to try something like that, if things happened.

 

[whatevergirl]

Honestly? You don’t really need a BA or BS to get a good job. I went to college, but there are many people, my sister namely who comes to mind…who has a GREAT job…and never went to college one day in her life. She workd hard, and was promoted. Not meaning to go off topic, but that just bares mentioning because I think that many go into such debt thinking that a Bachelors’ degree…or other degrees will automatically land them the pie-in-the-sky job. It helps, no doubt…it shows an employer commitments, etc…but, I have friends who are still paying off their loans and are frustrated because they feel they will never find a job that will seem like they made a good investment. Although, going to college has a myriad of benefits…being able to find a decent paying job when you graduate should be one of those benefits…but for many, they just keep making loan payments with no end in sight. I also suppose it depends on what you major in.

ok–SORRY…off topic.

 

[blueskiesrgs]

My parents reasons for objecting are as follows: 1. It is a life goal for them to have all of their children get a Bachelor’s. (I am potentially the only one who will not as my other three siblings have all graduated from college already) 2. They are worried about him dying and me being left without a job.
Actually, it interests me, because my declared major is theology, and ever since I declared this as my major, my mother has been telling me that a theology degree is useless on the job market. They are sending me very mixed signals, especially that now they are telling me that I have to finish this degree which they previously declared as “useless.”
I have done research in the job market, and as of now, I am qualified for a lot of decent paying jobs without having a BA. I also have started (and been semi-successful) with freelance writing.

 

[jrnami]

I am getting married next summer, but I am torn about going on to get a Bachelor’s degree. I will have my Associates Degree after this semester. My parents approve of the marriage, but they are pressuring me to postpone pregnancy for year after we get married and finish my Bachelor’s degree. Once we have children, unless an un-foreseen circumstance arises, I will be a stay at home mother. Do you think it is necessary to get a Bachelor’s? Or is it worth saving $25,000 dollars and settling with an Associates?

Yes, without a bachelors degree it’s impossible to have a happy or successful marriage. Duh!!!

 

[maria29]

My parents reasons for objecting are as follows: 1. It is a life goal for them to have all of their children get a Bachelor’s. (I am potentially the only one who will not as my other three siblings have all graduated from college already) 2. They are worried about him dying and me being left without a job.
Actually, it interests me, because my declared major is theology, and ever since I declared this as my major, my mother has been telling me that a theology degree is useless on the job market. They are sending me very mixed signals, especially that now they are telling me that I have to finish this degree which they previously declared as “useless.”
I have done research in the job market, and as of now, I am qualified for a lot of decent paying jobs without having a BA. I also have started (and been semi-successful) with freelance writing.

As someone who is married to someone who has a Masters in Theology, yes its fairly useless. One cannot support a family on it,although I suppose it depends on where you live. We live in PA and its defintinely not doable. Add that to the fact that depending on where you get your Theology degree is a HUGE DEAL, because some diocese, schools WILL NOT hire you if you have a degree from a certain school or university.

Even at the PhD level its crazy because there are usually only 5 jobs for over 500 people at the same time. I think Theology is a great degree only if you double major, have the money to pay for it out of pocket, scholarships/grants or go on to use it in conjunction with something else (like Bioethics).

 

[leonie]

If I had my education to do over, I would get an associates degree in radiology or ultrasound tech.

 

[Truly_Beloved]

If I had my education to do over, I would get an associates degree in radiology or ultrasound tech.

Wouldn’t that be fun?!? Can you imagine seeing all those babies every day? How cool would that be? :bounce: I know ultrasounds are done on other people besides pregnant women, but if I were an ultrasound tech, I’d have to get a job in maternity!

 

[leonie]

Wouldn’t that be fun?!? Can you imagine seeing all those babies every day? How cool would that be? :bounce: I know ultrasounds are done on other people besides pregnant women, but if I were an ultrasound tech, I’d have to get a job in maternity!

My cousin has certification in CAT scan tech–she makes $45 a hour. I think ultrasound is similar.