Was your College education worth it?

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Well, it took me 10 years to earn my B. A. in Bible and religious education from an Assemblies of God Bible college (now university). During that time I experienced the depths of religious despair, got engaged 3 times, and learned a lot of stuff I had to unlearn. But, I did learn my way around the Bible and was deeply immersed in the Evangelical mind set, which helps me understand and help others from that background with their difficulties with the Catholic faith.

It was the worst time in my life as well as a time to learn in the desert to discipline my time, money, prayer life (staying the course in the teeth of utter dryness) and personal life. I received a better education from C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien than from my formal classes, but that time in my life did have a large part in shaping who I am today largely because they were so hard.

As for my dh, I met him after I’d graduated and left the AoG. During our marriage he has gotten his B. S. in IT and is currently working on his M. S. in the same field. I don’t know if it will help his career but it has given him a broader outlook and matured him quite a bit, which is definitely worth it.
 
I guess it depends on what one thinks is the purpose of a college education.

I have a degree in education. I taught for a year and then started having kids. I’ve homeschooled for 14 years and now home teach for our county school system. Yes, it was worth it.

Even if I never go back to a classroom, I still think it’s worth it. I took a variety of classes and hopefully became a well rounded, intelligent person. —KCT
 
For me, my education was absolutely worth it. I wanted to be a research scientist, and it is impossible to do this without a college degree. In fact, as I am now at the point where I want to eventually obtain funding for and direct my own research, I need to go back for more schooling, as it is very difficult to obtain research grants without a Ph.D.

I also loved the time spent in college. My BS in biochemistry is from a small Jesuit university with amazing faculty in the sciences, and a competitive student body (I was in the minority in my department as a non pre-med or pre-dental student). I had the opportunity to work in various labs and obtain lots of one-on-one instruction, which was invaluable when I began working as a research assistant at a local cancer institute. My supervisor only had to train me on the specifics of his lab, as I already knew the basics. In school, I was also required to do a lot of critical thinking, reading and researching of biochemical and biomedical journal articles, and research writing in the formats of those journals, all of which have prepared me well for graduate studies- and have made my current job much easier.
 
I think these days college is only good for the paper you get at the end. It’s hard to get a good paying career without a degree. Even then, in many areas like my own, a BA will get you entry level positions. The word around town is that you need a MA to do anything. That’s too much for me.

The problem with college now is you get more opinion from the proffessor than education. It’s all Liberal indoctrination. Very few balanced schools. There are a few Conservative schools, but most are Liberal. What happened to the free exchange of ideas? Why can’t they just teach you all the info and let you learn it? When did schools have to become Liberal or Conservative? That’s the big thing I hear from the other parents at school. They are more concerned with what political party the school tends to favor than the quality of education, of which I am convinced their is almost none.

So, I think college is not worth the money for the education, but well worth the money for the “documents” you need for a career. That’s if you can survive the brainwashing.
 
JMJ Theresa:
I don’t think I really learned anything in college. I had a high GPA, too, with a double major and graduated a semester early. I wish I’d either done a shorter more vocational course–like x-ray tech or associate nursing. As far as college culture, well, not so hot–my school at the time was ranked in playboy’s party schools. However, my friend at an Ivy league school had a very intellectual campus; however, very liberal.

As far as income, keep in mind that you lose four years of full time income. Your degree coming out better make up for it. My husband works a blue collar job along side several college grads.

I have occasionally thought that sending the kids to a really good Catholic school like Francisican U or Ave Maria might be good for them to hook up with Catholic spouses. Is that stone age thinking?
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Absolutely not. It is hard for young people to meet Catholic students in many colleges and universities. And as someone married many years to a non-Catholic, I can tell you it is better to have someone to share the specialness of the Church with. I love my spouse and am better for having married him, but occasionally it gets lonely going to Mass, etc. by myself.
 
I have to go along with those who say it depends on what you think the value of college is.

From a purely economical standpoint, college may NOT be worth it. I have several relatives who have all kinds of advanced degrees but they can barely make ends meet. My husband and his brothers who only have two year technical degrees or AA degrees are doing quite well. My husband is a very intelligent person who is constantly learning new things. He just learns most of them outside of traditional channels. He has made far more money dabbling part time in real estate than he has from anything he learned in school.

Those relatives who have advanced degrees from formal institutions but are having a hard time financially have purchased the right to think well of themselves. And I would agree that they are highly intelligent and I am impressed by their accomplishments. But they seem to think that they are entitled to be rewarded financially because of their academic achievements. Unfortunately life has not always been so accomodating.

As for me, I made enough money in my days as a computer programmer to make up for the cost of my math degree. But I think the real value in my degree was the logical thinking I developed and the abilitity to apply mathematical concepts to other areas of life. I am convinced that I learned as much about Catholic theology in my abstract algrebra and group theory classes as I did in my grammar school and high school religion classes. To me, that made my education ‘worth it’.
 
JMJ Theresa:
I’ve thought about this off and on over the years. I have come to conclusion that my college ed was a waste of time and money. I think I could have developed my mind better reading and taking a few classes. When I graduated, it was assumed that if you were an average or better student, you went to college even if you didn’t know what you wanted to do with your life. Of course, my hard working parents paid for it–sacrificing part of their retirement for it. Also, I only worked for a year in my chosen field–teaching, and have been SAHM ever since.

I don’t think we will be about to contribute any to our children’s higher ed.

Do you think your College education was worth the money, time, and sacrifice?
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I’m not sure if this is what you’re looking for JMJ Theresa, so please be patient with me.

I never really appreciated my college education until I gave some serious thought to what both my parents & my husband experienced. They all came from poverty. Education was not encouraged. Everybody was expected to work & help bring income into the home. College was considered an unnecessary luxury. However, with lots of hard work and determination on the part of all 3, they completed their college degrees. They became the 1st generation of college educated people in their families.

Growing up, we were never rich mind you; however, we never did without. And I can say the same for our children. My parents and my husband all recognized higher education as a way to pull themselves out of desperate & difficult situations.

My mother-in-law tells me how my husband, her eldest, informed her that, like it or not, he was going to college. He’d work as hard as he needed to in order to make it work. His family was unable to contribute anything. I realize now that he was the reason his siblings viewed college as an option. They are all well educated now and are more than entitled to feel proud of their efforts and humbled as well.

Now, I realize how different my life would be without my education. I can appreciate my parents’ efforts to lift themselves up to the point where I never knew poverty. I admire my husband’s efforts as well and will make sure our children are proud of their father, realize that we are living comfortably because of him, and that getting a college degree is ideal for them.
 
QUOTE=JMJ Theresa I only worked for a year in my chosen field–teaching, and have been SAHM ever since.
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I have an MA and am now a Stay-At-Home-Mom too. But I see everything that I experienced and learned as preparation for being a Mom. I see my education at work every single day I am with my children.

My guess JMJ Theresa is that, without even realizing it, you are applying what you learned to your parenting. Your children are better off for it.

God Bless You,
Quaere Verum
Seek the Truth
 
I got far more credits than I needed to graduate, went on to graduate school, got a PhD, taught for a few years, and I’m now a stay-at-home mom. I don’t even know if I’m going back into my chosen field when my kids get older.

It was absolutely worth it, but that is because I was in academics for the education, not the paperwork. Had I just been making a human resources investment in myself, I’d have a hard time justifying that time- and money-consuming foray to a bean counter.

Incidentally, my husband has a childhood friend who has a good management-level job and has not been held back by his lack of a college degree. He is now back in school nights, not because it is going to make him more money or accelerate his promotions but because he always regretted not attending college when he was young. It will take him another three years of night school to finish, he doesn’t expect it to make him another dollar, but he is happy with what he’s paying for and he has no plans to drop out.

In my experience in teaching and polling others, college is worthwhile for those who want an education* or who want training for a particular career, like nursing or engineering. Those who want some sort of vanilla “college degree” because they think they can’t get ahead without it, or who think that that sheepskin will give them instant credibility or drop opportunities into their laps will be sorely disappointed. For this reason, time spent researching where you will do your undergraduate and graduate work and what you will do when you get there is time* extremely* well spent. And when you get to college, insist that you be educated, not just trained. If the faculty at your college or in your department can’t extend themselves enough to truly see to the education of those who want it, go elsewhere and right away.

*[by this I mean the process that comes from the verb “educe”, from the Latin “to draw out”… that is, you go to college, come into contact with not only new facts, but new ways of thinking and communicating. In so doing, your own mind’s unique processing abilities and imaginative powers are “drawn out”, as are your means of communicating your thoughts to others.]
 
My college education was absolutely worth it. As others mentioned, it goes beyond the classroom in making life-long friends, meeting my spouse, and strengthening and deepening my faith and relationship with Christ. Two of my degrees - theology and youth ministry - I don’t directly use in my work but they are ingrained so much in my life. There are little things are helpful all the time, particularly my understanding of morality which is very much needed in my ultra-liberal field of work. I’ve always said I went into psychology looking for answers about human behavior, but I really found those answers in theology. My college experience was completely priceless.

My graduate work is another story. Classes have been better this year but in many ways I just feel like I have to get all these credits, do these projects, etc. to graduate get the credentials. This degree is much more supposed to be one of usefulness and direct application, so when it falls short from those expectations it’s disappointing to me to say the least.
 
I’m so happy that everyone had such good college experiences. My feeling is not anti-education, per se. I just think that I would have been better off with just a few classes and more independent reading. I must have had a really good high school education or a pretty mediocre college because I really don’t think I retained anything. I don’t think that I was taught to think or research or write in college. I believe that I developed those skills before college and since through my own reading. I don’t believe that college is the only way to develop your mind or the best (depending on your situation). Has my college education benefited my children? Hmmm-I’ll have to think on that. My instinct is no. I am relearning and learning better through my kids’ homeschooling. And, I’m not sure that a peer dominated environment is necessarily good for social and moral development.

That said, if my kids want to go to college, I will encourage them. However, I would not encourage student loans unless a high income was probable since it seems to discourage so many from SAHM and delaying/limiting procreation.

I am very interested in this topic because my oldest is now 12, and college time is looming closer.
 
JMJ Theresa:
I’m so happy that everyone had such good college experiences. My feeling is not anti-education, per se. I just think that I would have been better off with just a few classes and more independent reading. I must have had a really good high school education or a pretty mediocre college because I really don’t think I retained anything. I don’t think that I was taught to think or research or write in college. I believe that I developed those skills before college and since through my own reading. I don’t believe that college is the only way to develop your mind or the best (depending on your situation). Has my college education benefited my children? Hmmm-I’ll have to think on that. My instinct is no. I am relearning and learning better through my kids’ homeschooling. And, I’m not sure that a peer dominated environment is necessarily good for social and moral development.

That said, if my kids want to go to college, I will encourage them. However, I would not encourage student loans unless a high income was probable since it seems to discourage so many from SAHM and delaying/limiting procreation.

I am very interested in this topic because my oldest is now 12, and college time is looming closer.
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There are other ways to earn a college degree that don’t put people in the position of paying back student loans or peer dominated enviornments. And 14 is not too soon to start working on it. If you do a web search for “external degrees” and “online college” you will find some great resources.
 
YES!! I went to college right out of High School. After 2 years I married and had my family. I raised my family, instilled the desire to be educated. While the last two were at the University, all 5 encouraged me to finish my education. At age 50 I EARNED my degree in Economics. No, it has not made me rich but it helped me through the years that I found myself alone and in need of a well paying job. I learned far more than Economics. This helped me help myself but many others as well.

Love and peace

Mom of 5
 
My college experiences were definately worth it. I even went back for a Master’s even though I was/am (and plan on being for a few more years) a stay-at-home mom. Why would I do such a thing? To challenge myself to learn more about the world.

Should everyone go to college? No. However I believe everyone should be contributing to society to the best of their ability. Whether that is vocational training, apprenticeships, or whatever.

I believe some people attend college without understanding what college is about or enter without any type of direction. Others enter a college that just are a good fit for them because someone else told them it was a good school or that was where their friends were going, parents made them, etc. My sisters went to a large university which fitted them well. Me? No way - I knew I would have become lost. I chose a small, state college instead and never regretted my decision.

About the costs - I fully affirm in student loans. I would not have been able to go to college without them. It gives you an appreciation of why you are there when you have to pay the bill! I don’t get when some people balk at the cost of education, which last a lifetime if you do it correctly, but readily go out and buy a $20,000 (or more) car that will last 10 years - if you are lucky.

I feel that society is lately trying to “keep up with the Jones’”. No offense to anyone on this forum, but I don’t understand why some workers, who have no college education, complain about their wages (okay, I’m generalizing and know not everyone is getting paid appropriately). Doctors should get paid more than teachers who should get paid more than those working in a department store. It is about choices and living within ones mean about those choices that we make with our lives, and not be embarrased -but proud- of the choices that we make because it was the correct one for us.
 
My college experience (thus far, I am a junior) has been excellent. Many people have said that they only appreciated college for the “life experiences” but mine has been the opposite. I have a job and I’m a full-time student which doesn’t leave much time for a social life and especially not dating. When I switched from a technical degree to a liberal arts degree, I finally discovered what it means to pursue real education. Philosophy has taught me how to think and not just how to perform a task. Liberal education has been going extinct for some time now. Everything is specialized nowadays. Different schools have contrasting world views and nothing is holistic. It seems college has become a necessary hoop to jump through in order to make a bigger paycheck. What happened to learning for the sake of learning? Anyways sorry for my little rant. I love college and hopefully I can be in a position someday to reform the system.
 
Yes, to be effective in your field you need the education. The Holy Spirit is the Great Teacher and we have to be students worthy of our Teacher. We are supposed to be like sponges, soaking up knowledge.
 
JMJ Theresa:
Do you think your College education was worth the money, time, and sacrifice?
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I think this is a ridiculous question because nobody can take away your education. If you buy a car, it can be repoed or wrecked. You can never learn too much. Even if you are a stay at home mom, your education is worth it. You never know when your children will ask you a question that you are able to answer as a result of your education. I went to college and grad. school and ended up working part time and being a full time mom. I have been really offended by people asking me this question. What if something happens to your spouse and you need to go out into the work force? At least you will have some kind of education under your belt. Learning is never a waste unless you are going to stay at home and let your husband and church think for you.

Peace be with you & all of the other educated stay at home moms!!!
 
Maybe I’m not the best person to be answering this(I’m only a college sophomore), but I will just say that I give you college-educated stay-at-home moms credit. As of right now, if I intended on being a stay-at-home mom, I would NOT be at a private, four year college that costs almost as much as my family makes a year. If I wanted an education of some sort, I would take a few classes that really interest me, or maybe attend a community college and get an associates degree, or something related. If I went to the college I do now with the intention of not getting employment with my degree I would feel as though I wasted a lot of money, both mine AND my parents. We have always been tight on money even with both parents working multiple jobs (though we’ve been so much luckier than most in our situation…), and I think that growing up that way has affected how I feel about going for a college degree if I wouldn’t want to pursue a career with it. As it is now though, I want to practice law, and I do need the education for that.

I agree, that even just getting the education for the sole purpose of learning more about yourself and the world is a wonderful thing. I am the biggest supporter of post-high school education in some way. Like gogogirl said, what if you NEED to go into the workforce. A high school diploma does not get too much anymore. And I’m sure you can use your education by being a stay-at-home mom, as some posters have said. I’m embarassed to say that money is a huge concern for me, because it shouldn’t be. I just don’t think that the school I’m going to currently would be good if I didn’t intend to have a career because of all the loans that I would have to pay back (I’m assuming that by stay-at-home posters mean that they do not have any kind of work where they’re bringing in money, but please correct me if I’m wrong) with no money to pay it back with.
 
Absolutely not worth it. I “currently” go to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC, where Terrell Owens went). I have over 100 credit hours and still don’t have a degree. I’m an English major and they are making me take 2 years of a foreign language!!! How ridiculous is that? Plus I have literally slept through college. I almost never show up for class and rarely turn in work and I make B’s at best unless I apply any real effort. College is a complete waste of time and money. In about a year I will have a college degree and no education to back it up. Why? Why should I bother to study when all I have to do is turn in a mediocre paper and get an average grade? I would advise maybe a technical/community college path for an associates. Anything above that is a waste.
 
Not sure if I’m qualified to post here. Too old. No longer relevant.

When I was younger, every time I finished one educational course of study or other, the teacher would announce: “Congratulations! You now have a license to learn!!”

Like, DUH!!! Jeesh, after all this work, time, expense, giving up all that other activity to take these courses… NOW I can START learning!!!

Well, maybe this should be a curmudgeon post, but … well… yeah…

What I have found is that if I want to KNOW something, I need to be educated about three levels ABOVE where I expect to use that knowledge.

If I want to be really good at four function math (+. -, x, / ) then I really need to know geometry and trig.

If I just need to manipulate the controls of a car to drive to and from church on Sunday, I better know how to steer out of a skid.

Yeah, so I am overeducated… but I encourage folks to get as much formal and informal education as humanly possible.

For the SAHM’s, if you are well educated, you can be a good teacher or a good educational guide to your kids. You can help them pick out books. You can teach them how numbers work.

Read, read, read, read, read.
 
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