Need Advice....

[Bulldog_916]

I just am not sure what to do. I already have an Associate's level degree. I planned on going back to school to get my Bachelor's. But an opportunity came up that I'm finding really hard to pass up. This is a 40+k a year job with room to move up. Reputable company, been around for almost 40 years. If I go back to school, I likely wont have the experience to back up the degree, which would make acquiring the first job difficult. I'd be damn near broke by the time I get the degree, and I'd be adding onto the 30k I already have in loans. With interest, you do the math. But the opportunities that come with a Bachelors are very many. But then experience in the field is the real kicker with most employers.

What do you guys think? Pros and cons to each thing....

[JtowninAtown]

I just am not sure what to do. I already have an Associate's level degree. I planned on going back to school to get my Bachelor's. But an opportunity came up that I'm finding really hard to pass up. This is a 40+k a year job with room to move up. Reputable company, been around for almost 40 years. If I go back to school, I likely wont have the experience to back up the degree, which would make acquiring the first job difficult. I'd be damn near broke by the time I get the degree, and I'd be adding onto the 30k I already have in loans. With interest, you do the math. But the opportunities that come with a Bachelors are very many. But then experience in the field is the real kicker with most employers.

What do you guys think? Pros and cons to each thing....

What is your bachelors in?

[ori]

If I was you it would really depend on what your associates is in. Lots of statistics are available for helping you make decisions like that. If the job is something that you want to do you should probably take it because real world experience is key in many fields and you actually would get paid instead of sinking further and further into debt.

[Christama]

Honestly, I would take the job. It's there, where a degree will take time and a job might not be there when you graduate. Plus, school is always there, where as a high paying job might not be.

[mdl]

Statistically speaking, those graduates with BA/BS degrees on average make 2/3 more than those with just a simple H.S degree. Yes a H.S degree does not equal an A.A but an A.A does not involve any major depth work in a specific field.

My advice would be to go back and complete your BA/BS and enter an intern program if you are worried about that first job out of college. Heck, maybe ask this employer you are currently interested in joining to allow an intern program at a low hourly wage. You have to think of the long term especially when it comes to education. The older you are the harder it becomes to go back to school especially when you have started a family, own a home, have many major responsibilities.

I would never leave school for a $40K salaried position, or even a $60K position. What if that job doesn't pan out as you thought? You need a back up plan and a BA/BS degree is a good safety net. Edited December 11, 2007 by mdl

[SmokingDjinn]

Thats some pretty good money. Thats probably around what you would be looking at for a salary when you get out of school. What are you majoring in? Maybe you could take the job and still study part time? Also I think companies look for job experience more than your school experience, most prefer both.

[chinamon]

f*ck school.

[gaia.plateau]

Stick it out with your education. Other jobs will come along.

[btuner]

If your going toward your bachelors they should be setting you up with internships as part of your final year, depending on your major. There's no way I would quit and give up a BA/BS, too many doors open when you have one, and always with much more room for growth in a career with one. It just puts you leaps ahead of everyone else without one, because it shows that you had the will and drive to stick it out and really earn something. Most of my professors say that having an AA these days is the equivalent of having just a high school diploma ten years ago, everyone has one, and its pretty much the minimal standard these days for any real job. I was just going to take my AA and get in the police academy, but then I found out that there is almost no room to move up with just an AA, whereas with my bachelors I only have to be a street cop 6 months before I can move on to pretty much anything else I want to do.


Also... I've never known someone with their bachelor that doesn't have a good job Edited December 12, 2007 by btuner

[booya]

I never finished school. I'm short 4 classes for an associates degree. I never picked them up but i got work in my field and now i'm making great money except, i odn't have a safety net. since my profession is industry specific, i could get the shaft if there was ever a down turn.

from my own experience i would advise that you finish school. you'll be kicking your self one day for not doing it. jobs will always be around. but time to go school will not. go finish, you won't regret it.

[TheScotsman]

The Education will be there long after the job is not. It's a big gamble to expect/hope the industry will not make a major change, and leave you in the cold. $40K may sound like a lot now, but in reality it's not. I loved school, hated the people, loved the classes. I would say it really depends on long term goals, and the industry. You don't want to be looking at late-night TV commercials trying to find the phone number of some 6-week truck driving school in a few years!

[Jeff_T]

The Education will be there long after the job is not. It's a big gamble to expect/hope the industry will not make a major change, and leave you in the cold. $40K may sound like a lot now, but in reality it's not. I loved school, hated the people, loved the classes. I would say it really depends on long term goals, and the industry. You don't want to be looking at late-night TV commercials trying to find the phone number of some 6-week truck driving school in a few years!

This is very, very true. A BS/BA will give you so many options and open so many doors. And you'll always have a safety net with the degree. One thing you could do is ask this company that you are currently looking at if they would pay for all/part of your school while you work. I know a lot of companies these days are starting to do that, because with a degree you're a much bigger asset to them. Just something to think about.

I know when I graduate, 1 year, I'll be out looking for a job/company that is going to pay for at least some of my MBA tuition while I'm working.

[Bulldog_916]

I understand what you all are saying and am taking it into consideration when making my decision. It just makes me mad that in the computer science area, there are so many jobs that require 3-5 years of experience to even be considered. They are HIGHLY specialized and if you dont know every part of the specialization you wont be considered. Plus this job that I'm looking at is only entry level. Entry level at 40+k a year isnt that bad. If it's long term, I might make 60-70 in a couple of years. But I do see all of your points.

[Ooph]

Get the degree. A steady computer science job now days is like hoop dreams.

[EternalSoil]

First thing i did when i saw how much the full-time job paid was look at where you live. If i was offered a full time job at that rate here in Tulsa, OK i probably wouldn't take it if i couldn't goto school at the same time. I have a full time job now, but i also goto school. 40k a year here is different form 40k a year there due to standard of living and crap like that. min wage here used to be $5.15 and i remember reading somewhere years ago that santa cruz bumped their minimum wage up to over $11 an hour. Just an example of the value of money in diff areas.

In short, I would say goto school.

[thecoalition]

I would stay in school to get the bachelor's to make more money considering the cost of living and what nots plus if you pay for your own school youll need it. What I would do is see if you can intern with that company for the time it takes to get your bachelor's because then you will have experience with the company already and know the inner workings. then BAM you get your degree and a higher pay grade with the company. and who knows you may end up not actually liking that company so you could regret dropping school if you chose that path.