College or no college.

[Humdizzy]

I've been thinking recently, whats the point? I am currently working 2 jobs and I'm about to go off to college next year. Currently I make only around 18k a year from my two jobs, but they both offer opportunities for raises. I make above minimum wage at both jobs and I've only been at both for a couple of weeks. I'm forced to pay for my own college because my parents aren't paying for it at all and I'm not getting any scholarships thanks to my freshman year of high school. Without it my GPA would be a 3.9 now its only a 3.3 which is a point below what most scholarships want. Currently I really don't see a purpose in paying for college just to get "higher paying job" that will just enable me to pay back my loans. My parents make way too much for any significant financial aid. In order for me to get anything significant, I'd have to move out and claim my independence, but moving out seems like a long stretch at the moment as I can't even save a single paycheck because my expenses seem to equal my paycheck each week.

Should I just forget about college? It doesn't really seem worth it. Sure a degree is nice, but work experience seems much more worth it. Currently I have on my mind that if I don't get into NYU which is my number one choice college, I'm not going to college at all as I don't feel like paying for a school I don't really want to go to.

 

[earnbussi]

If i would had been earning like you do then probably i would try to figure out that what do i want to do in my future...
Is it some job or my domaining!!!!
Frankly speaking if i would be earning like you do then i would had completed my basic studies and just concentrated in one thing.
I would say its better to complete your last year of college and make your future more safer (i.e. your resume!).... And then just concentrate in the job you are doing while looking for more challenging and high paying jobs...
best of luck!!!

 

[.X.]

Definitely College, Hummer, And here is why. with college hours, i don't how many you need in NY, But here you a minimum of 60, to apply for a police officer, fireman, and many other city and state positions.

Almost all companies will hire a person with a bachelors degree, before they will hire some one with "SOME" college. they don't seem to care what it is in. It is the fact that you show motivation and dedication, by obtaining a degree.

Rather you choose to take on domaining as your primary source of income, or go into the work place, that degree will always back you up, not to mention, look very good for you, as you proceed through life.

 

[geb9696]

Humdizzy,
I think you answered you own question with this one statement "but moving out seems like a long stretch at the moment as I can't even save a single paycheck because my expenses seem to equal my paycheck each week."

If you do decide to not go to college I would recommend going into a trade. That way you will be able to make 60k a year plus benefits.

 

[killaklown]

What would you rather have? 2 random jobs making 18k a year. Or 1 job you want to do, making 50k+ a year.

 

[dna]

check out student financial aid sites:

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

and

http://www.finaid.org

 

[ZannuZZi]

I'm for college.

 

[stscac]

Did the calculations and you make approximately $9 and hour considering a 40 hours work week 52 weeks a year being generous. These jobs that make $18,000 a year a hard to sustain a living environment a rural areas, nevermind NYC where you claim you live in your postbit. Still live with the parents?

Regardless, college is a huge investment, and I can understand why you're concerned about the money.

What major field are you considering?

NYU is probably one of the most expensive institutions in the New York City area:

Base tuition:
$35283
Room/board:
$11780

This doesn't include books or other fees that will be incurred throughout your years there (books are generally $200-$800 per semester, depending on your major and book availability). This might seem overwhelming, but it depends on what you're going to college for, and other avenues that you might be able to consider.

For example, if you want to save money, you might consider going to a local community college for two years, get your associates degree, and then move on to get your bachelor's degree. You can save up to 70% of the cost of a school like NYU by doing a few years at another two-year school and then transferring.

What kind of jobs are you doing? Jobs that pay under $10 are ones that are generally not "skill-based" where the employee is easily replaced if need be. Also, even though there are chances for raises, those raises will be in terms of cents per hour instead of dollars, generally considering the percentage of wage is raise.

What hard assets do you own? You might be selling those hard assets to get into college, but I will tell you that if you push yourself in a program that is both interesting and challenging, you'll better yourself, and come out of college and make a exponentially better impression on potential employers.

On a note regarding your avatar and past discussion, you can consider Audi and Hummer to not be part of your life if you don't go to college (and get a well-paying job as a result) unless you strike it lucky or illegal.

If you'd like to answer some of those questions I've asked, we can continue the discussion.

Best,

-Steve

 

[BinderGang]

NYU is not the school you want to go to if your worried about paying for college. Talk about expensive.

 

[iulianh]

College, i`m for college and i`m in college .

 

[Humdizzy]

I'm not worried about paying for college, I just don't want to pay for a college I don't really want to go to or end up in debt after college and have all of my "good job" money going to paying back college. I currently work at Starbucks and Barnes and Noble and the Starbucks salary goes up over time. At Barnes and Noble I can make 3 bucks more than what I'm making by working full time and becoming a lead. So yea they both seem to be pretty good jobs with pretty good benefits over time. If I do go to college, I plan on Majoring in CIS or IT, but the way I see it is that the 35k a year (all of my college choices are 30k+) I'm paying could go into getting certifications and opening up an IT firm.

 

[notlikeyou]

go to college

 

[bentong]

Life is much easier if you have a degree.

 

[CrazyTech]

Go to college, you'll be better off for it, the statistics don't like. $18k or even $36k a year is just not enough in this day and age. You need the best education you can get. Take my advice, don't get caught up in working. There's a great feeling initially when it comes to making that paycheck, but the question is do you want to be doing this for 10...20...30 years down the road? A college education makes it more likely you'll have a job you want. There are certainly exceptions, but those exceptions tend to be exceptional entrepreneurs.

 

[Phoebe_]

Go to college man, education is the most important thing aside from anything

 

[Frikkle]

College is the best investment you could possibly make.

You're in a predicament now; the only way to escape it is by doing something with your life, facilitated through education.

Stick with it and the sun will break through the dark clouds.

-Frikkle

 

[wisedude]

I'm just gonna say this... You will have SO MUCH more respect if you've gone to college.. That alone I think is worth it

 

[arejayell]

Goto college, but go for the knowledge as that is the best part of it all (at least for me)

Any decision you make now will change 6months down the road from now.

Im 1year out of a PhD , and im glad I decided to go for it when I did.

 

[evilopinions]

I am doing enginnering and because I am going to college I am hired as an undergraduate...

from one JOB I earn more than 30 K considering I am part time worker..

Also 18 K with 40 hours a week/365 days doesnt sound so good...what happens if u fall sick...

Expenses=earning....No money for medical...

Also wat if u grow old and when u r married and stuff...

Also if u cant afford good ones go to a cheaper college and shine brilliantly...I have collegues who have gone to worst colleges but that doesn't affect the fact that they work for Boieng and NASA on 120K and 600K jobs...

Lots to think..The obvious choice is College...Though it could be a lot of pain in the arse but it is temporary and the only pain that is rewarding and relieveing...

 

[SpareDomains]

easier to go to school while your young and living at home, a lot of people wait until they are on their own to go back to school which is much harder as then you have bills and a full time job which means no time or money, sounds like a lot to pay back when your earning 18k, get the degree and it won't be as bad to pay back when your making 30-100k depending on the field you choose, If you decide not to go to college then start signing up for the waiting lists of union specialized trade jobs machine operator, plumber, electrician etc... as those type of jobs you can actually make $36+ an hour as I don't think starbucks will provide the life you deserve, not in New York anyway, starbucks is a good job for a college kid, not a good enough job to ditch college over, bottom line do whatever makes ya happy but getting a degree while you don't have your own major bills seems like a smart move.