High School Diploma=Associate's Degree

[Popinski]

I've been working in the factories and my friends convinced me to go back to school and get a degree. They claim that a person with an Associate's degree make more money than a person with a High School diploma...

BOLOGNA!!!

After 3 years of hard work, I earned my Associate's a couple months ago. No one gives a rat's butt about an Associate's. Every employer treat an Associate's the same as a High School diploma. It's like I wasted my time in school. Now I'm broke because of school and I only can get a job that only requires a high school diploma. Screw this, I'll work in the factories and office for the rest of my life.

 

[JHZR2]

Agreed. The community college system, which seemingly gives out the associates degrees (I assume that is where you got yours) is really only useful as a cost-effective stepping stone to a real school.

Did you take proper calculus (three semesters worth)? How about physics and chemistry? What was your major?

Why not use this as a stepping stone to get into a real program, it is only 2 more years...

 

[crazyoildude]

learn a trade or do something you are really good at that is the only way... Plumber, electrician, Locksmith, auto mechanic, appliance repair, contractor..

 

[PandaBear]

Depends on the degree. IMO associate isn't a real degree, and many 4 year undergraduate degree aren't a real degree either (unless those highly technical ones that can land you a real good paying job), but those real degree take quite a bit of work in school and many quit halfway to get a not so useful degrees. I've seen half of my friends quit while trying.

There is no free lunch. If you want a high paying job from a degree, that education is going to be hard. We were studying till 12am all the time and sometimes sleep on the school couch between lab cleanup at 3am.

Also usually you have to find another job if you want to use your degree after graduation, because the current boss is not going to overpay you for a skill he doesn't need. Have you check what people with your new associate degree do after they graduate? Major is more important that whether you have a degree or not.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Agreed. The community college system, which seemingly gives out the associates degrees (I assume that is where you got yours) is really only useful as a cost-effective stepping stone to a real school.

Did you take proper calculus (three semesters worth)? How about physics and chemistry? What was your major?

Why not use this as a stepping stone to get into a real program, it is only 2 more years...


+1

I went to community college for 2 years then transferred to University for 2 more years. Many states prefer you go to CC for 2 years and finish Bachelor degrees at a 4 year college or university for cost saving.

 

[pondfishr]

I will take a stab at this. An Associates Degree is a good place to start but don't stop there. Sure it costs money but go to a local in state school where the tuition is less. A number of years ago I was a construction commercial electrician. The benefits were terrible. I had to work over on weekends to get paid for the holidays they wouldn't pay us for. I went back to school and earned an associates degree I paid for but I didn't stop there. I kept going and earned my bachelors degree a few years later and my company paid part of it once I was hired. Today I am a Senior Project Manager for one of the worlds largest telecommunication company's. I have since earned my PMP, PMI's professional project management certification and also the Six Sigma Green Belt. Don't give up now you are just getting started. Sure it might take a little time and effort but believe me it is well worth the sacrifice. Education opens doors!!

 

[Shannow]

If you are in industry, and get a good name for yourself, you don't need any paper.

My Bro left HS with a year and a half to go to become an electrician. Got 6 months of his apprenticeship through excelling. Rose rapidly to foreman, estimator, and project manager, and is now a GM in a nation wide company with hundreds of personnel.

Not a bit of paper other than a trade...

Lots of application, diligence, and being prepared to move onto any opportunity that he thought could give him an edge

 

[dishdude]

Everyone and their mother has a 4 year degree now, they were told they HAD to get it or else they wouldn't be successful.

Just because you have a degree, doesn't mean you learned how to make money.

 

[DieselTech]

All an associates degree is, is review from what you learned in high school. C'mon english 101 and 102.....How to write a paragraph and narrowing topics. GMAFB!!

I do have an Associates but I promise nothing but hard work and refusing to fail has got me where I am today

 

[T-Bone]

Where I work, an associate's degree is useful:

New equipment technicians must have an associates in electronics, electronics technology, or a similar field to be considered. Many types of military electronics training are considered equivalent.

However, if somebody gets an associates degree he ought to keep on going to bachelors - the interesting classes are the next two years!

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Everyone and their mother has a 4 year degree now, they were told they HAD to get it or else they wouldn't be successful.

Just because you have a degree, doesn't mean you learned how to make money.


Doesn't mean that you know what you were taught either.

Just had to explain to another engineer today how to calculate the volume of a pipe...and turn it into litres.

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Everyone and their mother has a 4 year degree now, they were told they HAD to get it or else they wouldn't be successful.

Just because you have a degree, doesn't mean you learned how to make money.


Doesn't mean that you know what you were taught either.

Just had to explain to another engineer today how to calculate the volume of a pipe...and turn it into litres.


ouch!

 

[L_Sludger]

The 4-year degree is the new high school diploma. This is true.

 

[postjeeprcr]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
If you are in industry, and get a good name for yourself, you don't need any paper.

My Bro left HS with a year and a half to go to become an electrician. Got 6 months of his apprenticeship through excelling. Rose rapidly to foreman, estimator, and project manager, and is now a GM in a nation wide company with hundreds of personnel.

Not a bit of paper other than a trade...

Lots of application, diligence, and being prepared to move onto any opportunity that he thought could give him an edge


I have a friend who is a similar situation to that, he graduated high school but that is as far as his education has gone but he is pretty high up in the company he works for. He likes his field of work and keeps up with it.

 

[Ibrahim]

may I ask what did u get your Associates Degree in? You can have Phd and not make it, "it is just not what you know, BUT who you know!"

Right now where I live skilled Carpenters are in very very high demand, I know someone making 42 bux an hour, but thats a skill trade

My cousin is a Professional Mechanical Engineer, and his boss who leads the team of couple dozen Mech Eng. has only Associates Degree in Mech. Eng. so it all depends, ppl have to work their way up by learning and certifications, and obviously being your best!

 

[rjundi]

Depends what you get your associates in. Good fields are medical and technology related. It opens many doors that typically lead to decent jobs with huge benefit of getting more education typically.

Education is never a waste.

 

[The_Jeff]

If nothing else sticking through school shows your boss that you're subserviant. This is good if someone wants someone who can obey an alarm clock and show up daily without stirring up the other worker bees.

All depends on your career field.

I work in broadcast TV, a totally dying industry-- DTV reception was a box full of nails for that coffin-- but got my state vehicle inspection license and hung it on my wall in case/when I have to change industries. (And in case they raise the bar for the test-- like making you work as an apprentice/slave for a year first.)

Stuff that needs a state license, especially if there's a 6 month waiting list, has an advantage due to the barriers of entry. Even hairstyling etc but also CNAs, HHAs, the low totem pole bit of the medical field.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Depends what you get your associates in. Good fields are medical and technology related. It opens many doors that typically lead to decent jobs with huge benefit of getting more education typically.

Education is never a waste.


Amen to that. For a nurse, an associate degree is a must as it is the minimum requirement to get an RN certification, for example. The level of the education depends on the field one is in. You don't need an MBA to be a good electrician, for example, and having an MBA will not help you make more money in that line of work.

Jobs and degrees should be acquired strategically. First, figure out what you want to be in 5 to 10 years and then gain the education necessary for your goal and move around to jobs that will help you reach your goal.

The hardest part, actually, is trying to figure out one's long-term goals.

 

[John_K]

My wife helps people find work for a living, and she says even a BACHELOR'S doesn't mean much, everybody wants a MASTER'S. When will it ever end?

John

 

[kb01]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
If nothing else sticking through school shows your boss that you're subserviant. This is good if someone wants someone who can obey an alarm clock and show up daily without stirring up the other worker bees.


That's pretty much how I view it. I work somewhere where to be salaried as either an analyst or a manger, you need a graduate degree. To be a full time field supervisor, you need at least a bachelor's degree. For our technicians, we want a bachelor's degree but have taken those with a career-specific associates degree. We've also wavered this for veterans in the past.

For the technician jobs, anyone can learn how to take soil or stream samples, and to fill out paperwork after a few weeks of OJT. We have a few reasons for wanting a degree of some sort:

a) It's basically a pre-screen of applicants, where you can assume they know how to complete assignments, follow directions, plan out projects, show up on time, etc.

b) A graduate can (in theory) write coherently and communicate verbally.

c) We view associate and bachelor degrees as stepping stones and presumably, the lower level technicians will go off to graduate school, and come back to work for us at a higher level, already familiar with our company.