Is my degree really worth it?
By Sonadora
@Sonadora (356)
United States
April 28, 2008 12:19pm CST
I might be asking myself this question a little too late. I am now a college senior struggling to complete my degree in finance. My GPA is not the greatest because I lack the drive and determination when it comes to my classes. I have done no internships in my field and have no related work experience. So the job opportunities for me are looking a little bleek. Not that I want a job. I have actually been having a good run with my websites, blogs, freelance writing, and online trading endeavors. Most of the knowledge that I use did not come from a classroom. I have taught myself HTML and am learning javascript. I taught myself how to play the stock markets. Writing is just something I've always had a knack for. My point is if there is something that I want to do, even if I don't know how, I am pretty good at figuring things out on my own. Now I sit in upper level investing courses and the material all seems common sense to me. I just am better at actually doing things than taking a multiple choice test over it. So now I have all this debt and student loans to pay off. Not to mention the fact that I have made myself miserable sitting in class. But I am so close to the end I feel it will be a waste not to finish. Like it's too late to turn back now. Knowing what I know now when I started all those years ago I would have just said to heck with it. What do you think? Am I crazy?
2 people like this
6 responses
@huppsterdave5125 (279)
• United States
28 Apr 08
If you are acollege senior I think I would stick it out and get the degree. There is no point in paying back all that debt and having nothing to show for it. Your GPA can be kind of low, and you can still get a decent job. When all of your websites and things end and you don't have a source of any income, then you are definately going to wish you had that college degree. It sounds like you might have gotten into the wrong major if you are feeling like you don't want to get the degree. In my opinion, definatley push through and get that degree. You are so close to being done. Try to make it interesting for yourself, or do something that will allow you to complete the course.
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
28 Apr 08
hello sonadora,
i dont think you are crazy at all. i feel the same way when i was in school :)
here is my thoughts about your subject::
if you know for fact that you will do better without a degree, i mean on your own then go for it. coz if you are not happy with what you are doing then i dont see the reason of pursuing it, specially you mentioning that you are capable of learning things on your own then just focus on what you are great about and just move on.
BUT
if you feel that one day you will need somebody else's help to find a job, i mean a company to work for. then i suggest that no matter how boring and unhappy you are in the classroom just bear with it coz one day you will find out the importance of it.
i said this coz most big companies (that i know of) required a degree graduate person, if you target a managerial position then you will need a higher degree, a masters or PhD.
i said this coz my hubby is capable of doing so many stuff and all he need to do is sit and read about it and he will figure out how to do it on his own or just plain playing around. BUT when he looks for a job they wouldnt care if you are capable of doing anything in the planet, they wouldnt even look in your resume if they dont see the degree they are looking for.
some job sites makes sure that it is written there that MASTERS preferred or "only" on it. so how can you compete with that.
i know it is insane and probably you are better than the one they hire but they dont know that and wouldnt even give you a shot to prove them wrong coz you are already labeled the way they are not interested.
anyway, it is all up to you.
my thoughts about this matter is just based on my own experienced and nothing to do with your qualifications at all.
i hope i give you an insight on my part.
takecare and i wish you all the best!
@Sonadora (356)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Thanks for the insight. You are right about companies really looking for that degree. And I really do feel I need to finish it, but I feel like it is driving me crazy at the same time. Sometimes it is just so difficult. Especially since I am not the best student. I even had a teacher refer to me as a monkey because I did poorly on a test. I know that I am smart but it is just plain hard to get insulted like that and then bogged down by mediocre grades. I am trying really hard to finish but it takes all my willpower just to stick with it.
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
28 Apr 08
i know what you mean by that and yes i will feel the same way too.
let me tell you something.
one VP that i know said, he was a C student and really had a hard time reaching out for the grades he wants to attain, but he never give up and finishes it.
NOW since he know his capabilities, after he graduated he look for a job that he knows he excels (doesnt matter if it is related to his course - majorly) and uses that as his leverage to attain whatever position he is right now.
yes a C student who struggles back then is a VP of a good company now(cant tell the name as i dont want to be in trouble, sorry) to him the job he have right now is almost like a game, he can even answer it even if his eyes closed coz he is very good at it.
even the owner of the company have such a huge respect on him and when he talks to other people you can tell that he knows what he is talking and others just listen.
my point is - you know what you are capable of just like this VP guy.
use that when you look for a job and excel there., you never know till you get there right?
our world is different now, they look for diploma and proof written from some school. others even have school preference and it sure really sucks as it shows a racism in a lot of ways.
i remember this author (leo buscaglia) he said, if you dont like what you are seeing, paint it with the colors you want and then live from that (something like that LOL)
anyway, i wish you all the best. i wish i have the right word to tell you to keep your spirit up but i am just a simple person and dont have much wisdom to share.
i just hope you just keep moving forward.
takecare and have a good one.
ps
i have use this quotation all my life and hope you can find the value of it as well.
"if you cant run,,, just walk!
if you cant walk,,, just crawl!
what's important is... you never STOP!"
@jhl930 (3601)
• United States
28 Apr 08
i think that the degree is worth it if you know that is what you want to do with the rest of your life...i mean i don't really guess that it is worth it if you aren't sure that it is what you want to do with the rest of your life..but maybe it isn't worth it for you for different reasons like maybe you don't like having to sit there and you should find someting else to do for a little while and then just come back to college...i have always heard that college is suppose to be a fun time in your life...
@Sonadora (356)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Yeah, I have heard that, too. I do get burned out pretty quick sitting in class. I have taken a few semesters off. Right now I feel like if I don't finish it this time I will lose any momentum that I might possibly have. I like some aspects of my major, but not all of it.
@ladysakurax (1161)
• Canada
29 Apr 08
Well as many have said above, you should finish off your degree. At least, you will have something in your hands and who knows when you'll need it later on. You have spent soo much effort and investment into it. The thing you should have done is to change your study field. Maybe you can discuss with your academic advisor to switch program with something similar to yours so you won't have to redo all your courses. I am not sure but accounting and finance do ressemble a little bit so you might take extra courses only.
@amitpuri (457)
• India
28 Apr 08
I think you are in the college just for the graduation and your mind found some other interests as you told likewise you have done so many other things not included in your course and i think you went for the wrong field that is the main problem you are facing and its too late here you can't think to go back even. what i think is that you should concentrate on the degree and at the same time continue the things that interest you as it is not important that which degree you are getting but its all about the talent so if you have the talent in some other field you can find some better chances there. so my best wishes are with you friend.
keep it up!!
@Sonadora (356)
• United States
28 Apr 08
You are right. I have found so many other interests. My major is finance and all the jobs career services has to offer is banking or selling insurance. I really can't see myself doing that. I know I need to finish even though it is going to be tough. Thanks for the support.
@katbalu102 (377)
• Philippines
29 Apr 08
hello sonadora,
i can relate to your situation. and no your not crazy, your probably just uninspired? hehehe. i am also on the 'verge' of graduating. all i need to do is complete the 1 subject that i havent completed yet. but i feel as though i dont want to do this subject anymore. i feel tired and uninspired and unable to perform well in class for quite some time now. and i feel that i should be taking up another course, but i cant since my father wants me to persue this course and finish it. but its not what i really wanted. and its too late for me to take another course and start all over again back to 1st year. its exhausting already. although i love to learn but ive never really been a 'learn from the book or in class' type of person. i could learn much better when i am experiencing the lesson itself. and ive never had any work experiences as well, except that 1 time when i was a kid and had a summer job. but that didnt count because that was a job in my uncles bake shop. and i feel like at my age i should be working already. and with the course that i have, i feel like there is no other way for me after graduation but to persue a higher education say a 'law degree'. because i feel like my course doesnt offer much for me in the field that i want. and i still dont like my course. but ive enrolled in that subject now and im not exactly very determined but want to finish it so i could be done with it. all we gotta do is take a big gulp of this and then were done.
@Sonadora (356)
• United States
29 Apr 08
I am right there with you. It seems like we are on the exact same page. I just have a few courses to take this summer and then I will be done. I have also thought about continuing my education. I will probably take a break first, but I think I will eventually end up doing that. You are right. We just have to stick it out and finish the dang thing already. I already told my family that I am foregoing the whole cap and gown thing. Just give me that piece of paper and I am out of there.
