How Much Education Do You Need To Be Successful?

June 22nd, 2012 - By Terri Williams

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Just the Facts

Education still provides a competitive advantage.  The most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that in 2011, individuals who did not have a high school diploma earned an average of $451 a week.  However, those with a high school diploma averaged $638/week.  Attending college without graduating netted $719/week.  An Associates degree brought in $768/week.

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  • Gimmeabreak78

    One thing I don’t the article mentioned is that it’s not enough to just have a college degree, it really matters WHAT you major in. If you have a degree in English or some other liberal arts field, the employment prospects for you aren’t going to be as good as if you have a degree in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). There are literally not enough qualified people to fill the jobs available in those positions, so many companies have imported Asian foreigners to fill those positions. While I encourage people to follow their passions, I encourage people even more to pay their bills. Their is a big difference in pay beteen getting a job with a history or English degree versus getting a job with an engineering degree.

  • the voice of reason

    Lol, I’m sorry but what God has for you is for you! So get your degree in your passion and let God do the rest. If a door doesn’t open it means he has something better for you. In all things seek God he is your provider. Be blessed peeps! :-)

    • Seriously

      That’s right!!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Eliza-Beth/100003391668904 Eliza Beth

      Unless God is the name of the person hiring, no.

  • Chris

    Don’t forget about those loans! If you have to keep going into debt for school, you had better make sure that you are graduating with a degree in a field that is hiring. Otherwise, you have may have to work at a dead end job just to pay back loans if you don’t get a job in your desired field within 6 months of graduation. If you don’t start paying it back, your credit will suffer! Self fulfillment is great, but your degree may cause more problems than it’s worth.

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  • Tagirl

    If I could go back, I would make different choices concerning my education, such as what university I attended and plan better. But I would always attend college.

    One thing that the government needs to do is provide more jobs for college grads. It was extremely frustrating after undergrad to only qualify for jobs that don’t even require a degree because of the lack of job experience. With the advanced degree, I found that interning was key because it allowed me to gain experience in my degree field. But it’s tough out there for people in all fields right now. There are people with PHD’s having a hard time finding a job. But you have to keep trying and believing and, during that time, follow your passions.

  • Anonymous

    I sometimes joke around saying if you are not going to college to study, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, engineering and law, forget a college degree. The world is getting more and more competitive. I will say work experience, unique skills/talent, good connection/networks will also get you far in life. People need to stop using these wealthy college dropouts like Bill Gates as example. People are not looking at the bigger picture, he came from a well to do family. If you are not connected to old money, top/influential people, or lucky is your nickname, I will advice stay in college, make best use of the opportunities/resources that you have. Entrepreneurship, small business is fast growing that’s the route many people end up doing even after their degrees. But, college degree sounds good on paper, and sometimes command respect.

    • guest

      THATS RIGHT!!!!!! you need to have a degree in something where people depend on you. Thats why im going to law school.

      • Tagirl

        There are law grads that are having a tough time finding jobs as well. It also depends on what law school you attended and what type of law you specialize in. Some law firms only hire from certain schools. Whatever state you’re, you need to find out what law is the most lucrative or find a state where the law that you’d like to practice is lucrative(unless you want to be a defense attorney/prosecutor.

  • guest

    the key is to get involved in careers that will never become unemployed. Do not stop getting your education because that is just a way to keep you underpaid and in the low sector jobs. people are hiring, the government for one, banking institutions, some hospitals, they need social workers. People are getting old and more immigrants are coming into the states. so do not believe the hype that there are no jobs because there are. all my friends have jobs and those who do not are getting their masters and PhD’s. you have to move to major cities to find a job. its the truth.

  • Ashley

    Im in college right now, these comments are depressing. Please tell me somebody became successful because they put their degrees to use. please, anybody?

    • GeekMommaRants

      I have a degree in IT and that’s what I do. There are so many different positions in this field. Ashley, please think about how many different positions there are in your field.

      Having a degree means that one can communicate at a very high level both written and verbal. A degree also means the graduate knows what critical thinking and logic means. Please do not give up.

      I have friends who live outside the country, teaching English in China and Eastern Europe. There are always opportunities.

      All the best to you.

      • Ashley

        Thanks, I’m actually planning on studying abroad in Asia this fall,thanks for the encouragement.

    • Seriously

      I am not listening to all that BS…. I know all about the probs ppl with degrees had finding work in the last few years. I still intend on finishing my education however.. it’s not only about a job, it’s about transforming your life and your mindset. So don’t get depressed, bc I’m not!

      • Ashley

        Thanks, I definitely believe it’s a mindset thing as well, That’s something I need to work on.

        • Asia

          @Ashley you will need a great mindset when you graduate from college and step into the real world! You can listen to @1c42dc53e5de5e66eedd9b12fbbdc7a5:disqus all you want, but I am living through it as we speak! So are you going to listen to someone who is in school like you are, or someone who graduated college last year, was unemployed for 7 months just to end up with a part-time job. And trust I wasn’t a student who barely passed her classes either, I made A’s and B’s on top of an internship at a news station in Atlanta AND volunteered at my school AND had a part-time job when I was college so I did everything to build my resume so I could get a job in Atlanta and yet look at the position that I am in today. I’m not typing this to discourage you and I will NEVER tell anyone to drop out of school. All I’m saying is it’s hard and I don’t want you reading this article that says that a person with a bachelor’s degree makes a $1,000 a week and you graduate and realize that it’s going to be a couple of years before you get to that point. People kept telling me it’ll get better over time and it still hasn’t for me. Until the economy improves, people like you and me are going to realize that it’s hard out here!

          • Seriously

            You sure are a hater! Wow! I never said anything negative to you, why are you coming down on me so hard! I know all about the economy and how hard it is to find work. I heard all the news stories about a college degree meaning nothing. I lived through this recession and could not find a job! Try being unemployed for 3 years.. What is 7 months? That’s with work experience and some college. Why would you EVER tell somebody not to go to school? If you cannot find a job WITH a degree, you sure as heck wont find one WITHOUT one! So before you judge somebody for being a STUDENT which is a POSITIVE thing, you need to realize your life story is not the be all and end all! Good day!

        • Seriously

          No problem…. Sometimes not finding a job is a blessing! I wouldn’t be almost finished with my degree if I had found of of those low end dead end jobs I was hunting down. The only option was to go back to school… sometimes bad things work out for good…

    • Jamie Williams

      these are all losers who problably fail or dropped out of school or are scumb looking bags who could not sell a glass of water in the desert. continue your education and focus only on yourself the rest will follow

  • jason vorhees

    Some other advice i could give college grads is dont be a 1 trick pony. IT is my bread and butter but i also have food service experience with bartending and waiting tables.

    • Adrina

      Exactly! I had fashion design to fall back on.

  • Asia

    I am so sick of this discussion about college degrees will allow you to have great careers and income…I have a bachelor’s degree and trust me I do not make a $1,000 a week. It’s more like $200 every 2 weeks! With the unemployment rate at 8.9% in Georgia, how do you expect recent graduates to jump start their careers when the requirements are always, “you need a bachelor’s degree AND 3-5 years experience.” How am I supposed to gain experience if nobody will give you a chance?! Honestly, young people who are actually trying to do something with their lives are in a lose-lose situation. If you only have a high school diploma and not a college degree (or certification, 2 year programming, etc.) you are screwed because you don’t have a higher education, and if you are a college graduate, you are screwed because you don’t have any work experience other than fast food. Sorry if my last statement sounds conceited, but I didn’t graduate high school (salutatorian) AND college on top of doing volunteer work and internships, to end up working at a movie theater with a bunch of teenagers where they only give you 10 hours due to “budget cuts.”

    • Adrina

      I wish their was a “love” button I could click. Amen to this! I think you only need degrees for specific careers like law and medicine. I have a MASTER’S in Health Administration. I can’t get a job because most administrators are nurses or doctors, which led me to pursue my hobby as a career, fashion. I took a few classes (no degree) and decided to start my own business. After getting a Master’s, I realize a degree means nothing. Sad, but true. ESPECIALLY for African-Americans!!!!

      • Seriously

        I’m still gonna get my degree even though they say all this negative stuff right now…I would rather be with it than without it! It’s gonna mean a lot to me!

        • guest

          @ adrina why did you not choose to be nurse or doctor. why a masters in administration?

    • Seriously

      That’s why you get a job during school so you can have work experience.

      • Kikee

        Even while you’re still in school, most of the jobs require MUST have 3-5 years experience, and volunteer work doesn’t count either.

      • Asia

        @Seriously nobody is telling you not to finish college what I’m saying is it’s going to be difficult for you whether you have a high school or a college diploma. And umm most people (like myself) had jobs when they were in college I’m talking about work experience in your major. It’s going to be almost impossible because you can’t apply to those jobs while you are in school and once you finish, they don’t want you because of your lack of experience. This job I have right now is not my first and will not be my last. And what I was saying earlier wasn’t negative it’s REAL! I was telling the honest truth because the stuff that I mentioned earlier are things that other people will not tell you when you are in college. I never said anything about not finishing your education.

        • Seriously

          I never said you did… no shade here…. you just have to know where you are going and don’t buy into the hype… Do what u can do and pursue your dream. I wasn’t talking about you being negative…there is sooo much negativity in the media surrounding going to college and it not meaning anything, that’s what I was alluding to..

    • guest

      go get your masters or Phd. Volunteer somewhere you would like to work that way you stay updated on what sector is hiring. Once you get those degrees, they can not deny you a job and you push the person with the 15+ year experience out the door because you have raised the bar with your degrees and that will be all they are looking for.

      • Jamie Williams

        bad idea you need to start out with a bachelors then work up to a masters degree. usually the career field you are in will help you pay for it. i don’t know why people think just because they have a higher level of educaton they are automaticlly entitled to a position in the work force. if you have no experience; who the hell is going to hire you. then the places that are enrty level won’t want you because they feel you might leave them in a few years BECAUSE you have a p.h.d. and will move on to another employer who may offer more money, employers want and are comfortable with the idea that a person will grow with thier company they want you to invest in thier company as they will invest in you. a p.h.d. is great for respect but that’s about it. take time off from college go out there for a career then continue to pursue your degree in the field that you choose

        • Jamie Williams

          p.s. no one cares if you Volunteer except maybe colleges

  • jason vorhees

    A college degree is only necessary when you are chasing a career that calls for it. Do i want my doctor to be a college grad? yes….Do i need my mechanic, plumber, electrician, chef etc to be college grads? no…..education is necessary but a degree certainly is not.

    • GeekMommaRants

      No, Jason, please raise your standards. A degree is now what a diploma use to be. All the best to you!

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