I might get a job at GoodYear, but I'm not sure.

[Karen]

Not everyone will benefit from a standard 4-year degree. There are people who incur debt without getting any skills that relate to what they want to pursue. Sometimes military service is an alternative - and can involve training for skills that will lead to good jobs once you leave, sometimes an apprenticeship or internship in the field of your choice is a better option ... It all depends on what direction you want to go!

[Cataholic]

Not everyone benefits from anything at all. A military service can leave you dead, wounded (physically or mentally disabled), and unemployed when you leave.

There can be an argument presented for and against most things in life. I am talking about the more sure 'bet', if you will.

[pomtzu]

I'm one of those that believes that college isn't for everybody.

I never went to college - never regretted it - and always had a good paying job and making more than some of my college educated friends were. In the customer service department of the company I worked for, there were several college graduates working there. Some decided that what they went to college for, they didn't want to do after graduation. Others couldn't find a decent paying job in their field, and others couldn't even find a lousy paying job in their field.

Neither of my brothers ever went to college, and both ended up as engineers, making more money than I would ever have imagined.

There's plenty out there for those who choose not to further their education with 4 more years. To me, it just sounds like Genny doesn't want to go to school and is content with her present job if she gets more hours, and there's no motivation to move ahead since she doesn't know what she wants to do with her life.


ETA: There are also many companies that offer a college reimbursement program. You can work and be taking a couple of courses at a time. Sure - it's going to take longer to get a degree, but in a program like that, you can have the best of both worlds.

[Catty1]

Genny - what I find troubling is the age you are, and the indecisiveness you display. I honestly thought you were about 14 years old!

My suggestion is to stay at home and take 1 year of college, community or otherwise. Stretch yourself for a year. Then look at a bigger decision...it will likely come to you during that year.

hugs!

[Cataholic]

Pomtzu-I would never ask you your age, but, I got the idea that you were a little bit older than Genny. In today's world, things are much different than they were 30 years ago. Again, I don't know your age, and if I have presumed you were older than you are, please forgive me.

I think I saw elsewhere your post about your two brothers being engineers. I don't know what kind of engineers they are/were. I can't think of any engineers today that are not college trained (civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical(in fact, my dad is a chem e, with a phd in it...and he is O.L.D. ). A good friend of my mother's earned his engineering degree (civil), and this was prolly 20 years ago! It was, simply put, a requirement for any sort of advancment. My friend at work, her husband is STILL struggling through a 4 year program to earn his degree for surveying. I say struggling as he has a wife, and 2 beautiful girls, as well as a full time job. No way will he advance without it. See, someone encouraged him to just get a 2 year degree. And, he did 12 years ago. The market changed. I can't imagine that we will go backwards from here in terms of technology. With CSR jobs being shipped off to who knows where, it is a scary time for many.

Today, entering the job market, your chances of a good career path are limited without a 4 year degree. To encourage a young person like Genny of any other notion seems short-sighted. If she were MY daughter, I couldn't do it in good faith. I know with my son, it won't be an option.

[Karen]

My Dad is a retires stationary engineer, and didn't go to college. My nephew is a nuclear engineer, and attended one year of college, but then entered the Navy, where he is getting all his training and engineering certifications.

The military isn't all infantry, guns and getting shot. In fact, if Genny is really interested in being an Xray tech, and would consider military service, they might train her, and she'd be getting paid while she learned. Something to speak to a recruiter about, if that's something that might interest you.

[Cataholic]

My Dad is a retires stationary engineer, and didn't go to college.

Well, since I know how old- near abouts YOU are, I know your father is near my dad's age...and, again, things were much different back then. Much.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Today, entering the job market, your chances of a good career path are limited without a 4 year degree. To encourage a young person like Genny of any other notion seems short-sighted. If she were MY daughter, I couldn't do it in good faith. I know with my son, it won't be an option.

I agree, it seems like anymore, having a degree is a necessity. I would also encourage you to go to school- you may even like it! There are lots of opportunities for students. You could take interesting classes to figure out what you want to major in, or study abroad. Starting at a community college would probably be a good idea, or a smaller private school, because in my experience you get better student services there.

My parents couldn't afford to pay for my schooling, so I took out financial aid, but I've never regretted my education. It's not just having the degree that I think is really important, but also what you learn and the experiences you gain.

Good luck with your decision! If you do decide to go school in the near future, you should fill out an application for federal aid, which will give you opportunities for grants and loans. Their website is here: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and the application is free.

[Catty1]

Hey, Genny - how about just looking into the military thing? Talk to someone at the recruiting office - it might be just the ticket for you!