Why did you go to college/higher level education?

[Looneybomber]

As recent as 1970, nearly 80% of college students said "Developing a meaningful philosophy of life" was very important to them, but only about 35% deemed "being well-off financially" was very important to them.

In 2002, over 70% of students said "being well-off financially" was very important and a little over 40% said "developing a meaningful philosophy of life" was very important.

In 35yrs time, college students went from predominantly wanting to be smarter, to wanting to be wealthy.

So again, why did you decided to go to college, or another form of higher education beyond HS?

[Broadfield]

I went to college for several reasons:

-It's what you're suppose to do after HS-My parents made me-I wanted to become some form of a Engineer and knew that college was the only way-I wanted to make good money

I received 3 bachelors in my 6 years, but don't use any of my college education currently. Go figure

[dickie]

money. im not going to lie, i want expensive things. but i also want to be able to provide things for my future wife and future kids that i didnt get growing up, so i guess the greed is balanced out?

whether i take them to school in a busted-*** 89 cressida or a benz s-class, i dont think it matters in the grand scheme as long as they get there.

[Mr1der]

I felt like throwing some money away

[srpowered240sx]

mom made me, and i figured it would help make some more money, plus, in my day, chicks used to wait until college to have sex, now highschool or middle school seems like a good time to toss their virginity into the wind.

[sbird1]

mom made me, and i figured it would help make some more money, plus, in my day, chicks used to wait until college to have sex, now highschool or middle school seems like a good time to toss their virginity into the wind.

Ain't that the truth!

College is just what everybody does after high school, whether they have a career choice in mind or not. I still have no idea what I want to do. That's why I have 7 hours this semester...

[NismoDriver240]

i was torn between money and thats what you do. I voted thats what you do after HS, because thats what you do, thats what I had to do becuase I cant get a career in IT after HS and if you dont go to college and you dont have certification you cant get any job but like fast food and gas stations and retail. small stuff that you can advance in, but not as high paying.

not as high paying? so then I guess it is about money after all.... i vote for both lol

[Looneybomber]

Re: "That's just what you do. It's the next step after HS". That choice is tied with "money" right now which, surprised me at first, but now makes sense. It's an answer with no direction or motivation, one which the person just accepts the path because it's socially acceptable and doesn't question it, nor thinks about it to any real depth. That just might explain why half of university freshmen don't earn a bachelors and only 20% of community college freshmen earn a bachelors.

Obviously, a lot plays into it. Family, health, education costs, job requirements, ect...

[packerjd04]

I'm here because i guess i was supposed to after HS, almost done with freshman year and still dont really know why im here because havent exactly found anything i want to do. Sad day man, sad day.

[Jesda]

'cause momma said!

[dickie]

i got an okay scholarship to a private college that was relatively local. i paid the difference and the cost of books and fees out of pocket, with slight assistance from my mom and dad for my freshman year.

before spring 03 semester ended, the school raised its tuition rates by 25% and my scholarship did not cover it. i simply could not afford to go to school there anymore, so i transferred to a public school with the intent to take my cores and transfer back when i could afford it.

along the way i lost my scholarship because i wasnt enrolled at that school for a period of 2 consecutive semesters, and i have yet to go back.

i understand the importance of a degree if you want to be remotely successful and you werent born into money or a vocation. i feel a sense of responsibility not for myself, but for my family to complete my education and get a good job. so there's drive behind my ambition, and it seems to be for a good reason.

the problem is, im 23 and technically i have amassed enough credits to be considered a junior wherever i decide to enroll. i just have to find a way to finish, or support my fiancee so she can finish and then help support both of us while i go back.

also, i want to be effing rich.

[packerjd04]

also, i want to be effing rich.

[Looneybomber]

I'm here because i guess i was supposed to after HS, almost done with freshman year and still dont really know why im here because havent exactly found anything i want to do. Sad day man, sad day.

No worries. Just keep the GPA up and finish a degree. That's all most companies want anyway, a degree...doesn't usually matter which one.

[packerjd04]

No worries. Just keep the GPA up and finish a degree. That's all most companies want anyway, a degree...doesn't usually matter which one.

Thanks man, most people tell me that its alright im not sure yet and you have time. Still just kind of wears on you when most of your friends all have their majors and whatnot hah.

[redtop91]

I went to college for several reasons:

-It's what you're suppose to do after HS-My parents made me-I wanted to become some form of a Engineer and knew that college was the only way-I wanted to make good money

I received 3 bachelors in my 6 years, but don't use any of my college education currently. Go figure

on every single bit of the above. SOOOOOOOO true.

[frapjap]

I went to college:1. My dad is a drunk and the *only* goals he had for me was to work in vocational setting doing a/c work....in Florida. Eff that, fellas, eff that.

2. I'm NOT a drunk, far from it (regardless of posts- its the weekend usually) and I have more ambition than that. I didn't maintain a 4.0 through high school for nothing. (surprising, I know).

3. I went to college ON CAMPUS when I was 16. Dual enrollment FTW. I have a BS now for a reason.

4. Yes, I have a good career. Not a job. A career. Why? I never quit going to school. I learn everything out there. Anytime, anywhere, anything. You can never quit learning something new.

In all. I LOVE what I do. I never "work" at work. I enjoy it. AND I wanted a better quality of life than I grew up with and I want my own kids, whenever they come, to have what I didn't have. I don't want their pre med dreams to be cut short because their dad is a drunk ******* who'd rather spend his money on booze than their education.

In all, the end. I'm not going to let my own family down.

THATS why I went to college.
Modified by frapjap at 1:20 AM 3/28/2008

[x240xdrifter]

I went to college because I want to become a Race Mechanic and or Motorsports Engineer.Its not a glamorous job, so I am deff. not doing it for the fame or wealth. I'm going into this field cause its my passion and its what I can wake up every morning and not get depressed. college was naturally the next step in coming closer to my goals

[brizanden]

i wanna make video games so im goin to school for coding, figured a generally degree would be more usuable then a tech degree. incase i cant program code for games i can write code for the government lol

[Asmar]

To get money, money and... Oh yea... Money.

[qat727]

I determined that I can gain knowledge and a philosophy of life outside of college for very little money. However, I also discovered that employers don't give a tinker's damn for life experience and real world knowledge. So, I decided to play by their rules. I am back in college with the goal of making money.

[duffman1278]

Simple, I've worked hard as* labor, and I'd rather stick with working inside of a nice comfy office then out in the sun all day in the summer, and in the cold during winter.

[MaxFNPower]

Knowledge! Why? Knowledge=Power.

I want to do what I want when I want to do it, and I want to do it for myself, not some giant corporation.

[ArEs23x]

I am going to college so I could get the hell away from paycheck to paycheck, I am tired of worrying what if I lose my job, where would I go that pays as much without a degree. Sadly I make more then a lot of people with degrees, but I figured I could make more with a degree so why not. So I am going to gain knowledge and money, right now I have my eyes set on a firefighter but I am not sure cause its hard getting hired so I dont know whether or not im patient to wait anywhere close to 5 yrs to get hired, for now school is the way to go

[Bubba1]

Free Beer.

[MaxFNPower]

lol Bender Bending Rodriguez is that you?

[R6_240sx]

To get the f*ck out of the drug infested sh*t whole excuse of a town I use to live in.

Also, I need something more stable than gamb|ing.

[HashiriyaS14]

No worries. Just keep the GPA up and finish a degree. That's all most companies want anyway, a degree...doesn't usually matter which one.

Maybe in some fields, in others the type of degree and name of school is very important. (i.e. finance)

Anyway, I went both to learn more about the world as well as to ensure that I'd be able to earn the kind of money I intend to. I'm far from done though, as I'll have to go back and get my MBA this year.

[yelnatsch517]

Re: "That's just what you do. It's the next step after HS". That choice is tied with "money" right now which, surprised me at first, but now makes sense. It's an answer with no direction or motivation, one which the person just accepts the path because it's socially acceptable and doesn't question it, nor thinks about it to any real depth. That just might explain why half of university freshmen don't earn a bachelors and only 20% of community college freshmen earn a bachelors.

Obviously, a lot plays into it. Family, health, education costs, job requirements, ect...

On the contrary, some people, like me, vote "it's just what you do" because it involves everything else; as in, that's just what you are supposed to do to further your education, increase potential income, etc.

[sittin' Slidewayz]

A college degree, today, is the equivalent of a high school diploma 25 years ago. They're a dime a dozen and basically a stepping stone to get your foot in the door or an oppertunty to advance yourself in other facets.

Grad school is where it's at. Working full time and starting an MBA program soon FTMFL. The pay i'll be getting in 5 years, FTMFW.... after all that damn debt is paid off.

[szh]

1. Very simply put, if you do not go to college, you will peak your earning capacity very quickly (short of some exceptions, of course). Going to college, and following it up with grad school, maximises that potential.

2. The rigor of learning you get in college and graduate work makes it easier for you be better at your job, in general. Again, there are always exceptions.

The best point I would make is that going to college is best done when your need to earn money (for spouse, child, home, etc.) is not a problem. I.e., do it when you are younger - right out of high school - when those other obligations have not kicked in hard yet. It is much tougher (but, as always, there are exceptions) later in life.

Z