[wheelworks]

What do you guys think of a future without a degree? Would it be bleak and filled with dark days of poverty, or would it be filled with adventure and the challenge of getting rich without the cradle and support of a certified degree.

I'm not really going for a degree past Associates and do not really plan to in the future, but I see a bright and prosperous future ahead of me and am extremely optimistic. I just can't justify the waste of time it would be for me personally, when I can learn what I need to learn so much faster by jumping straight into work.

But, as with all matters, Allahu A'lam donchaknow

It might be relevant to note though, that I've got 5 years of college classes under my belt...just that none of them was aimed at anything equal to a bachelors and up.

[bravotwozero]

A college degree isn't a necessity to get rich. Bill Gates was an MIT dropout.

A college degree is necessary to enter certain professions, however - law, medicine, engineering, etc. I simply don't believe you can enter these fields without a relevant degree, which is why a future without degrees is simply inconceivable.

College degrees in non professional areas are becoming of less and less value however, except for people entering teaching and/or research. It's not uncommon for people to enter white collar entry level positions in areas unrelated to their degree, which will likely be an ongoing trend.

[Variable]

I know a ton of people without degrees who make a lot more money than a ton of people with degrees. I've noticed that degrees (not even professional ones) always correlate to higher intelligence, and I know a few less-educated people who are uncommonly brilliant. Just my personal observation.

[Jaysh]

Originally Posted by wheelworks

I just can't justify the waste of time it would be for me personally, when I can learn what I need to learn so much faster by jumping straight into work.

Is this because you are 83 years old and don't want to waste any more years of your life?

On a serious note, don't make this mistake. It is seriously difficult to get a job without a degree. It's just four years of your life. It will fly by. Four years is NOTHING in the grand scheme of things. You already have taken a bunch of college classes, so you can probably do it in 3 years. Get a degree. Stay in school. Don't do drugs. And buckle your seatbelt.

Sure, Bill Gates was a drop-out. But that's the one success story out of the thousands and thousands of failures. Definitely, there are smart people who never get college degrees, and there are tons of people who become successful without a degree...but it's rare. Play it safe.

[wheelworks]

Originally Posted by Jaysh

Is this because you are 83 years old and don't want to waste any more years of your life?

On a serious note, don't make this mistake. It is seriously difficult to get a job without a degree. It's just four years of your life. It will fly by. Four years is NOTHING in the grand scheme of things. You already have taken a bunch of college classes, so you can probably do it in 3 years. Get a degree. Stay in school. Don't do drugs. And buckle your seatbelt.

Actually I got a pretty decent job alhamdulillah (An administrative position which gives me valuable experience from witnessing first hand how the company is run). Plus I'm working on starting my own business so Insha Allah I won't be in a position of having to go job hunting if I get fired. I have to start taking a bunch of business and sales classes soon. I also have an unusually large amount of solid contacts who have a vast amount of business experience (including accounting, Taxes, sales and business analysis experience) who are always willing to give me advice. Anyway it's Allah who gives the risk, so degree or not, I'll get what ever Allah has ordained that I shall get.

[vegetables]

depends on the field. alot of IT people i know never went to/finished college and they are doing really well.

[farah]

the title made me think this thread was an offshoot of the "how much respect should there be between a couple" where 8493020432 people kept harping on a man's one degree over his wife

[Jaysh]

Originally Posted by wheelworks

Anyway it's Allah who gives the risk, so degree or not, I'll get what ever Allah has ordained that I shall get.

Tie your camel.

[Peaceful]

Originally Posted by wheelworks

Actually I got a pretty decent job alhamdulillah (An administrative position which gives me valuable experience from witnessing first hand how the company is run). Plus I'm working on starting my own business so Insha Allah I won't be in a position of having to go job hunting if I get fired. I have to start taking a bunch of business and sales classes soon. I also have an unusually large amount of solid contacts who have a vast amount of business experience (including accounting, Taxes, sales and business analysis experience) who are always willing to give me advice. Anyway it's Allah who gives the risk, so degree or not, I'll get what ever Allah has ordained that I shall get.

I thinkif you are going to start up your own business, you don't need a degree, just good advisors and it sounds like you have that.

Degrees in my opinion are not always necessary. I did a degree in my chosen subject and when I tried to get a job in that field I was told it meant nothing and that I should have done a 16 week college course. So I kind of regret my degree, I would have been better off chosing a different subject and then doing the course. But at the same time I am doing ok.

My brother doesn't have a degree and he has started his own business, and thank god he is doing well. He had never struggled to get jobs, but he had never moved up the ranks of the businesses, so starting his own business was the best thing for him.

I know people without degrees who have done very well in corporate environments, but they are a little older, when not everyone had a degree.

If you start your own business, as I'm sure you are aware, it is up to you how successful you are, the harder you work, the better off you will be and vice versa.

I hope this ramble helps.

[ShotgunMessiah]

I've never felt a degree was necessary in my line of work, but at this point my boss has pretty much demanded I go back to school. The company is willing to reimburse me for the classes, so its not really a problem, I just hadn't expected to hit the "ceiling" so soon in my career.

[MossadConspiracy]

Originally Posted by wheelworks

What do you guys think of a future without a degree? Would it be bleak and filled with dark days of poverty, or would it be filled with adventure and the challenge of getting rich without the cradle and support of a certified degree.

I'm not really going for a degree past Associates and do not really plan to in the future, but I see a bright and prosperous future ahead of me and am extremely optimistic. I just can't justify the waste of time it would be for me personally, when I can learn what I need to learn so much faster by jumping straight into work.

But, as with all matters, Allahu A'lam donchaknow

It might be relevant to note though, that I've got 5 years of college classes under my belt...just that none of them was aimed at anything equal to a bachelors and up.

very bad idea. All statistics on this issue argue against what you're planning on doing.

ws

[sally]

some of the smartest and most accomplished people ive known in my life didnt finish their degree..it's rather strange but interesting/cool..more than 4 of my cousins (including males and females) started up small but fully functioning businesses pretty successfully while in college that pertained to their interests mA..they either went on to finish school later or just didnt cuz their work took up time cuz it got so huge mA and i'm never sure if they ever had issus theyd get hired anywhere else easily, guarenteed. and theyre not dumb either.

and i know other non relatives who have been the same...it's all about the drive. but sometimes the field matters too..

[Glasgow]

Depends on the field.

For Law, Science and Medicine.. you must have a degree

For things like business and IT you have to be exceptionally talented to get by with out a degree.

Plebs should study towards some sort of recognised qualification.

[Ayooshi]

Asalamu Alaykum,

Its always been that the most intelligent and cultured, well rounded people that i've met are people with out degrees.

I believe degree's should be attained if you want to enter a certain profession and earn well. Otherwise, just getting a degree and making bhiryani the rest of your life isn't much difference from doing the same without a degree.

I do think however, its important to attain a degree as you have no idea what life will throw at you and its good to have something like that under your belt (or under your hijab?) in order to be a potential choice when times come when life is restrictive.

Fi AmanAllah

[wheelworks]

Originally Posted by MossadConspiracy

very bad idea. All statistics on this issue argue against what you're planning on doing.

ws

Good thing I don't live my life based on statistics