Is studying for degree worth it?

last SG · 2006-02-09T00:39:29+00:00

some professions need recognized degrees in order to practice...

BillGates SG

Hi All,

I believe most of us here are in our 20s and would have spend 3-4 years to get our first degree. While we are struggling here, coping with studies and the difficulties of being an adult-student (poor) , our peers who decided to start their career first would have gained a headstart.

I had friends who graduated with a diploma and went on to SIM for their degree. Most completed their degree on a part time basis in 2-3 years. I even had a friend who start his own biz and owns his first car in a few months. All these happened while I'm still pursuing my education here. I feel demoralised being left behind, not knowing if I'll ever catch up in the future.

All these led me to think if what we are doing is worth it. Spending this important period of our life studying, paying the tution fees, giving up opportunities to pursue a degree.

I think I'll, at the very best, secure a job with a 2.5K salary while my other peers would have gone much ahead. I can't help feeling demoralised.

Anyone also feels like that? Or can anyone help me feel better?

Ponders SG

I will say get it.

It's not obvious now, but the future is that the "average" person has a degree.

I think it's quite noticeable now also.

Get it now while you are still young.

And please.. don't get mislead by people who starts own business or owns are car, etc.

Do remember cars are easier to get now... with unlimited loans and such.

pqr SG

"own" cars? he pay up in full already is it? if not, he is in debt my friend.

No need to admire those with cars....

if got talent, go and learn a skill, no need get degree....

hell, if can cook well, must as well be a stall owner...daily earning can be more than a manager ! based on the assumption that people will keep buying lah

degree is not about getting that paper...most importantly is the training and knowledge obtain

InnoHippo SG

getting a degree is like buying an insurance ........

u dont need it if u think u will be lucky throughout the rest of ur life Wink

dragg SG

it depends on the individual.

but if you are billgates i think it serves no purpose.

Embarassed Surprised Mr. Green

BaByBoY SG

u can study and own cars at the same time also mah
i`ve frens who drives evos to sch
who ask they got rich dads..

well
i`m in the same situation as u
my poly frens are all working now.
earning money and enjoying life..
while i`m the poorest in my group i do enjoy my sch days...
they admire me for the carefree life i lead,
i admire the moeny they make..

the grass is always greener on the other side..
don worry
jus enjoy what u haf now
u`re time to earn money will be due

and abt the pay part
yes!!, ur STARTING pay maybe only ard 2.5 k or so
but u`ll catch up w them sooner than u expect..
til then they`ll be thinking why they didnt study last time
education is like playing w stocks.. the returns arent so great in the 1st few yrs..
but as they mature, u`ll strike gold i tell u

sohguanh SG

the returns arent so great in the 1st few yrs..
but as they mature, u`ll strike gold i tell u

Agree. It is so damn obvious if you work for gahmen sector. They all see cert. But if private companies will have to see what are their area of focus. Sometimes they only need poly graduate employees only.

So if wan to work for gahmen sector, best to get a degree cert in spore Mr. Green

Darkness_hacker99 SG

My Mentor always ask me, "What is the purpose of your life?"

Try asking yourself why are you pursuing a degree, is it for friends? or for family? It's all for yourself. Living in this hectic life without a goal is like a boat without its hull.

I finally found out the purpose of my life. Which is to have a major breakthrough in Modern Science. Even though I'm still young (16-year-old), I told myself that one day I'll be in the stage announcing the breakthrough of Science.

So, Why are you studying so hard without a purpose?

charlize SG

In the government sector, only the scholars succeed.

Really. Laughing

sohguanh SG

In the government sector, only the scholars succeed.

They succeed cuz career path is planned for them. For non-scholars still can eke out a living wan cuz afterall scholars belong to top 5 - 10% so still got vacancies left below Mr. Green

charlize SG

Originally posted by sohguanh:
[b]In the government sector, only the scholars succeed.

They succeed cuz career path is planned for them. For non-scholars still can eke out a living wan cuz afterall scholars belong to top 5 - 10% so still got vacancies left below Mr. Green [/b]

No way jose.

I have heard cases whereby people who worked their way up for 10 - 15 years had to give way to young scholar punks because that's just the way things work in the civil service.

Who gives a shit if you have the most experience in the department. If you're not a scholar, you're there just to make sure the scholars (who naturally becomes your boss) don't screw up too many times. And if they do, guess who is needed to clean up the mess? Laughing

sohguanh SG

I have heard cases whereby people who worked their way up for 10 - 15 years had to give way to young scholar punks because that's just the way things work in the civil service.

It is true in reality. Now after work 10 - 15 years and if you got save and dun spend anyhow you would have a tidy sum of money rite? Gahmen employees always wait for announcement get bonus regardless how economy performs.

However nowadays it seem the gahmen is reinventing and following private sector styles. Imagine retrenchment news from PSA, Mediacorp etc... So now iron rice bowl is turning to ceramic rice bowl but still better than private sector paper rice bowl eat and throw away Mr. Green

charlize SG

Originally posted by sohguanh:
[b]I have heard cases whereby people who worked their way up for 10 - 15 years had to give way to young scholar punks because that's just the way things work in the civil service.

It is true in reality. Now after work 10 - 15 years and if you got save and dun spend anyhow you would have a tidy sum of money rite? Gahmen employees always wait for announcement get bonus regardless how economy performs.

However nowadays it seem the gahmen is reinventing and following private sector styles. Imagine retrenchment news from PSA, Mediacorp etc... So now iron rice bowl is turning to ceramic rice bowl but still better than private sector paper rice bowl eat and throw away Mr. Green [/b]

Do you hear of scholars being retrenched?

It is always those below them that bear the brunt of economic restructuring. Laughing

sohguanh SG

Do you hear of scholars being retrenched?

Nope but I always hear of job rotation among them so can rotate away from being retrenched? hahaha... Mr. Green

InnoHippo SG

i like ur paper rice bowl illustration Laughing

sohguanh SG

i like ur paper rice bowl illustration

It was not my invention. It was an analogy from a taxi driver. An enlightening ride for me Mr. Green

Fatum SG

I think you got the wrong perspective bro ...

your friends could start early on a successful career because they were smart and capable to begin with ... it doesn't matter whether they have a degree or not, I reckon they'll be equally successful ....

if you get a degree and still find yourself going nowhere in your career, I guess tht probably means you can't hack it outside anyways .... with or without a degree ....

I think success in careers ultimately depends on the individual ... there are capable people and mediocre people everywhere, with all education levels, but then, what's the difference between those mediocre degree holders and mediocre non-degree holders then ? ... I suppose perhaps the former can slave their whole lives at a 2.5k a month job ... while the latter will slave away their whole lives at a 1.5k job ....

I think it's pretty stupid and myopic to assume that a degree is worthless, just because you happen to know a primary school dropout become a tycoon, or some degree-less friend of yours are earning more than you .... it is you, really, that determines how successful you will be ... not the paper you earn ...

Xcert SG

agree.I have seen it happening.

sohguanh SG

agree.I have seen it happening.

It has not changed pretty much since my times. Well I guess it is a tradition to be passed down from generation to generation Mr. Green

Kuali Baba SG

There's no need to feel like the laggard in the rat race. Follow your heart and do what you're truly passionate about. Wink