Why do some consider going to college a complete waste?

amother

Silver ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 2:14 pm

I spent 30k on my special ed degree through a frum program. I have been in the field for 14 years, I am considered tops in my field, and am pretty much maxed out as far as raises are concerned. This year I am making the most I have ever made, and my salary is 47k.
If I would have skipped the degree and went into medical billing or similar I would probably be making more money.

amother

Lemonlime ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 3:09 pm

amother Silver wrote:

Would you have enjoyed medical billing? Not everyone does.

ETA: I actually have a few good friends who are making way more with a special ed degree. This is very location/specific job dependent.

amother

↑ Lemonlime

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 3:11 pm

amother Yarrow wrote:

The frum in town economy can get you a good salary without a degree.

Ok, I'm curious, what does a good frum in town salary look like without a degree? For men. Is it enough to support a family?

amother

↑ Lightcoral

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 4:10 pm

amother Silver wrote:

How does this compare to getting a special ed degree in a standard university? Accredited? Similar course work? Same amount of credits needed to complete?

amother

Foxglove ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 4:10 pm

amother Silver wrote:

But technically it gives you options, if you really needed. You could, for example, work in a public school system...btw, there are lots of options in public schools for teachers with a special ed degree besides classroom teacher. Having that degree does open doors for you if you choose.

amother

↑ Silver ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 4:18 pm

amother Lightcoral wrote:

How does this compare to getting a special ed degree in a standard university? Accredited? Similar course work? Same amount of credits needed to complete?

Same amount of credit needed, but I was able to use a lot of seminary credits towards BA, and I did a lot of CLEPS for BA credits also, so the in class semesters are cut down considerably.

amother

↑ Silver ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 4:19 pm

amother Foxglove wrote:

True, I could technically get work in a public school, but that does not fit with my lifestyle at the moment.

amother

↑ DarkPurple ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 4:22 pm

amother Silver wrote:

True, I could technically get work in a public school, but that does not fit with my lifestyle at the moment.

But perhaps it can fit a few years later. You don't know what the future will bring, and having this under your belt can open doors later.

amother

↑ Foxglove ↓

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 4:24 pm

amother Silver wrote:

True, I could technically get work in a public school, but that does not fit with my lifestyle at the moment.

But if you were really desperate (c"v), you have the security of knowing you have that option.

amother

↑ DarkPurple

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 4:24 pm

amother Silver wrote:

This is what happens when a field gets saturated. We heavily promote a few fields and then we end up here. We hurt ourselves by doing this.

amother

Electricblue

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 4:26 pm

amother Silver wrote:

If you have 14 years experience, are considered top in your field, and the most you’ve ever made is $47k, that is clearly an ambition/motivation issue on your end. Nothing to do with your degree. Unless you live in Hicksville, Montana.

amother

↑ Silver

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 5:48 pm

amother Electricblue wrote:

I happen to live out of town, so it could be my salary would be higher in town.
I work 20 hours a week, technically I could work more, but not necessarily in my field. (I am working English hours, as that is what is funded from the special ed programs)
I resent that you assume I lack ambition or motivation. I have consistently moved up in my position, and I have taken on administrative duties the past few years. I am the highest paid member of my team, aside from the coordinator. Working in a private frum school just does not pay that much!

leowald

Tue, Dec 17 2024, 3:08 am

I actually think that my degree in programming (which could be learnt without a degree) taught me how to work hard and how to think, which has been a big advantage in my career and has got me to the point where I am today.

I would not recommend going to a non Jewish college, like I did but now there
are frum college options that are inexpensive, accredited and accepted, and flexible in terms of time commitment. One such college I know of personally is Woodmont College, which is online so it can be done from anywhere.

amother

Forsythia

Tue, Dec 17 2024, 3:13 am

amother Silver wrote:

You work 20 hours a week? So you make the equivalent of $96k full time. Not too shabby for OOT.

Simple1

Tue, Dec 17 2024, 3:25 am

mha3484 wrote:

Even for a tradesman or entrepreneur there are foundational core classes in accounting, management styles, human resources that really should be taken. I am a vendor to a certain subset of frum owned businesses, none of whom went to college, and I want to constantly bang my head against a wall. A few courses at a local community college would do a lot of these people wonders. So its not all or nothing.

My FIL A'H was a doctor and trusted his bookkeeper too much and she stole from him. He didnt realize until it was too late. I have heard many other stories in which this happened because the owner didnt understand his books.

In Lakewood there are frum courses for business basics.

amother

↑ Foxglove

Tue, Dec 17 2024, 3:37 am

amother Silver wrote:

For part time, that's a pretty good salary. A person can't expect to be pulling in top dollar working part time except for a very few fields (which tend to require schooling way more intense and longer than teaching requires).

I happen to be a teacher too, and I can't afford to work part time. So I have mostly worked in public schools or MO schools teaching full time. Like everything else in life, it's a trade off. It's like those threads where posters complain about low salaries as an Slp or ot, but then admit they only want to work for an agency that will allow them a flexible schedule and part time hours.

amother

Garnet

Tue, Dec 17 2024, 3:58 am

My parents and their siblings were the first in their families to attend college (although my grandparents were very smart and extremely hard working, they were also poor.) They attended city colleges and worked part time jobs and summers to pay expenses. My father won a scholarship to one of the top 5 US Universities. This and the fifty years of hard work that followed completely turned our family’s financial status around. I don’t buy that a college education is worthless. I would not recommend coursework in East Asian basket weaving or Colonialism and Capitalism. I do believe in being a well rounded person who understands history, literature, political science, math, natural sciences and is employable. My relatives received a real education at Brooklyn and City colleges. I unfortunately see a total lack of this background in the current university age population, including those eschewing a college education. There needs to be a compromise.