Is 18 Too Young to Start?

[bill3173]

Part of the nanny state/delayed adolescence is that we want to make sure that nobody misses out on childhood by taking an interest in or doing anything real before they turn 25 now. So then they spend four years in college to get a degree in "international women's studies" and then have culture shock when they go to look for a job. (note: I have a couple college degrees so I am not poo-pooing college)

They're cramming so many morons into college classrooms these days it's past ridiculous. If I could get my time back, I think I would have worked and done college later, if at all.

It's basically 4 years of vacation for an intelligent person. For undergraduate, I was mostly math and science and the people rolling around on the ground crying because they "couldn't understand" shouldn't have been there anyway.

Everybody in this country needs to go to work and leave college for the elite. That's the way it used to be and it needs to be that way again.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

My biggest worry at 18 was how to get a quarter keg in the fridge.

 

[TristanTLC]

Everybody in this country needs to go to work and leave college for the elite. That's the way it used to be and it needs to be that way again.

Wow! Fascist much? College only for the elite. I guess us non elite people don't deserve to go to college.

 

[Full Throttle]

College was mostly a joke for me, I can see the use if you are going for a technical degree, but the Finance degree could have been summed up in less than a semester. For me, college could be summed up as:

-a lot of fun and I drank a lot of beer
-I made many life long friends
-I met my wife
-I learned basic finance concepts, but again, it could have all been learned in less than a semester without the BS.

What I didn't like about college:

-professors with no scope of reality. I remember one would come in 15 minutes late for a 9am class, then spend another 15 minutes complaining about how tough it is to get up for these "early" classes. I can recall countless professors complaining about 8am and 9am classes. I was one of the few that signed up for them since I liked getting my work done early.

-we were practically brain washed to be liberals. Except for a select few classrooms, having a disagreeing point of view made you ignorant and insensitive. We even had to pay for 9 credits of "ethnic relations" which were essentially political rants about the evils of George W. Bush, "my life sucked because...", and about the NAFTA agreement hurting unions.

-there was so much useless fluff in the courses

My routine, I would spend the first week getting a feel for the professor, they could be summed up as following:

50%: taught straight out of the book, no reason to go to class. Read the book, show up for the test, done.

25%: same as above, but realized no one would show up, so they required attendance for grading purposes (many times the professor was late to class)

25%: good at what they did, usually adjunct professors teaching night courses. Example: I had a business law professor who taught Business Law. He explained the text book through real life court cases he had been involved in. I didn't need to show up, but wanted to do so.

Even taking college half seriously and showing up for less than 50% of my classes, I still graduated with a 3.95% from a regular state college. Since I took advanced placement and honors classes in high school, most of the exams and papers I wrote in high school were actually graded much more difficultly than in college! I honestly though high school was more difficult than college. In college, it was dumbed down to such a level that almost anyone could pass.

Would I do it again? Probably. That being said, I've learned a heck of a lot more being in sales in four months than I did in four years of college.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

College was a joke to me - I dropped out with a 3.8 GPA and one year to go as a Sociology major when I got offered a sales managers position in Los Angeles. Never went back. Classes were mainly arguments over points of view and as stated, the rest was direct text reading. I also no longer want to pursue a career in my major.

I think college is fine is you have a goal that requires a degree. My brother wanted to be an attorney. My nieces wanted to be RN's. Great.

But I was a RA for 2 years in college and most kids on my floor had no business being there. They attended because they were "supposed to."

However, and it's a big "however" you need to go with the stats and the stats clearly show that those with degrees have higher earnings than those without.

Also, unless you're getting into sales or starting your own small business the job market is very small for those who didn't graduate.

I'll probably want my son to go but only if it's his choice and he has a goal.

 

[Guest]

I'm a few years out of college and I can't remember a single important thing from the classes I took. I Graduated with a finance degree from a big school. As I see it, a degree is basically required now if you want a decent job. Without a degree you would have to have a lot of related work experience to land a job. Also, your GPA is only important when you are in school. The second you graduate it becomes completely irrelevant for employers. All they care about is that you have the degree.

Don't get me wrong, I would do it all over again but it wouldn't be for the educational value.

 

[bill3173]

Wow! Fascist much? College only for the elite. I guess us non elite people don't deserve to go to college.

Tristan, I want you to have a Phd. I was just trying to spark a little lively discussion, and don't count myself among the elite, just the effete.

As healthagent indicated, without clearly defined goals, it may not be the best thing for a lot of people at age 18.

One thing about NC, it's practically free or has been, compared to some other States.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

And we're asking 18 year olds to make career decisions? Most of my good friends in their 40's don't know what they want to do when they grow up.

 

[Jerbond]

Nah, go to college. You actually can learn alot of about yourself, and how to reasearch things. For example, I learned that you don't need to cram your head full of useless datees and factuals. It's all in how you find the info-books, online, etc., can recall it, and how to use it. Beleive it or not, you actually do learn things! I was in the top 10% of the bottom 10% of my class. But hey- C's equal degree! Get into insurance fast. i have found it difficult to live off my savings while I have just started at 38 years old. I have been in construction forever, and now that market has stopped, I needed something less syclical. My mortgage, 2 cars, and girlfriend don't understand why I am not making $2K+ per week. Do both. The first 2 years of college is remedial. You can go to school and spend some hours at the office or in the field. Definately get into insurance now- while still at home with relatively no overhead. Plus, the fact that dad is already in it- you have the best mentor!

 

[Success]

Well I just turned 20, and am finishing up my associate's degree now. I do have an uncle in the insurance industry, although feel that has little to no influence on me wanting to be an agent. You have to ask yourself "what is it that I like about insurance". You must choose this career for other reasons besides the money. Money doesn't come without HARD work, and persistency. I'm just starting out now, and still love it just as much, if not more than when I was considering the career. On the other hand, there are many agents who hate their job. They think it is too stressful, time consuming, etc... As someone that has gone through the situation you are about to experience, I will give you my advice. My dad is in real estate, and for many years, I always "wanted" to have a career in real estate. As I started to get a little older, I realized that real estate is what "I thought I wanted to do". I wanted to be like my dad. The money was nice too. It is similar to the american dream. Many people want to become millionaire's, and have a huge home, big family, etc. , although, most people do not take the proper steps to get there.

If I was you, I would go to college. If you want to gain something from college, you will. If you go in there having no intention to gain anything, you won't. College is designed to make you knowledgeable. In my opinion, intelligence cannot be "learned", you must essentially "teach yourself". I will be done with school in may, although I have recently passed my ins. test, and have been contracted through some insurance companies. Trying to sell, attend college, live with my family for the last few years, and be with my girlfriend, I feel Is too much going on to really appreciate each and every one. you could maybe take the pre-licensing, and take your test. This will give you a "feel". Then I would suggest to wait until at least your last semester of college before you "try" to sell. My biggest advice is to do what "you" want. God made everyone different. Just because 10 million people do things a certain way, doesn't mean that is right for you. Follow your dreams and do what truly makes you happy, even if you earn a low income. That is true success.