Whats the highest level of Education you have obtained?

[AlaskaBlue]

My highest level of education is a high school diploma. I am in my second year of working on my bachelors or music for classical guitar performance. I am hoping to keep my schooling up to a PHD in music.

[weezer]

I have a Bachelor's and Master's in Music Theory and Composition, but guess, what? All that tuition money went out the window, I am now a Cafeteria manager with 15 years of foodservice experience: 9yrs as chef, 2yrs food sales, 3.5 yrs in Catering Sales and currently Cafeteria manager for corporate account. In 3 weeks I will be working for Racing Dynamics/Electrodyne selling aftermarket parts to people like us, but mostly wholesale to large aftermarket parts accounts. College education CAN be useful; it gives us all analytical thinking to achieve certain goals, but experience and dedication is a must......I think.

[FMD]

Currently in my fourth year at the university and should have my BS in chemistry next year. Planning on working toward a PhD in analytical or synthetic chemistry afterward--then off to industry...

[pnosker]

Originally Posted by 1996Bmw318TI

i want to be Air Traffic Control/Test Pilot

Why bother? I doubt you'd earn more than with your PhD!

*back to topic*
Oh, I have my HS diploma secured (I can get it officially now, but want to take some more courses first).

Next year it's off to my free education at Rutgers University! Haha... STDville.

[L84THSKY]

Experince and dedication are very important. However, the biggest mistake people make, occurs the moment they enter college. Choosing the right degree program is probably the most important career decision you will ever make.

As much as I like music and philosophy, I would never get a degree in it. Stick with what pays the bills. The simple rule always applies. The harder the degree, the more money you make.

Originally Posted by weezer

I have a Bachelor's and Master's in Music Theory and Composition, but guess, what? All that tuition money went out the window, I am now a Cafeteria manager with 15 years of foodservice experience: 9yrs as chef, 2yrs food sales, 3.5 yrs in Catering Sales and currently Cafeteria manager for corporate account. In 3 weeks I will be working for Racing Dynamics/Electrodyne selling aftermarket parts to people like us, but mostly wholesale to large aftermarket parts accounts. College education CAN be useful; it gives us all analytical thinking to achieve certain goals, but experience and dedication is a must......I think.

[John Firestone]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

The simple rule always applies. The harder the degree, the more money you make.

I am afraid this very American belief that hard work is rewarded is seldom true in some fields.

Getting to a PhD in the sciences at a decent U.S. university takes on average ten (10) years of study and hard work. The attrition rate of the two programs I was involved in was around 70% -- and those were nearly all good and competent people. For all but one of the people who did or didn't get their PhD, not making the effort and not getting a harder degree would have been more rewarding in terms of lifetime earnings and, I suspect, happiness.

The one exception spread his graduate studies, part time, over ten years -- on a full-time government salary and with the accomodating support of his boss. He had already been at it for over four years when I started and was thoroughly ticked off (in a friendly way) when I scheduled and passed my final defense a week before he did.

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

The simple rule always applies. The harder the degree, the more money you make.

Two exceptions come to mind: Nursing and IT.
Nurses are starting at $60k/year in my area, some with a $10k sign on bonus.
IT can be extremely lucrative if you know what you are doing.

[L84THSKY]

Nursing is not an exception, it is alot of difficult schooling and dedication.

Originally Posted by DustenT

Two exceptions come to mind: Nursing and IT.
Nurses are starting at $60k/year in my area, some with a $10k sign on bonus.
IT can be extremely lucrative if you know what you are doing.

[L84THSKY]

I'm now in a Graduate Engineering program at night. The work load isn't too bad, and my company is paying for it. Graduate school is as far as I'm gonna go.

One of my favorite Professors in undergraduate school was a Dr. Chang. He got his Graduate degree and PhD from MIT. A wise man he was, but very practicle as well. He said to our class, "Don't bother with a PhD unless you plan on teaching".

Originally Posted by John Firestone

I am afraid this very American belief that hard work is rewarded is seldom true in some fields.

Getting to a PhD in the sciences at a decent U.S. university takes on average ten (10) years of study and hard work. The attrition rate of the two programs I was involved in was around 70% -- and those were nearly all good and competent people. For all but one of the people who did or didn't get their PhD, not making the effort and not getting a harder degree would have been more rewarding in terms of lifetime earnings and, I suspect, happiness.

The one exception spread his graduate studies, part time, over ten years -- on a full-time government salary and with the accomodating support of his boss. He had already been at it for over four years when I started and was thoroughly ticked off (in a friendly way) when I scheduled and passed my final defense a week before he did.

[sublimeti]

Originally Posted by DustenT

Two exceptions come to mind: Nursing and IT.
Nurses are starting at $60k/year in my area, some with a $10k sign on bonus.
IT can be extremely lucrative if you know what you are doing.

Here in California 60k would be a difficult income to strive on. I say strive because u can definately survive on 60k, but if u want your own house, car and a vacation every once in a while......u will need to bring in atleast 110k a year.
Just my two cents.

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

Nursing is not an exception, it is alot of difficult schooling and dedication.

I was referring to the amount of schooling required. You can be a nurse with a 2 year degree.

Originally Posted by sublimeti

Here in California 60k would be a difficult income to strive on. I say strive because u can definately survive on 60k, but if u want your own house, car and a vacation every once in a while......u will need to bring in atleast 110k a year.
Just my two cents.

That's 60k +10k bonus immediately out of college. Most people don't "strive" right out of college.

[Platanos]

Originally Posted by DustenT

I was referring to the amount of schooling required. You can be a nurse with a 2 year degree.

I have 2 more semesters
Then 3 yrs to get a BSN
Then 2 more for my CRNA

Seems like it will never get here....

[fly2thesun]

Some PhD degree, like in Biology, is hard to get, and also hard to live on. 5~8 years of struggle in the school.. After graduation, more of the same thing, something called PostDoc for at least 2~5 years, which pays less than $50K when he/she is already over 30 with family to support.. Hardly cool.

[AlaskaBlue]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

As much as I like music and philosophy, I would never get a degree in it. Stick with what pays the bills. The simple rule always applies. The harder the degree, the more money you make.

I agree, but disagree that music won't pay the bills. I already make near 40 dollars an hour while in school, which is pretty good for a 19 year old with a part time job. If you pay your time learning the instrument that you perform on, and don't give up you don't have any option but to continue on. I have no worry about my future because I have no other choice so I had better work as hard as I can.

[jkilla71]

B.S. Business concentration Finance – Penn State University