Is a College Degree/Advanced Education Expense Worth the Price?
- Thread starter seoulsearch
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
My opinion...
Online, accredited, inexpensive, pay as you go college courses to earn the degree required according to your career choice.
Stay out of debt, pay as you go.
I think there are surveys about this. They have been proving for decades that most people who went to the ivy league schools did not make more money than people with no degrees at all who started their own business.
If you do want to work for a corporation or are already working for one, do get an MBA using the online, college pay as you go method. Just make sure it is accredited. You will have to do the same amount of work. It will take 2 to 6 years depending on how much college you already have or don't have. But you can pay as you go and once you have the MBA it will help you get hired within you company as positions open up. Many good employees who are liked and whom directors want to hire within the company get passed up because they don't have an MBA. That is real. Where they got the MBA rarely matters, just as long as it is from an accredited school.
If you want to start your own business still work on getting an MBA through an online pay as you go path. The education will greatly increase your chances of being successful in your business and in future endeavors.
Someone who is in dire straits, with no experience or education to market and struggling with minimum wage jobs can change their future in two years by enrolling in one of those Community College associate degree paths in IT. Get trained in something like Java Programming and you can be making $40 an hour to start and $60-$80 an hour after a few years of experience. There are other IT skills that pay as good or better that do not require degrees from universities.
Bottom Line. Most people should stay out of debt and pay as they go for college.
Online, accredited, inexpensive, pay as you go college courses to earn the degree required according to your career choice.
Stay out of debt, pay as you go.
I think there are surveys about this. They have been proving for decades that most people who went to the ivy league schools did not make more money than people with no degrees at all who started their own business.
If you do want to work for a corporation or are already working for one, do get an MBA using the online, college pay as you go method. Just make sure it is accredited. You will have to do the same amount of work. It will take 2 to 6 years depending on how much college you already have or don't have. But you can pay as you go and once you have the MBA it will help you get hired within you company as positions open up. Many good employees who are liked and whom directors want to hire within the company get passed up because they don't have an MBA. That is real. Where they got the MBA rarely matters, just as long as it is from an accredited school.
If you want to start your own business still work on getting an MBA through an online pay as you go path. The education will greatly increase your chances of being successful in your business and in future endeavors.
Someone who is in dire straits, with no experience or education to market and struggling with minimum wage jobs can change their future in two years by enrolling in one of those Community College associate degree paths in IT. Get trained in something like Java Programming and you can be making $40 an hour to start and $60-$80 an hour after a few years of experience. There are other IT skills that pay as good or better that do not require degrees from universities.
Bottom Line. Most people should stay out of debt and pay as they go for college.
-
1
- Show all
do they have pay as you go or do colleges demand an upfront fee for the entire 3 -4 years course? Cos thats not right....I dont think ANYONE does that. It would just be for the year I would think, or even per paper.
Because heaps of people work AND study at the same time.
or use the breaks as time to work to pay for their next semester (hence student part time jobs)
as for Bible, Im not sure anyone gets a lot out of some bible colleges to be honest, they not going to teach it from a believers point of view often. And you wouldnt go get a degree in divinity or theology just so you can earn MORE thats not the way it works.
Because heaps of people work AND study at the same time.
or use the breaks as time to work to pay for their next semester (hence student part time jobs)
as for Bible, Im not sure anyone gets a lot out of some bible colleges to be honest, they not going to teach it from a believers point of view often. And you wouldnt go get a degree in divinity or theology just so you can earn MORE thats not the way it works.
The qualification is so that you have a background knowledge in your field, its not actually related to how much you earn. Its the discipline of it so people know you an expert or basic skills and methods of inquiry and havent just taught yourself or winging it.
whether its the scientific method, critical analysis, testng process, research skills or whatever.
Then when you write your thesis, dissertation or do your research project the point is that youve find out something and added to the body of knowledge in your field.
My brother did medical training and specialises in urology, and has collaborated on papers that researched cancer.
my other brother was doing marine engineering and was involved with engineering and designing protoypes for super yachts.
few people know this but I researched nz biography and memoir for my bibliography for librarianship. I found out what different types of jobs or livings people had from 1945-2000 in nz from the review of books published, and it wasnt just all sheep farming and rugby players. Women werent just wives either. People did all sorts of things and wrote about their lives, even when they didnt fit traditional roles.
I was orginally going to research feng shui in libraries, and how that affects how they are used haha feng shui meaning layout I guess it is, but that was too esoteric for my supervisor. If I did that I would have had to to a complete survey and interview a lot of people, but that is what you do if you want to find out something new. You might also do a controlled experiment and have to get it approved by the ethics committee.
and inquiring mind WANTS to find out something new, its not just going to sit there and do what its told or regurgitate what everyone else thinks. The discipline of academia is not necessarily going to be the direct path for riches, though it only APPEARS that people with degrees are paid more, I can tell you NOBODY really cares how many letters you have after your name. (except maybe the professional associations lol, they may not let you in their club otherwise)
Even in some professions its doesnt stop learning once youve complete your degree you need to keep learning to keep your registration, or do professional development to keep up with all the new things in your field.
whether its the scientific method, critical analysis, testng process, research skills or whatever.
Then when you write your thesis, dissertation or do your research project the point is that youve find out something and added to the body of knowledge in your field.
My brother did medical training and specialises in urology, and has collaborated on papers that researched cancer.
my other brother was doing marine engineering and was involved with engineering and designing protoypes for super yachts.
few people know this but I researched nz biography and memoir for my bibliography for librarianship. I found out what different types of jobs or livings people had from 1945-2000 in nz from the review of books published, and it wasnt just all sheep farming and rugby players. Women werent just wives either. People did all sorts of things and wrote about their lives, even when they didnt fit traditional roles.
I was orginally going to research feng shui in libraries, and how that affects how they are used haha feng shui meaning layout I guess it is, but that was too esoteric for my supervisor. If I did that I would have had to to a complete survey and interview a lot of people, but that is what you do if you want to find out something new. You might also do a controlled experiment and have to get it approved by the ethics committee.
and inquiring mind WANTS to find out something new, its not just going to sit there and do what its told or regurgitate what everyone else thinks. The discipline of academia is not necessarily going to be the direct path for riches, though it only APPEARS that people with degrees are paid more, I can tell you NOBODY really cares how many letters you have after your name. (except maybe the professional associations lol, they may not let you in their club otherwise)
Even in some professions its doesnt stop learning once youve complete your degree you need to keep learning to keep your registration, or do professional development to keep up with all the new things in your field.
Companies want that piece of paper to prove you can get an assignment and complete it. If you get an art degree and decide to work on computers for a living, it probably is not worth it. I have known people in cyber security who have history degrees so that's not 100 percent accurate. I personally don't have a degree and have a good job. I had to be a go getter for it though. Sometimes it's who you know...
-
2
- Show all
That is ironic because Colleges originated as a method to teach the Bible and morals and theology. They were the first colleges. It is true that we don't approach the ministry as a professional career with an eye on financial gain but it is also true that we need good expositors of the Bible today. Just look at CC as an example of why. LOL
The best Evangelical Seminaries teach the same courses using the same text books or similar written by the same top best scholars from an array of denominational backgrounds. Those courses are the same regardless of the persons denominational background.
Greek for example. But many others. Denominational differences are covered in Church History volume 2 or in Systematic Theology Courses but most of the other classes are the same regardless of the denominational background of the authors or students.
In my opinion these seminaries are capable of producing the best leaders our country has ever seen and that will always be the case.
The best Evangelical Seminaries teach the same courses using the same text books or similar written by the same top best scholars from an array of denominational backgrounds. Those courses are the same regardless of the persons denominational background.
Greek for example. But many others. Denominational differences are covered in Church History volume 2 or in Systematic Theology Courses but most of the other classes are the same regardless of the denominational background of the authors or students.
In my opinion these seminaries are capable of producing the best leaders our country has ever seen and that will always be the case.
-
2
- Show all
Most large churches want a senior pastor to have a PHD in Seminary/Theological studies. Which requires a research paper and thesis.
What I find amazing is that the congregation then doesn't really want the advanced lessons on scripture that the pastor can provide. They want the canned sermons. The ones that are just sermons outlined and the pastor fills them in with whatever so he can lecture for 20 minutes.
And the true scholarship of scripture is ignored in favor of just being told what they want to hear.
Listen to a sermon and see if what I'm saying is true. This Sunday is Father's day....most preachers will sermonize on how most dads are bad but imagine if they were good. On mothers day it was about the unsung hero mom Really is.
Been this way for decades.
A Doctorate should be able to teach.
And teach well...also evangelize a bit but not to the congregation. They are already going to church and making an effort....*sigh*
What I find amazing is that the congregation then doesn't really want the advanced lessons on scripture that the pastor can provide. They want the canned sermons. The ones that are just sermons outlined and the pastor fills them in with whatever so he can lecture for 20 minutes.
And the true scholarship of scripture is ignored in favor of just being told what they want to hear.
Listen to a sermon and see if what I'm saying is true. This Sunday is Father's day....most preachers will sermonize on how most dads are bad but imagine if they were good. On mothers day it was about the unsung hero mom Really is.
Been this way for decades.
A Doctorate should be able to teach.
And teach well...also evangelize a bit but not to the congregation. They are already going to church and making an effort....*sigh*
-
1
- Show all
John chapter 7
[14] Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
[15] And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
[16] Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
[17] If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
[18] He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Acts chapter 4
[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
[14] Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
[15] And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
[16] Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
[17] If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
[18] He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Acts chapter 4
[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
-
1
- Show all
I'd love to but it's one heck of a commute.
And Sunday is Father's Day.
I really miss going to church. I love it.
Unfortunately it's a hotbed of political nonsense at the moment. So I don't dare. I love my wife more. I can't afford to let her get sick and die. And for whatever reason people come to church when they are sick on a regular basis. They feel no guilt about doing so either.
So I'm going to wait.
And Sunday is Father's Day.
I really miss going to church. I love it.
Unfortunately it's a hotbed of political nonsense at the moment. So I don't dare. I love my wife more. I can't afford to let her get sick and die. And for whatever reason people come to church when they are sick on a regular basis. They feel no guilt about doing so either.
So I'm going to wait.
-
1
- Show all
Dont forget the high cost of a degree is because America is a capitolist country and doesnt do anything that doesnt turn a profit.
I tend to think that the use of a college degree is a rouse because every american dreams of bigger houses, fancy cars, suburban life style, in reality the high debt is because you bought the dream. Now with a high turn over in college degrees its all about economics and the law of supply and demand.
(Yes america turned education into a wall street commodity)
If you have 50 jobs requiring a degree, than only 50 people need to go to school to fill the demand.
But america is more like a country where 250 people get a degree to fill those 50 spots.
And then you have the rest struggling to find what ever else is available, than companies downsize, leave the country, or automate replacing people with robots and computers.
So that then kills of maybe 1000 jobs that dont require degree, and america economically becomes another Titanic, drowning in a sea of debt no one can afford because most people bought the american dream of health wealth and prosperity with money they never had in the first place.
While the rich get richer selling the dream. In the old days it was the employers job to train employees.
I tend to think that the use of a college degree is a rouse because every american dreams of bigger houses, fancy cars, suburban life style, in reality the high debt is because you bought the dream. Now with a high turn over in college degrees its all about economics and the law of supply and demand.
(Yes america turned education into a wall street commodity)
If you have 50 jobs requiring a degree, than only 50 people need to go to school to fill the demand.
But america is more like a country where 250 people get a degree to fill those 50 spots.
And then you have the rest struggling to find what ever else is available, than companies downsize, leave the country, or automate replacing people with robots and computers.
So that then kills of maybe 1000 jobs that dont require degree, and america economically becomes another Titanic, drowning in a sea of debt no one can afford because most people bought the american dream of health wealth and prosperity with money they never had in the first place.
While the rich get richer selling the dream. In the old days it was the employers job to train employees.
I dont think we need good expositors of the Bible
we just need good readers of the Bible.
also, the Bible needs to be published in accesible formats and translated into langauges that everyone can understand.
It does not help people when its confused and obfuscated further. If the Bible is to be illuminated, its not always going be done by adding thousands of footnotes to it.
Bible history, and then church history are two different things. Church history isnt necessarily continous.
fangirls and fanboys of the Bible dont need to add to scripture or take away from it and cut it into millions of pieces.
If you do want to evangelise, share the gospel and your testimony of how Jesus saved you, the holy spirit will give you the words
those who need help with explaining scripture will find their Phillip. God will send someone to them other than to pay $7000 a year for a degree (which I found out was the cost of doing a theology degree) and the learning will be over a lifetime rather than just 3 years. it may be much slower.
a sermon can be a mini lecture once a week but the reason why people dont want it advanced is because many cannot handle that much learning in 3 years. At university you have lectures and tutorials every single day of the week except weekends. You have essays and assignments to write, presentations, exams, and practicums. You have a tonne of reading and research to do. You need acess to a good library for this, and to know what information is good and what is rubbish. not just find random teachings online. do people that DONT want to learn willinng to study and give 3 or more years of their life to focus on this?
Id say not really. some would rather have the money and not all will think graduating will pay off. Its not just graduating but what you actually do with the knowledge youve gained thats important. thats intrinsic to the way it made you think for yourself...because you are learning so many different things from all the great minds that have gone before but in the end its YOU that has got to make up your own mind
we just need good readers of the Bible.
also, the Bible needs to be published in accesible formats and translated into langauges that everyone can understand.
It does not help people when its confused and obfuscated further. If the Bible is to be illuminated, its not always going be done by adding thousands of footnotes to it.
Bible history, and then church history are two different things. Church history isnt necessarily continous.
fangirls and fanboys of the Bible dont need to add to scripture or take away from it and cut it into millions of pieces.
If you do want to evangelise, share the gospel and your testimony of how Jesus saved you, the holy spirit will give you the words
those who need help with explaining scripture will find their Phillip. God will send someone to them other than to pay $7000 a year for a degree (which I found out was the cost of doing a theology degree) and the learning will be over a lifetime rather than just 3 years. it may be much slower.
a sermon can be a mini lecture once a week but the reason why people dont want it advanced is because many cannot handle that much learning in 3 years. At university you have lectures and tutorials every single day of the week except weekends. You have essays and assignments to write, presentations, exams, and practicums. You have a tonne of reading and research to do. You need acess to a good library for this, and to know what information is good and what is rubbish. not just find random teachings online. do people that DONT want to learn willinng to study and give 3 or more years of their life to focus on this?
Id say not really. some would rather have the money and not all will think graduating will pay off. Its not just graduating but what you actually do with the knowledge youve gained thats important. thats intrinsic to the way it made you think for yourself...because you are learning so many different things from all the great minds that have gone before but in the end its YOU that has got to make up your own mind
I’m American but I went to law school in Norway. Before that I went to college in the UK. In Norway law school is free of charge, but you have to present good grades before being admitted. Money is of no help. After law school I worked for the Norwegian IRS before I started working as a lawyer. As of now I’m an ADA and my line of work is being a prosecutor.
-
2
-
2
- Show all
if someone is bright enough and willing to study, scholarships can be won
Dont turn down education if you have a scholarship. Only thing is, to be a scholar you will need to live a monkish existence in the time you are studying, It is intense. If you arent prepared to make time for it that then higher education is not for you.
reason Jesus could teach when he was only 12 was because he was learning directly from His Father. When Jesus became a teacher, his disciples learned directly from him. They were willing to give up their own jobs for the privelige and live on only what God could provide
Dont turn down education if you have a scholarship. Only thing is, to be a scholar you will need to live a monkish existence in the time you are studying, It is intense. If you arent prepared to make time for it that then higher education is not for you.
reason Jesus could teach when he was only 12 was because he was learning directly from His Father. When Jesus became a teacher, his disciples learned directly from him. They were willing to give up their own jobs for the privelige and live on only what God could provide
I dont know if all american dream of a big house and fancy car. For some that unobtainable because they get told early in life they are too dumb to go to university and the education avialable to them is pretty much non existent in the housing projects.
I was reading that for those living in place like Brooklyn, their schools do not even have libraries. How can you learn or study with no books I wonder.
so they get trapped in living in slum conditions.
if YO DO have access to a public library...well its free. Go for it and read all you can. You have freedom to do so. in many countries they dont have libraries. This is the place you can go to your university and get a higher education without paying a dime. And its you who sets the reequired reading.
I was reading that for those living in place like Brooklyn, their schools do not even have libraries. How can you learn or study with no books I wonder.
so they get trapped in living in slum conditions.
if YO DO have access to a public library...well its free. Go for it and read all you can. You have freedom to do so. in many countries they dont have libraries. This is the place you can go to your university and get a higher education without paying a dime. And its you who sets the reequired reading.
In Norway, where I’ve been residing for many years now, lawyers don’t make big figures usually. It’s expected that you work a lot of pro bono and be happy with that. So I grew weary of that and swapped sides to prosecution. They don’t pay much either but at least you don’t have to work 24/7.
-
2
-
1
- Show all
We all have our bucket lists and our goals we think are worth spending time and money on.
I plan to complete a PhD in Biblical Studies but I am not in a race. I don't need the degree. I desire the knowledge. I enjoy the journey and the quest. It is how I am wired. It is my hobby. My favorite thing to do.
I am already a credentialed minister in fulltime ministry and my denomination does not require any further education than what I have already achieved, but I am involved in a self paced educational track because I love to learn. Instead of just reading random books that may or may not be the best use of my time I like that I am on a track that has been well planned by many others who are experts and a plan that is designed to accomplish specific educational goals that will result in my being a better pastor and teacher of the bible.
But mainly I do it because it is fun and it is my favorite activity. Some people want to go river rafting on a Saturday. I want to read a commentary on Luke. (my current project) LOL. I will probably never stop taking online Bible College classes. Degrees don't matter to me. I will probably end up with several degrees if I live long enough.
Reading these great books and learning what I am learning in Bible School does not make me arrogant. It makes me humble. I was arrogant when I said I did not need them. I am now humbled at just how ignorant I was. And I realize there is only more of the same to come. I will learn that I was dumber than a box of rocks about many things as I continue to learn. Therefore I will set my heart to realize here and now, that I don't know as much as I think I do.
I remember thinking that I did not expect to get much out of my first required course. It was a course to teach you how to use the online platform for the school and all the rules that you needed to know to do all future online courses. Boy was I wrong. I learned so much from that class. Some of the sample writing projects designed to teach you the writing paper format requirements were about the authority of the Scriptures and what that meant and it was amazing. Life changing stuff. I only touched the tip of the iceberg but I learned about many great resource materials to continue reading and writing about the subject of inspiration, authority, infallibility, inerrancy of the Word of God. A subject I thought was simple and already understood by me. I was so ignorant on this subject and this project exposed my ignorance. It was a great introductory lesson that I needed. It made me so excited about the journey I had begun. I was like the space explorer wondering "What else is ought there?" and I can't wait to discover more treasures concerning the Word of God on my journey.
I plan to complete a PhD in Biblical Studies but I am not in a race. I don't need the degree. I desire the knowledge. I enjoy the journey and the quest. It is how I am wired. It is my hobby. My favorite thing to do.
I am already a credentialed minister in fulltime ministry and my denomination does not require any further education than what I have already achieved, but I am involved in a self paced educational track because I love to learn. Instead of just reading random books that may or may not be the best use of my time I like that I am on a track that has been well planned by many others who are experts and a plan that is designed to accomplish specific educational goals that will result in my being a better pastor and teacher of the bible.
But mainly I do it because it is fun and it is my favorite activity. Some people want to go river rafting on a Saturday. I want to read a commentary on Luke. (my current project) LOL. I will probably never stop taking online Bible College classes. Degrees don't matter to me. I will probably end up with several degrees if I live long enough.
Reading these great books and learning what I am learning in Bible School does not make me arrogant. It makes me humble. I was arrogant when I said I did not need them. I am now humbled at just how ignorant I was. And I realize there is only more of the same to come. I will learn that I was dumber than a box of rocks about many things as I continue to learn. Therefore I will set my heart to realize here and now, that I don't know as much as I think I do.
I remember thinking that I did not expect to get much out of my first required course. It was a course to teach you how to use the online platform for the school and all the rules that you needed to know to do all future online courses. Boy was I wrong. I learned so much from that class. Some of the sample writing projects designed to teach you the writing paper format requirements were about the authority of the Scriptures and what that meant and it was amazing. Life changing stuff. I only touched the tip of the iceberg but I learned about many great resource materials to continue reading and writing about the subject of inspiration, authority, infallibility, inerrancy of the Word of God. A subject I thought was simple and already understood by me. I was so ignorant on this subject and this project exposed my ignorance. It was a great introductory lesson that I needed. It made me so excited about the journey I had begun. I was like the space explorer wondering "What else is ought there?" and I can't wait to discover more treasures concerning the Word of God on my journey.
-
1
- Show all