College graduates of Reddit, how important do you find your degree is in the "real world"?
Was it worth the time, energy, and money?
Did your major even matter?
Posted Jun 3, 2014, 8:44 PM UTC
02
A degree is valuable, but more valuable than the degree is what you do with it. Don't expect it to be your ticket to success. It's not a guarantee, but a bare minimum requirement to get the job you want. The best thing you could do to put yourself in a position to get the job you want is to just start doing the job - for free if you have to.
You want to be a graphic designer? Great! Start graphic designing - every. day. You want to be a writer? Start writing - post it, get it out there, send it to competitions, email people, create a blog, get a following, but above all - KEEP WRITING.
It's the same thing for any major, but especially true for liberal arts peeps. Do it now if you're still in school, it'll pay off in spades. I got a job with my degree (journalism), but it took a couple years of working jobs I didn't really like while I developed a portfolio and figured out what I really wanted.
You'll get there if you really love doing it.
1
At the risk of discussing at length degree inflation, student debt, cash flow based earning power relative to cost, opportunity cost... see below and freakanomics podcast about it: http://freakonomics.com/2012/07/30/freakonomics-goes-to-college-part-1-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/
Occupation - I Finance tech companies
Degree - BS in Finance
High GPA - State School
Value - In state tuition + small scholarship + no debt =~$8k a year including food/board and 1 semester abroad - Good (7.5/10)