[SP67]

Another point... all the knowledge in the world that you can get from an education does not guarantee you'll be any wiser or have a greater capacity to know right from wrong.

[Redcloak]

That depends. What sorts of things do you like doing? Do you like working outdoors? Making things with your hands? A number of trades offer decent pay; not enough to move you into Brentwood, but enough for a comfortable living.

[balrog666]

Your teachers are fools - I'll bet almost all of them have a degree in "Education" and yet most of them are complete idiots when it comes to teaching and wouldn't have the brains to do anything else in a non-union shop.

On the other hand, a degree in hard science is hard to come by without really learning to think and it does pay off your entire life (e.g., Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering).

You don't really need a degree to be a lawyer, doctor, dentist, pharmacist, etc. except that it helps you to get into the correct kind of trade school and they rarely accept people into their trade without their own blessed and certified credentials.

The real question is: What do you want to do for a living?
Then ask what, if any, degree is necessaary or useful for that kind of work. If you don't really know, ask.
Finally, if you really have no idea, join the military. Some people love it, some people hate it. You will see some of the world and it will give you 2-4 years of very valuable experience.

[AlaskaErik]

Are there any decent jobs or careers out there that do not require a college degree? My teachers have led me to believe you can't do much in life without one.

Your teachers are also a perfect example of doing nothing with a college degree!!!

[CapandBall]

My plumber make more money than most college grads I know. He seem to like his work too.

[Rustynailww]

HVAC.

[GingisK]

A motivated person can learn just as much through self-study as a student in college. Actually, there is no difference between the two since a college student succeeds by self-motivation from the same books. The difference is usually in the perception of those who would hire you, and here the tie will go to the college graduate.

College study adds a bit more to life than self-study. First, going to school can be rewarding in its own right; and, your employment network will be initially rooted in your friends from school. Second, the auxiliary topics that you must study in school tend to enrich you as a person, an employee, and a citizen. (For example, those dreaded English classes generally enhance your ability to communicate your ideas to your peers and managers.)

The memories you develop in life are just as important as the skills you develop for your employment. Never sacrifice the quality of your life just to “pay your bills”. Do strive to enjoy your vocation, but always be mindful that you must work to live, not live to work. The “meanest” Computer Science teacher who nurtured me in school encouraged me to develop hobbies and interests outside of Computer Science. He told me that my vocation would eventually turn into a “millstone”, and that broader-developed minds tend to do better at parties. He was right about that “millstone”, but I never will fit into the social scene. My hobbies are very important to me.

[shaggy eel]

,,, I'm a high school dropout. I have no regrets at all in that regard. I quantify this regularly when I cross the paths of a good number of graduates who don't know the time of day. I believe nobody should be able to enter a university until they've had at least a two year stretch in employment. High school to university without that experience provides a certain insulation for many from the real world that they never seem to snap out of.

George Burns once said "it's too bad that everyone who knows how to run this country is driving cabs or cutting hair." Some will see that as a tongue in cheek comment hitting armchair critics; I see it as an astute observation.

My advice is to follow your own auto pilot and call the shots yourself. Listen to teachers if you want to learn from a syllabus, but make decisions about your future yourself. If you want to navigate well, you'll have to know how to read a balance sheet.

[anothergrunt]

As you can see by these replies, there are many careers that don't require a college degree. Unfortunately, being a smartass like myself is one of them.

There are a few professions (lawyer, CPA, medical doctor) that require a degree. If you're interested in one of these (and your high school counselor can provide a longer list), then buck up and get ready to go to college.

If one of these is not your preference, be advised that a college degree isn't a bad idea anyway. It may provide the necessary introduction to the job you want later on in life. In my experience, the actual major is usually less important than the fact that you had the guts to stick out four years of BS.

Okay, so you really don't want to go to college. Then think more creatively than I've seen here. Stunt men in Hollywood are both smart and physical. I once knew a guy that drove trucks with high explosives. He was smart, cautious, and you'd better believe he was physical. Other careers I've been personally involved with range from scuba instructor to chef.

The point is, don't let anyone talk you into one of the standard "trades" unless you're truly interested in that line of work.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Just don't skip college to "party". Skip it to start your own business, to get started in real estate or stock market investing, or to focus on a technical certification program first. I hated college when I was 18 and liked work better. I worked my way up within a large insurance company, ended up having to finish my degree in a non-traditional manner (Excelsior College), spent five years as an independent consultant, then became Chief Technology Officer at a high-profile investment management firm. And all without an expensive Ivy League education!

Success can be achieved non-traditionally. It's easier on the West Coast, where specific academic credentials are not as often required. As someone who is now a hiring manager, I assure you that a candidate's college background doesn't mean much to me - I've seen too many complete morons with University of California MBA's in my time.

[JimVT]

Your teacher is out of touch like so many of them.

What interests you.....auto mechanics, photography, drawing, bowling, police work, languages?

Find a tech or special interest school and focus on what hits your hot button.

When you are successful go back and tell your teacher to rethink her message.

[JudyB1938]

When my son got out of the Navy, he messed around in various jobs looking for his niche. I told him that he'd better get enrolled in college, because he'd never be happy working for low wages. He has thanked me MANY times over the years for encouraging him to go to school and get a degree. So - you'd better think hard and long about it. There's a lot of good advice you are getting on this thread. TAKE IT!

The nice thing about college is that you don't even have to make a final decision as to your major until you get your basics in. That's when many kids find out what they want to do in life (just like the guy who became a coal geologist).

Don't be like those people who reach a certain point in life to where it's too late to really do something. Just get your buns into school where you belong. You'll never regret it!

[newgeezer]

(Bump to my friend with 8 kids, none of whom he wants to ever catch having a college degree! ;-)

[Right_Wing_Mole_In_Seattle]

Most artisanal jobs and trades pay pretty well. I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering and the welders out in our shop make more than I do. Granted, they are specialty welders, but that is just obtained by a desire to learn and work hard.

My sister has a BS in Psychology (worthless degree, unless you plan on pursuing higher degrees). She is working as a receptionist for $12/hour. Go to college only if you plan on pursuing a career that requires it and has the ability to pay off your mountain of debt.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Do any of those teachers, all of whom probably possess degrees, whine about being underpaid?