How functional is your education

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-05-03 01:53pm

ok, me I dropped out of college, while attempting to get a law degree, because it was too stressfull. I did freelance IT work for a while, but basically have been working culinary arts for the last 15 years, with no formal training, yet I get master chefs telling me I do good work.....

So exactly how well has your education served you?

Post by **Zaia** » 2004-05-03 02:08pm

It's served me quite well considering I wouldn't have my current jobs without it.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2004-05-03 02:14pm

Actually a bit odd.

My degree is chemical engineering, yet very few of my jobs demanded any REAL math.

But the level of insanity of college has served me well.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-05-03 02:38pm

Ghost Rider wrote:Actually a bit odd.

My degree is chemical engineering, yet very few of my jobs demanded any REAL math.

But the level of insanity of college has served me well.

Accounting/tax accounting really doesn't require any math beyond the four basic functions and a basic understanding of algebra. It's just technical as hell.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2004-05-03 02:42pm

Joe wrote:
Ghost Rider wrote:Actually a bit odd.

My degree is chemical engineering, yet very few of my jobs demanded any REAL math.

But the level of insanity of college has served me well.
Accounting/tax accounting really doesn't require any math beyond the four basic functions and a basic understanding of algebra. It's just technical as hell.

Indeed.

I just think it's funny, that I could this year go for the EA certification....and it would probably more insane in rules but less insane in math.

That and it's a two day test...but with it I can represent people in court

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2004-05-03 02:44pm

It got me into university. If all my pans pay off it'll get me into uni again and then i'll land my dream job. But if my plans fall apart then it'll just get me a job.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2004-05-03 02:50pm

Very little for some portions of my life
I seem to luck out and keep getting assigned to dieing projects, How useful is it to be able to field strip a M1 Garand in twenty seconds nowadays? Might win me a few bar bets but otherwise useless, likewise most of my military and through that civilian education is useless once I leave my field due to its techincal insanity to detail

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2004-05-03 02:53pm

Well, it qualifies me for more education.

OK, put it this way - if I didn't have my degree, would I be going to dig up dinosaurs in Utah? No.

Would I be spending the next three years working on dionsaurs at the godsdamn Natural History Museum? No.

My education kicks arse.

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2004-05-03 02:55pm

I believe I like this researcher's life and stuff.. No time schedules, no stupid bosses, can walk around the office half naked.. Money's good too, and they pay me for doing something I actually enjoy.. I think I want to stay here.

Now to find me some german women..

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2004-05-03 02:57pm

Colonel Olrik wrote:I believe I like this researcher's life and stuff.. No time schedules, no stupid bosses, can walk around the office half naked.. Money's good too, and they pay me for doing something I actually enjoy.. I think I want to stay here.

Now to find me some german women..

Hmm, must move to Munich.

I'm part-German, do I count?

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2004-05-03 02:58pm

InnerBrat wrote:
Colonel Olrik wrote:I believe I like this researcher's life and stuff.. No time schedules, no stupid bosses, can walk around the office half naked.. Money's good too, and they pay me for doing something I actually enjoy.. I think I want to stay here.

Now to find me some german women..
Hmm, must move to Munich.

I'm part-German, do I count?

I like you

and yes

PS: I still owe you a dinner, either in London or here is fine by me. Just to let you know, Munich is an awsome city, and I am usually considered a nice guy

Post by **Dalton** » 2004-05-03 03:17pm

With my education I can honestly say that the work I do is seen on national television.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-05-03 03:40pm

Moderately useful, it's gotten me some contract work here & there but nothing that I've been able to make into a career yet, then again I'm not exactly looking that hard right now. Talk to me in a couple years, I'll have a much better idea then.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2004-05-03 04:55pm

My education has earned me a good job as a substitute teacher. While having a college degree isn't required, its preferred and I've become the most used sub. Its also earned me an interview by the local tv station.

When I get my Masters in elementary education, it will definately get me jobs.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2004-05-03 05:07pm

Dalton wrote:With my education I can honestly say that the work I do is seen on national television.

Damn, who can top that?

Well, I suppose the military folks who have their units seen. Plus, they get snazzy uniforms and big guns.

As to me, well, I don't know how useful a degree in Criminology will be out in the Navy. I think they assign officers to Shore Patrol duty, though. Might get me more than my fair share of that, if they want to be smartasses about it.

Supreme Monkey Lord · Post by **Supreme Monkey Lord** » 2004-05-03 05:17pm

I'm not done yet, but the courses I'm taking in college are usually very applicable in industry or research, especially quantitative analysis and instrumental analysis.

The lost Prophet · Post by **The lost Prophet** » 2004-05-03 07:35pm

Not quite complete but soon! With my education i will save life and property, and that my friend will serve me well.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-05-03 07:58pm

waiting for Mike to post and make us all look like smucks and putzes

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-05-03 08:04pm

High School, other than obviously laying the basis for al sorts of social skills and future qualifications, doesn't do a whole lot. I want to be a primary school teacher, and since I already work with kdis at Camp for a job, I would imagine I could go into a class now and make a decent go of it. Of course, I'm not keen to use actual human children as guinea pigs to see how good I actually am at conflict resolution and the whatnot, so I plan to keep on it and go for a degree.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-05-03 08:04pm

My degree has turned out to be pretty much useless. It used to help with Jeopardy questions but I haven't watched in several years so who knows if it still does.

If I wanted to I could probably be a subsitute teacher but that pays less than I already make, doesn't have garunteed hours or benefits. Plus I'd have to dress up instead of wearing pajamas (scrubs) at work.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-05-03 09:06pm

I'm unemployed right now. So my education's done somewhat little.

PackMule · Post by **PackMule** » 2004-05-03 09:40pm

I'm only 19, so ask me again in 20 years. I finished high-school, and have done a 1 year intro course into computers which included A+ and Network+. My main passion is filmmaking, and so far I have been involved with about 25-30 short films and 1 independent feature.

J · Post by J » 2004-05-03 09:58pm

Mine opens doors quite nicely but I have this vague feeling that most employers stop reading my resumé once they get to the words "Princeton University". I've actually had potential employers imply that they cared more about where my degree's from than what it's in.

But I can't complain, I get to work overseas and live in places that most people will be lucky to visit. Most of the work somehow relates back to my areas of study, so yes, I'd say it's quite functional.

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2004-05-03 10:25pm

Well. So far it's been of little use to me in the "Real" world. I don't consider research yet to be "real" world, since you're cut soo much lattitude and slack as a student as long as you get the work done. But going to medical, I think my major, biology with a neuro emphasis, will actually be a huge advantage, since just about everything goes back to neuro and endocrinology.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-05-03 10:26pm

Most economists believe that college training provides fairly minimal training, but acts as a good method of selecting people who can work hard and are intelligent. As such, the gains it provides are largely just selective. Economists do, however, feel that graduate degrees tend to provide substantial training for people, and that they actually DO increase someone's abilities at a firm, while college degrees are mostly good to help firms identify who will be good.