How important is education in your SO?

[tigressA]

While I don't discredit marsle I do agree with this. I did not have a car/insurance/decent cell phone/etc in college because I couldn't afford it. I was too busy paying for food, tuition, housing, clothing, travel, etc. Until one is truly on their own without any family support, I don't think people know how hard it can be.

 

Also agreed on this. My family, after my first year of school, didn't help me with anything. I had to pay for all my expenses, and I'm going to have to pay back all my loans myself. There were quite a few times when I couldn't afford to buy food and allowed myself only one meal a day to stretch out the supplies in my pantry. My personal computer crashed last year and I couldn't afford to fix it or get a new one. Almost all my friends were like "Get your parents to help you out." And they were in the same situation as marsle--paying for certain things like a car, phone, etc, but far from completely supporting themselves.

[Ihavenoidea]

The funny thing is I think women are more likely to consider college more important because like in several other threads women are attracted to Titles, Power, and Success.

 

A women is more likely to talk about her boyfriend who is a Doctor than her boyfriend who is a IT Tech who probably makes just as much as the doctor

 

Women like to brag and show off, plain and simple.

 

In my personal opinion I think having a career is more important than your education level because I want a woman who is capable of taking care of herself, I dont mean paying bills, I mean living on her own without family support.

 

Nowadays anyone can go and get a degree, hell you can get two masters by taking just a couple extra classes, talk about blending material into general concepts.

Edited June 8, 2010 by Ihavenoidea

[VertexSquared]

Also agreed on this. My family, after my first year of school, didn't help me with anything. I had to pay for all my expenses, and I'm going to have to pay back all my loans myself. There were quite a few times when I couldn't afford to buy food and allowed myself only one meal a day to stretch out the supplies in my pantry. My personal computer crashed last year and I couldn't afford to fix it or get a new one. Almost all my friends were like "Get your parents to help you out." And they were in the same situation as marsle--paying for certain things like a car, phone, etc, but far from completely supporting themselves.

 

Haha, same thing here. There were many times when I'd literally be living off one packet of tuna per day. My laptop broke down and that set me back quite a ways.

 

When I finally got here to NYC and started making decent money... I can't tell you how amazing it's been. I've cried out of happiness so many times -- it's so difficult having a financial crunch for so long as a college student. I don't even live extravagantly... I eat 2-3 meals per day and buy modest clothing, but the sense of security is an unparalleled pleasure.

[marsle85]

no offense but car repairs, insurance and cell phone bills dont come close to paying your own rent and utility bills.

 

You might not have any money but you also have a support structure that doesnt require you to have any either. The car and cell phone and the like turn into a luxery because you have food on the table and a roof over your head that is provided to you.

 

"education" defined as "learning" is interesting because we are ALWAYS learning just not in the form of a structured organized fashion. So ultimately you are judging someone whether they have a degree or not because we are all constantly learning

 

 

Firstly, I'm not going to apologize for having parents who facilitate and encourage my college education. I'm fortunate, and I know that. The work of my parents have granted me these privileges- they aren't gifts, they've been earned. Secondly, they're irrelevant. You're bringing in factors into this argument that have no significant attachment to the topic at hand: the value of education. I'll tell you on thing, my parents would have been DISTRAUGHT had I not graduated from college. Why? Because they work HARD. Both of my parents have been switched to the midnight shift. My mom works 12 hour days. My parents absolutely earn their income, and they CHOOSE to invest in me. Whether that be my college education, cell phone, rent, whatever. The point is- my parents have done it "your" way. Yet daily- they reinforce me to earn an education.

 

Why? Because like it or not- education is valued. In my opinion, rightfully so.

 

Thirdly, no. I never said "education = learning," I was simply referring MY education as "learning". It's not as likely you're learning as much as someone in school, I'm sorry- I think it's completely outrageous to make that statement. Sure, life is an experience in itself, and you learn something new every day..yadayada- and I'll even give you that A LOT of occupations can be mastered by experience alone... but your last statement, and several after- are exactly what I disagree with. I'm going to school to be a veterinarian. Sorry, but "experience" isn't good enough. That's foolish to say.

 

Engadget does however, make a great point. Your "learning" can be fostered by a lot of outlets other than your class. I'm not arguing ANY of the above-- I'm arguing the collegate environment sponsors and encourages learning, more than purely earning your keep by "experience".

 

Maybe my "experience" is a lot different from the people posting. Like Norajane said, I have learned A LOT from my schooling. I am a TA for statistics, have conducted over seven studies (one being cross cultural). Furthermore, my time at college has enabled me to: participate in competitive swimming, Honors programs, etc. I consider all of these investments, and have overall made me a very well-rounded person. I am smarter. I am more confident, in better shape, and recognized by academic scholars. My friend on the other hand? Floated through and graduated after 3 years with a business degree. It's absolutely what you make of it. I absolutely believe these benefits can be achieved elsewhere--(I read classic novels in my spare time) but the resources are less readily available and realistically- aren't granted with as much employment.

[sweetjasmine]

"Education" is way overrated. I could finish college but realized that I wasnt learning anything that I didnt already know through RL experience.

 

My brother feels the same way, hes been a cop for 20 years, decided to get his degree in criminal justice and has literally learned nothing.

 

Your brother's problem was getting a degree in criminal justice after 20 years of working as a cop and expecting to learn something new. College isn't trade school, and the skills you need to be a cop aren't skills that you generally learn in college. If your brother had gone for a degree in mechanical engineering, do you think he'd have learned something?

 

the only thing we will get is a piece of paper that really means nothing because we already have jobs and wont have a problem finding a job, and out work experience speaks louder than that piece of paper.

 

Everything is different for my generation. Yes, work experience trumps your degrees, so anyone with work experience applying for a job is going to have an advantage. But a 21 year old without a college degree applying for an entry-level job TODAY is at a severe disadvantage compared to one with a college degree. The market has changed, and today's college degree is the same as last generation's high school degree.

 

I believe the only "real" education is for those who actually need it to apply to there jobs. For example, Speech Language Pathologists.

 

If you work your way through a decent school, you'll be learning important writing, editing, critical thinking, research, and analytical thinking skills. Your comment shows you lack the ability to evaluate concrete skills and figure out the underlying abstract skills which are transferable.

 

I'm facing a difficult task in applying for jobs outside of academia with my specialized degree while the economy is in the toilet, but I hope I'm smart enough to apply my writing, research, analytical, and foreign language skills to use in different contexts.

[Engadget]

Firstly, I'm not going to apologize for having parents who facilitate and encourage my college education. I'm fortunate, and I know that. The work of my parents have granted me these privileges- they aren't gifts, they've been earned. Secondly, they're irrelevant. You're bringing in factors into this argument that have no significant attachment to the topic at hand: the value of education. I'll tell you on thing, my parents would have been DISTRAUGHT had I not graduated from college. Why? Because they work HARD. Both of my parents have been switched to the midnight shift. My mom works 12 hour days. My parents absolutely earn their income, and they CHOOSE to invest in me. Whether that be my college education, cell phone, rent, whatever. The point is- my parents have done it "your" way. Yet daily- they reinforce me to earn an education.

 

Why? Because like it or not- education is valued. In my opinion, rightfully so.

 

Thirdly, no. I never said "education = learning," I was simply referring MY education as "learning". It's not as likely you're learning as much as someone in school, I'm sorry- I think it's completely outrageous to make that statement. Sure, life is an experience in itself, and you learn something new every day..yadayada- and I'll even give you that A LOT of occupations can be mastered by experience alone... but your last statement, and several after- are exactly what I disagree with. I'm going to school to be a veterinarian. Sorry, but "experience" isn't good enough. That's foolish to say.

 

Engadget does however, make a great point. Your "learning" can be fostered by a lot of outlets other than your class. I'm not arguing ANY of the above-- I'm arguing the collegate environment sponsors and encourages learning, more than purely earning your keep by "experience".

 

Maybe my "experience" is a lot different from the people posting. Like Norajane said, I have learned A LOT from my schooling. I am a TA for statistics, have conducted over seven studies (one being cross cultural). Furthermore, my time at college has enabled me to: participate in competitive swimming, Honors programs, etc. I consider all of these investments, and have overall made me a very well-rounded person. I am smarter. I am more confident, in better shape, and recognized by academic scholars. My friend on the other hand? Floated through and graduated after 3 years with a business degree. It's absolutely what you make of it. I absolutely believe these benefits can be achieved elsewhere--(I read classic novels in my spare time) but the resources are less readily available and realistically- aren't granted with as much employment.

 

Much like you want someone with a Masters or higher, I want a woman who didn't coast on her parents money.

 

You're not helping your cause here Marsle, just saying.

[marsle85]

This entire post is completely bullcrap. I disagree with almost everything you said.

 

The funny thing is I think women are more likely to consider college more important because like in several other threads women are attracted to Titles, Power, and Success.

 

A women is more likely to talk about her boyfriend who is a Doctor than her boyfriend who is a IT Tech who probably makes just as much as the doctor.

 

Women like to brag and show off, plain and simple.

 

The point that you say "women like to brag," implies there is something to BRAG about. Yes, women like men who are doctors. Big freakin' surprise. Of course women are attracted to "titles, power and success"- who DOESN'T want to be financially safe? I don't have the income info on IT technicians, or doctors- but if a IT guy DOES make a salary equivalent (which I doubt) - in terms of respect, I think the doctor should earn more respect. Not "everyone" can go out and become a doctor. Physicians encounter a considerable amount of stress daily. Not to mention the TRAINING necessary for their "title." Sorry, but an IT-guy does not save lives. Similarly, I would have no problem dating a firefighter, or EMT. This reflects their character, and diligence- not degree.

 

In my personal opinion I think having a career is more important than your education level because I want a woman who is capable of taking care of herself, I dont mean paying bills, I mean living on her own without family support.

 

I understand you had to fend for yourself, and you respect that in a partner. But to favor it? I'm more than capable of taking care of myself currently- but why shouldn't my parents faciliate my education? This will enable me to take care of -them- when they're older. I may not have been able to do that otherwise.

 

Secondly, besides the independence, what really is so great about "making it on your own"? I guarantee you a strong correlation between familial problems and pre-adults who moved out at 16, or otherwise. I get along great with my parents, and I KNOW they enjoy that I live with them. Furthermore, my parents have paid for my brothers' undergradute education, too. This should be applauded, not critisized.

 

Nowadays anyone can go and get a degree, hell you can get two masters by taking just a couple extra classes, talk about blending material into general concepts.

 

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Where did you get any of that information?

[Ihavenoidea]

I went to the number one Aeronautical University in the world.

 

I dont lack the ability to evaluate concrete skills and figure out the underlying abstract skills which are transferable. I just don't need to.

 

"If you work your way through a decent school, you'll be learning important writing, editing, critical thinking, research, and analytical thinking skills. "

 

If you read all of posts I pointed out that these skills can also be obtained through experience and do not require a 4 year university to accomplish.

 

Considering I recieve proposal papers, memoradums, letters and emails from these so called callege grads that have yet to apply these. "Writing skills, editing and critical and analytical thinking"

[Engadget]

Well marsle I'm starting to get a picture here as to why you're single.

 

No offense, but constantly spouting off snobbish things and referring to studies as the be-all-end-all of interpersonal relations reeks of elitist nonsense.

[Mimolicious]

In an effort to not completely derail other threads, I have to know everyone's take on this.

 

I currently have a BA and plan to go for a masters... and I would expect my date to have at least a bachelor's. I don't really think that's superficial or selfish at all. A lot of people in my family haven't achieved this amount of education so I understand that it doesn't make a person smart or stupid or whatever, but I would simply want someone with the commonality of having gone to at least 4 years of higher education.

 

I am interested to hear how important it is to otheres. Is it an age thing? I know that when I'm online dating, the first thing I check (after their picture) is their education, is that so awful?

 

 

I have to say, so DO I! To me it is... I mean, you can be super wealthy (by luck or talent- there are many artists that have crazy dough but can't even speak!) but education should be important. Period! How can you help your future kids do homework??? lol!

[sweetjasmine]

Wait, how can you guys blame anyone for getting money from their parents during college? This isn't 1970 when it hardly cost anything to go to college.

 

At my university, you needed written permission to work full-time, and there were a maximum number of hours for campus jobs and work-study positions. They strongly discouraged working full-time as an undergrad because you're supposed to be pouring all your efforts into classwork.

 

Is there some kind of virtue I'm not seeing in racking up tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands in debt before you're even 21? Congratulations, you did it all on your own without a penny for groceries from mom and dad. Enjoy paying it off for the next 40 years.

[Engadget]

Wait, how can you guys blame anyone for getting money from their parents during college? This isn't 1970 when it hardly cost anything to go to college.

 

At my university, you needed written permission to work full-time, and there were a maximum number of hours for campus jobs and work-study positions. They strongly discouraged working full-time as an undergrad because you're supposed to be pouring all your efforts into classwork.

 

Is there some kind of virtue I'm not seeing in racking up tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands in debt before you're even 21? Congratulations, you did it all on your own without a penny for groceries from mom and dad. Enjoy paying it off for the next 40 years.

 

Yeah, I had to work 40-50 hours a week while taking a full courseload and it screwed me. Many of the professors didn't understand why any of us had jobs, which baffled me. Do they think everyone sits around on their parents dime and has no other worry than school?

[Ihavenoidea]

@Marsel, depending on where you live average Network Engineers make upwards of 150k a year and IT project Managers and System Engineers can make even more than that. Now some doctors make upwards of 300k to millions depending on what they are doing, butultimately they are both financial stable positions.

 

Oh and as far as getting a duel masters I think UMUC as plenty of programs. Typical Masters programs are often only an additional 30 Semester hours which is about 10 classes and often times 5 of those 10 classes apply to another Masters degree. its simple

 

Check this out Missoui offers two masters for 48 semester hours, 6 classes for each masters and 4 classes for combined/corssover so 48 semester hours for 2 degrees , hilarious

[marsle85]

Well marsle I'm starting to get a picture here as to why you're single.

 

No offense, but constantly spouting off snobbish things and referring to studies as the be-all-end-all of interpersonal relations reeks of elitist nonsense.

 

That was unkind. If your desire was to hurt my feelings in order to discontinue my posts, you win. As much as my studies reflect "elitist nonsense," at least I was using evidence to back my claims. You were just being unnecessarily hurtful.

[Ihavenoidea]

That was unkind. If your desire was to hurt my feelings in order to discontinue my posts, you win. As much as my studies reflect "elitist nonsense," at least I was using evidence to back my claims. You were just being unnecessarily hurtful.

 

I dont see evidence I see personal opinion and an attempt to justify what we all disagree

[tigressA]

Is there some kind of virtue I'm not seeing in racking up tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands in debt before you're even 21? Congratulations, you did it all on your own without a penny for groceries from mom and dad. Enjoy paying it off for the next 40 years.

 

No, there absolutely is not. BUT there are many people (including me) whose parents are unable to contribute a single penny, or those whose parents outright REFUSE to help their children finance their education. I know that my parents would have helped if they'd been able to, but they were not. And you know what? So many of my friends whose parents helped finance their education or funded it entirely were and still are under intense and constant pressure by them to succeed and make their investment "worth it". They were pressured into certain majors that they weren't happy in, or constantly nagged about not having a job within months after graduating even though they were working their butts off to obtain one.

 

I have very little doubt in my mind that my situation would've been really similar to theirs if my parents had contributed anything substantial to fund my education. Sure, debt is not appealing, but I'd rather have that and complete freedom to make my own choices.

[Mimolicious]

education isn't as important as intelligence to me.

However I married a woman who held a common cubicle clerk type job & am now paying out the back side in child support because I make so much more than her.

 

Before that I pretty much paid for everything while she had very little to contribute to the marriage financially.

 

I probably won't ever marry again, but I would probably live with someone again.

However, that person would have to have a job near my pay level & not have a mountain of debt because I have no desire to support another woman.

 

I need a partner that can afford her %50 of the living expenses.

 

:lmao: This is called a ROOMMATE!!! LMAO! I can't!

 

I feel the same way. Even though academic education shouldn't determine someone's potential. You'll be surprised, depending on the field, someone with a masters in lets say-Public Health, may not make as much money as a simple executive/personal assistant with a AA or BA. That's on the salary talk.

 

On the intellectual level- college doesn't really give you knowledge! But I still think education should be basic. It's important to better us, as society.

[Ihavenoidea]

:lmao: This is called a ROOMMATE!!! LMAO! I can't!

 

I feel the same way. Even though academic education shouldn't determine someone's potential. You'll be surprised, depending on the field, someone with a masters in lets say-Public Health, may not make as much money as a simple executive/personal assistant with a AA or BA. That's on the salary talk.

 

On the intellectual level- college doesn't really give you knowledge! But I still think education should be basic. It's important to better us, as society.

 

 

I think this is a good comment as far as salaries I agree. My oringial was to get my Masters in Engineering Physics and there were plenty of Physic Engineering positions at NASA, problem was is I made twice as much as them with no college degree.

 

But I will agree that education can be important and should be basic but ti should never be a turn off or dealbreaker

[Mimolicious]

I think I could pass as pretty well educated (1 PhD, 3 Masters) yet the best compliment I get from my friends is that I don't act according to the stereotypes usually associated with highly educated people. It doesn't matter how many titles you can put before/after your name. What matters is who you are and how you treat other people and how you can function among others.

 

On another note, a couple of weeks ago I was hosting a group of prospective graduate students at our university and I don't know how but we started talking about dating etc. Now, imagine a bunch of overweight math majors saying that they couldn't date anyone who doesn't understand calculus! Talking about shooting yourself in the foot or natural selection for that matter.

 

As long as the girl is shy, mature, sporty, and has that certain inexplicable something in the way she looks in my eyes - she's a keeper. She doesn't have to know a lot about the world, history or math/physics - who cares about that.

 

Why would you discriminate potentially the most wonderful person in the world just because (possibly) they could not afford to go to college?

 

P.S. I've attended an Aikido seminar this week, thus I'm full of "be in harmony with the surrounding world"... again...

 

Just trying to get my characters straight- did you say you are 26 y/o before?

[sweetjasmine]

Yeah, I had to work 40-50 hours a week while taking a full courseload and it screwed me. Many of the professors didn't understand why any of us had jobs, which baffled me. Do they think everyone sits around on their parents dime and has no other worry than school?

 

A lot of professors assume their students don't work full-time. They're used to a system where your full-time job is supposed to be school, so it usually never even crosses their mind that students might have other commitments that take up a huge amount of time.

 

No, there absolutely is not. BUT there are many people (including me) whose parents are unable to contribute a single penny, or those whose parents outright REFUSE to help their children finance their education. I know that my parents would have helped if they'd been able to, but they were not. And you know what? So many of my friends whose parents helped finance their education or funded it entirely were and still are under intense and constant pressure by them to succeed and make their investment "worth it". They were pressured into certain majors that they weren't happy in, or constantly nagged about not having a job within months after graduating even though they were working their butts off to obtain one.

 

I have very little doubt in my mind that my situation would've been really similar to theirs if my parents had contributed anything substantial to fund my education. Sure, debt is not appealing, but I'd rather have that and complete freedom to make my own choices.

 

Well, if you ask me, the current higher education system in this country is severely broken. It's great that you have the freedom to make your own choices, but you shouldn't have to go into massive debt to do it. And your friends shouldn't be pressured to do work they hate because their parents are paying for it.

 

I admire people who have to work their butt off to earn money while working as a full-time student. My point is that I don't look down on people who do get money from mom and dad.

[Bogo123]

I agree with the OP. I have a bachelor's so I want someone the same. The girl im seeing right now has a master's . But I'd even take associates or any degree for that matter. As long as she has a decent education, but most importantly a good person.

[tigressA]

Well, if you ask me, the current higher education system in this country is severely broken. It's great that you have the freedom to make your own choices, but you shouldn't have to go into massive debt to do it. And your friends shouldn't be pressured to do work they hate because their parents are paying for it.

 

I admire people who have to work their butt off to earn money while working as a full-time student. My point is that I don't look down on people who do get money from mom and dad.

 

I totally agree! What I look down on is those same people getting money from mom and dad assuming that everyone else is in the same circumstance, which happens all too often.

[Els]

The funny thing is I think women are more likely to consider college more important because like in several other threads women are attracted to Titles, Power, and Success.

 

A women is more likely to talk about her boyfriend who is a Doctor than her boyfriend who is a IT Tech who probably makes just as much as the doctor

 

Women like to brag and show off, plain and simple.

 

Men are visual...

[Mimolicious]

All I have to say is have fun getting a master degree while I make my $55 an hour. LOL

 

"Education" is way overrated. I could finish college but realized that I wasnt learning anything that I didnt already know through RL experience.

 

My brother feels the same way, hes been a cop for 20 years, decided to get his degree in criminal justice and has literally learned nothing.

 

the only thing we will get is a piece of paper that really means nothing because we already have jobs and wont have a problem finding a job, and out work experience speaks louder than that piece of paper.

 

I believe the only "real" education is for those who actually need it to apply to there jobs. For example, Speech Language Pathologists.

 

I like how most people I know have a job completely unrelated to there degree.

 

It's "their" not "there";)

Ok, with that said- they have "jobs" not "careers".

[tigressA]

I totally agree! What I look down on is those same people getting money from mom and dad assuming that everyone else is in the same circumstance, which happens all too often.

 

Add: I also don't like parents who contribute financially to their child's education and use that as a means to control them. I see a whole lot of that going on where I am.