The Happy Scale

[vonnie6200]

It was for me - I had an awesome career. Not happy all the time, or everyday - but overall it was one of those "I can't believe I get paid to do this" careers.

And I managed to work my way through school and graduate with no SL debt

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Nope.... which is why I quit my job.

[midjd]

I racked up $140K in SL debt and make about $55K as a government lawyer...but I really do love it. I enjoy the management/rulemaking angle much more than the litigation angle.

If not for the income-based repayment plan, though, I'd probably be working 2 or 3 jobs I'd hate...as it is, I'm only paying about $570 a month (instead of $1800). I'd rather do that for 25 years than pay $1800 for 10 - at least now I can max out retirement.

[Deleted]

I went to a low cost state college. Tuition was $3200 in 1994. Total yearly cost was $7500 with housing, tuition, books, etc. I had saved up $6000 before I was a freshman and worked all through college. My parents did cover the rest and I left with no student loans and about $2500 in CC debt.

It was absolutely worth it.

[cronewitch]

I like what I do but the education is a toss up if it was worth it. I always wanted to be a bookkeeper since I was 16. I got a AA degree and my first bookkeeping job in 1974. That was community college and not really expensive I was a housewife and my ex paid my tuition and books. I didn't get or apply for student loans or grants. But then I went back to school in 1989 nights to a private college full time nights while working full time days. That was expensive but I was able to work and pay the mortgage and tuition so it cost me maybe 25K plus two years of my time. The CPA exam was another thousand for the review class and test. I might have 30K invested in education but probably would be about the same place without the last degree and CPA license.

I think I am paid extra because I have a useless degree. I let the CPA license lapse but still I think it paid to have had it when negociating pay. I am paid 58,800 as a bookkeeper which seems high for the job.

[midjd]

So, how did you come about picking this profession. Was it something you always wanted to do and knew you'd like it?

My specific job, no... Most of my law school experience was in employment discrimination and SSD/SSI, which I enjoyed, but didn't love. I happened into a post-graduate public service fellowship (since I took part in one of the public-interest summer internships) and was taken on by my current employer. They liked me so much they hired me FT last year

But the work took me completely by surprise. I really didn't think I'd like it at first. But I was always interested in statistics, and this job is stat-heavy - plus I do some work for several different departments, so there's always something new going on. I've gotten to teach CLE sessions, which is fun. And sometimes even some legal work thrown in

It was sheer luck, honestly. I interviewed for another job around the same time and I would have HATED it. I really got lucky.

[constanz22]

Jun 25, 2011 19:05:27 GMT -5 @mmc said:

I went to a low cost state college. Tuition was $3200 in 1994. Total yearly cost was $7500 with housing, tuition, books, etc. I had saved up $6000 before I was a freshman and worked all through college. My parents did cover the rest and I left with no student loans and about $2500 in CC debt.

It was absolutely worth it.

Same here. I graduated from a low cost state school in 1993 and the costs were very similar. My parents paid for all 4 years and I worked part time the first 3 years and full time my 4th year. Even when I was in school, it was getting increasingly rare that anyone graduated in 4 years, but, I did. My degree is in Criminal Justice and Psychology so I've never made a ton of money. My first "real" job in 1993 paid $14,500 a year. I am currently making right around 50K, but that's pretty much the top of my earning ability in my field. I'll never be rich, but, I also can't think of anything else I would've wanted to do for a career...

[zibazinski]

I went to college 1973-1977, state supported public school. WANTED to go to a fancy school, Northwestern, and get a degree in Archeology. Parents said no and I got a teaching degree. I liked teaching for a very long time, it was only the last 3 years that was hell on earth. Glad I had it to fall back on. The other would have been useless in supporting myself and my kids. Glad I'm out of it because every time I think it can't get any worse for teachers, it does.

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2011 20:03:33 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Jun 25, 2011 19:05:27 GMT -5 @mmc said:

I went to a low cost state college. Tuition was $3200 in 1994. Total yearly cost was $7500 with housing, tuition, books, etc. I had saved up $6000 before I was a freshman and worked all through college. My parents did cover the rest and I left with no student loans and about $2500 in CC debt.

It was absolutely worth it.

So, you're happy with the job you go to every day?

Yes! My work challenges me and I can't imagine doing anything else. It also happens to pay very well which allows for a nice life outside of work.

[Deleted]

I think there are very different mindsets when it comes to college. A trust fund was set up for me and my sister to go to college when my father died. I was five. We were second generation college students. Back then women became mostly teachers or nurses. My sister and I are both teachers.

My kids knew it was "when" they went to college, not if. They grew up in a college town, which was part of it. My son had no SL debt because he went to the local university and was a National Merit finalist. My daughter had no SL debt for the first two years but then she was admitted to pharmacy school. She had to borrow that money, but she definitely earns enough, even working part-time, to pay it back.

I worry about my grandchildren. I want it to also be when and not if.

[Tiny]

The 3000 I spent back in the mid 80's to get a 2 year degree at the local Jr College was well worth it. I paid out of pocket (via a part time job,living at home and being able to bike/walk to the college and to work). I suspect owning a car would have been a budget breaker for me back then.
I completed a 4 year degee in the early/mid 90's. With tuition re-imbursement it cost me about 20K over 4 years out of pocket. Tuition was really reasonable the first quarter and then the cost started to skyrocket. If I remember correctly my final out of pocket was nealy double what I had originally estimated based on cost previously staying steady from year to year. I know the cost per credit hour had more than doubled by the time I got to the last year of courses.

I did it without student loans or going into debt (I was mentally and physically exhausted but not in debt). It was worth it to me. The degree doesn't mean much but I needed the degree to back up my years of experience. I feel that the degree has more than paid for itself and I don't regret the out of pocket cost OR the 4 years of night school classes.

FWIW: I wouldn't really recommend going the night school route if someone has an inkling of what they want to do in life - just do the 4 years after HS. Working Full time and doing classes at night while not impossible can be somewhat unpleasant as you have little 'personal time'.

ADDED: I do like my job. I'm happy with my life - I earn enough and feel the future is so bright I gotta wear shades I've got a plan for retirement and fun and work.

[Sum Dum Gai]

I started going to a community college as a teenager, but dropped out after a year and a half. I was working on an AAS in computer programming, intending to transfer to a state school to get a bachelors in computer science, and realized that I absolutely didn't want to spend the next several decades sitting in a cubicle somewhere staring at a computer screen. I never ended up going back, and now I sit in an office all day staring at a computer screen. I honestly don't remember what my courses cost, but I know that my PELL grants and other financial aid covered all of it and my books.

My job is somewhat lucrative, but I oscillate between being ambivalent about it and feeling like I'm wasting my life. Other people do go to school and rack up some hefty student loans to do exactly what I do, and some of them freaking love it. I never really have though.

[buster]

I have a BS from a small private college and I enjoy my job. While there is tedious work that needs to be done as with any profession, I enjoy most days I head into the office. I feel job fullfulment is more about the people you work with rather than the work itself. As long as the work is challenging and dynamic, I can probably do this line of work for a while. I do however plan on attending grad school full time next year; it will be interesting to see how I feel about my new profession in about 5 years.

My father also has a BS which he received from Cal State LA. He's been working for a very large county for over 30 years and absolutely loves his job. He often times tells me that while he's close to retirement on paper (based on when his pension maxes), he's not sure he wants to retire because he loves going into work so much. Of course he is pretty much at the top of the hierarchy and only reports to one person.

[lurkyloo]

My parents dropped probably about 100K on my undergrad degree (late nineties, well-respected private university). I spent a year overseas on fellowship, then five years in grad school (supported by teaching assistantships and stipend) and a couple years at a postdoc (again, in my field you get paid a living wage for this). So, while I have no loans, it still wasn't cheap on other people/institutions--I think tuition at grad school, which was covered, was at 30-35K per year by the time I left, plus the 20Kish stipend to live on.

Worth it? Totally. Even my dad has said so, unprompted. I make good money (a shade under 100K) and love what I do--I just posted in another thread about accepting a new job description that offers both more work/responsibility and more challenge. I have several publications in highly respected peer-reviewed journals; there are several products we offer with components I invented. It still makes me a little giddy that work pays for me to go to conferences; I get a charge out of hearing what other creative scientists have done to solve their chosen problems. And I enjoy both interacting with my coworkers, and being part of a team that solves questions very successfully.

[telephus44]

My parents and I spent about $40,000 on my degree and I had $17,625 in student loans. I say my parents and I because I worked summers/breaks and paid for some of it, my parents paid for the rest. I paid off all of my student loans myself. I got my A.B. in Latin and Ancient Greek from Vassar in 2000.

Pros are that having a degree from a "name" college has always helped me find a job - people read my resume and it always gets brought up in an interview. I've never gone more than 6 months without a job, and never more than 6 weeks when I was actively looking. I also had a good time and learned a lot, even if my actual degrees are fairly useless. I also think it's helped get me higher salaries.

Cons are that it was expensive, and I don't use my degree at all.


I truly don't know if it was worth it. I don't look at it as a total waste, and the debt wasn't "crushing" - I mean, not that anyone WANTS student loan debt, but it didn't stop me from moving, buying a house, getting married - it's not the bone-crushing burden some people have. If I had to do it over - still not sure if I'd have done it or not.

[Cookies Galore]

Jun 26, 2011 12:53:40 GMT -5 @tbird said:

I work as a psychometric consultant based on the statistic portion of the program. So it isn't what I went to school for, but is a very practical application of that. I don't love it, but am going to get a phd in measurement so that I have more job security in this field.

Hey, our psychometrician position is still listed when you do get that Ph.D.!


College was absolutely worth the money. Luckily, I only borrowed $19,000 in federal loans, so if I can't afford the $151 in monthly payments then I know there is something wrong with my life!

[dancinmama]

DH and I both went to school (UC system) in the late 70s. It was CHEAP to go to school back then. We both graduated with relatively nothing in debt (maybe $1500, but can't really remember for sure).

It was definitely worth it. Those degrees allowed us both to go from graduation to working on the space shuttle program - the most fun I ever had in my life.

Almost thirty one years later, DH still works for the same company. He absolutely would not/could not have the position that he has now or make the kind of money that he makes without the degree (BS in Administrative Studies).

I can understand why some people think twice about college these days though. The expense with no guarantee of a good job making decent money make it a real gamble.

[DVM gone riding]

about half the time I like what I do and other times I wonder if I wouldn't have been happier as a research scientist or drug/organic chemist. but either way I would have had a high level of education. i borrowed about 82k total and made equivalently 70k the first year out so yeah it was worth it but some of my classmates owe about double to triple that amount. so maybe a 7 on the happy scale, I definitely don't regret it though.

[lurkyloo]

dvm: you're in a more stable industry as it is. much harder to outsource veterinary care than it is to outsource research science

[pig]

Yes, it was well worth it and I love my job more than I ever would have imagined.

[lazysundays]

I'm very happy with what I do as a hospital staff pharmacist. It's the management/lack of staffing that pisses me off. So degree or not, the stuff that irks me would have happened in almost any job, I thinks. So minus the bumps of office politics, I like my job alot ;D

[Deleted]

I went back as an adult to get my University degree. It always bothered me that I didn't have it. It just wasn't right. Oddly, now that I have it I never think about it. The job I have now has nothing to do with my degree. But I needed to have a degree to get it. I ended up with $16,000 in student loans. I'll be paying them off for a couple of more years but it was totally worth it. I'm not sure it makes me happy having it, but it made me unhappy not having it.

[sheilaincali]

My parents paid for my first year of college (would have paid for all of it if I had asked). I dropped out sophomore year and joined the Air Force. Took some classes then because it was free. Finally finished up after my 4 years in the AF thanks to the GI Bill. Went to the local university in town- MN state college. Have a degree in Construction Management/Interior Design.
I oversee the day to day operations for a highway heavy const. company. I enjoy what I do about 95% of the time. No two days are ever the same.
Graduated with zero student loan debt. My parents paid for all 3 of my siblings educations. My sister has a bachelor's in accounting and is studying for her CPA- she makes about $65k a year as a staff accountant for a large company in town. My older brother is still a doctoral candidate finishing up his dissertation. He just called my dad yesterday and asked if we were looking to hire any construction laborers. My younger brother has a Political Science degree and to my knowledge has never even voted in an election.
Frankly my parents got bang for their buck out of my sister's degree and maybe the one year they paid for me. My older brother is 40 and has never held a full time job (and with a wife and 3 kids). My younger brother will forever be a burden on my parents.