The importance of University education?

Question

I need someone to help explain to me the importance of university education

Answer 1

Depends on what you want to do.

Some professions require a univesrity education (physician, attorney).

Others don't require it, but universities have convinced people that they do. (Management).

Since people believe a college degree is important, you may lose opportunities if you don't have one. BUT, there are successful people in many fields who don't have one. (Bill Gates dropped out of college).

I have to add a response to theycallmewendy's point about not hiring for specific areas. That's just WRONG. I have a degree in chemistry and know peers who are computer programmers. Heck my wife is a computer programmer and her degree is in PSYCHOLOGY.
Programming is in fact one field where they value experience over what the diploma says.
Some fields aren't so open (pharmaceutical manufacturing for instance). At times it's understanable.

Anyway, a university education should be a personal choice. Not one forced on you by college deans who want to expand their fiefdoms.

Answer 2

Just saw some info-- a Bachelors degree ( 4 year university degree) will be worth about 2.1 MILLION dollars in earnings over your lifetime-- sounds worth it to me!
I have three degrees-- AD, BS and MS put myself thru school for all except the AD. OH- while raising 3 kids --- my beginning salary was maybe 10 K a year in 1977-- my salary at retirement (total of 27 years) was $67k-- You do the math.
In that time-- I paid off student loans, paid off three houses, the most recent I paid off 27 YEARS early--- paid off 4 cars- the last of which was a cash deal-- lived pretty well-- don't want for anything at this stage of my life-- I like to spend money-- and I intend to die broke--
Check with the local employment office for most requested education-- and see if it fits. Today you probably won't work your entire work life with one company-- and maybe not even one specialty-- If you are a typical late teen, early 20 something-- your experience is limited-- if you are totally confused-- think about the military-- they have great training which most of can be translated into college hours--
You have wonderful opportunities-- I sincerely hope you take advantage of those opportunities.
Good luck!

Answer 3

The degree will help you get your foot in the door in job applications. For many fields, if an applicant doesn't have a degree (no matter how useless the degree is to what the job actually requires they know), the employer won't bother interviewing them. Having one shows that you applied yourself to studying, you learned something over the course of a few years, and presumably you know something useful about your industry.

Some industries require you to have the "right" degree - you won't get hired as a computer programmer with a chemistry degree, for instance, even if you know computers just fine - but a lot just care that you have *a* degree.

Answer 4

good and sound answers from everyone. you'll also be missing out on a great experience if you don't. look at it this way: you'll be working for a lot of years to come and, it'll feel even longer if you end up in a dull job you might well hate. so no need to jump in too soon. go! and have the time of your life.

Answer 5

i agree w/ christopher. depends on what u want 2 do, and how u wanna do it.