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[smeeprocket]

I don't understand, why would FAFSA not pay for out of state college? There's a florida bright futures scholarship that only pays for florida colleges, but I thought FAFSA was nationwide.

[LordBucket]

What does it mean to minor for something in college?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_(academic)

If your major is psychology lets say and your minor is accounting does that mean you can work as an accountant when you graduate?

Either I misunderstand your question or you don't understand what a degree is. A college degree is not like a professional certification that states that according to some third party organization, you're "qualified" in some particular field. That's not what degrees are. There are very few cases where having degree X means that you "can work" in job Y, implying that not having degree X means you can't work in job Y. The usual exceptions are medicine and law, and even with law there are exceptions in which you can be admitted to the bar and can work as an attorney having never attended law school at all, let alone have a law degree. And there are a couple of specific cases within fields. For example, being a CPA requires a bachelor's degree, but it doesn't have to be in accounting. And the vast majority of accounting industry jobs require no degree at all, let alone one specifically in accounting.


So this idea that having a particular major or minor meaning you "can work" in a field...that's just not it works most of the time. Yes, it might be easier to convince somebody to hire you if you happen to have a specific and relevant degree, but it's not at all uncommon for people to work in fields that have nothing to do with their degree. I know an OEM computer production manager with a biology degree. I know a guy who runs a print shop with a history degree. I know someone with a degree in I think psychology, and she's a vendor rep for an industrial lighting firm.

A degree is not a professional certification. They're different things.

[Truean]

.....

First of all, College is no longer worth it. I'd seriously become an electrician or plumber in the US these days instead. I wouldn't even consider it unless going for a CPA, Engineering degree, STEM, or Medical.

Second, "Major" is a focal area of study. While "technically" it doesn't matter what degree you have in order to get a job, in actuality it VERY much does. It did not used to be this way, and you can thank the rise of the machines for this. Computers will scan your resume and look for "keywords," including relevant areas of study in a college degree. "Have to" have X major degree to get a job? "No." Have far, far, far less of a chance of getting said job without that degree? Yes, very yes.

Moreover, if you study and major in accounting and spend all your time in college learning what debits and credits are along with tax policy, balance sheets, various software programs for accounting, IRS tax codes, and are actively working towards a CPA in undergrad, then that is preparing you for an accounting job..... If you major in English, you could technically still do the job of an accountant assuming you met all the requirements somehow, but who do you think has the better chance of making it a hell of a lot easier upon themselves: the English major or the accounting major, for the accouting position.

Keep in mind, that there is also gray area, such as "related fields." In practice, more and more stupid "smart" technologies that computer review resume' material look ONLY for certain degrees and keywords, but that doesn't mean you can't get the same knowledge majoring in a different area. There's Accounting, Business, Finance, and one of my degrees is in Economics. I took a ton of the same classes the accounting and finance people took along with completing another major in a completely different field of study. I can do a lot of what they do in real life, but getting a computer resume reviewer to recognize that is another story.

The other things that really seems to oddly count more is "experience." Internships and apprenticeships and jobs and things o my. Those look better for what they are asking for these days.

Then of course you're gonna wanna do that horrid "networking" thing, because it is sadly who you know.

As for how to pay for it.... [sigh]. Out of state tuition is a major bear. You're not going to get preference for many things, and you'll be constantly penalized. I wish I had an answer for you. If you're going to college get into STEM and get as much experience and fallback planning as you can manage. Do things that look good on a resume'.

[smeeprocket]

you don't want to get into debt from college unless you successfully complete some sort of medical doctorate or something that pays back tenfold. That debt is soul crushing and very hard to pay off.

[LordBucket]

you don't want to get into debt from college unless you successfully complete some
sort of medical doctorate or something that pays back tenfold.

I I'd advise going into debt even if that is your plan. Things are changing, and it's difficult to predict what's a safe long-term decision anymore. I recently heard from a colleague that insurance companies are toying with the idea of requiring every diagnosis to be confirmed by computer software like Watson in order to qualify for coverage. If that happens, it's not such a huge leap for somebody to realize that maybe you don't need the doctor making the diagnosis at all. What kind of timeframe are we talking about? Who knows. But 4 years undergraduate, 4 years med school, 3-4 years residency...it's possible that some people hoping to be doctors just starting college now might be in for a huge disappointment by the time they're ready to start paying down school debt. And while you might point out that doctors do more than simply diagnose, how eager are you to wager ~$150,000 in debt that 12 years from now that robotic surgery won't be the norm?

So, yeah. Avoid debt. Even traditionally high-paying, high educational requirement fields aren't necessarily a safe bet anymore.

[smeeprocket]

you don't want to get into debt from college unless you successfully complete some
sort of medical doctorate or something that pays back tenfold.

I I'd advise going into debt even if that is your plan. Things are changing, and it's difficult to predict what's a safe long-term decision anymore. I recently heard from a colleague that insurance companies are toying with the idea of requiring every diagnosis to be confirmed by computer software like Watson in order to qualify for coverage. If that happens, it's not such a huge leap for somebody to realize that maybe you don't need the doctor making the diagnosis at all. What kind of timeframe are we talking about? Who knows. But 4 years undergraduate, 4 years med school, 3-4 years residency...it's possible that some people hoping to be doctors just starting college now might be in for a huge disappointment by the time they're ready to start paying down school debt. And while you might point out that doctors do more than simply diagnose, how eager are you to wager ~$150,000 in debt that 12 years from now that robotic surgery won't be the norm?

So, yeah. Avoid debt. Even traditionally high-paying, high educational requirement fields aren't necessarily a safe bet anymore.

robotic surgery and diagnosis seems unlikely. If doctors generally suck at it, a computer that has been programmed by a human is going to be just as bad if not worse.

Not to say that you're not right and even then it is a huge risk.

[Baffler]

If you're going to college get into STEM and get as much experience and fallback planning as you can manage. Do things that look good on a resume'.

This. If I stopped wanting to do biochemistry (which very much requires a college education to pursue) for whatever reason I'd get certified as an electrician or a forklift operator or a pharmacy tech or something faster than you can say skilled tradesman. The rush into colleges has created a shortage of people for these kinds of jobs, and they are becoming increasingly lucrative. Expect to work lots of overtime in any job related to industry though. That may be a good thing for you, that may not.

[Meph]

Or apply for university in a country that offers them for free. US students can come to Germany to get free uni

[Phmcw]

Germany, France, Belgium, Netherland,... all have very good and affordable university. If you can speak the tongue I think it's wroth giving them a look.

If you're trying to do anything buiness related, I know that Solvay buisness school in Bruxelles is exellent.

[smeeprocket]

Really most germans speak english so you could learn the language while over there, I think. Though that might make textbooks an issue.

I had a friend who was an exchange student, and she had to insist on the people she was staying with actually speaking german, because so many germans are fluent in english.

I just want to be fluent in Spanish, personally.

[XXSockXX]

Though that might make textbooks an issue.

Not really, because a lot of academic literature is in English anyways, at least in economics or IT-related fields. Also depending on what you study, the entire program might be in English.

[smeeprocket]

So there you go! See the world, find yourself, and get a degree all in one.

[Meph]

About 55% of Germans speak English fluently, but the older people way less, and among the younger people way more. Just throwing that out there.

I'd always suggest to people to go see other countries of they can, so dont mind me.

[guessingo]

Marajuana is legal in washington. Contact the clinics and offer to find "patients" on campus for a commission.

Porn... Hey its money.

Smuggle illegals across the canadian border

Club baby seals and sell them?

Join rotc. Sign a contract and they pay for college.

Get a real job and go part time.

Wait a year so you can get in state tuition.

Hack a movie studio, pretend to be from north korea , and black mail them.

Sleep on toadys couch in exchange for sexual favors

Sell one of your kidneys to the chinese government.

Put yourself on seekingarrangements.com and get a sugar mommy.

[3man75]

That last one made me laugh and think at the same time. Thank you guessingo.