how come adults still think that just going to college and getting good grades will help you find a good job?
461403
I agree that the entry-level job market is tight right now, but I also know that all of the entry-level employees at the company where I work (a $400 million/year tech service company) went to good schools & got good grades. I think you are still in a much better position than those who didn't study hard in college, but you do have to compete with others like yourself. It's just like when you applied to college -- people with 1300+ SAT scores are dime-a-dozen at the top schools; you had to have something else on your application to make you stand out from the crowd.\n\nYou didn't ask for suggestions but I'll offer some anyway: \n\n - If you can, try volunteering with an organization that offers you an opportunity to develop leadership skills. This will look good to prospective employers, and give you valuable personal experience.\n\n - Move to a foreign country for a year or two and learn the local language. Even if you have to work a blue-collar job there, the cultural & linguistic skills you gain will be invaluable to many employers. And if your English skills are good, you could always teach English there.\n\n--Good luck!\n\nPS: Unless you are a *very* young college graduate, you're an adult, too. :-)
567587
I don't think so. Money is out there to be made, it's how bad you want to make it, and how hard you want to work. You will never get rich working for someone else. Don't get me wrong college does a great job of helping you becoming well rounded, and will help you climb a certain social ladder. You can not teach initiative and desire, and that's what you need to become successful.
603277
Grades are very important at this time of your life. Good grades means more opportunities and scholarships. Gives you a good headstart in life too. Study hard.
903458
I'm an instructor at a community college. I wish I had more students like you. Here are some of the conclusions I have come to. First, many of the students are there for reasons other than learning. Many of my younger students are there because their parents have issued ultimatums making them choose to work or go to school. For some reason they think school is easier and choose that option. Second, too many students come out of high school under prepared for college. They don't know how to organize their time, study effectively, or take notes. Third, our society has moved away from the idea of personal responsibility. Everyone is so worried about blaming others for their faults or believing that everyone else is responsible for their learning. They don't understand that the only person responsible for them is them. I am a facilitator of learning but I do not have the power to just give them knowledge. From talking to my friends at other colleges (4 year state and private) they are seeing the same trends albeit not on the same scale.
1101359
Why Get a College Degree?\n\nKnowledge, Skills, and More Opportunities\nIf you go to college, you'll gain information and skills that you'll use for the rest of your life, no matter what career you chose. College will enable you to:\n\n    * Expand your knowledge and skills\n    * Express your thoughts clearly in speech and in writing\n    * Grasp abstract concepts and theories\n    * Increase your understanding of the world and your community\n\nWhat This Means for You\nThe benefits above may sound great on their own, but college also has some very practical benefits:\nMore Job Opportunities\n\nThe world is changing rapidly. More and more jobs require education beyond high school. College graduates have more jobs to choose from than those who don't pursue education beyond high school.\n\nEarn More Money\nA person who goes to college usually earns more than a person who doesn't. According to the US Census Bureau, on average, someone with a Bachelor's Degree earns $51,206—almost double the $27,915 earned annually by someone with only a high school diploma.\n\nWhy Not Go to College?\nMany students are unsure about going to college, for many reasons. Below are five we've heard before, and why they don't hold water.\n\n1. "I Can't Afford It."\nMost students get financial aid to help pay for college, and most aid is based on need. This means that the less money you have, the more aid you might get.\n\n2. "Nobody in My Family Has Ever Gone."\nBeing first can be hard. For instance, you may have to explain to the family why college is important to you. On the other hand, being first is likely to be a source of pride, for you and for your family.\n\n3. " I Don't Know What I Want to Do with My Life."\nJoin the crowd. Thousands of college freshmen haven't decided on a major or on a career. College gives you the opportunity to learn more about what's out there. You'll be exposed to a variety of academic subjects, people, and new perspectives.\n\n4. "College Is Too Hard for Me."\nMost students think college will be too hard for them. Keep in mind, all colleges offer tutoring and student support. As confident as some students seem, no one goes to college knowing everything—if they did, why would they go?\n\n5. "I Just Won't Fit In."\nMost colleges have students from many backgrounds. To get an idea of what to expect, explore colleges with College Search, or better yet, visit in person. Be sure to ask about the make-up of the student body, and if they have clubs and activities that you're interested in joining.\n\nIt Doesn't Have to Be a Four-Year College\nIf you're not sure about college, or which college, consider attending a community college. Community colleges are public, two-year schools that provide an excellent education, whether you're considering an associate degree, a certificate program, technical training, or plan to continue your studies at a four-year college.
753183
A lot of people go to college straight out of high school because they think they have to or it will slip away. And alot of them get a degree in something they hate. If you don't know what you want to do. Don't waste time going to college yet.  Get out in the workforce and experience things.  Meet new people and talk to them about jobs they have. Save your money for college. Then when you know what you want to do, go to college if a degree is required.
625363
It's not a matter of just scraping by paying your bills.  Some people go to college to get better jobs so they aren't just living paycheck to paycheck.  Some go because they like learning about new things, the atmosphere and the intellectual challenge.
1097064
Part of being in college is learning to be an adult and preparing for a professional career. Students will learn what is and isn't apprpriate on their own. A dress code takes away the chioce of students. Making good decisions is part of learning to be responsible. They will realize that the image they put forth matters when professors and employers show a lack of respect based on how they look.
3099
THis is true, mainly because people without a highschool diploma are going to be hardpressed to get a good job at all. THere are many jobs out there that require a bachelor's degree even if they don't require that level of knowledge. It's part of how this society tries to get us to just play the game. If you play the game you can get a good job. THis involves getting into college and graduating.
35657
I loved going to college.  It was truly the best time of my life and would love to do it again one day to get another degree.  School can be a lot of fun if you make it that way.  In high school, I really wish I would have applied myself more.  Yeah, school is hard but it is worth it when you get older.  If there was a way that adults could take high school over again, I would sign up in a minute.  I would take all the classes that would better prepare me for things and apply myself more.
789828
Some might agree with you, but there are others, for instance, people who already have a profession and must attend their 9-5 jobs in order to support their families, but also have the desire to make a career change or advancement which requires further education.  When you have a family or trying to make changes in your life, you must be adult enough not to make them sacrifice for you.  Those particular schools are not traditional, but offer the same educational fulfillment's that are required for job advancement outside of the basic 9-5 school/job hours.  Many courses are offered on line, for instance.  I must correct you, however, if these particular educational institutions were not as "up to par" as other "normal" state colleges/universities, the federal government would not provide the same tuition assistance toward attending them.
1036883
more than make your parents happy, study hard to make YOU happy.\n\nI had similar issues in grade school and high school, but in college i studied HARD.  I finished at the top of my class, but i had to pay for college myself.\n\nI wish i had studied as dilligently in school because the scholarships i missed out on would be worth the price of a house today.\n\nyour financial success as an adult is tied to not being in debt from college, and you NEED college to get the life you will want.  Take my word for it.  The work pays off!\n\nTeenagers need more sleep than adults.  that is scientificaly proven.  also the sleep patterns keep kids up later and sleep later.  that makes it tough to get enough sleep which is important for concentration.  \n\nMake sure to always think positive happy thoughts.  adopt the "can do" attitude when you are young and it will help protect you from depression when you are older.  If you think that depression or ADD is a factor, by all means see a doctor, but try to work it out without the drugs.  They have some very nasty side effects that you don't want to deal with.\n\nWhat kids don't know is that success is better than makeup or muscles for getting a mate.  looks aren't all that important in a couple of years, but your mind is.\n\nKeep busy in many things.  clubs, sports, etc.  The more you do the more you want to do.  limit your time on the computer and with video games.  they suck the ambition out of you to excel to your best capability.\n\nGood Luck!!!   By asking this question, you already know you WANT to study harder.  Now it's up to you to take it like a challange one week at a time ant it will go fast.  you'll do great!
399229
Grades matter for the transition into new parts in your life.  High school grades matter when applying for college and college grades matter when trying to find a job.  It is not the only thing employers look at.  Work experience is the most important thing, in my opinion.
200054
Updated 3-13-2006, 4:10 P.M.\n\nIt's not just a piece of paper.\n\nFor many jobs, it's a requirement to be considered as an initial way to eliminate all the people who don't have one.  For instance, for a management job, it's possible in smaller firms but unlikely in larger, more bureaucratic ones you'll ever get such a job without one, even if you're otherwise qualified with experience.\n\nThe higher the job pays, the more formal education is generally required as an initial qualification.\n\nThe degree doesn't guarantee getting the job though under any circumstance.  You still have to be interviewed and they still have to like you more than all the rest of the degree-holders who apply for the job.  And of course, the person with the degree applicable to the job you're after gets higher priority.\n\nI can't say my degrees helped me get a job because I never used it to get a job that required it, but the education I got is helping me create my own business.  In fact, when I applied for a job that didn't require a college degree, I left the degree off my resume so they wouldn't turn me down because I was "overqualified" for the job. My degrees were all business-related. I still am learning more now in the process, though. Learning never ends if you continually try to improve yourself and get jobs paying more and more money, plus keep up with everything that changes as the years go by.  College doesn't even come close to teaching you everything you need to learn in the job/business market, but it's definitely a good start if you take the right courses and they apply to the job you get.\n\nIn direct answer to your other question:  Yes, it will generally earn you more respect from the other degree-holders (you will now have more in common with them) but that's probably not a good reason to go back to college.  The GOOD reasons would be either to qualify for a better job that pays more money or to become more proficient and do a better job at your current position.  Going back to college should be totally for your benefit because it's going to cost you a lot of time and money.  The payback should be higher than the cost, even if the payback is in self-esteem, otherwise it's a big waste of time and money.  Catering just to what other people think is a big waste of time and energy and will get you almost nowhere.  I say concentrate on something that will pay you back in something that really counts, either more self-esteem, a better job, or more money.
705578
Yeah yeah, Ok Lu - Good for you - but back to the subject - not you using this thread to glorify yourself and your problem solving abilities. :-&#92;\n\nBack to the subject.......\n\nI totally agree with you Phil C - It's like when I was at school and Encarta just came out. All the kids with computers used to just cut and paste HUGE chunks of it into thier homework. \n\nIt's the same as all this coursework B*llsh*t. Kids racking up a grade without even sitting an exam - It should be all down to the tests, not studying and putting together studies that equate to 60% of your final grade.\n\nLife is stressful and in the working world it all comes donw to the crunch - They should be educated to deal with pressure from a younger age - then we wouldn;t get so many flakey Grads in jobs that have no idea about thinking on thier feet.\n\nKids are lazy as hell - we are just helping that.\n\nLu - There is a trait called modesty I believe you should look into developing. But I guess you are only a kid so brag. brag, brag away my smug little one. :-|
92078
It gives the student some work experience to not only solidify the education but also looks good on a resume. Employers are more likely to hire someone with proffesional experience than someone with a degree only
606407
I would start off by thinking about the specific reasons a person might want to go back to college. This depends in large part on where the person is in their life and what they seek to accomplish. \n\nFor example, Madeleine Albright raised her entire family before she decided to go back to school and finish her PhD (I believe Political Science). In her example, we can say that she put off her career goal in order to raise a family. I think many of us will put off something like college or graduate school because we wish to have a family. Or, we might simply never have had an opportunity to go to college because of financial reasons. Many older Americans who are just now becoming affluent are finding that completing a college degree- even if they really don't need it- is still something rewarding. A college degree confers a unique and honored status to most people.\n\nAnd of course, some people just want to have a new direction in life. They discover- perhaps through a separate career- that they would like to go into a new field. Perhaps a nurse who seeks doctors every day decides that a medical career might take her in a new direction that she never before contemplated but now believes would be rewarding to her.\n\nOr, a person is not satisfied that their current job is not very lucrative, and a college degree offers upward economic and social potential.\n\nTo sum up:\n-People might postpone college because of family responsibilities or financial reasons.\n-A college degree confers a certain uique status; sometimes it is as much symbolic as it is practical.\n-Many people find out that they want a new career, and a college degree (often a second degree) will allow them to do this.\n-A college degree allows people to move up, economically and possibly also socially.\n\nI hope this helps.