Is it better for a college students to start careers before graduation? why?
830433
Yes, it is a fantastic idea. It gives you experience in the field and can look great on the resume. Besides, a lot of employers are interested in experienced individuals unless you go through the career services office or job fairs at the college. Also, if you are interested in working at a job while in college, the best thing you could do for your career is to work in the field in some capacity.
439982
Going to college full time, living on my own, working part-time and keeping up a committed, 4-year long-distance relationship at the same time.  These are more like medium-sized achievements but I'm the first in my family to go to college, not many people my age live by themselves, working is a necesity but it adds to the workload and the relationship part is difficult, but working out well.  It's all hard work.
207631
Apprenticeship are great.  They often lead to a job directly after the program, whereas in college, you'll get a degree, but you're not guaranteed a job afterward.\n\nIt's only downfall is that apprenticeship often involve one specific aspect of whatever career field it's geared towards, whereas colleges usually have a wider aspect of a variety of careers in a certain field.
1092238
I would highly recommend that you work for a few years before pursuing a graduate degree like an MBA.  You'll get a much better feel for the areas in which you'd like to work, plus the real world experience is invaluable when you're studying theory in school.  In the financial areas, such as investment and banking, an MBA would be almost mandatory to obtain a good career position.
5566
No. What's more important is that you learn things that interest you. If you learn how to learn, then you can change what you do throughout your life. I know an economics major developing software, a political science major managing a multimillion dollar division of a corporation... what's more important than what these people studied, is that they learned how to pick up new skills, and they jut kept learning things that interested them.\n\nLife will take you lots of interesting places, and you don't need to plan them all before your freshman year of college.
729188
You should be looking into interning while your finishing up your last classes in college.  That way when you graduate you will already have on the job experience to go along with your degree.
494903
There are a lot of jobs that are less desirable for the college grads.  Often, these are physically demanding, or perhaps somewhat dangerous jobs.  like: police, fireman, military, trucker, oil rig worker, coal miner, fisherman etc.  All paid very well.
752319
Short answer, no...\n\nLong Answer: I am a college graduate, having done the traditional after-high-school approach. I have been in the market place for many years so here is my opinion, for what it is worth. \n\nCOllege is not for everyone. Some people should NOT go, only because their head is not in the right place to learn and utilize the knowledge to "learn how to learn". What that means is something you already know. Hard work, perserverance, and theh ability to learn are the keys to success. The college degree is an evidence of that, but not a guarantee. There are many educated derilicts in the world, many from ivy league where the degrees have essentially been purchased with little demand for performance. The party school is almost considered a right of passage, and I think it is a disgrace to all that did it the right way. \n\nAs a person who interviews people for hire, I know that a college degree will be a proof of study, and I admire some schools over others for their ability to turn out good candidates. BUT, the ones with work experience are highly prized, degree or not. \n\nSO,  FOR YOU..\n- If you need an entry level job- get a degree ...YOU specifically  don;t need it for this\n- If you need the education for a particular skill in business, engineering, healthcare- get a degree....YOU do not need it for your own businesss, but it could help you grow. A good book or partner  could help also\n- .If you need to have a need to compete in the workplace for promotion in the future - the degree will be an asset for promotion in many areas - YOU may need it, but not for your own business\n- If you need the sense of self accomplishment - the degree is a source of pride- clearly, YOU don;t need it. \n\nIf you still want one, night school is always available. NOBODY questions whether you partied with the frat boys all day or  worked your @ss off at night plus day. \n\nThe degree can be an asset to a better paycheck, in general...but some have been successful without it. Bill Gates is a college dropout for instance. I do notice that you are working very hard to be successful...will you need to do that all your life? A degree may allow an income without 18 hour days eventually \n\nSounds like your head is on straight, enjoy your life and don't worry about what others think. Your parents understand the conventional wisdom of college degree = success....The problem is, that is not conventional wisom anymore. DO they want the degree for their pride or for yours?
755183
Uni, students are looking for the chance to prove themselves and gain experience, if it works out and you look after them they will stay and you have a loyal employee, else if it fails they would have got a lot more experience then starting out as a software tester and gained confidence which will help them get the next job. \n\neither way Win-Win for you and them
118257
If you're able to support yourself with this current job, I think you should stick with it until you graduate. Then you can move more easily onto something bigger and better and you will have your degree and a bunch of on-the-job experience.
846437
With some colleges, new students start throughout the year. There is not typically a bad time to start attending except during the summer session because the classes are condensed and faster paced than during the fall and spring semesters. However, I recommend since it is your first class experience on the college level to wait until the spring semester because it is faced paced and sometimes a long day. Good luck!
1063264
Change majors!!! I come from a good university. I don't think that's something useful. I had a lot of friends in journalism. It was fun, we went to see plays, student movies, their classes were watching movies, I would join the class. But come on, what can you do with it? All my friends graduated have jobs such as working on a printshop, waiting tables, telemarketing. You could hardly call those jobs for college graduates. I know it's fun, but why would you want to spend 60% of your career looking for work.
1084736
I guess it's all very well having passed a major in college....... but I guess passing a minor in a subject helps make you look cleverer to potential employers + if you have trouble finding a job related to the subject you majored in, you've always got the one you minored in to fall back on and help you find an alternative job until the right one comes along.
726046
I graduated from college in 1998 and I did not get the job I wanted after graduation.\n\nI had to learn about myself and the industry before I finally found the job that fits my needs.\n\nThis took alot of research but I must say I did interview with numerous companies before and after graduation.. This prepared me immensely for my career in Human Resources.\n\nIt is very competitive today and it does not matter if you have a degree. However experience weighs more than education because you must apply your knowledge you learned in school at work.
1173359
Better careers depend on your personality.  Do what makes you want to go to work in the morning and allows you to live in areas you'd like to live.  Quality of life outweighs the paycheck every time.  See if you can find people in your area who work in these areas and ask if they would be willing to have an interview either in person, through email, or via phone.  It's the best way to see if you'd really like the career.  Most people are actually fairly willing to talk to you if you explain that you are a college student researching careers and like to talk to them about theirs.  Most people tend to enjoy talking about themselves in this respect, especially if they like their job.
755352
The truth is you have a really good start on that career if you should try to enter the field.  If you like what you have seen so far and enjoy working with people and pleasing them, then maybe it is a good choice for you.
1048248
I had a friend who took a semester off of college - he did not do well.  He found the transition to work very difficult in the loss of friendships and loss of people his own age.  He found it was very difficult to go back to school after a year off - all his friends had graduated, he was used to a higher income, and again it was a difficult transition.\n\nI think staying in school is much more important, so many people do not return.  \n\nThat being said, there are positives:  extra income, a chance to get priorities in order, valuable experience in internships and other learning experiences.\n\nAn option instead of time off would be to take advantage of your career center, counseling services, etc.  College is an excellent time to explore options - Good luck!