It's actually too early for me to be thinking about this, but after the holidays are over it's time for some serious work... if I do decide in making a few changes here and there.

I'm always asking myself this question, last time I asked the answer was 'both', yet I'm still skeptical about seeking a high-level degree.
Pretty much all my life I've relied on trade experience, resume skills, social networking and the ability to sell myself to secure employment. I don't have a professional uni degree either then trade qualifications/licenses for various work. Most of the time I get by more then comfortably, with enough cash to spend on myself, my mates, my car, and women. However, there are times when I do resent not having a specialised university trade, especially compared to a lot of asians out there.

Perhaps part of the reason I'm still skeptical about seeking a university degree is because my old man - who has his masters, gets 6 months contract work earning a $hitLOAD, then 6 months on the dole - with almost all employers saying he's too over-qualified... and old
My mother even has her PhD, but her earnings are extremely low for a doctor, hence I tend to look at both parents and shake my head

But hell I dunno - your opinion would be much appreciated, thanks

Get your degree, but be honest about it in the process. I have no doubt, Subo, that you have the brains to do it, and your concerns end up coming down to a really simple dilemma in this day and age! What do you choose - the money or the box?

It's stability I'm looking for now, and as much as I can get by earning decent amounts of cash whilst I'm still young - I wonder if it'll always be like this when I grew older (which I am growing older )

One major reluctance is how certain am I to find work in ONE specialised trade after this - it's a troubling notion especially if most of your life you just take whatever comes and work your way from bottom up. Hence stability in itself can be questionable in this path.

Another reluctance is the time it would take to procure a degree, time which I could be using to work instead, earning 5x what I would if I was a student on austudy. Of course I can still work part-time, but the good thing about work is - there's NO HOMEWORK, NO ASSIGNMENTS, and more time to 'associate' with females. Part-time work, part-time study though... hell I simply won't even have time.

Pretty much those are the two things holding me back, and it's so difficult to come down to a decision in all this

Working back on your previous post, and please believe that I am no expert at any of this academic stuff, a good friend of mine works very hard part time while studying for her degree, so there is proof that if can be done, although there must be sacrifices in the process. When I studied, I was what was then known as a "dish-pig", never allowed in the restaurant, but only in the kitchen, but it kept me fed for a few years of wasted study time, speaking personally.

Quick point too!!!

Austudy is due to be publically-gazetted on Tuesday to be eligible for rent assistance, as is the good ole dole, which might make up for the Commonwealth grants we used to get of 33% to offset the rental shortfall. You'll make around $250 pw next year as a student!

---ooo000ooo---

As an old man, I got accepted into engineering at 18, but for problematic parental fallacies, withdrew, and then when I got older and went back at 29, the lecturers were too far behind to comprehend, so I gracefully had to go. Get the paperwork before you get to smart for your school! Life is twice as hard when you're old and unqualified.

Like Gates once said about the Internet, trades thesedays are just a fad. Smoke some pot, but never inhale, and get the ticket in tiddleywinks if you have to! Most strangers will respect you for it, and it will most definitely be more profitable in the long run, the way things are going.

IMHO.
.

Degree > no degree

There are plenty of people with degrees these days so not having one merely puts you at a disadvantage, when the chance for promotion comes up it will pass you by.

Degree will benefit you in the long term. Things like connections and networking are great to land you a job but after you get the job, they tend to favor promoting those with degrees than those with no degrees. You could be doing excellent work but they won't promote you and keep you in a specialized important role in the company.

how old r u../

^ dumbass


these days subo people/employers are very much concerned with qualifications so l if you were to compete for a job with someone who has almost the same experience that you have but he has a degree, you'd lose the spot...
it's never too late to earn a degree while earning some cash believe me...


good luck

Having a trade especially in Canada I think is more important. There are even commercials from the Canadian government granting money bonuses to people who study a trade. Especially since most are retiring or are old. A brick layer starting out earns at least $50,000 and an electrician starting out $80,000. I say don't waste your time especially sine getting a degree takes years and thousands of dollars. Stick to what your doing and I'm sure you will earn as much perhaps more than a person who at the very least has an undergraduate degree.

Just get your degree part time. Its true that undergrad degrees are pretty much useless these days but that is why you need one because everybody got one. I would suggest you get a degree that is practical and can be applied to your experiences somewhat though, that will give you more of an edge.

$250 pw... oh hell...

But I guess you guys make good points - the job market is getting increasingly competitive, and even earning the favor of your superiors will not land you a promotion where qualifications become essential.

I'll think about it, but it's a decision that will decide my lifestyle for the next few years so I don't want to rush it. Thanks though, solid answers.
BTW Happy New Year to you all

is that with or without overtime?

depend how old you are.. if you still young, go and get your uni degree. i don't know about you, but i'd rather go to a UNI instead of trade school. with a UNI degree, i'm gauranteed to get a job unlike trade school. Long story short, UNI DEGREE look more impressive than TRADE DEGREE imo..

Hey geishaboy, I agree that university degrees still look more impressive than those of schools for technical and vocational learning, however, I think that with some trade schools you have extremely good chances to get a job in the marketplace later on. Also some jobs that you can learn at trade school earn quite good money. Don't underestimate the quality of information you can get at a trade school nowadays!

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Yeah, I think it just depend on the culture. In Asia, even if you're are like evil and $hitz but skillful and "been around," some of the like could not care much. In fact, some of them judge you by what you can do and not by the degree you have. No time to tell, well, that why there are reputation to up keep (like this guy is dependable, he can do this and this well relative to my experience,...). In the West, I think they have too many colleges and universities, and the famous one are overfill with quite a population, so it is confusing. They have like club and stuffs, but I don't think it is base on strong merit. In Europe, they have like _____ "from" so and so town, or ______ "son" of ______ (it had a backfire because if you're born into like a bad family or no good town then ha ha.) In Asia they have similar custom, but they also have like per region one lion head, and people, like, fight over it each year. They are also have honorary titles and stuffs, but it competitions are sometime "not nice" (because it is base on relativity), ...