Universitry & Other Post-Secondary Education

[King Moogle]

Ignoring the wages tirade...

I'm a sophomore in college right now here in the US, and I'll give you my take-- you'll pretty much get out of it what you put in. If you give it all you've got in your classes, strive for the top in various clubs, and make many memories (interpret that as you will) outside of everything, college will be an enriching and beautiful experience that you shall neither regret nor forget. However, if you don't act motivated and simply waste away the time given to you, then you may as well stayed in your parents' basement.

It's life-- you only get one shot, so make it count. Give it your best go, learn as much as you can, and always keep it in perspective.

 

[Rare]

I appreciate the views on "If you want it, just do it and jump in". However, some of you tend to forget College, and especially University, costs a lot of money. If I'm going to do it, I want to make the right decision. Theres so many things I can do...and I kind of want to 'broaden' my choices and outcomes, if you know what I mean.

 

[Venetia]

Totally. Student loans are biting me in the @$$ big time. I was stupid and didn't do very well in high school, so now I have to pay because I can't get much in scholarships. If you're worried about money, don't do art/trade school. It's 2-3 times more expensive than universities, generally.

My husband's going to be a lawyer ... All said and done, his school'll end up costing about $125K. Mine costs about $80K, and that's for a bachelor, not a master. Any jobs I can hope for out of school'll be $40-$70K per year. His'll be $60-$$$$$K per year (senior partners can make upwards of $600K/yr--I used to see payroll in a high-class lawfirm).

Is the boost in wages worth it? I'd say so ... Mostly. Depends on the job. Not many people without some college make much more than $40K USD per year in the states, at the high end, after many yearly review raises. Maybe it's a little different up there in the north?

 

[Rare]

All said and done, his school'll end up costing about $125K

Ouch, thats a lot. And I don't know about the states, but here it takes around 8 full years to become a lawyer. Talk about your time and money.

 

[sandgolem]

Maybe it's a little different up there in the north?

Yeah, there's not enough people for the jobs around here outside of the big cities. Having a degree on your resume isn't really important when most jobs only get 2 or 3 applicants.

Even people working drive through in McD's make $17/h in some places.

 

[Yum]

You said you wanted to go into film directing and writing. For that I'd recommend you really go to a University, as [TRUTHFULLY] a career in such a field would require around 75% contacts and 25% creativity/ talent (60% / 40% if you're more idealistic but yes, contacts are an absolute necessity in a career like that).

From what I also hear from friends, NYU (New York University) Provides excellent opportunities for both (making contacts and learning to make films) - Also, NYU is easy as fuck to get into. I know a lot of idiots who get into that joint despite its supposedly high standards. It's more of a traditional film school as well in that they focus on technicalities and stuff.

On the other hand you've got UCLA which is from what I hear, more uh... liberal and artistic? Smells of hippies to me but if creativity and open-minds are your thing then that might be something to look at. Dunno the acceptance rates for that one though.

You can also try Europe. England has a lot of Film/art schools and shit, it's not even funny. But I think going into a US university for Film might still be better. The connections and movie making style're just more solid in my opinion.

Anyway, as for college / university in general? If you want the most lucrative / widest career opportunities then no question, no doubts, the final word: of course it's important. HOWEVER...

What people fail to realize is that you can't just go into a university and be all good, first of all the university has to have a name and more importantly - You have to do fucking well in university - graduate at the top of your class, show some uniqueness and promise when doing internships etc. There's too much to talk about really - it's not that simple... unless you go to a Japanese university where name is everything LOL. Then you just eat, drink and fuck all day. j/k (kinda)

 

[Rare]

I don't plan on leaving the country to attend University. Unless, of course, it's absolutely needed.

Also, I agree with you about the fact that this type of career is mostly about contacts. Because, in all honesty, it really is.

 

[Yum]

If you agree with me on that then you should know how significant Uni education in America would be.

Although here's an alternative, let's say you're really really REALLY good... Write a novel or collaborate with an amateur artist friend to do a comic book series while simultaneously sustaining an income (through a simple job obviously). You should be able to save enough capital for your university education (If you're a long-term kinda guy)

At the same time, if you're fucking good, your novel / comic book may hit it big time and you might be able to establish enough connections then to be able to sell more books or even *gasp* sign a movie contract!

 

[Venetia]

On the fucking good part, you have to be incredibly fucking good to get signed on for a comic nowadays with the big dogs (Marvel, Image, DarkHorse). I wish I could finish that and the regular novel I'm writing but dammit work really gets in the way. And writer's block. And laziness.

 

[sixtyandaquarter]

Higher education... hmm... expensive... time consuming... ultimately it can become either a foot note, a badge of achievement, or a 5 digit debt... or 2 out of the 3 (I'll let you guess which 2).

If I could go back to my attempts at higher education, I'd just leave. I wouldn't have done it. It served me nothing, but that's just me. I'm also doing shit end jobs and odd work just to get by - so don't think I'm trying to pass myself off as a success.

Education isn't for everyone. Some people don't click with it, and often when you're dealing with a work that's more about feel and connections, you would think education had little if any merit. But that's a lie. Your connections are made in education or prior workings. If you have no prior workings, start applying to schools and beef up your extra curriculars.