In my case, I have varied interest such as writing and music, and have entrepreneurial goals that are far removed from engineering. However, I chose engineering because despite the recession it is still a very in demand field, and there were many undergraduate scholarship opportunities. I also liked that it is a pretty broad field. Since I change my mind all the time and, I needed a degree that was flexible enough to provide preparation for a variety of unrelated professional fields (med school,dental school,law school,etc) while offering a variety of immediate job opportunities if I chose not to further my education. I did not want to be in the position of “having” to go to graduate school.

I decided to attend graduate school and further my education not because it increased my job opportunities, but because I had a desire to further my learning. I also liked the fact that engineering graduate school is very much like a normal job in that students are paid a salary for their research, and tuition is waived.

There is a good chance that I will graduate, open up a bakery/coffee shop, and sell cupcakes the rest of my life. However, just in case that doesn’t work out, I have other career options, and a degree that will allow me to save the required capital to start my businesses. I enjoy what I am doing, but I don’t feel pigeon holed by my degree, and don’t feel obligated to ever use it.

There are of course MAJOR drawbacks to my decisions. The more marketable four year degrees (for example: engineering, nursing,accounting, actuarial sciences, etc) in general provide much more headaches and sleep deprivation than other options. So, if one considers quality of life in their decision, two year programs begin to look very attractive. Four years is a long time. It’s four years that one could have spent hustling to pursue entrepreneurial goals. It’s also four years one could have spent working and saving money while learning how to be independent and manage finances.

We have to begin to consider the economics and to analyze the cost and benefits of different college degrees, and college in general from the very beginning. College isn’t necessarily financially beneficial to everyone as it may have been in the past. I think that soon people will begin to see that generic degrees are no longer as marketable and there will be shift toward 1-2 year training programs. In many cases, those options might provide the most bang for your buck.

@Christina – I agree with you on the importance of self-education. I practically learned how to design by teaching myself, and within months, I turned it into a full-fledge freelance business. No classes, no textbook; just a lot of hours of hard work and passion.

What I’m finding to be most amazing from the insights of Seth Godin and Gary Vaynerchuk is that the game is changing. Thanks to the internet and social media, anybody with an idea, a current business, or a conversation can get in front of more than 2 billion people online at any moment. I can build my own brand, my own business, my own movement. Never has there been a time where a college student like me can sit in his room and reach thousands with a click of a button.

The reason this is so important is that we no longer have to “settle” for a job. We can create and bring our gifts, talents, and voices to the world. We no longer have to hide behind our college degrees and just hope for the best. The web has opened up the door for anybody hungry enough to say something or do something remarkable.

I finished Gary Vaynerchuk’s book – CRUSH IT – a few months ago and I immediately began applying some of the things he suggested in the book. I’ve seen tangible results. My clientele for design work has almost doubled and I’ve begun to meet some really neat people (like you) online. I’m currently reading Seth Godin’s book – Linchpin – and I can already see that my perspective is changing and my drive to follow my passion and create my career is increasing by the day.

Referring to your statement about the “grown-ups”, it’s amazing how everybody always wants you to fit into their tiny boxes so they can understand and define you. Here’s a note I wrote to myself a few days ago about EVERYBODY…

- – - – -

EVERYBODY is watching the football game, playing the Wii, watching the Grammys, and American Idol. EVERYBODY is going to college and sending out resumes and hoping to score a job. EVERYBODY is wearing the latest fashion and texting on the latest phone. EVERYBODY is in debt, charging up credit cards to fit in. EVERYBODY is listening to EVERYBODY.

Here’s the new rule: “Ignore EVERYBODY”

Why? Because…

EVERYBODY won’t do something remarkable. EVERYBODY won’t make a difference. EVERYBODY won’t find problems and solve them. EVERYBODY won’t see the opportunity and seize the opportunity. EVERYBODY won’t take risks. EVERYBODY won’t think, create, or design anything new. EVERYBODY won’t lead. EVERYBODY won’t challenge the status quo. EVERYBODY won’t leave a legacy worth remembering.

But SOMEBODY will.

And that SOMEBODY is you.

I only have an associate’s degree and graduated in 2000.

I keep wondering if I should go back to school, but honestly I don’t care for the big time safe career up the ladder position so the idea of more debt is not cool to me. I kind of feel like just taking classes that will help me learn what I really want to know and do, and go from there. Or educate myself, find a place to volunteer, etc.

But I get all kinds of “grown-ups” (I’m almost 30) questioning why I don’t have a husband or a career yet. Hah…guess I’m worthless to society, eh? Nope! My qualifications come from God alone. He’s got some plans for me and I’m following Him all the way.

Good post! Gonna check out those books you linked to.