My sister is here visiting and we have been discussing education, she has a masters and I have only 1 year of college.

My mom has a PHd. and holds it over my head that my sister and her are more educated than I am. Mom is VERY prejudiced when it comes to education, she wouldn't even date a guy who doesn't at least have a phd.

We were talking about how I wouldn't even know what to go to school for, I have no idea?

So do you have a degree and what do you do with it? What's your profession?

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

No, I do not have a degree. I went to college for 1 year only to figure out it was a complete waste of my time and money. I do keep up and learn on a daily basis but basically, finishing college would have been pointless and just a loss of money for me. I have a friend with a masters degree in ancient history and I made more money than her as an admin assistant at my last *real* job before parenthood. I hate educationist (those who do not associate with the "under" educated"). Many people I know who are HIGHLY educated have absulutely no common sense. Not everyone but a lot of them. I use my 1 year of college to further my online business and mother my 2 kiddos. MY DH has a degree in CS but what he learned in college is SO out of date.....he does work in the computer industry but I think his degree is meaningless unless he's searching for a new job

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

My sister got her masters because her job paid for it all and why not?!

She had a degree in biology and was working at Putnam so went and got the masters in finance more for work and her resume. She doesn't hold it over my head or brag, but I don't understand my mom?

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I found this an interesting topic so just to chime in
I have three degrees and teach at a University. I think for some individuals its just what you like. For some, professional programs are not the answer. It took my younger brother several years to figure out what he wanted to do. College was not right for him right out of high school. He went back several years later and is now doing his clinicals in a rad. tech program.

I enjoy the environment in which I work but certainly did not grow up thinking this would be my profession. It just worked out that way. I see students daily that are nontraditional as well as traditional. It baffles me though those that pay to attend a school and never go to class! I can understand some having a bias. For me its always been difficult finding those that appreciate education, especially when you are talking about being in the deep south and being a woman!!!

And certainly there are many fields that require constant continuing education to keep up with the changes in their fields. Otherwise, as you said, areas like computer studies certainly become outdated and obsolete.

amy

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Amy
Lake Charles, LA
Mom to Harrison and Nicholas

I quit because I was making more also at my job before I quit to be a sahm then I would make if I switched to be in the field I went to school for I also just use my years of college to help my own children because I was going for teaching. I probably would have finished but I also had my own child & was working FT so it was just to hard also.

I do know lots of people with degrees that dont use them however my DH a hs dropout went back to school got a 2 yr degree & is now working at a great job we are very proud of him. But then thiers my friend who just got a 4yr degree & works as a cashier at walmart she brags about how much she could make with her degree but she cant get a job in her field so I guess it dont matter LOL!!

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mom of 3 greats girls

Associates in Science here and working towards my 4 year, then off to med school.

My profession is being a SAHM first though!!

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

Yes, I do. I have a B.S. in education, 2 master degrees in education ( the second one only took about 15 hrs. to do because it had most of the classes the first one had) and an Ed. D. I don't care what someone's education is. I teach 6th. grade, and college teacher education at a local university on a part time basis. My nieghbor is a physician, family practice and teases me that I went to school longer than he did, and he loves teasingly calling me "doc." I want to be called by my first name by people and that's all. My pay check reflects my educational statue, that's all that matters. My students call me Mrs. ...., but my fil (who is a physican does not feel my doctorate is anything in equivalent to him being a doctor....It's a subject we have not discussed since he told me that and I responded to hime that he was correct....My doctorate of education was higher than his medical degree. My DH has a BS in business ( industrial marketing) My daughter has a B.S. in Ed. and an MS in ed. My oldest son is finding himeself ( I usually find him in the refrigerator or in frtont of the TV or computer), and the youngest boy will graduate (cross you fingers please) in June from OSU with a BS in commun ications and minor in sports management.

I completed my RN first and then finished a BA Psych 13 years later. Over the years I took correspondence courses, usually math, Jr college courses, clep challenges, and eventually ended up at a 4 year college as a working adult. I have worked in a hospital- med/surg, OB, and ER, home health, and hospice. I also completed my certification in Hospice nursing. Did I need formal eduacation? Yes. I also needed continuing education on a constant basis- the field of medicine changes daily and with the computer technology of today one needs both hand skills and computer knowlege on top of the nuring knowledge. I never had a job I didn't love, fortunately. The very end of school became laborious because some courses were not in my major. Did I need to know German literature or Spanish culture? Probably not, but I think it makes me a better citizen of the world.

In general, i would say education is as important as one wants it to be. Just like anything else, there are those who just put in enough effort to skim by and there are others who jump in with both feet. But,a person's value is not his or her level of education but what that person does with the knowledge he or she has. IMHO.

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Lyn Clarke

I have a BA and am a SAHM.

I got my bachelors degree right after high school because I knew if I waited, like I wanted to, I would never get it. It was very important to my parents (mostly my dad) that I got a degree. Both my parents have degrees, as does my sister. I have been out of the workforce for the past 7 years (when DS#1 was born) but before that never worked in my degree field and probably never will.

My DH has only an associate degree (in computer science) which he got mostly to make his mom happy. He is in upper management at a major company and not having an advanced degree has not hurt his career at all. Everything he knows he has learned on his own. Once you get past a certain point, for many jobs, experience is more important that a degree you earned 10 or 20 years ago.

Sarah......mom to Jason & Devin

When I graduated high school, I did not plan to go to college. But my 2 best friends and BF at the time went, so I decided to go. I was the only one to graduate. I have a Bachelors with a double major in Psychology & Personnel Administration. I worked for 11 years at a large company and am now a SAHM. I needed a degree to be hired, but never used my specific degree.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I have an associate in specialized business degree. I went back to school before I had the 2nd kiddo and gave birth three days after my 6th term. I finished my internship when she was 9 months old.

What do I do with it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I stay home with the kids. Sometimes I think I was the almost $20,000 it cost me, but at least I'd be able to take care of myself if something ever happened to hubby.

My hubby went to college one year. He has a good job and makes more than I would.

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

I have a Bachelor's in education. I also have several courses towards my Master's. I do work in my field, but could do this job without an education degree. (I am a substitute right now and it does not require an ed. degree here.) I often ponder going back, but I am not sure what I "want to be when I grow up". My degree is also my security for "what if" even though I know that I don't want to teach full-time. As I consider the course my marriage is going, I think about this a lot.

I have a Master's Degree in Elementary Ed... I'd only have a Bachelor's Degree EXCEPT that the state that I live in requires ongoing college level credits in order for teachers to keep their certificates up-to-date.

I've been going to school forever since earning my Bachelor's in 1987, Master's in 1995 and now about 26 comunity college level courses + other 'professional development' hours above that (luckily, I can count community college classes if they are sort of pertinent to education!)... I can not recommend that anyone become a teacher unless they want to teach for less than 6 years in AZ (which is the time that a certificate is good for in Arizona). Sad but true. I do not *discourage* it though as I do know that our children NEED great teachers -- young and energetic!!!

I do not hold my education over anyone's head -- except my DH when I want to tease him.

I'm honestly now looking at pursuing another career outside of the education field so that I can let my certificate lapse. I'm overeducated, paid too much for it, underpaid when I do teach (I am currently a proud SAHM), and I am sick of going to school -- which sounds bad coming out of a teacher's mouth!

I just got my certificate re-renewed and I get resentful every time. I have only done what I have done in order to have something to fall back on should something happen to my DH. We are working at getting a good life insurance policy in place for him instead, so that I can pursue other avenues and let this certificate lapse.

It's time to let it go.

I do not have a degree but I went to "Beauty School" as it was called in the 'olden days'.
I worked as a hairdresser for about 12-13 years.
I have no interest in getting more education unless you count the fact that I'd like to take some sewing classes, quilting classes, stuff like that.

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

I have 2 Associagte Degrees one paralegal studies (don't use it) and the other Secretarial with a work processing minor (use it well). I am Production Coordinator, don't even use the degree right now I'm just a quality checker and a paper pusher.

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Laura
Please visit my blog
http://mylifeinlaurasworld.blogspot.com/

I'm still working on my degree with a little luck and alot of hard work i should have it around january.
Bachelors in Natural Health. Undecided if i'll comtinue for a masters...i'll be taking a break in between to pay of some tution debt though.

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"Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that made you smile. Life may not be the party we hoped for but while we're here we should dance."

Peace.

im a year from my JD, but JD wasnt an option!

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rhapsody112@gmail.com

Nope, never went to college (well, except for when I visited my sister and went to her soroity parties...and my parents never knew either! ) but I have a great paying job so I'm not too bummed about no college/degree. (and I have learned a lot on my job..computers and such)
Dh has a master and a bachelors degree, masters in admin and bachelors in ceramic engineering.

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Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

I am working on my AAS <Associate of Applied Science> and after I have been working for a while, I hope to be able to take some night classes and become a registered nurse.


Darlene

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Sell crazy some place else, we are all stocked up here.

I have a BA and a MS. The MS was almost completely paid for by the university I attended (because I was a graduate assistant and taught lab classes), and by the company I worked for. I think the whole degree cost me about $1,000 of my own money. It's a good thing too since I haven't done much with it (been a sahm for the last 8 years) but I'm hoping it will help when I reenter the work force in a few years.

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

No college for me. We will be moving at the end of the month near a Community College and I want to take a class or two. I would like to take Sign Language, Photography, and Recording or Live Sound. I used to be a Live Sound Enginier (before becoming a SAHM) and I think I would really like Recording.

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TLJ ~ Where opinions are encouraged, not deleted

You laugh at me because I am different,
I laugh at you because you are all the same.

Your mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open.

I have a BS in Economics and a BA in English....

My BA is a double major in French and English with a minor in Political Science and I just got my JD (law degree) last May. I'm done!

And Jakki--I counted the JD as a Ph.D. It is a Doctor of Jurisprudence!

lol true true

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rhapsody112@gmail.com

Bachelors in Biology with a minor in Chemistry that I have never used. My job didn't require a degree and now I think of the 10+ years in school and all of the loans that I just paid off and why? I am still toying with med. school or vet. school because that is why I went the Bio. path. Anyhoo, the kiddos are more important and I currently work from home. I guess I can dream...............

I have bachelors in English and Psych and am finishing up my webmaster certificate at a local college next month. Most of the work I've done hasn't needed any type of degree- I sub, temp and just "wind up" in places most of the time.

That being said I love going to school and learning. I need to focus more on applying what I've learned in order to make money since my younger brother went to a trade hs, never went to college and has been making twice as much money as I do for the last 5 years

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My Feedback Profile at MyCoupons
RandomAnny.Com

I have a bachelors in Business and a minor in Economics... Then I went to school to be a teacher so I have a Master's in Education and a Master's in Reading Education. I don't think I'll ever go back for my doctorate but you never know

I have a B.A. in English and a Masters Degree in Education.

While I am staying at home right now, I would never think that my education was a waste. For me, college was a life-changing experience. I was not a true "learner" in high school - I was preoccupied with boys, and trying to fit in. Only when I went to college did I really allow myself to learn! My high school education was really not worth anything, but my four years away at college made me who I am.

Ten years later I earned my Masters, and when I worked, I made less money than any of my friends/siblings! Every teacher knows that if you go into teaching, you are not doing it for the money, since you'll never be rich! LOL

We live on my husband's salary, and he is more educated than me, but makes less than most of our friends.

We still prioritize education above money, but apparently we're in the minority.

We have friends that are less educated, and they make far more money. They are also very bright. They feel that they are the luckier ones.

I guess everyone is best off if they're happy with the choices they made in life.

I remember my mom being much prouder of my dad's PhD then he ever was so the first post reminds me of that!

I do think that it is something to be proud of but college is not necessarily *the* best way for everyone.

Luckily, there are so many options to pursue in life. The key is to find the right one for YOU!

Well said!!!

Went to a 2yr. community college and got my Associates Degree. Didn't know what I wanted to major in so instead I got married and had three children. My youngest will be in Kindergarten next fall and here I sit. Do I go work at Wal-mart? Not my favorite choice! I really want to be a teacher's aide but lost out on one job opportunity already because it went to someone with a teacher's certification. I have a lot of experience since I'm a SAHM, girl scout troop leader to different ages, teach 1st grade religion, and volunteer as a teacher's aide in K-4. So, I wish with all my heart I would have stayed in college. Now I'm trying to figure out if it's worth going back. My husband is a tool designer and went to 2yr. tech. school. He too regrets not getting a engineering degree. The company he really wants to work for will not hire anyone without a degree even though they hire him through sub-contracting for certain projects.
It's a major company, and everyone there knows him and requests him for projects yet they won't consider him without the degree, company policy. So, in both our cases, experience doesn't matter if you don't have the education.

I went to college for two and a half years but ended up pregnant with my DD and dropped out and never went back. I don't regret it. It took my brother 14 years to get his degree because he was working and often had to take time off from school because his job would not work with him on it and in the past year he has been layed off from two jobs in his field.

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"Let me watch my children grow to see what they become
Lord don't let that cold wind blow til I'm too old to die young'

No degree, I went to cosmetology school and graduated, took boards and passed, when I was 18. Now I have just finished Esthetics school and am waiting to take my boards.

Hi, I haven't been around lately because I have been super busy.

I am back in school still earning my degree in finance. I have 8 more classes at the community college I am at and then I have 19 more classes at the nearby university. I have 7 years of psychology and biology coursework, but I got burnt out...a nd married.

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"Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness."
~ Earl of Derby

No degree, I have been to college, figured out my original major (music recording) was NOT for me after a few days of Aural Theory! I couldn't get out of there fast enough So I tried a couple other majors for an associates degree after that, never found anything I cared for and ended up dropping out. Now I want to go back but STILL don't know what I want to do. My "top two" would be Oracle DBA or medical lab, I'm leaning far more towards med lab. I think if I worked somewhere that I didn't have to deal with patients, that would be perfect! Always have been interested in forensic pathology, but that's way too much school for me, plus I understand you have to become a medical doctor and practice for a while before going BACK to school. I'd much rather work "behind the scenes". I've always loved Biology but have talked to people with a Biology degree and it seems SO hard to find a decent paying job with that. The "medical technology" degree at our local college has 19 (!!!) Biology courses, a little Chemistry and Math (like 1-2 courses each) and the rest of the general stuff. Yikes! Exciting yet intimidating.

I have an Associates in Applied Sciende degree in paralegal studies.

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

I have a BA in Elementary Education, and I also have a BA in journalism.

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If you're not living on the edge, you're wasting space.