That 'Oops I picked the wrong degree' feeling...

[Jayems]

I went back at 24. Graduated at 28. I luckily had a supportive then-girlfriend (now wife) and I'm happy. THe alternative was doing a trades job that I was no good at and hated.

[MarchHare]

One of the absolute worst mistakes you can make in life is choosing a degree program solely because you think it will help you land a good-paying job, not because it's a subject you're passionate about. Don't go back to school to take an engineering degree unless you really want to be an engineer. Instead, think long and hard about what kind of job you want and then figure out how to get an entry-level position in that field. This may mean simply networking with the right people and getting your resume into the hands of someone in a position to hire you, or it could mean going back to school for either a 1-2 year applied program or even completing another full university degree (either a second undergrad or a graduate program like an MBA or law degree). After a year or two in the workforce, your job experience is much more meaningful to prospective employers than your education anyway.

I completed one of the more workplace-oriented "applied" degrees (Computer Science), but after 9+ years working in the IT industry, I haven't used one single bit of knowledge about computing technology and/or programming skills I learned in any of my CS courses. On the other hand, the numerous "soft skills" I picked up during my university years (effective writing, research, spelling/grammar, public speaking/presentations, time management, multi-tasking, etc.) have been absolutely invaluable and have set me apart from many of my peers whose post-secondary education consisted solely of a SAIT-style applied diploma.

[Titan]

Dont just jump into something else. I would suggest getting a job and then really think about what you would like to be doing. Too many people say their degree suck so I will go to law school. These are the miserable SOBs that leave law after 2-3 years. A law degree is overrated by itself. A lawyer with 10 years experience is valuable in another field. The advice to get a law degree and you don't have to practice is crap imo. three years in law school is not as good as three years in the workforce getting experience and getting paid to do it.

Look for options in the field you enjoy without additional education. Then look at how to advance in that field. it may require more but could also be SAIT or certificates or just plain old experience.

[llama64]

Meh, finish your degree and then go take a 2 year technical program somewhere that is more in line with what you want to do.

Then go find a startup. You won't get paid a whole lot, but you'll have practical skills and more work then you'll know what to do with. And by the time you're 30, you'll know EXACTLY what you want out of your working life and will be in prime position to pursue it.

Don't get stuck in the "need a degree to get a job" mentality.

I completed a BA in History. Quit working for the large O&G I was working at and went hardcore into a 2 year programming diploma at SAIT. Best decision I ever made. Had a job by the end of the first year of the program and now at the age of 31 I have nearly 6 years experience in my field and I can easily expect to work until I'm 60(hopefully) which is about 35 years in one career. I can easily meet my financial goals in that time assuming the economy isn't irrevocably destroyed before then.

And remember, no employer is going to hire you for what you were taught in school. An employer is going to hire you because you will add value to their company.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Titan

Dont just jump into something else. I would suggest getting a job and then really think about what you would like to be doing. Too many people say their degree suck so I will go to law school. These are the miserable SOBs that leave law after 2-3 years. A law degree is overrated by itself. A lawyer with 10 years experience is valuable in another field. The advice to get a law degree and you don't have to practice is crap imo. three years in law school is not as good as three years in the workforce getting experience and getting paid to do it.

Look for options in the field you enjoy without additional education. Then look at how to advance in that field. it may require more but could also be SAIT or certificates or just plain old experience.

How so? The fact is that a law degree does not mean you have to be a lawyer, not to mention the fact that most people have a very narrow view of what being a lawyer actually means.

[MillerTime GFG]

I'm 27, and have been working in the restaurant industry for about 13 years now and have worked my way up to GM. Up until about a year ago, I figured this would be my career. I have a diploma for Hospitality Mgmt. from SAIT and also took a year at MRC straight out of high school. I just decided that I'm going to go back to school, starting January 9th actually to get a degree in business. I'm completely changing my career and will be 30 by the time I get out of school. It's never too late as all your elders will tell you. In fact, I just met my gf's dad for the first time over Christmas and he said it is "commendable" that I am willing to completely change my career at this stage of my life.

Good news is that I have 44 transferable credits from my diploma, so I will be able to get my degree in 2 years most likely.

Never too late amigo.

[Mr.Coffee]

I'm probably not the best person to provide advice because I got super lucky with everything but what I will say is:

1) you're definitely not alone, pretty much all my friends were at a similar spot you were in about a year ago / still are in it... trying to 'figure out what they want to do' (I'm 26)

2) you CAN pay for school on your own / loans... you might just not want to. But then you live with the "guilt" as you put it... so price your guilt.

3) you'll never know absolutely what you want to do, all the time. People look forward, all the time. Even when you find generally find what you want to do in terms of career path, you'll still be thinking 'what about this other company?' or 'what about this other type of job in said career path' or 'what if i start my own business?'... you've got a degree. You should be proud of yourself.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

I'm 27, and have been working in the restaurant industry for about 13 years now and have worked my way up to GM. Up until about a year ago, I figured this would be my career. I have a diploma for Hospitality Mgmt. from SAIT and also took a year at MRC straight out of high school. I just decided that I'm going to go back to school, starting January 9th actually to get a degree in business. I'm completely changing my career and will be 30 by the time I get out of school. It's never too late as all your elders will tell you. In fact, I just met my gf's dad for the first time over Christmas and he said it is "commendable" that I am willing to completely change my career at this stage of my life.

Good news is that I have 44 transferable credits from my diploma, so I will be able to get my degree in 2 years most likely.

Never too late amigo.

My education had LOTS of people in late 20's early 30's, like I'd say 1/3 the class was 25-30 type thing. They're now out, 5 yrs experience and doing great, early 30's... 24 is not even close to 'too late'.

Even when I was in school and looked over and saw a 40 or 50 year old I always thought, that's wicked, doing what they need to do to make themselves happy.

[SHOGUN]

Don't give up. I'm applying for Nursing school at U of C next year... (transfer program) but knowing the required GPA is 3.75, I probably won't get in... however, I'm still going to keep on applying and be taking classes to raise my GPA.....

[Titan]

Originally Posted by valo403

How so? The fact is that a law degree does not mean you have to be a lawyer, not to mention the fact that most people have a very narrow view of what being a lawyer actually means.

I think this is bad advice because if an employer wants a lawyer they will hire one. You may have a slight leg up on another applicant that does not have a law degree but you will definitely not have a leg up on an applicant that has three years of relevant experience. A person leaving law after practicing for several years may have better knowledge/experience but again it comes down to the fact they have experience.

It is a really expensive substitute for experience that, imo, does not pay off.

When people say, go to law school and you don't have to be a lawyer they don't take into account the actual hard costs of going, the opportunity costs of taking 3 years out of the work force and the fact that once you graduate there are 10 other law school grads with 2-3 years of experience willing to take the same jobs as you are applying for just to get out of the practice of law.

If you only look at the pure skills aquired then it is a valuable degree. But if you are smart enough to get the degree you will advance very fast anyways and be three years ahead without $100k in debt.

All in my opinion.

[Locke]

In a nutshell; they're all the wrong degrees if you hate them.

If its an English degree, fine, if thats what you enjoy? Fine. Figure it out.

[Titan]

Also, when you are doing your second degree a ton of your credits from the first degree can be applied to the second so you don't have to do a full four years. I got my second degree in about a year and a half and I was not even a full time student. Having said that it was in Ont. so it was just a three year degree.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by Locke

In a nutshell; they're all the wrong degrees if you hate them.

If its an English degree, fine, if thats what you enjoy? Fine. Figure it out.

I agree completely.

[SHOGUN]

Originally Posted by Locke

In a nutshell; they're all the wrong degrees if you hate them.

If its an English degree, fine, if thats what you enjoy? Fine. Figure it out.

Hey English degrees aren't that bad if you're a teacher...

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Locke

In a nutshell; they're all the wrong degrees if you hate them.

If its an English degree, fine, if thats what you enjoy? Fine. Figure it out.

well put, very true.

[MoneyGuy]

I was a journalist for 20 years then my job disappeared and I wanted to do something different. So, I made the totally illogical move from journalist to financial planner. I know, it makes no sense, but it was the smartest thing I could have done. I make at least double what I would be as a journalist, I run my own business and can do what I want (I'm working from home most of this week), I income split by employing my wife and I determine what I do, with whom and when. Great gig!

[bradster57]

Be patient. It took me a year and a half to get a real job after I graduated with a finance degree. Once you get your foot in the door and work hard it will pay off.

[shermanator]

IMO, education is never a waste of time. Ever.

[Wormius]

One thing that always struck me about arts degrees in general was the lack of summer jobs that were applicable to what, say an economist or history or philosophy major would do after graduating. I can't speak for all engineering or hard sciences when I say that I think everybody who wanted to be an engineer or chemist / physicist actually worked on their desired field during the breaks.

I can only imagine an economist gradding from university and saying to themselves, "now what?".

By the way, my brother graduated with economic's degrees and he loves his job... but he was always kind of a money+stats kind of person. I can't find the intrinsic satisfaction in any of that, but whatever makes you happy is what you should try to do.

Alternatively, go to BCIT or SAIT and study 2 yrs of some tech you enjoy. I know at BCIT it was supposed to be easy to transfer your credits to UBC or SFU to complete the program or do what you can with the 2 yr diploma.

[squiggs96]

I started cooking right out of highschool and became a sous chef. I realized I wanted to be at the party instead of working the party and went to business school at 22. Although I graduated at 25, and a little later than I would have liked, my life now is much better than if I had have stayed the cooking route.