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

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Titan

I think your experience down there is different than up here. Far fewer law grads work outside law in Canada.

I am not disagreeing that the skills the degree represents are highly sought after. I am saying that the time to get that degree would be better spent either in industry getting relevant experience or in a degree that would be more directly tied to the field you want to be in.

I really disagree.

I know plenty of law students not working as lawyers outside of law. Canada has far fewer law grads than the US, so their is less pressure to leave the practice. However, common practices for those with law degrees include: agent, author, real estate developer, small business owner, business management, consultant, mediator, etc...

Yes you can argue that you can get into those fields without a law degree. However, you will learn much more about language and critical thinking in law than working in the mail room for three years. I guess you could make that same argument about any degree. If you're better off gaining work experience, why go to school in the first place.

I was the one who initially suggested law school. I wasn't saying he should definitely go. However, I think he'd be better off with an undergrad degree and a post grad degree, of some kind, than two undergrad degrees.

[Cain]

You make me feel poorly.

I did an initial degree, finished later than most at about 24.

I am now doing a second degree and will be finishing around 29-30. So as many said, you are still going to be younger than many...stop making me feel even older! I think it is worth it if you have the chance to go back and do something you feel is more in line with your interests.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by noel

I suppose my biggest gripe and fear with going back is that the clock is ticking. I'm 24 and another degree will put me at 28 for my first entry level job (likely 30 if I do engineering).

Engineering is four years, five if you do co-op. If you go traditional, you can do econ-related stuff in your first summer, either in your second summer, likely get an engineering related job in your third summer. Co-op, you'll get 16-20 months experience during your program. Either way, you'll have work experience before you're 28 if you decide to go back to school.

[Dion]

I have a college diploma that I never used. I never considered it a waste of time as it helped me in other areas of my life. The most important thing is doing something you will enjoy. Far too many people are working jobs they don't like.

[TSXCman]

noel,

congrats on completing your undergrad at 24, that is just fine. You can now apply for jobs and choose something that seems interesting. You don't necessarily even have to apply for jobs in the same field as your studies, just start applying across the board.

I am 24 right now, in 3rd year Mech. Eng in UWO and I won't be graduated until april of 2013. That is a total of 6 academic years that started immediately after high school, with 2 years of working and taking a SAIT program. So I will have taken 8 years since I began to complete my undergrad, I know people that are finishing their doctorates in that time.

I am at the point of needing a completion of my degree and finding work in an area of my interest. Definitely won't be returning to school, I think a degree and work experience will be more valuable to myself rather than continuous education.

So finish up strong and start applying around is what I would recommend.

[albertGQ]

Someone should start a new thread request a poll from the mods and ask if they truly enjoyed their jobs or are only doing it for the paycheque. I think that would be interesting

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Only part I'm regretting is switching my degree when I had the chance. I'm in an Applied Degree (over 4 years) instead of a proper BBA (although they are essentially the same if you look at the classes you have to take) and my 4th year is so broken. For one, MRU doesn't offer 3 or 4 of the classes I need to take for my degree so I have no idea how I'm supposed to finish and 2nd I have to take a DFS which isn't too difficult, but just super time confusing and apparently costs a fortune which I have no idea why because it is me going out into the business world and creating my own company, yet I have to pay the school like $5000 to do this? Freaking stupid.

I really need to talk to an adviser, haha. Enough of my rant.

In my groups I've had for my business classes I've often been one of the youngest and I'm 21 (in 3rd year) and the guys in my group are 23-30. So it isn't like you're the only one, a lot of people #### up and end up going back. I plan on doing the same, but just to get the BBA since I have most of the classes for it, and from what I have heard I can go back and my classes will still count towards it.

Yeah when I was around 20 in Business school at U of C, many of my group members were people in their late 20s/30s who had transferred over from business at MRC/MRU.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Someone should start a new thread request a poll from the mods and ask if they truly enjoyed their jobs or are only doing it for the paycheque. I think that would be interesting

Anyone who tells you they enjoy every task and 100% of their jobs is lying.

In general, I enjoy my job. It is also much better, for me, than my many previous jobs: sales man, lab technician, cook, painter, landscapper, banquet server, etc...

However, there are many days I'd rather be on the mountain snowboarding. Unfortunately, noone will pay me to do that. In fact, I have to pay them.

[FlamesAddiction]

I didn't get my degree until I was 29, and even then, there were plenty of people older than me.

While I don't love what I do all of the time, I love the fact that throughout all the economic downturns in recent years, I never once had to worry about my position or my workload.

It's kind of a love-hate relationship I guess.

[8sPOT]

Originally Posted by blankall

Anyone who tells you they enjoy every task and 100% of their jobs is lying.

In general, I enjoy my job. It is also much better, for me, than my many previous jobs: sales man, lab technician, cook, painter, landscapper, banquet server, etc...

However, there are many days I'd rather be on the mountain snowboarding. Unfortunately, noone will pay me to do that. In fact, I have to pay them.

Agree on this. My ideal job would be to either play hockey, golf, snowboard or become a professional camper. I came to the conclusion that it is impossible for me to choose a career I will love, so then I chose a career that allows me to do those things.

Work to live, don't live to work.

[Kybosh]

If there are people who actually stick to their career/education plan between 18-25, I haven't met 'em.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I just got my BA in Social Sciences (Sociology major) and I'm 23 years old. I'm hearing that a BA in Sociology is a really broad degree that can apply to many jobs across the board. So I'm going to test the job market in the new year.

Dream job would be some type of non-beaucratic, non-governmental social services job (I know... dream on, right?).

Do I regret it? Not yet.

Anwyays, I'm thinking I'll have to go back to school for another 2 years and get an applied degree in social work or something, leaving me at the age of about 25 or 26.

We'll see I guess.

[Clarkey]

Economics is a generalist degree which is good if you like to have some options. It's not the most sought after degree but it's not sociology either. I would suggest trying to get yourself into one of the larger blue chip energy companies, once you're in the door and show you can work and learn you will be able to move around quite freely. I know and work with a lot of engineers who feel very pigeon holed. Mind you, I've got a friend who went back for a second degree in engineering and just finished up at 28, he'd tell you it's the best thing he ever did.

[killer_carlson]

My only comment is to say that I believe an econ degree to be useful. When I was at U of C, we were told that the "hardest" programs in terms of lowest collective GPA over different majors were:

Engineering#1
Econ #2.

If you can cut it in Econ and do well, you're going to be just fine in the real world.

[albertGQ]

^^^

well, I have an Econ degree. I'm still waiting for that six figure salary.

Lol

[Clarkey]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

My only comment is to say that I believe an econ degree to be useful. When I was at U of C, we were told that the "hardest" programs in terms of lowest collective GPA over different majors were:

Engineering#1
Econ #2.

If you can cut it in Econ and do well, you're going to be just fine in the real world.

I disagree somewhat. I think if you can cut it in econ, engininering, bcomm etc. that is only part of the equation. You've got to have the personality, ingenuity, hard work and most importantly people skills to succeed in the so-called real world. I've seen plenty of individuals from all of these disciplines (with high GPA's) wallow in mediocrity once they hit the career world.

[killer_carlson]

of course it isn't just about the grades. If you have the personality of a timbit you're going to struggle no matter what.

Back to the OP though, the point is that the person has demonstrated they can complete a fairly difficult program. That counts for a fair bit. I also know I had plenty of options with my undergrad had I not been accepted to law school. (mind you, I also had the applied energy concentration through the department of economics, which if it is still offered, I would recommend)

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Yeah when I was around 20 in Business school at U of C, many of my group members were people in their late 20s/30s who had transferred over from business at MRC/MRU.

Funny, because a lot of the business students at MRU transferred from U of C. haha

All I hear are complaints from the U of C (I never went), but for my degree MRU is the only place in Calgary that offered it (Entrepreneurship degree). U of C ditched their Entre program and now MRU is the only place that offers it and they've changed it so much since I got in (only 3 years ago) that I'm not sure if there is one anymore.

[Hack&Lube]

The biggest problem for people coming out of University with BAs is how to market those skills. You have to be really creative and hard working to market those more ambiguous skills in order to find a job for yourself.

Marketable skills and networking are really the two biggest arbiters of success regardless of your field. Having a fancy degree is just part of having a marketable skill and having one that is more generalist or not a big field in industry makes it very tough. You can complete a very tough program in Economics or Social Sciences but you aren't going to find many jobs with "Economist" or "Social Scientist" in their job descriptions or requirements. Usually, it's something else and you have to parlay your skills into that and convince someone to hire you.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The biggest problem for people coming out of University with BAs is how to market those skills. You have to be really creative and hard working to market those more ambiguous skills in order to find a job for yourself.

Marketable skills and networking are really the two biggest arbiters of success regardless of your field. Having a fancy degree is just part of having a marketable skill and having one that is more generalist or not a big field in industry makes it very tough. You can complete a very tough program in Economics or Social Sciences but you aren't going to find many jobs with "Economist" or "Social Scientist" in their job descriptions or requirements. Usually, it's something else and you have to parlay your skills into that and convince someone to hire you.

I think this hits the nail on the head.

Post graduation, how can you market the skills you've obtained and how can you convince the employer you can apply them to the company.

A spoonful of that and a handful of persistence and ambition should yield an opportunity...

My fingers are crossed.