Ok, lots of degrees here listed. Are you working?

[29palms]

Ok, I see lots of degrees listed here, some with two or three degrees or even more. (Guess I should list all mine too.) My question is, has your degrees paid off yet? Are you guys/gals working in the field you want? Are you disappointed in your education to pay results? Are you satisfied? Are you still hopeful of becoming CEO or management? Are you biding time? I understand average age of Tesc students are 40. I'm assuming by looking at the POTUS question poll, most were born here during Reagan or Clinton. 20's and 30's. How is college paying off these days in this bad economy? Anyone here breaking 6 figures?

[LaterBloomer]

Everyone gets a degree for different reasons. One of my reasons is to help me get a promotion. My tendency is to be very dismissive of what I know and do, so I'm rotten at resumes. (I was going to say, "puffing myself up for resumes." See? I can't be matter of fact about my skills and/or abilities.) My employer sends resumes through some software to see if you qualify for positions. For me, the degree will make it easier for me to qualify for positions. It's a more sure-fire method than than hoping I hit all the correct buzz words. After that, my charm will win them over! :roflol:

As to my salary, I'm in my mid-fifties making almost $70,000 a year. With this degree, my hope had been to get a promotion, and get closer to $80,000. With this economy, that may be wishful thinking in the short-term.

My real reason for getting a degree is personal, not financial. Ridiculous or not, I somehow feel like a lesser being for not having one.

[cookderosa]

Ok, I see lots of degrees listed here, some with two or three degrees or even more. (Guess I should list all mine too.) My question is, has your degrees paid off yet? Are you guys/gals working in the field you want? Are you disappointed in your education to pay results? Are you satisfied? Are you still hopeful of becoming CEO or management? Are you biding time? I understand average age of Tesc students are 40. I'm assuming by looking at the POTUS question poll, most were born here during Reagan or Clinton. 20's and 30's. How is college paying off these days in this bad economy? Anyone here breaking 6 figures?

Hummm, lots of questions. Have my degrees paid off? Well, my first degree is where I learned my trade. That degree was (still) what opened doors for me that led me into my "dream job" running a culinary department. So, yes, I'm in the field I want. I earned my BA only because there was a master's program I found that I really wanted to attend. (MA Gastronomy, University of Adelaide) and despite my fast completion, the last entering class was 1 semester before I enrolled So, my BA did what I wanted, which was to allow me access into grad school.

Since I've earned my TESC degree, I've taken roughly 60 credits of COURSES for pleasure and personal interest...my personality is a "learner" and so education is like a hobby of mine. Every semester - literally- since I've graduated high school I've either been ENROLLED as student or EMPLOYED as a teacher at a college. I'm 42. I love school, and I homeschool my kids- a job that I don't take lightly. I consider feeding my brain part of the trickle down effect, and my kids benefit from having an educated mother/teacher. Every now and then I consider doing the necessary steps to rock out the 2 partial degrees I have hanging (TESC Natural Science and HES Master of Liberal Arts bio concentration) but neither are necessarily related to my career, only my personal interest, so I've just played on and off. I'm very, very interested in all things public health, and while I considered nursing or medical school, at the end of the day, I didn't want a new career. I just enjoy things now, and being at a place where I don't have to work for income. However, a smart bridge for me is nutrition, and I'm going to finish that program. That will blend my base knowledge of culinary arts (which I still teach) into my biology/human body interest and likely allow me to teach nutrition in the classroom at a 4 year university (I currently have only taught at a community college) or in a public health capacity. I can see myself starting a new program when my youngest hits high school age and my teacher duties fade away. I was a millimeter away from opening a new culinary school locally, that's not off the table. I can also see myself starting a food skills training program for resource-limited individuals or children....anyway..... not now.

6 figures? That wasn't a goal of mine, my goal has always been to own my day, put my kids first, and be accountable only to my spouse. I make sure at the end of every day I'm a kick-ass wife and home maker, seriously, it's a priority. And that's my life. Degrees are frosting. But if money were where I wanted to put my energy, I'd have to have chosen a path in a STEM field or something that pays money. Liberal arts graduates don't make 6 figures.

[cookderosa]

You know what? My answer is truthful, but I don't like the tone that I answered. It's certainly REASONABLE and APPROPRIATE to aim for promotions and a good salary. I didn't mean to sound dismissive, and I think it might read that way, so if that's how you read it, know that I meant my answer with kindness.

[NAP]

Marianne, Burbuja, and Rebel are some of the members who have shared how their degrees have helped their careers. It's always nice to hear Big 3 success stories. (Also, EC has a section in their Live & Learn magazine with news from graduates. That may available at the other schools, too.)

[IrishJohn]

So far my BA in History hasn't really helped me in the career field, which is why I'm trying to complete as BSBA quickly as well. I was hit hard financially when I was laid-off so am not working right now in my previous career field. I am working now (finally!) but making far less than before. "Great" Recession indeed. I'm mostly just trying to keep my head above water at the moment. I do expect one or both bachelor's to help soon once I get myself out of this hole I'm currently in. So was it worth it? Yes. I honestly never thought I'd complete a degree prior to learning about IC and TESC in 2009. I struggled for years in the old B&M route but as I got older work, bills and... life just kept getting in the way. So by completing my first bachelor's I met a personal goal and may use it later should I decide to get into teaching as I've thought of doing for quite awhile. The other bachelor's is more for "just in case" should something open up in my previous field. I know what some might say, I should go for a master's instead but in my current job I lack both the time to devote to it as well as the funds. I am seriously thinking about a master's later once things settle down. Whether it is in history or business depends upon what I'm doing at that time.

I look at this as preparing for the future, even if I'm doing it at a later stage in life than many others. I do believe getting my degree was worth it and will pay off later career-wise, and of course has already done so personally.

[29palms]

Lots of good answers here. The reason I want a degree is that I may not be far from one afterall. (Bachelors that is.) I have always wanted one, however, the career I have seems to have given me some stability. I haven't had much ambition to go into debt to get a degree that probably won't do much more for me except maybe promotions later on down the road. The career field I'm in is the least possible route needed to accomplish a Bachelors degree. If there is light at the end of the tunnel here, and only a minimum of a few courses, I may just do it. Kind of a backwards degree for me, in that I am working and have lots of credits, but never have put them together for any particular degree plan. It would be just more like an IN PLACE degree. If ever I need a bachelors for a job, it would be in place and have one. Don't really need it, but would not hurt to have it. Just icing on the cake.