Overqualifacition, underqualification, is it not a whole lot of hog wash or what?Why a is a degree needed ....
93803
however, many employers will say that a degree is required, but when they find the person for the position, they may be willing to overlook the degree requirement (as long as it is not a legal/license requirement).  Also, many people view the completion of a degree as a sign that an individual is willing to start and SUCCESSFULLY complete a project.
659330
I think it's better to have a degree. It gives you the license to go over board to any of your dreams. And companies and many organizations involving travel and tourism prefer those with the degree.
589099
Bit of a balance really, and depends if the employer is willing to put in some time to train you or not. If you know nothing in an area but can prove your a good employee and have aptitude in something with transferable skills then you don't need the educational degree. Really depends on the level of the job, and what the area you're looking at getting in to is.\n\nAt some point when moving up in an organisation you're going to need that degree usually
988005
I think a phD or Msc is needed before your knowledge is good enough. Hope this helps.
1130249
I don't know if it would or not...there are people with Masters & Doctorates that are being turned away from jobs in droves because they are overqualified.
634511
A base level of education is not overrated. If you are referring to post secondary education, you need to decide on your motivation level and a suitable career path.\n\nEducation will give you a leg up on the competition in the short term. However, it is no replacement for dedication and hard work. Many people have been successful without a post secondary education. \n\nOf course, some things are very difficult without the proper education. For example it would be impossible to be a doctor without a lenghty post secondary education.\n\nI am of the opinion that if you can afford it and have the motivation to get through it, you should pursue a post secondary education unless you are pursuing a trade.
1157152
It is a very versatile degree and I have never seen a lack of job for any ME that is competent. I son it also an ME and when he decided to change jobs, he had more choices than you can imagine.\n\nIt isn't any easier or harder that any of the other engineering degrees.
531229
The degree, or formal education, is your way of proving to the institute that you are qualified.  Without it, all you have is ideas.
371760
Not a damn bit.\n\nI've hired loads of people and I don't think I've ever asked what someone's GPA was when they graduated.  The only time it is ever brought up is when someone is part of the National Honor Society or achieved excellent grades and wants to brag about it.\n\nSo don’t worry about it.  It is the degree that matters.
664266
to get the 'eff' out of there asap.  and get on to real learning. college didn't teach me shiiit.
231155
You might be viewing your degree in the wrong light.  How people see a degree is that someone can commite to something. \n\n Your next step is to focus on what you want to do and even volenteer your time to get just a little experience and that can make more of a difference that you might think.\n\nAt your old college you can go back and see about helping out with things in your degree field and that is viable experience as well.
161653
Because there is so much more demand. 100 years ago, only the wealthiest people went to college, and many middle-class professions didn't even require college degrees, but now everyone needs a BA to do basically anything beyond retail, so in order to be more selective, colleges have to charge more. Also, it's more expensive to run a college these days, as there is much more equipment, particularly in the scientific fields that a college is expected to have.
200054
Updated 3-13-2006, 4:10 P.M.\n\nIt's not just a piece of paper.\n\nFor many jobs, it's a requirement to be considered as an initial way to eliminate all the people who don't have one.  For instance, for a management job, it's possible in smaller firms but unlikely in larger, more bureaucratic ones you'll ever get such a job without one, even if you're otherwise qualified with experience.\n\nThe higher the job pays, the more formal education is generally required as an initial qualification.\n\nThe degree doesn't guarantee getting the job though under any circumstance.  You still have to be interviewed and they still have to like you more than all the rest of the degree-holders who apply for the job.  And of course, the person with the degree applicable to the job you're after gets higher priority.\n\nI can't say my degrees helped me get a job because I never used it to get a job that required it, but the education I got is helping me create my own business.  In fact, when I applied for a job that didn't require a college degree, I left the degree off my resume so they wouldn't turn me down because I was "overqualified" for the job. My degrees were all business-related. I still am learning more now in the process, though. Learning never ends if you continually try to improve yourself and get jobs paying more and more money, plus keep up with everything that changes as the years go by.  College doesn't even come close to teaching you everything you need to learn in the job/business market, but it's definitely a good start if you take the right courses and they apply to the job you get.\n\nIn direct answer to your other question:  Yes, it will generally earn you more respect from the other degree-holders (you will now have more in common with them) but that's probably not a good reason to go back to college.  The GOOD reasons would be either to qualify for a better job that pays more money or to become more proficient and do a better job at your current position.  Going back to college should be totally for your benefit because it's going to cost you a lot of time and money.  The payback should be higher than the cost, even if the payback is in self-esteem, otherwise it's a big waste of time and money.  Catering just to what other people think is a big waste of time and energy and will get you almost nowhere.  I say concentrate on something that will pay you back in something that really counts, either more self-esteem, a better job, or more money.
220414
Well, from my experiences, pedigree (experience) is always stronger than any degree. There's are people with lots of knowledge, but are working mediocre jobs just to pay for the knowledge. It doesn't matter where you get your degree from, if you don't have the experience to back it up, 80% of the jobs will not even give you a chance. Sure, some people may prefer if you have a college degree, but if you know how to talk the talk, that "degree" is overlooked. \n\nThe question you should be asking is if you are getting the education from the courses you are taking. If you feel you learned something, then more power to you. If you feel that it's a waste of time, then pay up and leave it alone. This nation is nothing but a bunch of "B and C students" anyway.\n\nI won't worry about degrees, I worry about experience because degrees are papers with general knowledge while experience speaks volumes. So, if you are taking an online course, better get a job to match that degree while you are taking that course... or you'll be sorry!
571635
having a degree will help you get a job and increase your chances of being promoted \n(many companies require that you have a degree when hiring and/or when promoting)\n\nwhat you want to do is how you should determine which degree
689189
Because that's life.\n\nDon't worry, you'll be glad for all this work once you have your degree.  :D\n\nGood luck and keep up the good work!
29992
While it may be a "piece of paper" you need to realize that the education that you receive will give you that edge when you want to apply for a job.\n\nThe norm is that you need at least a Bachelor's degree to get most good paying jobs, a high school diploma or an Associate's don't cut it anymore.\n\nYour goal to getting a degree should not just be to learn and get it, it should also teach you essential life lessons to better prepare you for the future.  I have taken classes that has shaped and developed my life and I give much credit to the Professors that take the time and effort to make me a better person.