Bah, Who Needs a High School Diploma?

[notjomommasclint]

"My name's Little Cletus and I'm here to tell you a few things about child labor laws, ok? They're silly and outdated. Why back in the 30s, children as young as five could work as they pleased; from textile factories to iron smelts. Yippee! Hurray!"

 

[bdrr]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=1916

They're overrated anyway.

In his case, they are.

I'm $55k in debt with a college degree and I'm substitute teaching for $90/day. A lot of good those degrees have gotten me so far. Best case scenario I find a job in the coming months for what, $45k/year? And people criticize Harper for positioning himself to get what, a $20 million signing bonus?

I was thinking about this yesterday actually

The only reason im going to college is so I can get a job as an attorney and make good money.

If I found a job now that paid good enough money $50-$75k a year, I wouldnt go to college for a while.

Sad because like your example, sometimes degrees dont help for a while

This is especially true of pre-law.

Like, I graduated in March from UCLA (top 3 public), pretty high GPA, with basically a degree in pre-law. Do to a quirk in the schedule, I had to apply to law school for the Fall of '10. I'm in at Virginia, but I'm here sitting on my ass because nobody wants to hire a guy with a pre-law degree and no JD. The only thing the first piece of paper was good for was to get me a second worthless piece of paper that has enabled me the opportunity to get a third piece of paper that will hopefully actually be worth something.

 

[NYCrulesU]

As fan, as long as Corky can hit a 400 foot bomb or 100 on the radar gun does it really if he is smart or not?

As a fan, if this kid could hit .400 or 70 home runs at the MLB level I will take him on my team!

real smooth

Have you come to expect much more from this particular member?

 

[darocker80]

Harper to the Nats?

 

[mredsox89]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=1916

They're overrated anyway.

In his case, they are.

I'm $55k in debt with a college degree and I'm substitute teaching for $90/day. A lot of good those degrees have gotten me so far. Best case scenario I find a job in the coming months for what, $45k/year? And people criticize Harper for positioning himself to get what, a $20 million signing bonus?

I was thinking about this yesterday actually

The only reason im going to college is so I can get a job as an attorney and make good money.

If I found a job now that paid good enough money $50-$75k a year, I wouldnt go to college for a while.

Sad because like your example, sometimes degrees dont help for a while

This is especially true of pre-law.

Like, I graduated in March from UCLA (top 3 public), pretty high GPA, with basically a degree in pre-law. Do to a quirk in the schedule, I had to apply to law school for the Fall of '10. I'm in at Virginia, but I'm here sitting on my ass because nobody wants to hire a guy with a pre-law degree and no JD. The only thing the first piece of paper was good for was to get me a second worthless piece of paper that has enabled me the opportunity to get a third piece of paper that will hopefully actually be worth something.

Yes, but without the first two pieces of "useless paper", you probably wouldn't be able to get yourself the 3rd and get to where you want to be.

 

[MAC16]

i agree with harper.. i would of done the same exact thing! if i knew i could be a top 5 draft pick and get a 10 million dollar signing bonus i wouldnt even hesitate one bit. even if you dont do anything.. you could easily live off of 10 mill for the rest of your life. he could take the signing bonus than retire at the age of 16.. i dont know about you guys but that sounds like a hell of a deal to me.

 

[19braves77]

Your basic 2009 college degree is no different then a high school diploma from the 80's. College degrees are pointless nowadays unless you are going into the medical field. People that don't think like this are only trying to make themselves feel better about that $24,000 loan.

 

[Russ S.]

Hence thats why more people chose jobs over school

From the above sentence it would appear you chose a job over education.

I work full time and am going to school part time

The reason is because they are paying for school, if they werent, i'd be in college full time

I was completely giving you crap. I have no idea your education level. I'll be in college until the day I die. Right now if someone would pay my student loans, I'd all but ***** myself out.

LOL

I undertstand!

I am doing it at such a rate that they will rename it the 12 year student after me

:lol:

Van WIlder wann-a-be!

 

[jrinne]

You cant fault the kid for doing what he's doing. He's going to make a mint and he knows that he needs to capitalize on it now. Ive got a feeling he is going to crash and burn fast when he makes it into professional ball. If he stays in college for his full 4 years and fine tunes his abilities he might be fine but more than likely he will enter the draft early. Just because he can hit bombs 500 feet during batting practice still doesn't tell me a lot. The question is, can he hit a major league curve ball?

 

[Hallsgator]

Your basic 2009 college degree is no different then a high school diploma from the 80's. College degrees are pointless nowadays unless you are going into the medical field. People that don't think like this are only trying to make themselves feel better about that $24,000 loan.

So, you're telling me that a company would rather hire someone (for the same position) with a high school degree than a college degree?

There are plenty of jobs you cannot get without a college degree, especially in the sports industry. And even with a undergrad degree, you aren't guaranteed a job. The only way to guarantee a job is to get a Master's degree (at OU at least).

 

[jrinne]

Your basic 2009 college degree is no different then a high school diploma from the 80's. College degrees are pointless nowadays unless you are going into the medical field. People that don't think like this are only trying to make themselves feel better about that $24,000 loan.

With this statement Im wondering if you even graduated high school. If you get done with college and only have a $24,000 loan to pay back you did very well. Just keep telling yourself this and when you keep getting passed by on jobs you'll eventually figure it out.

 

[zach]

If two people (only one has higher education degree) are going for a job interview with equal work experience, I would bet that the person with the better education will get the job.

That's one example of how a degree helps you.

However, For those that preach that you MUST have a college degree, I suggest you read Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

 

[jbone17]

The parents of Harper are salivating to the fact that Harper left early. They will be rich off of their son! Here is to Harper so that he doesn't spend it all in one place.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

If your only desire to be an attorney is for the money, you're going to have a long road ahead of you.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=1916

They're overrated anyway.

In his case, they are.

I'm $55k in debt with a college degree and I'm substitute teaching for $90/day. A lot of good those degrees have gotten me so far. Best case scenario I find a job in the coming months for what, $45k/year? And people criticize Harper for positioning himself to get what, a $20 million signing bonus?

I was thinking about this yesterday actually

The only reason im going to college is so I can get a job as an attorney and make good money.

If I found a job now that paid good enough money $50-$75k a year, I wouldnt go to college for a while.

Sad because like your example, sometimes degrees dont help for a while

 

[Bob Loblaw]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=1916

They're overrated anyway.

In his case, they are.

I'm $55k in debt with a college degree and I'm substitute teaching for $90/day. A lot of good those degrees have gotten me so far. Best case scenario I find a job in the coming months for what, $45k/year? And people criticize Harper for positioning himself to get what, a $20 million signing bonus?

I was thinking about this yesterday actually

The only reason im going to college is so I can get a job as an attorney and make good money.

If I found a job now that paid good enough money $50-$75k a year, I wouldnt go to college for a while.

Sad because like your example, sometimes degrees dont help for a while

This is especially true of pre-law.

Like, I graduated in March from UCLA (top 3 public), pretty high GPA, with basically a degree in pre-law. Do to a quirk in the schedule, I had to apply to law school for the Fall of '10. I'm in at Virginia, but I'm here sitting on my ass because nobody wants to hire a guy with a pre-law degree and no JD. The only thing the first piece of paper was good for was to get me a second worthless piece of paper that has enabled me the opportunity to get a third piece of paper that will hopefully actually be worth something.

With all due respect, why would anyone obtain a degree in "pre-law"? Law schools teach you how to think, and how to study, and seek a diverse incoming class -- they don't want a class made up of all pre-law majors. It makes no sense to get a degree in "pre-law" and put all one's eggs in one basket -- what if you bomb the LSAT? Then what? It makes a lot more sense to get an accounting or education or some sort of degree that one can do something with should the law school dream not work out.

 

[Fandruw25]

All a diploma does is show you stuck with something for a period of time. In the end its still just a piece of paper, and an expensive one at that.

 

[braden]

While I don't fault someone for choosing money over books, the smartest thing said in this discussion was along the lines of "I'd rather be educated and poor than rich and uneducated."

Modern priorities being what they are, I'm sure most disagree, and it's certainly true that an education can come from many places other than higher learning. But anyone who sees university as being little more than an expensive piece of paper is hopelessly lost.

 

[bdrr]

With all due respect, why would anyone obtain a degree in "pre-law"? Law schools teach you how to think, and how to study, and seek a diverse incoming class -- they don't want a class made up of all pre-law majors. It makes no sense to get a degree in "pre-law" and put all one's eggs in one basket -- what if you bomb the LSAT? Then what? It makes a lot more sense to get an accounting or education or some sort of degree that one can do something with should the law school dream not work out.

The answer, quite simply, is "you don't."
There are many things in life that come with risks, a person chooses to pursue those which they have the confidence to overcome. The question, really, is rather the person is being rational or delusional when making that decision.

Keep in mind that a pre-law degree, or in the case of mine, a degree in Political Science with an emphasis on pre-law courses, is still coming from a liberal arts institution. Degrees require GEs, interdisciplinary classes, not to mention varied classes within the general discipline itself. I didn't have the option of just taking law courses. I have a strong background in international affairs, history, and economics as well. A law school can take in 100% of their class as pre-law majors, and most every student would still have incredibly different perspectives that had been formed by the fact they attended different schools and took incredibly different classes to fill those other requirements.

 

[darocker80]

Will the Nats drop big money on harper you think?

 

[muchuckwagon]

All a diploma does is show you stuck with something for a period of time. In the end its still just a piece of paper, and an expensive one at that.

I really don't know what to say....this debate about a college degree being worthless is ridiculous. Yes, there are some majors that are "worthless" because the reality is some skills are not in demand.

However, choosing the right career and obtaining a college degree is only half the battle. You still need to leverage the degree in the workplace and manage your own career. For some reason, people feel a degree entitles them to unlimited wealth without having to work.

The truth is you have to manage your own career and put in the effort to develop the skills and professional network that will allow you to advance.

I estimate my four-year degree has increased my earning power by the following:
Years 1 - 2: $10,000 per year
Years 3 - 5: $15,000 per year
Years 6 - 9: $35,000 per year
Years 10 - 15: $65,000 per year

It adds up....that is close to $600k over my 15 year career. Not a bad return on a $35k investment. If I had invested that $35k and earned 8% per year tax free, I would have about $115k.

Seems like my degree and hard work have paid off to the tune of $485k.