Is having a degree better than not having one?

[Bilz]

took me 8 years to graduate with a B.S in biology with a low gpa at that. currently working at a car dealership and a gym part time. not many jobs for a bio degree outside of going to a professional school which i am not qualified for. Taking a class this summer and in the fall to see if i can get into a grad program that is stilll somewhat related to my degree. i got friends making 50, 60, 70, 80 k in help desk/ warehouse work, that went to school with me that decided to drop out early. most of the time i feel like a made a mistake continuing in school.

tired of the odd job thing and im looking for a career i can dive into. Any brehs got a degree they not using? is having a degree really better than not having one?

Most people doing warehouse work don't make anywhere near that much and there really aren't many years you can be doing a job like that. When I was in college, I knew people making 35-40k doing clerical jobs or checking power meters and shyt like that. Those jobs seemed cool at the time when I was going to school and getting paid like an intern at my first job but I am much better off now than I would have been working one of those jobs that would still be paying 35-40k today.

Some people really do not need a degree. If you're an outgoing person and you're into sales, you can do great without one. But in most fields, you'll need a degree to ever even be considered for a job that would allow you to be comfortable in life.

Working outside your area of expertise is really not recommended. If you are considering spending even more money pursuing biology, you should find some way to get experience in your field in the meantime. Even if it's just a weekend gig or unpaid work.

 

[Serious]

I think @EatingGoodNow mentioned that he graduated with a 2.0 in gpa in biology, but like 3 years later found his way into med school

And @OneManGang graduated with a noncompetitive gpa and found his way to pharmacy school a few years later.

 

[Music Fiend]

iv considered military. that and teaching are my last resorts. my gpa was way less than 3.0 so most professional schools are out of reach for me

I think the real question is, what do you want to do with your life really? Usually that has no correlation to your major.

 

[dblive]

I majored in Liberal Arts Sociology and Political Science. Now I work in Sales as a Life Insurance agent making 100K+

Believe or not there are a lot of 6 figure potential jobs out there but most people simply don't know where to start.

Sales can be a great career choice because the income potential is unlimited. If you can manage to get yourself a position in Medical Equipment sales or even Pharmaceutical sales, Your income can easily become 100-200K right off the bat.

I was lucky enough to have a mentor to teach me the ropes when I got started but it took me a few years to get to 100K level.

Sales Jobs where you can make a good Career

Insurance Sales - Life insurance or Property of Casualty. Lots of big money in Commercial business insurance
Medical Equipment Sales
Pharmaceutical sales
Loan Officer doing Mortgage or Business Loans
Solar Sales



These are all potential 100K+ Positions. But beware there are obviously a ton of shytty Sales jobs as well that promise huge money but never live up to the hype.

The best way to Judge a good sales job or not is based on the amount of leads your company can provide you. I work for one of the largest Life Insurance Brokerages in the United States so my company provides me with unlimited amount leads. I never have to cold call or hunt for my own business everything is given to me.

So the answer to your question is yes. Its def better to have a degree than not. Having a B.S in Biology would probably get you in the door with Medical and pharmaceutical companies right off the bat at least as far as interviews are concerned. Then its up to your talent to take care of the rest

In the end life is sales. In capitalist society everyone is a sales person. If you can master the craft, you will always be able to make money.

Just my 2 cents

I work in life insurance underwriting with a chemistry major a biology minor. I'm 37 and been over 100k for at least six years. Op can definitely get into Life or health insurance careers with his background

 

[EatingGoodNow]

I think @EatingGoodNow mentioned that he graduated with a 2.0 in gpa in biology, but like 3 years later found his way into med school

And @OneManGang graduated with a noncompetitive gpa and found his way to pharmacy school a few years later.

It was a 2.97 actually lol but still considered uncompetitive. I'm happy I stuck with it. I'd be happy to offer advice if anyone ever needs it.

 

[SCJoe]

If you decide to go the teaching route, you should try California. Right now there is a huge teacher shortage, especially in math and science. It's gotten to the point where they are trying to put in programs where you can get your teaching credential at a junior college which is basically free. I know a guy right now who is in a classroom while still finishing up his credential courses.

 

[Serious]

If you decide to go the teaching route, you should try California. Right now there is a huge teacher shortage, especially in math and science. It's gotten to the point where they are trying to put in programs where you can get your teaching credential at a junior college which is basically free. I know a guy right now who is in a classroom while still finishing up his credential courses.

But are they paying more

 

[TheDarkskinnedDrake]

If you're struggling to find work with a degree the military the reserves isn't a bad alternative to get some pay and then network for a few years to help land that job. I'm got my bachelors in history just because the military paid me to do it. While my wife is swimming in debt from her degree.

 

[SCJoe]

But are they paying more

I wouldnt recommend teaching in San Francisco unless you don't mind living in somebody's garage, but teachers can make a pretty good living anywhere else in Cali If you can hang in there past that first 5 years. I think the starting salary is 50-60, but teachers that have been on for a while are pulling close to 100k in some districts. You get to have summers and holidays off and If you don't mind coaching that's an extra check too. Loan forgiveness is also a factor too but I think Trump is coming for that shyt. It really depends what you want out of your career though. You aren't gonna be pulling in cert money, but if you want a job that's in demand and let's you pull in a good retirement plan it's an option.

 

[Serious]

I wouldnt recommend teaching in San Francisco unless you don't mind living in somebody's garage, but teachers can make a pretty good living anywhere else in Cali If you can hang in there past that first 5 years. I think the starting salary is 50-60, but teachers that have been on for a while are pulling close to 100k in some districts. You get to have summers and holidays off and If you don't mind coaching that's an extra check too. Loan forgiveness is also a factor too but I think Trump is coming for that shyt. It really depends what you want out of your career though. You aren't gonna be pulling in cert money, but if you want a job that's in demand and let's you pull in a good retirement plan it's an option.

Yeah I thought about teaching biology / chemistry a few times here in LA, but just couldn't pull the trigger because the health professions out here are making stupid money, but paid holidays and Summer off looks sweet. I just can't fukk with the raise of charter schools, where certain teachers get paid less

I once saw the salaries for the teachers my charter school, and a lot of peeps were making 30k -35k but some did make 80-120k

 

[SCJoe]

Yeah I thought about teaching biology / chemistry a few times here in LA, but just couldn't pull the trigger because the health professions out here are making stupid money, but paid holidays and Summer off looks sweet. I just can't fukk with the raise of charter schools, where certain teachers get paid less

I once saw the salaries for the teachers my charter school, and a lot of peeps were making 30k -35k but some did make 80-120k

Yeah healthcare salaries are crazy. It seems like the only way you can make close to those salaries is to go the admin route, which means more school.

 

[surv2syn]

my take may be totally different than some here. I am by no means saying you need a degree, because you dont, not to make real money. that comes from smarts, know-how, and knowing how to play the game and take advantage of the system. with that being said, I can say from working in the corporate world its always better to have than to not. where I work now, I have Director's going back to school to get their degrees because the fact is, for them to continue to advance they wont be getting the opportunities that others will if they dont have some sort of degree. its doesnt mean they are less qualified or not the best candidate for the job but in the corporate world they do dumb shyt like this. its a criteria to have that piece of paper because they are more interested in having their companies "look" a certain way as opposed to being "run" a certain way.

now your degree is probably useless as far as getting you a job in your field....but that piece of paper does have its value otherwise depending on where you go and try to apply it. your bio degree can be instrumental in you acquiring an engineering job even if the fields are totally different. this is of course is money is your main motivation.

 

[Trill McClay]

OP head into teaching. Look into alternative certification programs and get some teaching experience under your belt.

Anyone who has family members in the education field will tell you there are countless opportunuties for promotions: campus administration, instructional coaching, central staffing, etc. There are great networking opportunities in teaching as well as reimbursement options for going back to school.

Hope you land on your feet.

 

[daboywonder2002]

I majored in Liberal Arts Sociology and Political Science. Now I work in Sales as a Life Insurance agent making 100K+

Believe or not there are a lot of 6 figure potential jobs out there but most people simply don't know where to start.

Sales can be a great career choice because the income potential is unlimited. If you can manage to get yourself a position in Medical Equipment sales or even Pharmaceutical sales, Your income can easily become 100-200K right off the bat.

I was lucky enough to have a mentor to teach me the ropes when I got started but it took me a few years to get to 100K level.

Sales Jobs where you can make a good Career

Insurance Sales - Life insurance or Property of Casualty. Lots of big money in Commercial business insurance
Medical Equipment Sales
Pharmaceutical sales
Loan Officer doing Mortgage or Business Loans
Solar Sales



These are all potential 100K+ Positions. But beware there are obviously a ton of shytty Sales jobs as well that promise huge money but never live up to the hype.

The best way to Judge a good sales job or not is based on the amount of leads your company can provide you. I work for one of the largest Life Insurance Brokerages in the United States so my company provides me with unlimited amount leads. I never have to cold call or hunt for my own business everything is given to me.

So the answer to your question is yes. Its def better to have a degree than not. Having a B.S in Biology would probably get you in the door with Medical and pharmaceutical companies right off the bat at least as far as interviews are concerned. Then its up to your talent to take care of the rest

In the end life is sales. In capitalist society everyone is a sales person. If you can master the craft, you will always be able to make money.

Just my 2 cents

I agree with Pharmaceutical sales. I met this girl in Walmart one day and she was a pharm sales rep. She worked for Johnson & Johnson and there's a lot of perks involved. Company car, job pays well. I read they make a nice base salary. you just need a 4 year degree

 

[daboywonder2002]

OP head into teaching. Look into alternative certification programs and get some teaching experience under your belt.

Anyone who has family members in the education field will tell you there are countless opportunuties for promotions: campus administration, instructional coaching, central staffing, etc. There are great networking opportunities in teaching as well as reimbursement options for going back to school.

Hope you land on your feet.

Im gonna disagree with u because the education field is a joke right now. Schools don't even teach science anymore. Public schools are so focused on getting funding, they focus on reading and math. Until the education system is fixed and they focus on producing well rounded students, I wouldn't dare teach.