Education delimma

[Rowan]

Ive been feeling unfulfilled. To be quite honest, I've been feeling inferior too. Inferior to those with degrees and education through university. I envy that they have knowledge and will one day be practitioners or even leaders in their field of expertise. Even to have a field of expertise is something worthwhile. I myself have only completed a course in IT and I feel like I'm wasting my potential. I dont particularly like IT, I dont find my job particularly challenging, and even more-so, I feel I get very little respect for what I do. My job though has its perks. Such as 3 months paid leave per year and an abundant amount of down time, its 5 minutes from home and pretty much a dream job for anyone who doesnt care about staying here forever - which I do not want to. I need something more.

Im 27 this year, I have been working this position for over 6 years, I have no other qualifications, I plan to buy a home soon and move out (after a failed relationship, this has made things more difficult and stressful) and I have the urge to go and study something, but I feel like at 27 its too late from a financial perspective. I cannot prioritize education over owning a home, for if i dont buy now while I can afford too, I most certainly never will. I have been trying to find a way to do both, but it really doesn't seem possible. It makes me resent where I live, as living costs, house prices and education fees are higher than almost anywhere in the world (especially if we can combine the three into an average overall sum).

I really am at a loss here. All of my friends are graduating or have graduated a long time ago, and here I am sitting in my computer chair scumming through the mediocrity I have created for myself. I often think back to when I was 18 or 20 and yell at myself to study at university instead of working my way towards materialistic bullshit by wasting those precious years at McDonalds and various retailers.


Is it too late? Can I achieve what I want to? How do I do it? I know these are hard questions for you to answer since there really isn't any active Australian users anymore, but I would still really appreciate your insight as you people are some of the most interesting and intelligent people I know.

[nix]

What profession do you want to study for? How many years to reach the end of the line with it?

TBH i can't see anything being an issue, 27 is still really young mate. I have a friend who began training to become a Vet around the age i am now, which takes a good few years i think and he succeeded. He done all this when living abroad in Canada and was well into his thirties.

Determination is all you need, Not sure why you feel you need to buy a house now? a few years wont make a difference.

[loaf]

Find a Trade.

I have a degree, basically $50k thrown away cause I don't like what I learned and I also just suck at it tbh.

Find a trade you enjoy cause trades are needed. Idk how much they are needed in AUS but I assume they are gonna be needed in the future somewhat.

Become an apprentice maybe.

[Heartless Angel]

It's certainly not too late, but it'll be a financial burden that may delay other things you want to do like buying a house or moving or whatever. You really have to ask yourself what it's worth to you. Like not feeling like you're living up to your own potential may a be a good reason but I couldn't say the respect of others is worth much to me. If you're going to make major changes in your life make sure it's for yourself, and not to look good to other people, or to make them see you as an equal, because that isn't fulfilling long term.

I personally never bothered to finish a degree, but I can't say I've ever felt inferior to people who have. College was a lot like high school, rewarding effort and obedience far more than it does intelligence. A degree doesn't make someone smarter or more knowledgeable, they just have a piece of paper that proves what they know. If you just want to study shit for the sake of knowing shit yo, can do that on your own time. A university is a good place to find a lot of information pertinent to a field of study but you can still find pretty much all of that information on the Internet.

Job wise, I wouldn't want the jobs most people in universities are going for. Could I be a doctor if I wanted to be? Absolutely, but do I want to work insane hours in a hospital dealing with matters of life and death for 50+ hours a week? Fuck that noise. I've got a nice cushy desk job where people leave me alone, I work reasonable hours, and I get good benefits and good pay. What do I care if a doctor thinks he's better than me? What do I care if a stranger on the street thinks a doctor is better than me? In my case there's no good reason to go back to school for more, even though I could. Just something to think about.

[Michael Swayne]

As someone currently enrolled in higher education at the age of 30, I can definitely say that it is never too late to go back and get a degree. I know, that is such a cliché thing to say, but it's true. It isn't like colleges and universities are going to just disappear al of a sudden.

But my suggestion is this: Start off slow. Go online and see about taking a single course at a university. Some schools will sometimes offer such an opportunity for free, to entice people to attend part/full-time in the future. Around here, the elderly really go for this deal, because it helps keep their brain in shape. Anyway, it will give you a chance to learn about something you are interested in or want to know more about. If it works out, and you do decide to venture back into the halls of knowledge, the school may even give you credit for that free course, provided you pass it.

Also, online schools are another option. And not just from accredited universities, either. Most MOOC websites feature courses from accredited schools that also grant those who pass the course the credit hours for passing. Before I went back to college, I participated in a few MOOCs to see if I still remembered the stuff. And then when I did sign up for classes at the university, I was able to use those courses to help pad my credit hours and I was essentially a 2nd year student in my first semester of higher education.

[Rowan]

What profession do you want to study for? How many years to reach the end of the line with it?

TBH i can't see anything being an issue, 27 is still really young mate. I have a friend who began training to become a Vet around the age i am now, which takes a good few years i think and he succeeded. He done all this when living abroad in Canada and was well into his thirties.

Determination is all you need, Not sure why you feel you need to buy a house now? a few years wont make a difference.

I just sold my house that I purchased with my ex, and in 8 months it increased in value by $140,000. This is how things are around Melbourne at the moment, house pricing is at an all time high and the median price for a small 3 bedroom home is around $425,000. If I buy now , its a great investment for the future and somewhere to live and call home, if not I will be stuck paying far more for something of the same caliber, further than I would like to move.

Find a Trade.

I have a degree, basically $50k thrown away cause I don't like what I learned and I also just suck at it tbh.
Find a trade you enjoy cause trades are needed. Idk how much they are needed in AUS but I assume they are gonna be needed in the future somewhat.
Become an apprentice maybe.

What was your degree if you dont mind me asking?
I conisdered a trade, but 4 years of crappy wages goes against my plans, and I wouldn't enjoy it. The purpose is for my to expand my knowledge, not bank account. Trades are in high demand in Australia though.

It's certainly not too late, but it'll be a financial burden that may delay other things you want to do like buying a house or moving or whatever. You really have to ask yourself what it's worth to you. Like not feeling like you're living up to your own potential may a be a good reason but I couldn't say the respect of others is worth much to me. If you're going to make major changes in your life make sure it's for yourself, and not to look good to other people, or to make them see you as an equal, because that isn't fulfilling long term.

I see your point about the motivation of studying to relieve the feeling of inferiority being unfulfilling long term. But Its more like icing on the cake, it is more for my own well being than how I appear to others. I totally understand why the respect of others is worth sweet f all to you, thats why I like asking your opinion on things. Nihilistic views devoid of any emotional bias are more often than not straight to the point. Love it.

I personally never bothered to finish a degree, but I can't say I've ever felt inferior to people who have. College was a lot like high school, rewarding effort and obedience far more than it does intelligence. A degree doesn't make someone smarter or more knowledgeable, they just have a piece of paper that proves what they know. If you just want to study shit for the sake of knowing shit yo, can do that on your own time. A university is a good place to find a lot of information pertinent to a field of study but you can still find pretty much all of that information on the Internet.
Job wise, I wouldn't want the jobs most people in universities are going for. Could I be a doctor if I wanted to be? Absolutely, but do I want to work insane hours in a hospital dealing with matters of life and death for 50+ hours a week? Fuck that noise. I've got a nice cushy desk job where people leave me alone, I work reasonable hours, and I get good benefits and good pay. What do I care if a doctor thinks he's better than me? What do I care if a stranger on the street thinks a doctor is better than me? In my case there's no good reason to go back to school for more, even though I could. Just something to think about.

I guess whats been going through my head is that if I were to die tomorrow, would I be satisfied with the things I've learned and things I've done in my life? The answer would be no. Not just because im obviously only 27 and yet to experience more of what life has to offer, but because I think theres things that I should be doing now. A sense of urgency has come over me being 27. I feel as if I have wasted valuable time, and that I need to get things in order now before I regret not doing something again in the future. A quarter life crisis??

As someone currently enrolled in higher education at the age of 30, I can definitely say that it is never too late to go back and get a degree. I know, that is such a cliché thing to say, but it's true. It isn't like colleges and universities are going to just disappear al of a sudden. But my suggestion is this: Start off slow. Go online and see about taking a single course at a university. Some schools will sometimes offer such an opportunity for free, to entice people to attend part/full-time in the future. Around here, the elderly really go for this deal, because it helps keep their brain in shape. Anyway, it will give you a chance to learn about something you are interested in or want to know more about. If it works out, and you do decide to venture back into the halls of knowledge, the school may even give you credit for that free course, provided you pass it. Also, online schools are another option. And not just from accredited universities, either. Most MOOC websites feature courses from accredited schools that also grant those who pass the course the credit hours for passing. Before I went back to college, I participated in a few MOOCs to see if I still remembered the stuff. And then when I did sign up for classes at the university, I was able to use those courses to help pad my credit hours and I was essentially a 2nd year student in my first semester of higher education.

Online is my only option, as I cant afford and dont want to leave my job. Since I do get 3 months off per year, it is a good job to have if I ever needed to attend a university for short bursts of time, I could do so without jeopardizing my position. Its cool to know that youve started your journey in your 30's. I might look into seeing if theres any options like those that you've mentioned in terms of starter courses that help get me into a university.

Here are my main concerns summed up;

1. I want to study but don't want to quit my job > Needs to be online
2. Fees are really high from what I've seen for some courses (upwards of $25k per year)
3. I'm concerned about spending 4 - 6 years of my life studying something I might not be good at/interested in whilst amassing a huge debt.

[Alpha]

Aussie and NZ are sufficiently and increasingly different that you should feel free to disregard my advice because I don't pay attention much to domestic affairs over there. But how do student loans work for you? In NZ they're interest-free so they're some of the best debt you can have on your books. Once you've finished you're obliged to pay it back at 12c in the dollar (before tax) on all income earned over (something like) $20k per annum. That tends to balance well against your increased earning potential just for having a degree. I think it's a pretty damn good deal, and literally anyone can take it up if they want to. I say this while currently holding about $28k in student loan debt that I'm slowly paying back. Should be done by 2019 when I might, if house prices collapse, be able to afford a house too.

Ignore house price inflation in Melbourne for now: yes it's going up fast now, but house prices are incredibly volatile. The faster they move up, the faster they'll come down. You want to move in when they're at the bottom of the curve, not when they're approaching the top.

From what I know about you, I'd skip university though. They're great for some things (law, science, maths, arts) but less so for others (trades, programming, entrepreneurship). You already work in IT, so how about learning web development? Around my parts there are good 12-week "boot camps" that aim to teach the fundamentals of web development, and then also help you to (or suspend course payments until you) find a related job in the field. Lots of employers are looking for junior developers because senior ones are expensive and development teams tend to work well with a healthy ratio of seniors to juniors. Basically it's a trade with good prospects, high pay, nice perks, no manual labour, limited time investment on your part, etc. Also remote work! I get to work from home 100% (save mega bucks in commuting and can live wherever). I wish I'd done this instead of university, I probably only use about 20% of what I learnt there. I mean, I enjoyed it, but I could be 12c in the dollar better off every week at this point. We all have regrets.

There are similar things at trade academies (we call them "polytechnics" but I don't know if that term is international). Things like real estate agent training, some forms of accounting and autiding, hairdressing, etc. Things you can specialise in that often have a clear career trajectory.

[loaf]

@Rowan

I have an Associates Degree in Visual Communications. I went to school essentially for Adobe Creative Suite and some other things such as Audio/Video techniques, some drawing courses, etc. I realized near the end of it, I sucked/didn't enjoy it and I only stuck it out for the AA because my mom wanted to see me get a degree. They scrapped the game design course about midway through my Associates Degree which was a pre-req for Game design.

[Rowan]

Aussie and NZ are sufficiently and increasingly different that you should feel free to disregard my advice because I don't pay attention much to domestic affairs over there. But how do student loans work for you? In NZ they're interest-free so they're some of the best debt you can have on your books. Once you've finished you're obliged to pay it back at 12c in the dollar (before tax) on all income earned over (something like) $20k per annum. That tends to balance well against your increased earning potential just for having a degree. I think it's a pretty damn good deal, and literally anyone can take it up if they want to. I say this while currently holding about $28k in student loan debt that I'm slowly paying back. Should be done by 2019 when I might, if house prices collapse, be able to afford a house too.

Theyre interest free here too I believe, and are paid back once you start earning over a certain amount.
Ignore house price inflation in Melbourne for now: yes it's going up fast now, but house prices are incredibly volatile. The faster they move up, the faster they'll come down. You want to move in when they're at the bottom of the curve, not when they're approaching the top.

From what I know about you, I'd skip university though. They're great for some things (law, science, maths, arts) but less so for others (trades, programming, entrepreneurship). You already work in IT, so how about learning web development? Around my parts there are good 12-week "boot camps" that aim to teach the fundamentals of web development, and then also help you to (or suspend course payments until you) find a related job in the field. Lots of employers are looking for junior developers because senior ones are expensive and development teams tend to work well with a healthy ratio of seniors to juniors. Basically it's a trade with good prospects, high pay, nice perks, no manual labour, limited time investment on your part, etc. Also remote work! I get to work from home 100% (save mega bucks in commuting and can live wherever). I wish I'd done this instead of university, I probably only use about 20% of what I learnt there. I mean, I enjoyed it, but I could be 12c in the dollar better off every week at this point. We all have regrets.

From what you know about me, I should skip uni? Why do you say that? Its interesting to see that you regret going to university and that you're the second person here to regret going. I might look to see if theres any IT courses that interest me and where I can go with it, but I feel the area of IT is unfulfilling for me, do you understand? Why do I feel inferior as an IT specialist?

There are similar things at trade academies (we call them "polytechnics" but I don't know if that term is international). Things like real estate agent training, some forms of accounting and autiding, hairdressing, etc. Things you can specialise in that often have a clear career trajectory.

We call them polytechnics too. So are you saying a uni degree is not necessary in order to gain knowledge? I feel like noone cares what you think unless you've studied at uni.

~ AUTO-MERGED POSTS ~

Just now for example, I got called out to a classroom because the settings for the laptop connected to the projector was on 'extend' and the staff member didnt understand why she couldn't see what was on her laptop, on the projector screen. It was a simple fix of switching to 'clone display'. I went back to my office and got another call because the mouse stopped working (same staff member) and for some reason, she had the trackpad disabled on the hotkey function. Easily fixed.

But you see, some people might say its a great job because things like this are so easy, but its also so easy to see why I get little respect. Not just that, but seriously? Is this my life? fixing these kinds of problems? The thing is, I know I have it so good here. 5 minutes from home, decent salary (not great, but decent) and 3 months paid leave per year.

I want to study online but im put off of IT. I thought about doing psychology because its the only thing that interests me the most , as well as all the subjects that go along with it (biology, science etc) but it costs upwards of 25k per year with a minimum 6 years if you want to work in the field (why else would a person study , if not to end up working in their field of study).

any other ideas for me??

[Heartless Angel]

So are you saying a uni degree is not necessary in order to gain knowledge? I feel like noone cares what you think unless you've studied at uni.

Of course uni isn't necessary to gain knowledge, if that's your goal, no reason to sink tens or hundreds thousands of dollars into it. For validation of your knowledge from random strangers, yeah, a degree helps, but again you have to ask yourself, is the validation from a bunch of random asswagons worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars?

Just now for example, I got called out to a classroom because the settings for the laptop connected to the projector was on 'extend' and the staff member didnt understand why she couldn't see what was on her laptop, on the projector screen. It was a simple fix of switching to 'clone display'. I went back to my office and got another call because the mouse stopped working (same staff member) and for some reason, she had the trackpad disabled on the hotkey function. Easily fixed.

But you see, some people might say its a great job because things like this are so easy, but its also so easy to see why I get little respect. Not just that, but seriously? Is this my life? fixing these kinds of problems? The thing is, I know I have it so good here. 5 minutes from home, decent salary (not great, but decent) and 3 months paid leave per year.

I want to study online but im put off of IT. I thought about doing psychology because its the only thing that interests me the most , as well as all the subjects that go along with it (biology, science etc) but it costs upwards of 25k per year with a minimum 6 years if you want to work in the field (why else would a person study , if not to end up working in their field of study).

any other ideas for me??

I'm sort of in IT too, I mostly do software validation. But I get calls for stupid shit like that all the time, because I administrate several of our quality systems. I have to reset at least 3 passwords a day because our employees are idiots. It's fucking awesome. They're paying me 6 figures for this shit, and I barely do anything that could be considered work.

Is that MY life? Not at all. I don't go to work to live my dreams, I go to work because I like to eat once in a while. My life is what I do after I clock out. I study anything that interests me on my own terms without any professor's ass to kiss, or any hoops to jump through for their amusement in exchange for their acknowledgement of what I know. I go out and try shit that sounds fun. I eat food that sounds good. I hang out with people that seem cool. I pay way too much for scotch. I spend hours modding games so I can spend minutes playing them afterwards. I bang my woman. That shit is my life. That's the stuff I actually give a damn about, and the things I expect people will remember me for. Anyone who actually knows me, knows I'm a pretty smart guy without asking to see my degree. Anyone who doesn't know me, what the fuck do I care what they think of me?

Some people's careers really ARE a major part of their lives, but for the vast majority of people, it's just a thing we do because we like having a roof over our heads and eating every so often. That's what you really have to figure out. Are you the sort of person who defines themselves based on how they spend their necessary working hours, or how they choose to spend the rest of their time?

Sounds to me like you have 3 months a year you could just study psychology all you want for lulz while getting paid for it if that's what really interests you.

[Spooniest]

I guess whats been going through my head is that if I were to die tomorrow, would I be satisfied with the things I've learned and things I've done in my life?

That's a very good question, and one that I often ask myself, though our situations are entirely different.

I have been in mental health care for about a decade and a half now, only recently stabilizing on meds for the first time. It finally came out through a lot of research that I was being treated for the wrong condition, overmedicated.

Anyhoo, told you that story to tell you this one; I actually just used the time to create music, any way I could, hook or crook. It has yielded certain results I wanted; that's all I can say at the moment; but I still find myself totally dissatisfied with the outcome, because of someone special to me whom is not here to share this moment.

:/ So I ask myself, "Am I happy with the decisions I've made? Am I a good person?"

This is the trick I learned back in 2010 going through a bad divorce that destroyed my academic career too.

"You can give yourself an A+ every day. The world is happy to fail you for sneezing in a subway car."

[OceanEyes28]

You mentioned psychology, which perked my ears (eyes?) up. I'm currently getting my masters in social work at 29 (I'll be finished just after turning 30). There are some stereotypes about social workers, particularly that they take children out of homes and are generally nosy, but it is one of the most practical mental health degrees out there. With psychology, you'll most likely need a PhD to practice. Maybe you want a PhD, but you also mentioned time constraints. I'm not sure how it is over there, but in the U.S., the MSW is the working degree. Once I complete my masters, I'll work under supervision for two years before taking a final licensing exam to become an LCSW (licensed clinical social worker). From there, I can work at hospitals or outreach centers, do school counseling, private practice, research, grant writing, community organizing, etc., and I can retrain at any time if I feel like switching populations. There are also BSW jobs available.

I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for, but if psychology is a real interest, you might look into some of the local social work programs. We learn developmental and behavioral theories, treatment styles, research and statistics, grant writing and community practice, individual and group/family therapy models, and so on. Last year, I interned at a homeless outreach. This year, I will intern at a hospital. It's pretty fascinating. I have also learned a great deal about myself.

As for other sciences, virtual reality is being explored for original and useful applications. My partner is getting his masters in applied science and is working on combining a light-point scan of a cave with virtual reality. His focus is geology, but he's had to learn some programing and new software (which you have already demonstrated a knack for). There have been corporations coming to look at what that department has been doing and how they might use virtual reality for, say, education. He's excited about the work he's doing.

Anyway. I understand the desire to pursue higher education, and I think it's valid. It sounds like after a rough year, you need a personal win/accomplishment of some kind. It also sounds like you want something that appropriately challenges you. Correct me if I'm off here, but it sounds like what you're doing comes easily to you and while you mention others not respecting what you do, you're not really sure if you respect what you do either. That's important. Because while others can say to you "fuck what other people think" (indeed), it won't matter if you're not respecting what you're doing. Other people don't want the same things you do, and there are plenty of people who don't need a higher degree to respect their work and feel fulfilled. There are people who regret spending time on degrees for the sake of getting a degree. That's valid, too. You'll have to figure out what you want and what it will require to satisfy your need to respect your own work. If you do go for a degree, I would recommend seeking out a degree that puts you in contact with people who are working in the field you're interested in. Otherwise, yeah, you could just study on your own, at your leisure. It's the piece of paper, but it's also the contacts you make and the resources that become available to you.

So. Consider the advice you get, consider your own thoughts and fears about making this choice, and trust your instincts. I hope you end up making a decision you feel good about. And for an added cliche, as my father once told me, you don't always get to put one foot on the other side of the creek while keeping the other foot safely planted. Sometimes, you jump.

[che]

Ive been feeling unfulfilled. To be quite honest, I've been feeling inferior too. Inferior to those with degrees and education through university. I envy that they have knowledge and will one day be practitioners or even leaders in their field of expertise. Even to have a field of expertise is something worthwhile. I myself have only completed a course in IT and I feel like I'm wasting my potential. I dont particularly like IT, I dont find my job particularly challenging, and even more-so, I feel I get very little respect for what I do. My job though has its perks. Such as 3 months paid leave per year and an abundant amount of down time, its 5 minutes from home and pretty much a dream job for anyone who doesnt care about staying here forever - which I do not want to. I need something more.

Im 27 this year, I have been working this position for over 6 years, I have no other qualifications, I plan to buy a home soon and move out (after a failed relationship, this has made things more difficult and stressful) and I have the urge to go and study something, but I feel like at 27 its too late from a financial perspective. I cannot prioritize education over owning a home, for if i dont buy now while I can afford too, I most certainly never will. I have been trying to find a way to do both, but it really doesn't seem possible. It makes me resent where I live, as living costs, house prices and education fees are higher than almost anywhere in the world (especially if we can combine the three into an average overall sum).

I really am at a loss here. All of my friends are graduating or have graduated a long time ago, and here I am sitting in my computer chair scumming through the mediocrity I have created for myself. I often think back to when I was 18 or 20 and yell at myself to study at university instead of working my way towards materialistic bullshit by wasting those precious years at McDonalds and various retailers.


Is it too late? Can I achieve what I want to? How do I do it? I know these are hard questions for you to answer since there really isn't any active Australian users anymore, but I would still really appreciate your insight as you people are some of the most interesting and intelligent people I know.

After a failed relationship? What? Weren't you getting married? It's not too late from a financial perspective if you are buying a house as a single male. The only thing is, you're tying yourself down to a mortgage and you're gonna stay right there. You're 27 years young, there is NOTHING wrong with you and you have everything ahead of you.

Real Estate is a good business. For the most part its only going to increase in value (esp as you take care of it and add value). So once its paid off, you can sell for more with inflation, etc. What do you want to do with the degree you plan to pursue that you can't do on your own? You mentioned IT, you can teach yourself certifications for free if you're a motivated individual. You can even get into coding as well (super fun stuff because you're building something).

Honestly, I'm 30, i wish i had 3 more years to be 30, but even 30 isn't too late. Do what you want to fucking do, son. Nobody is stopping you except you.

In my life, I'd consider not buying the house. Don't get involved in a mortgage that makes you stay somewhere even if it is good real estate in 15 years, etc. Learn everything you can. Don't spend all your money, though. And you're gonna be fine. There are other girls?

[loaf]

Dont buy drugs

[che]

Ok bruh, definition of shitposting! ^

[Spooniest]

Dont buy drugs

...Become a pop star and they give you them for free