So what do/did you study in college? Did you bother with college?

[Rel]

Our son will get a combination between the two of us. We will help him as much as he can but he will be responsible for at least a portion of the bill. I think that will enable him to go to college, but he will still have a stake in it to keep him somewhat serious about school.

I really think this is a good idea. I know that I'd have taken things more seriously when I went if I'd been paying for part of it myself. A good friend of mine's dad payed for his 2nd and 4th years. That meant that he had to save enough to get started and work while he was at school to pay for that 3rd year but he was able to coast a bit during his final year and save up some money to buy a car/pay for that first apartment, etc. when he was done with school. I've always thought I might do something like that for my daughter.

 

[Desdichado]

I am starting college this fall, and majoring in psychology. I guess we'll have to wait until later on to find out if I stick with it, new students are known for changing majors like mad.

I never once did. I have a B.A. and B.S. (that I couldn't decide on, and ended up qualifying for both) in Economics with a minor in History and an MBA. All from Texas A&M University, which is also where I grew up and where my father taught, incidentally.

 

[Old One]

Just curious- how were you all able to go to college? Did your parents foot the bill, or did you, or was it through loans and such (financal aid).

Courtesy of the US Taxpayer (and 5-Year military service commitment) !

I have a BS in General Engineering with a History Major (don't ask...strange service academy degree)...

I have also picked up my Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation and am fitfully working on both a Masters of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) degree and Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation.

~ OO

 

[Desdichado]

Just curious- how were you all able to go to college? Did your parents foot the bill, or did you, or was it through loans and such (financal aid).

I could never afford to go for longer then a semester, and my parents made to much money for me to get assistance (they refused to pay for my education). Now that I am adult, I have to do it part time and at JCs not Universities- can't afford to take that much time off.

A big scholarship floated most of my undergrad. Loans --which I'm still paying for, and will be for some time yet, sadly-- paid for my MBA.

 

[fett527]

well Rel, you're not the only one.

I statred in local Community College with no major. I had no idea what I wnated to do. Was motoring along, onthe dean's list, in advanced history classes and then spring came along. I just stopped going. I started working fulltime in retail/entertainment and it stayed that way for four years. I tried to go back and look at management courses ,but that didn't take. A friend intoduced me to computers and I took to it. I enrolled at a business college to get some ground up training (college coursework geared towards industry certification). I got a cert under my belt (A+ PC Tech) and got a job as a repair tech. I finshed the MCSE (Microsoft cert) and my career was solidified. I have Cisco certification as well and have been working as a Network Admin responsibile for all technology in our US location for 4.5 years now.

 

[IronWolf]

I really think this is a good idea. I know that I'd have taken things more seriously when I went if I'd been paying for part of it myself. A good friend of mine's dad payed for his 2nd and 4th years. That meant that he had to save enough to get started and work while he was at school to pay for that 3rd year but he was able to coast a bit during his final year and save up some money to buy a car/pay for that first apartment, etc. when he was done with school. I've always thought I might do something like that for my daughter.

The every other year plan would probably work well. I know I would have taken college much more seriously if I had had more of my own money involved. Though I don't really use my degree I think I learned a lot of things about life while in college that it was still worth it, but I somethings think I might have had a more applicable degree if more of my $$$ had funded it.

 

[CarlZog]

BA in Journalism from the University of Florida.

Went right from high school; spent five years; got a newspaper job with only two classes short of a degree. Didn't finish the two classes or get the degree 'til 15 years later.

As for finances, parents helped, plus student loans, but in-state tuition at the time (early/mid '80s) was pretty cheap.

After school, I spent 7 years in newspapers and magazines, then became a boat bum and eventually earned a USCG 500-ton ocean license.

Now I write books about marine navigation -- a nice land job that's allowed me to get back into gaming. I only bothered finishing the degree when I started thinking about teaching and going to grad school. Never needed it for anything else I've done.

Carl

 

[Greylock]

Six years of college, no degree. Had an advisor who let me sign up for any class that struck my fancy. After five years the University said I had to finish my "core" curriculum. Lasted only a semester or so after that. The advisor was a grad advisor and let me take any grad level courses I wanted. Finding myself in the amphitheater courses took the wind out of my sails.

Majored in Theater, Directing focus. Minored in History and Political Science. Took tons of courses in film, language and philosophy etc. Enough to have a bazillion minors.

 

[Mercule]

Just curious- how were you all able to go to college? Did your parents foot the bill, or did you, or was it through loans and such (financal aid).

Student loans. I'm still paying for mine 10 years later.

I'm sure I could have gotten grants and the like, but irresponsible doesn't even begin to describe me at that time.

 

[GlassJaw]

Bachelor of Science of Engineering with a concentration in Acoustics and Music from the University of Hartford. I went to college right after high school and graduated in 4 years. I took some grad classes but quickly realized I was done with homework.