re: Who here didn't go to college but found a career that they succeeded in?

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someone who has no degree on average makes more than someone who has one over their lifetime.

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Is this from the book of totally made up facts? Or am I just reading this sentence incorrectly.

It is well documented that average salary for people with a degree is higher that that of someone with only a high school diploma. In fact I've seen articles state that the average salary of high school educated workers is going in the negative direction (when including inflation) compared to college degree holders.

Yes, you can make good money without a college degree. Yes, a lot of self made people do not have degrees. But on average, you will not make more. And those who do not own their own company USUALLY only make good money if they are busting their arse. I work with a good bit of people who technically are in a "lower" position than what I am in, but they make double what I do in some instances. They also work 16+ hour days for weeks at a time. If you broke down my salary as hourly, I make more than double what they do.

It is almost impossible to come into my field and become the manager without a college degree at this point. And I don't even think that's completely fair. But it is what it is. I've seen two middle management people basically get pushed off of the ladder at a certain point because they do not have a degree. And it's honestly not fair, because they were very good at their job.

(no message)

No, I work in petroleum engineering, but not drilling.

Ok because I just posted this in the good morning thread

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Well this job will never end. We are coming out of the hole again because of another dumb decision by somebody sitting behind a desk in Houston even though they were advised against it

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And said person behind the desk has the initials KG

My BIL has a service company that does work in your portion of the oilfield. I'd be surprised if you didn't know him

Eta saw you edited so I did too

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I'd wager if you take away technical degrees, the success/failure rate of college grads isn't that much different than those that didn't graduate.

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I'd take that bet in a heartbeat but we have to define success and failure. Is it purely financial? Is success defined in happiness?

Objectively, the average college grad makes substantially more over a life time than average college drop out or one with just a high school degree.
Is that definite to everyone? Obviously not but we are looking at big picture averages.

Now, who is happier of more fulfilled with life; a college grad or drop out? I have no idea on that average, but I'd bet grads are generally happier than non grads. Who knows because that's so subjective.

I think the most telling fact is that you see parents w/o a degree pushing their kids to school (as admitted in this thread) but you don't often see college grad parents telling their kids to stay out of school.

Oilfield
Started in 92 two weeks after I graduated high school. Always made good money. Broke $100,000 a year about 1999. Started consulting in 2010 and make well over $300,000 a year now. There is always that concern when the market is bad like it is now but so far I've been blessed to always keep a job.

Left college after 5 semesters, frick that shite. My dad's business was struggling so I used that as my excuse to drop out. I was 21 when I took over. We did well and sold the business to fund a startup. By this time I was 25 and we were making good money. I was in a lot of debt but I was making in the 80's on a good year.

Long story short we made some big gambles that paid off and we sold three days before my 30th birthday. We made it out with enough money for my parents, sisters (no pics), and myself to be very comfortable as long as we were smart with our money.

I'm 32 now, and work part time doing things I enjoy. I don't need much to be comfortable. Too many people spend too much time trying to collect money that they forget to enjoy the little things. The idea of having a million dollar home is lost on me, it's something I will never be able to relate to.

School is great, but it wasn't for me. With TOPS there is no reason for anyone in Louisiana to not jump on board LSU's degree train.

I worked for a company for 6 yrs after high school and really wasnt going any where so then I quit and started my own business in the same industry to compete with my previous employer. You can bet how good that went over with them lol. 3 years later I'm making good money for myself and starting a second business now.

I never went to college, wish I did though sometimes just to have the knowledge of different fields. Also, I probably would of started making good money sooner and may even be making more by now. IDK but the one thing I do know is I doubt if I would of met my fiance if I went to college so I can't complain too much. If I did go to college it would of been for engineering of some kind or architecture. I like building things. Sometimes I think if I get both of my businesses to a steady point where they run themselves I'll go to college in my 30s for one of those. Who knows.

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Exactly. I think most people who go to college realize it has value beyond enhanced earnings potential.

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What's bizarre about this statement is it's becoming more and more common to pass over someone with 4 years of experience to hire someone with a history degree. Makes zero sense but it's been drilled into peoples heads that any degree, will trump experience 9 times out of 10. It's the sad reality.

It's bullshite, but it appears it will not be changing anytime soon.