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Offline rich_t

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To degree or not to degree
« on: December 29, 2009, 08:35:24 PM »
I have grown to repsect the opinion of many members here.

I need an opinion or two.

I am a 44 year old non-degreed professional in the telecommunications field with a quarter of a century of hands on experience in the industry.

I am considering whether or not to spend the time and $$$ to get a degree in the field.

I know a lot of folks that I have worked with in the past that have degrees, but I made more than they did.

At this point in time it will cost me about $60-70K for a Bachelors degree in the field. 

I'm not sure that it will pay off at my age.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?
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Offline Chris

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2009, 08:44:54 PM »
I can't speak for myself, but I know other people that do similar jobs to yours.  A friend's husband runs the State of TN's WAN department... he has a BS in computer science from UT and makes well over $100k.  I have another friend who has an unrelated science degree (chemistry) but works as a network security specialist and made around $90k a year at his job.  He moved to Baltimore to work as an IT consultant, so I haven't seen him in a while.

Don't know what else to say, but I'm just putting that out there.  Do you plan on working for another 20 years?  You could make a lot of money in two decades.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2009, 08:50:58 PM »
Quote from: Chris on December 29, 2009, 08:44:54 PM
I can't speak for myself, but I know other people that do similar jobs to yours.  A friend's husband runs the State of TN's WAN department... he has a BS in computer science from UT and makes well over $100k.  I have another friend who has an unrelated science degree (chemistry) but works as a network security specialist and made around $90k a year at his job.  He moved to Baltimore to work as an IT consultant, so I haven't seen him in a while.

Don't know what else to say, but I'm just putting that out there.  Do you plan on working for another 20 years?  You could make a lot of money in two decades.

Well, I do plan on working for another 20 years, but it will take about 6 to get the degree as a part time student.

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Offline IassaFTots

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2009, 09:12:46 PM »
Rich, were you planning to get a degree in telecom, or IT? 
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Offline Eupher

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2009, 10:16:28 PM »
The bennies you'll get when you begin a degree program start happening almost immediately. First of all, your company may have education benefits -- not that you haven't checked -- but there's a good chance they'll pay for some of it or all of it.

Promotions can occur toward the "higher" levels as long as you're working a degree program. So the payoff may happen even before you get your sheepskin.

Just the experience of going to school and steadily working toward a tangible goal can do wonders for you in so many ways -- it's tough and it can be a PITA, but I strongly urge you to dive into it.

It's never too late. I finished my BA at the age of 37, precisely 20 years after graduation from high school. There was no better feeling in the world than walking across that stage.

Good luck!
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Offline Rick

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2009, 10:31:29 PM »
I am 15 years ahead of you on that curve. I never got past my Air Force Tech school, and have regretted not going for a more advance degree. I worked for Apple, bringing out the first Lisa's and Mac's. I made 100K as an independent contractor on some military projects.  But I was looking away, head to the grind stone, and technology passed me by. Laws/tax codes change. I could not get into that business now.  I work as a mechanic.  I would vote to go for it.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2009, 09:57:54 PM »
Quote from: IassaFTots on December 29, 2009, 09:12:46 PM
Rich, were you planning to get a degree in telecom, or IT? 

Telecom.
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Offline debk

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2009, 10:06:25 PM »
Just had this discussion today...

Sometimes it just matters that you have a degree....I have never used mine, specifically(BA in Sociology w concentration in Criminal Justice) ...but there have been times that it mattered that I had one.

I had a chance to apply for law school 15 years ago and didn't. Now, I know that I couldn't get in (here at UT) and I'm too old. Many many regrets....

If you can afford it....not just money, but the time it will take for class and particularly studying....go for it. Better to go and possibly not complete, than to never try and always regret.

Good luck!! :bow:

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Offline Chris

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2009, 10:08:38 PM »
True.  The security consultant I mentioned has a degree in chemistry.  Another network admin I met had a degree in music.  A project manager I know has some other unrelated degree as well.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2009, 10:08:53 PM »
I found out today that the company I am contracting for offers 100% tuition reimbursement once/if I hire on permanent.

 :cheersmate:
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Offline IassaFTots

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2009, 10:16:37 PM »
Suhweat!

And, Telecom is very "niche-y"  Very good idea.  If the $$ is taken care of, then it is just an issue of time management, and I don't doubt that you can handle that. 

I say, go for it!
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Offline Oceander

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2009, 10:26:15 PM »
Quote from: rich_t on December 30, 2009, 10:08:53 PM
I found out today that the company I am contracting for offers 100% tuition reimbursement once/if I hire on permanent.

 :cheersmate:

Here's to your future degree, sir!  :cheersmate:
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Offline Thor

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2009, 10:30:01 PM »
rich, he who hesitates is lost. One of my regrets right now is that I didn't pursue a degree after my Navy career. I was too busy providing for my family. NOW, I look and think that I made a dumbass decision. I retired from the Navy at 37. I could have had my degree by 42/43 at latest. However, I DID gain a lot of experience in the telecom field, but that hasn't really profited me, at least not in the last 9 years.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2009, 10:34:04 PM »
Quote from: Thor on December 30, 2009, 10:30:01 PM
rich, he who hesitates is lost. One of my regrets right now is that I didn't pursue a degree after my Navy career. I was too busy providing for my family. NOW, I look and think that I made a dumbass decision. I retired from the Navy at 37. I could have had my degree by 42/43 at latest. However, I DID gain a lot of experience in the telecom field, but that hasn't really profited me, at least not in the last 9 years.

What kind of telecom work have you done?
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Offline Thor

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #14 on: December 31, 2009, 10:18:13 AM »
Quote from: rich_t on December 30, 2009, 10:34:04 PM
What kind of telecom work have you done?

I started with Cable TV, then moved into Cable Internet for the City of St Paul (via Continental Cable), managing all of the cable modems and transport/ distribution systems for the City of St Paul and some State Govt Offices. Then I took a job in St Cloud, MN helping to install the cable telephone system including the Homeworx platform and the associated SONET equipment, managing it after the install. I also managed the SONET equipment for the cable internet for that company.
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Offline SVPete

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #15 on: December 31, 2009, 11:08:52 AM »
rich, I had heard of your need for a job - about a year ago - and am glad to hear that you found something with a potential to become "permanent". The desirability of pursuing a college degree later in life depends on the expectations of your industry, your career path and potential employers. I've known a goodly number of non-degreed engineers here in Silicon Valley, including some in senior manglement. But there are fields where that "piece of paper" is required or is a key to unlock necessary doors. Hope your situation works out; perhaps taking a few classes at a JC will be a not too expensive signal to your current employer that bringing you on as permanent would be a good idea.
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: To degree or not to degree
« Reply #16 on: December 31, 2009, 12:22:42 PM »
Rich, a lot of good comments above, like debk's.  If they have tuition reimbursement, you're a fool not to go for the degree. 
Even without the reimbursement, there is a signal factor to the whole thing that goes 'way beyond just looking at ROI in wages for the cost of getting it.  Not going for it looks like "Stick a fork in me, I have developed as far as I'm ever going to go."  Going for it says "I am still building my skills, mentally active and upwardly mobile."  If you were a manager, which one would you try to keep around after the next 'Right-sizing' event?   
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