The Official bachelors degree or higher regular academic posters thread.

[Hunter10139]

My son just graduated from UT with the same. He is waiting to hear back from a local boat manufacturer after a really positive interview.

Good luck to him!

 

[GroverCleveland]

BBA - Management Information Systems officially.
also earned a batchelors in Management, which has been a 20+ year dispute with the school. Occasionally they make a mistake and call me wanting money.

 

[UnkieVol]

BA in History from TN Tech.

Went back after that for a Post Baccalaureate education endorsement. I could have paid extra for those classes to count towards a Masters. I didn't. Not sure if I regret that or not.

Either way, I've worked in education for the better part of 15 years. Taught middle and high school history/English, and GED classes at a prison. Now I'm the Education Counselor there. It's a position that ranks somewhere between guidance counselor and assistant principal.

 

[GVF]

I already posted mine. But...My son is coming on his final year for a BS/Chem-Bio Chem at TnTech. He will fastrack his MS, so next year will count toward both and he will only go one more and will get paid 15-18K during that final year. He has funded all of it and paid monthly payments to keep his debt down. He will leave owing less than 17K in loans. He has done his summer research projects for a professor analyzing space compounds and moelcules and has proofed it, presented his results at an Orlando conference in October. Wowed a few recruiters that didn't beleive he was presenting that kind of research and success as an undergrad. Got post grad Masters study offers from UT, AU, NC State, Baylor, UGA and somewhere else on the spot. Furthered the research during this school year and is currently touching down to present again at a sister conference in San Diego. He's doing all the right things to include with a resume. Not bad for a two sport athlete from a po-dunk rural HS. His gf from same HS is a pre-Vet major at TnTech and is in Costs Rica for a month doing intern type work and also works PT at a local vet. They are joined at the hip and will build a good life together. I'm a bragger. Sue me.

 

[Skooter]

BS Communications. Business minor. PHD in life experiences. Went into sales after gaining experience with the Daily Beacon selling ads and been in sales and business development since in medsurg with focus on launching startups the last 15 years.

 

[Orangesmokey]

BA in Sociology (worthless major) from UT in 1999

JD from Thomas Jefferson SOL (worthless law school) in 2004

Passed the bar exam on my first attempt, despite the worthless major and law school

What you get your degree in and where you go to school doesn’t really matter. If you are a hard worker and street smart you can do just fine, even if you don’t even go to college.

Trade schools are also a great alternative for folks to make a good living. There is a shortage of trade workers now, so they can make some really good money.

I can tell you in the automotive business we are short techs. No one wants to work on cars anymore. We are having to find kids that are good employees and turn them into techs but providing tools or a path to get tools and the training that the manufacturer offers.

If you are already an established tech you can pretty much name your price because they want to keep who they have. I know diesel techs that are making 75 or more an hour because even less want to work on that big heavy equipment

 

[GVF]

I can tell you in the automotive business we are short techs. No one wants to work on cars anymore. We are having to find kids that are good employees and turn them into techs but providing tools or a path to get tools and the training that the manufacturer offers.

If you are already an established tech you can pretty much name your price because they want to keep who they have. I know diesel techs that are making 75 or more an hour because even less want to work on that big heavy equipment

That's what I don't get. My nephew went to marine mechanic school and flew by with ease. He was #2 in class. They offered him marine diesel cert for free and he declined. Granted, he scores very high IQ. Just had troubles. Did work in the industry maybe down around Biloxi for a bit, but got propeller bit on a hand and had trouble healing from the water bacteria. also relapsed into some addictions during those medicated times. Would be bank rolling easily. Still got HVAC certs and has a great job. Field crew leader now. Clean 7+ years. Makes 65+. Prob double that had he accepted the marine diesel cert offer. HS diploma, a period of substance issues. And yet does well because he got trained and certified. People complain about these service jobs lacking living wages. They weren't supposed to. They were supposed to be for HS and college students by design, except for the GM & AM. These companies are so desparate they will hire you and provide the free training and certs. You don't have to pay for your own trade school training. You can start as an electrician apprentice $17-20/hr while they train and cert you. Then $24-27/hr as you advance. Make journeyman in a couple years now and have a great life. These youngins need to grow a pair, quit protesting, and go be men.

The great thing about auto mechanic these days is just being able to follow directions on how to replace something. The modern diagnostic equipment will tell you most all you need to know that is wrong.

 

[Orangesmokey]

That's what I don't get. My nephew went to marine mechanic school and flew by with ease. He was #2 in class. They offered him marine diesel cert for free and he declined. Granted, he scores very high IQ. Just had troubles. Did work in the industry maybe down around Biloxi for a bit, but got propeller bit on a hand and had trouble healing from the water bacteria. also relapsed into some addictions during those medicated times. Would be bank rolling easily. Still got HVAC certs and has a great job. Field crew leader now. Clean 7+ years. Makes 65+. Prob double that had he accepted the marine diesel cert offer. HS diploma, a period of substance issues. And yet does well because he got trained and certified. People complain about these service jobs lacking living wages. They weren't supposed to. They were supposed to be for HS and college students by design, except for the GM & AM. These companies are so desparate they will hire you and provide the free training and certs. You don't have to pay for your own trade school training. You can start as an electrician apprentice $17-20/hr while they train and cert you. Then $24-27/hr as you advance. Make journeyman in a couple years now and have a great life. These youngins need to grow a pair, quit protesting, and go be men.

The great thing about auto mechanic these days is just being able to follow directions on how to replace something. The modern diagnostic equipment will tell you most all you need to know that is wrong.

Auto mechanic's have a lot more diag equipment now. The problem is electrical issues. These cars are very complex and can be very difficult to diag correctly.

We have about three really good techs. The problem we are running into now is they know they have to turn XX amount of hours to make XX amount of dollars and they are not hungry to turn more hours to make more money. Drives me nuts because it effects me and my department.

 

[GVF]

Auto mechanic's have a lot more diag equipment now. The problem is electrical issues. These cars are very complex and can be very difficult to diag correctly.

We have about three really good techs. The problem we are running into now is they know they have to turn XX amount of hours to make XX amount of dollars and they are not hungry to turn more hours to make more money. Drives me nuts because it effects me and my department.

I have a 96 Dakota that would rival any knew car on electrical issues. It's on its 3rd bout just since i've had it with exact same issue. You might get it back up in short order. May be a while. I'ts been down close to a year now.

 

[Go aeiou]

BA in History from TN Tech.

Went back after that for a Post Baccalaureate education endorsement. I could have paid extra for those classes to count towards a Masters. I didn't. Not sure if I regret that or not.

Either way, I've worked in education for the better part of 15 years. Taught middle and high school history/English, and GED classes at a prison. Now I'm the Education Counselor there. It's a position that ranks somewhere between guidance counselor and assistant principal.

Would Masters have paid more?

 

[utvolpj]

Degree in econ and now I'm in IT. Makes sense right?

My oldest son is really smart but has already told us he wants to be an electrician instead of going to college. Good thing is the FL scholarships still pay for trade school. I was not sure about it at first but after some reading it appears he will do better with that path than college.

 

[Orangesmokey]

Degree in econ and now I'm in IT. Makes sense right?

My oldest son is really smart but has already told us he wants to be an electrician instead of going to college. Good thing is the FL scholarships still pay for trade school. I was not sure about it at first but after some reading it appears he will do better with that path than college.

I have a friend of mine that is about three years younger than me and for a long time just did odd jobs and just kind of got by. He finally made the decision to become an electrician and worked his butt off and now he has a house and 4/5 acres of land. The land is paid for and he said if he keeps going with his current path he will have his house paid for in 15 years. If your son really likes the work he will be much better financially off.

Good luck to him and hopefully its something he enjoys doing.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

2 associates and a bachelor's.
Might get a second bachelor's.
50/50 shot I end up with a masters.

 

[Ritzwatch]

Degrees and stuff from UT and UNC-CH. Slogging away ever since.
Making my way in the world today, takes everything I've got. Taking a break from all my worries sure would help a lot.
Sometimes I'd just like to get away. Sometimes I wanna go where everybody knows my name, and they are always glad I came. I wanna be where I can see our troubles are all the same. Anybody else?

 

[YankeeVol]

Degree in econ and now I'm in IT. Makes sense right?

My oldest son is really smart but has already told us he wants to be an electrician instead of going to college. Good thing is the FL scholarships still pay for trade school. I was not sure about it at first but after some reading it appears he will do better with that path than college.

I've been told by many recruiters that outside of a specialty (medical, etc), the degree doesn't really matter nor the school.

 

[hog88]

I've been told by many recruiters that outside of a specialty (medical, etc), the degree doesn't really matter nor the school.

For entry level positions other than drivers, techs, equipment operators we've limited hiring to college grads. At least 1/2 of the college grad applicants can actually read, write, do basic math and use spell/grammar check. HS diploma anymore probably 1/4 or less.

 

[utvolpj]

I've been told by many recruiters that outside of a specialty (medical, etc), the degree doesn't really matter nor the school.

My first job out of college it was only required to have a 4yr degree. They hired 400-500 grads each year to churn thru the training program. I talked my way into an IT job after 6yrs with them and it was a great move for me.

 

[McDad]

Degrees and stuff from UT and UNC-CH. Slogging away ever since.
Making my way in the world today, takes everything I've got. Taking a break from all my worries sure would help a lot.
Sometimes I'd just like to get away. Sometimes I wanna go where everybody knows my name, and they are always glad I came. I wanna be where I can see our troubles are all the same. Anybody else?

Not me, but Cheers anyway.

 

[GVF]

Degree in econ and now I'm in IT. Makes sense right?

My oldest son is really smart but has already told us he wants to be an electrician instead of going to college. Good thing is the FL scholarships still pay for trade school. I was not sure about it at first but after some reading it appears he will do better with that path than college.

It all comes down to what their interest really is whether the college expense is questionable. We left door wide open for our son to choose college or trade school. Or appentice program even. Our only demand was if he preferred to bypass college, he would choose trade school for whatever interested him and would not waste that formidable mind God gave him being a job flunkie. I suppose he was floundering with his decision to do college because Chem was his 4th major before he said he chose something he really liked. Went from Ag to Cyber Security to Civil Eng to Chem then started making really good grades and showing effort and interest. He seems quite attracted to the research aspect. I offered advice but didn't ding him for all hte changed majors and getting behind because he was handling his own ed.

Kudos to your son. Personally, I'd rather hire a really smart electrician to do work at the house, but that's just me. If that really interests him, he will enjoy it and do good. If he has the smarts you say, I'd encourage him to mix in some entrepreneurial classes at trade school. He may open his own contractor biz one day.

 

[GVF]

I've been told by many recruiters that outside of a specialty (medical, etc), the degree doesn't really matter nor the school.

It shows ability to focus on achieving goals more than anything else. First plant manager that hired me out of grad school told me straight up afterwards that the only thing my MBA meant to him was that I showed I could set my mind on something and get it done because he knew it wasn't easy. Told me in two years what I do for him and can show on a resume would overshadow my schooling. But, OTOH, alot of desirable upper positions still needed that degree to get them regrdless once you got in. 50/50 in that company, but in alot of others to advance past department Manager you kinda needed it. Other than that he said I knew squat about textiles and he had to take care of that part. Well, all that and the fact I went and sat outside his office 3 mondays in a row. The 3rd pass, he called me in office, talked to me for a bit and hired me because I also showed persistence. You also can't think your mighty with those call letters on your diploma. Fresh MBA...spent first two weeks sweeping floors. Learned to run every job in plant at proudction levels. Then got my shift 10 months later...and knew exactly what someone had to do to run their job and how long it should take them...and all the lights clicked on. Then we went and got all tech savvy and impersonal in how you get jobs these days. I hate it for these fresh grads. At my age I've no clue what I'd do if I was thrust back into the market.

I do agree on the school choice. I've had interviewers ask me point blank if Freed-Hardeman was a brick and mortar school. And I'm thinking you can't be interviewing me and be that ignorant. If you wanted pre-med, pre-law or pre-eng it was then and still is one of the best pre-pro prep universities to go to down in the south. 95%+ pre-pro acceptance to finishing colleges. Plus there are lots of rather small schools that you don't know of that are academically excellent. I'd hang a Lipscomb business grad right up there with the typical top business school grads. What truly counts is what you did with your 4 years. Did you do summer co=ops or internships and such. Or did you just float four years and a diploma. The only TnTech engineer/science/tech grads that won't already have employment waiting in Jan are the few that didn't do anything other than the classes.

 

[GVF]

For entry level positions other than drivers, techs, equipment operators we've limited hiring to college grads. At least 1/2 of the college grad applicants can actually read, write, do basic math and use spell/grammar check. HS diploma anymore probably 1/4 or less.

I really hope that is embellished a bit.

 

[YankeeVol]

It shows ability to focus on achieving goals more than anything else. First plant manager that hired me out of grad school told me straight up afterwards that the only thing my MBA meant to him was that I showed I could set my mind on something and get it done because he knew it wasn't easy. Told me in two years what I do for him and can show on a resume would overshadow my schooling. But, OTOH, alot of desirable upper positions still needed that degree to get them regrdless once you got in. 50/50 in that company, but in alot of others to advance past department Manager you kinda needed it. Other than that he said I knew squat about textiles and he had to take care of that part. Well, all that and the fact I went and sat outside his office 3 mondays in a row. The 3rd pass, he called me in office, talked to me for a bit and hired me because I also showed persistence. You also can't think your mighty with those call letters on your diploma. Fresh MBA...spent first two weeks sweeping floors. Learned to run every job in plant at proudction levels. Then got my shift 10 months later...and knew exactly what someone had to do to run their job and how long it should take them...and all the lights clicked on. Then we went and got all tech savvy and impersonal in how you get jobs these days. I hate it for these fresh grads. At my age I've no clue what I'd do if I was thrust back into the market.

I do agree on the school choice. I've had interviewers ask me point blank if Freed-Hardeman was a brick and mortar school. And I'm thinking you can't be interviewing me and be that ignorant. If you wanted pre-med, pre-law or pre-eng it was then and still is one of the best pre-pro prep universities to go to down in the south. 95%+ pre-pro acceptance to finishing colleges. Plus there are lots of rather small schools that you don't know of that are academically excellent. I'd hang a Lipscomb business grad right up there with the typical top business school grads. What truly counts is what you did with your 4 years. Did you do summer co=ops or internships and such. Or did you just float four years and a diploma. The only TnTech engineer/science/tech grads that won't already have employment waiting in Jan are the few that didn't do anything other than the classes.

That's exactly what they've said.

I'm just in a weird spot. I have over 17 years of varying leadership and operations experience (it's transferring the skills over to the civilian market), but I've also only had my degrees since this past March (MBA) and '24 (BSGS).

The good news is that I'm not hurting for a job. I'm just not all that pleased with where I am. Hell, I made more money with only a HS diploma lol slinging cars.

Thankfully I've found some very good organizations that are designed to help veterans network (it's about who you know, not what you know).

 

[GVF]

That's exactly what they've said.

I'm just in a weird spot. I have over 17 years of leadership and operations experience (it's transferring the skills over to the civilian market). But I've also only had my degrees since this past March (MBA) and '24 (BSGS).

The good news is that I'm not hurting for a job. I'm just not all that pleased with where I am. Hell, I made more money with only a HS diploma lol.

Thankfully I've found some very good organizations that are designed to help veterans network (it's about who you know, not what you know).

You are in a different spot entirely. IMO, hiring you would be a no brainer experience wise. Miliary training is excellent. True some have a hard time adjusting when they leave. Civilian workplaces lack the regimine you are accustom to and it can be difficult. But, you obviously also were capable above mid-level grunt work and the path you have taken since leaving the auto lot business necessitates adding a degree or two to get to the level you are chasing.

Ex-military is not unlike a HS or college grad though. You either did your time at the lowest level thinking life would be grand after you got out, and it's not, because all you did was 4-8 more years of the same with nothing to show. OR you took advantage of what the military can do for you and you took the training and the jobs, etc, etc. You are in the latter, not the former. What the military does not do is train you how to transfer those skills effectively because the same guys that could help you live the same life. In my opinion, the easiest place for a vet to transfer to in civilian life if the skills were acquired is automotive sector mfg mgt jobs or similar. Far more regimented and disciplined than other sectors. Logistics also. Areospace mfg. Or a similar sector. Prime example for a vet opposite you, is a guy that is Asst Mgr at the bowling alley. Army vet, 2 or 3 deployments, etc. But, didn't move up into the positions like you with all that training. Now he's out and working for peanuts. He could be making alot more in the trades as a pipe fitter where he does have alot of experience but he wanted off the road. But, he lacks the military job resume and training that you have.

Nix the American U thing. I was thinking of something else. Maybe National Univ for on-base college degrees ????

 

[utvolpj]

It all comes down to what their interest really is whether the college expense is questionable. We left door wide open for our son to choose college or trade school. Or appentice program even. Our only demand was if he preferred to bypass college, he would choose trade school for whatever interested him and would not waste that formidable mind God gave him being a job flunkie. I suppose he was floundering with his decision to do college because Chem was his 4th major before he said he chose something he really liked. Went from Ag to Cyber Security to Civil Eng to Chem then started making really good grades and showing effort and interest. He seems quite attracted to the research aspect. I offered advice but didn't ding him for all hte changed majors and getting behind because he was handling his own ed.

Kudos to your son. Personally, I'd rather hire a really smart electrician to do work at the house, but that's just me. If that really interests him, he will enjoy it and do good. If he has the smarts you say, I'd encourage him to mix in some entrepreneurial classes at trade school. He may open his own contractor biz one day.

He really is a smart kid, especially math. He'll be a freshman and will take some dual enrollment classes starting this year at a local CC. If nothing else it will boost his gpa. There's a local university that offers a trade path along with a 2yr degree. It's private and not cheap but we've planned for it. Kid could be making bank at 20yo. But if he decides to go to college we've also made sure he will have the grades and scores to get in. The state of FL really has a good scholarships program set up

 

[YankeeVol]

You are in a different spot entirely. IMO, hiring you would be a no brainer experience wise. Miliary training is excellent. True some have a hard time adjusting when they leave. Civilian workplaces lack the regimine you are accustom to and it can be difficult. But, you obviously also were capable above mid-level grunt work and the path you have taken since leaving the auto lot business necessitates adding a degree or two to get to the level you are chasing.

Ex-military is not unlike a HS or college grad though. You either did your time at the lowest level thinking life would be grand after you got out, and it's not, because all you did was 4-8 more years of the same with nothing to show. OR you took advantage of what the military can do for you and you took the training and the jobs, etc, etc. You are in the latter, not the former. What the military does not do is train you how to transfer those skills effectively because the same guys that could help you live the same life. In my opinion, the easiest place for a vet to transfer to in civilian life if the skills were acquired is automotive sector mfg mgt jobs or similar. Far more regimented and disciplined than other sectors. Logistics also. Areospace mfg. Or a similar sector. Prime example for a vet opposite you, is a guy that is Asst Mgr at the bowling alley. Army vet, 2 or 3 deployments, etc. But, didn't move up into the positions like you with all that training. Now he's out and working for peanuts. He could be making alot more in the trades as a pipe fitter where he does have alot of experience but he wanted off the road. But, he lacks the military job resume and training that you have.

Nix the American U thing. I was thinking of something else. Maybe National Univ for on-base college degrees ????

Oh for sure, I just have to figure out what I want to do when I grow up lol.

Most installations have colleges on post. Columbia College (MO) is one. That's where I got my first Associates. Embry-Riddle, Central Texas College (CTC) and University of Maryland Global Campus are some others.

Austin Peay has a campus building separate from the education services building on Fort Campbell.

Fort Benning has Columbus State University (part of the USG), Embry-Riddle, Troy University, as well as CTC.

I wouldn't recommend AMU or similar schools.