Was going to college worth it?

Question

I guess college was not worth it for me personally. I'm still trying to find a job.

I graduated college over 3 years ago with a bachelors in history. I also went back to get certified to teach social studies in grades 4-8. I've also been to 5 teaching job fairs, applied to 30 school districts in the city I live in, and nothing has happened. I even signed up to do substituting this year since I can't find a teaching job and no one wants to hire me.

My past employment has landed me 5 jobs in the last 3 years making 10 dollars or less and most of those jobs were in retail. I've never been fired, I just got tired of going to those places, earning next to nothing, and seeing newly hired inexperienced people get paid more money than me. I wasn't lazy at those jobs. I worked hard, came in on time, never called off, and everyone liked working with me too. I just got sick and tired of working and making the equivalent what I was making at a grocery store while I was in college.

Was college worth it for you?

*Seems like all I do now is get depressed since nothing has worked out for me*

Answer 1

o wow yes. but i think it was because i chose a good career. i mean my roomate did music and she never found a job either.  i did Clinical Laboratory Science and i am so grateful to work at Johns Hopkins the best hospital in the country 18 yrs in a row. when i was first out of college i got every job i applied for all over the east coast. i make alot of money and most people my age (25) are really jealous and wish they had made this decision.  i am starting my masters in the fall and i just bought a house. they great thing is that my field is always going to be in high demand.  sorry you did not pick a good major as far a job demand.

Answer 2

Just an undergrad degree, unless it's from the ivy league, is like a high school degree used to be. You can at least build on yours rather than flip burgers.

Answer 3

Of course.  It would be even harder with just HS.  A lot of my friends in IT started out as teachers then did a masters in IT, and now have great jobs. It is very much an in demand field.  Just something to think about.

Thanks

Bill

Answer 4

Well, I feel for you, but your post and a couple of the responses really surprise me.  The fact that you haven't had any luck getting a teaching job  is plausible (sometimes there's just too much competition; it may be that the city you live in is just a dead-end job market); I'm just surprised that you haven't been able to get any other type of job making more than $10 an hour and that you've only worked in retail.  

I can agree with the idea that a Bachelor's degree doesn't mean riches.  But it typically means at least $30K.  I'm earning a Bachelor's degree now (I graduate in December), but for many years I was in the workforce without one -- essentially I had a high school degree and "some college" (about a year and a half's worth) for a long time.  I made more than $10 an hour, and I didn't work in retail.  

I live in Houston, and the job-market has always been super-lively here.  I can't think of a single time in which I have looked for a job and not gotten calls within at least two weeks of putting resumes out.  You may consider moving or something.  I'm serious.  There's no way you would not be able to get a job if you lived, for instance, where I live.  So many of the job listings I see say this: "Require Bachelor's Degree -- any major".  

P.S. I'm not literally suggesting you move to Houston.  I'm just saying....your city might be dead, and you might want to make a change.

My boyfriend has a "useless" degree (it's called "Plan 2" and is just a mix of liberal arts foolishness.)  He has a job making $44K a year.  A teaching one.

Addendum: No offense was meant to liberal arts.  My degree is also liberal arts "foolishness" :)