Is a University Degree a Waste of Money? 

You need 25 years experience and a degree by 18 to be hired.

Who else learnt more from RU-vid than school?

That University teacher said it correctly. They are "selling" education!

College is where professors make a living.

Honestly, finding a job is like trying to fit into a club, if they don't like you, you don't get the job

Employers want 30 years experience from 20 year olds.

Wanted to provide an update on these individuals: - Christian is now a software developer - Claire is now a strategy consultant in the public relations field - Jenna is now a 6th grade school teacher while running a small business on the side As depressing and sobering as this video is, things all seemed to work out well for these three young individuals at the end despite how bleak it looked for them at the time of this video recording. This is a sign for everyone out there to keep your head up!!

Claire is underemployed, despite how much she tries to passify the situation. Her "situation" doesn't matter in the least, you're an underemployed bartender.

Today having a college degree is like having a high school diploma 20 years ago.

It’s just like what Syndrome said in Incredibles: *when everyone’s super, no one will be*

This episode’s sooooooo depressing

For anyone wondering where these people are now, Christian works as a software designer and Clair works in business development and communications for an architect company. I’m so glad things turned around for them.

I live in the US. I have a degree and I’m working an entry level job. Most of my co-workers have a high school diploma. My degree is basically toilet paper.

A degree is not worth much when everyone has got one!!!

My employee makes $30 an hour and has worked for me for 14 months. He’s 22 years old with a high school diploma and a strong work ethic. I trained him to operate all the concrete pumps we own and paid for him to get his Class A license. He and his wife just had their second baby and bought their first house just outside of Sacramento Ca. He has not hit his wage ceiling either. He started working for me making $20 an hour. You don’t need a degree to survive in 2020 you just can’t be afraid of working hard. Lord knows my education is poor! Haha High School GED recipient here and 15 years self employed!

big difference between “professional degrees” and “general degrees” you don’t see nurses, accountants, social workers, or (most) engineers complaining, they’re professional degrees general degrees (most B. Sc, B.A...etc) are research and academic based and require further education to work in their fields

*gets a college Ad right before this video

i have a two year degree and in most of my recent jobs my bosses have less education than i do .. i believe its all about who you know not what you know

Having degree is like you increase your chances of getting Job, it doesn't mean if you got degree you got a job.

Employers don't want degrees they want work experience.

First life lesson: there’s no such a thing as “stable lifestyle”.

I’m shocked that engineering major couldn’t get anything. I had 3 offers as a finance major

Rule One: When leaving with a degree, be willing to go anywhere for the $$. Goal is to destroy the debt, get experience, move on. When you become stuck in wanting to live in a certain area, problems are a real possibility. Life style is a choice, and it can be quite expensive.

This is why us Gen Z kids in high school are freaking out so much.

This is so so sad, makes you want to give up everything and just live in a cabin in the woods

I feel sorry for all of the students in that Sociology class, how are they going to get a job with a Sociology degree?

The problem starts from high school so many teachers and counsellors tell you that university is the best way to be successful and you won’t go far in life if you don’t. Which is a lie. Now the problem with university is that it teaches you a lot about what is ( theory and factual) and not enough practical stuff like how to apply yourself to the real world. Practical learning meaning matching what u learn to real world jobs. But the job market is just crap now

'Networking' is nothing more than using someone to get a job.

It's disturbing listening to a young person of high intelligence not being able to find work suited to their education.

When I was in college I always wondered why some people had so much time to scroll social media feeds day and night and party all weekend. When they graduated, most of them didn't land a job and complained about life. The ones who did had parents who knew people.

Unless you’re gonna be a doc, lawyer, engineer, or teacher (maybe)... then NO

I wish I could go back in time and NOT get my Bachelor's degree. I would have $55,000 less debt and probably still have the same job I have now.

Yes, my university degree was expensive and not worth the price.

MOST university degrees aren’t meant to give you jobs!! Unless you do a professional degree like engineer, accountant, doctor...etc. Otherwise people are going into research and academia! If you aren’t interested in research then don’t go!! Trade schools/ Colleges are meant to give you jobs!! I’ll be actually surprised the day trade school can’t give you a job, when plumbers and electricians can’t find work anywhere instead

To be honest education should less expensive ; reason being everything is on the internet, liberary. Education is watered down anyway.

And these companies claim they can't ever find qualified applicants. A big lie.

I remember when I was in high school my parents would tell me about how getting a degree and going to a good school was the ticket to a good job. I was always skeptical of that claim and challenged them whenever the topic arose. I thought university degrees were overrated and that a lousy piece of paper doesn't guarantee anything. It turns out I was right. Nowadays, they are worth even less because everyone has one. Having one doesn't mean you'll be good at your job, it only means you've fulfilled a societal requirement. Question everything, don't blindly listen to what you're told, no matter who told you. Do your own research and make an informed decision yourself.

I’m real mad because i went to a 4 year college and was not able to find a stable career how upsetting I believe Trade schools are the way to go.

A STEM degree like electrical engineering is a good investment, but the liberal arts... Not so much.

Go to a community college. Save money, transfer. Good night

1:25 if you are getting an Engineering degree, you need experience and internships outside of school. Its a very competitive field and just having the degree wont get your feet off the ground

The only thing to mention, after completing university it took me about 3 years to land a full time job in my field. 9 months isn't long enough. Even in the 80's when my mother completed her degree, it took her 2 years to find a job. It's one of those things that it may take a while to land that career based on the university degree.

His answer is right in front of him! He can design and build a prosthetic leg for his dog. It could be a jumpstart to create a company that designs and manufactures prosthetics for pets.

If your parents, relatives don't hook you up to their jobs or to someone they know. It will take you ages to get a job. The school system is broken

And I'm over here making 140k doing roofing sales and was debating in going to school at 26. I'd rather try to build my own team at this point.

I am now retired and living in a large US city. Each generation has its own challenges. My father's generation came home from WW 2 and had difficulty getting a job. My father worked in a large Fortune 500 corporation. In college I asked my father what I should do. He said "find a large corporation and work your whole life for them." I did so-but 1.5 years into the job they announced they were closing our regional office and I was out of work because I did not want to transfer. My generation was the beginning of a generation where there was almost no chance of working a career with one company and getting a pension. Here I am at 66. I have worked for EIGHT different companies plus one I started myself. One thing that does not change is relationships. Always work to build contacts and relationships in your neighborhood, in your church, wherever you shop--look for your next job. Always be looking young people!

I also graduated back in the Great Recession. Terrible terrible terrible time to graduate. There were no jobs. No way to get work experience in your major. No options. It was a nightmare.

As an undergraduate, pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science, watching these videos really cranks up my diagnosed depression and anxiety. That ever looming question of job security and financial security really does numbers to one's mental health. Yikes.

Go to school and get an internship on the side. I started out bagging groceries, and fixing computers on the side. Then I landed a gig installing computer monitors at an iconic global IT company. A few years later I work on servers and virtual machines. Now I’m back in school for networking. You just have to keep at it. It’s a balance between education and experience.

*810 people are still hoping their degree will bring them something they're never going to get...*

The bar tender pretending that the degree she has is the reason she can grow in that company. Some people have intelligence and can progress through work experience without an actual 5 yr degree. It doesn’t take a degree to grow in a job. 😅

A guy with an engineering degree can't find a job out of 250 applications? There's more to that story...

Going to college was the biggest mistake of my life.

I'm an American who skipped college all together and went straight into the military after high school. And I'm so glad I did, this whole "go to school and you'll get a great job" lie is something that needs to stop. I have no degree in anything, yet I'm making $30 an hour doing security in Texas. Now that I have lived a few years and got some life experience under my belt, I'm finally able to put my energy towards something I know for a fact I wanna do.

I graduated in 2017. I didn't get my first engineering job until 2019. I have a great engineering job now but I was incredibly lucky. Now that I think about it, most of the engineering grads I know are unemployed/underemployed. Anecdotally, I would say all arts degrees are a waste of money, almost all science degrees are a waste of money, and most engineering degrees are a waste of money.

Kids sitting around the family table listening to their parents and grand parents telling stories of their careers, life chances, they think and are encouraged to continue along the same path, WRONG, the world the parents knew is gone, the jobs with promotion guaranteed are gone, you had better be prepared to work many jobs, in many areas for less than your parents, no job security at all, don't listen to the people who sell you yesterdays dreams, THINK long and hard about what you want, if it is job for money get one out of school, work up within for low money, you have experience, this alone is worth a lot to prospective employers, they will pay you more, you will be in demand, this is better than student debt, dashed expectations, get real for today's employment.

I never finished college. I have no student debt. I was always was good with money. I work for a company. I have a house and my car is paid off. I have no kids and I am looking towards my future now.

I went back to school to finish my Computer Science degree, and I was shocked in my 3rd/4th year classes when we had to do a group project and no one even knew what a framework was or how to setup a database.. so many math/logic/theory classes yet no practical skills taught

When people ask me "what i do for a living" i tell them "i earn money" 👏

If applying for a lower level job, DO NOT list your degree! You will no longer be overqualified 😎

I went to trade schools and that’s what worked best for me. Simply because I wasn’t that academic. A 4 year degree is not for everyone.

9:46 homeboy is left handed and these chairs weren't built for him :(

I can definitely relate .. I went to college after 4years of life skills and training in practical works , worked as driver, farm products processing, wholesale distribution, security , business project planning.... Now I'm 26 and finishing my degree but it was never my main focus, I worked where ever I knw thy is something to be learnt...

This engineering student chose not to do an internship. It was his mistake. I did 3 internships, got great experience and references. Plus a full time job upon graduation

A university degree in the US costs too much.

Networking is just as important as getting the degree... Who you know if just as important as what you know

Watch again this video a few years later, still feeling heartbroken. In 2016, I applied for probably over 200 jobs but get nothing. It was THE darkest year in my life. Thank God I made it through eventually.

I think the problem Christian is having with these jobs at delis and Staples is he's "overqualified". Basically, these places are looking at his resume, seeing a degree in mechanical engineering, and reasoning that as soon as this guy lands a mechanical engineering job, he's gonna leave, and they have to hire a new employee, train them, give them benefits, etc. so it's ultimately a waste to hire him when there are people who need those jobs and are going to stay at those jobs and be committed to them. They don't want deli slicers, they want future managers and franchise owners. Messed up, I know. But it's an explanation.

Hence why people are having little little to no kids

11:08 This scene sums it. They are clearly studying and getting something useful from the university.

Yes it is a waste of money. Psychology graduate here. Can only find minimum wage work. Nothing has changed since I graduated, except I actually find it harder to find a job because I am overqualified. If you can learn it from a book, don't waste your money going to a university. Complete f***ng waste of time

I took out 50k in loans to pay for college and received a degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in material science engineering. My gpa is pretty low at 3.1 but I applied to everywhere I could. I did have several interviews at places near home but nothing stuck. I decided ultimately that I should be willing to relocate and I found a job at a place a couple months after graduation l, which is 3 hours from home. Moral of the story is you gotta be willing to relocate and take what comes your way.

Son has 2 BA degrees in finance, makes $19/ hr . Lives at home, can't afford rent and paying student loans. And yes he is working for a financial firm, this is what they pay to start. Sad this is the new normal in 2019.

One thing I tell those majoring in STEM is to do internships and join societies to network if you plan to only get undergraduate degree then go to work. Many companies could care less of how your grades were in school, they want to know if you have any revelant experience to the position you are applying to. Also, many positions are gotten from those you know not necessarily what you know.

That's why, if you decide to go to college never major in anything with "STUDIES OR POLITICS". Medical and some degrees in IT, Lawyer are definitely were the job security is at. Anything else is pointless and they can teach you on the job.

I work in the trades. Most job adverts in the field are for 2nd or 3rd year apprentices, or more. Nobody wants to sign up kids, they just want kids already trained. Companies need to step up.

Short answer, yes. Long answer, yes with debt.

I work as a milwright in a factory and the amount of university degrees i see doing manual labor is actually mind blowing. People pay ridiculous fees work hard for years to end up working beside high school drop outs. Work smart not hard people. Even employers relize how little a degree is worth all it brings is a sense of false worth and entitlement

University education is a mirage for a better future. But in reality, it's a way to make you pay with your time and money and at the end find yourself indebted and desperate to pay back the debt. So you find yourself a job that you never dreamed of doing before you joined university.

Worst thing is students are fed into the mentality that if they work hard and get good grades, they will get a job. Complete lies. Have been there myself. Perhaps everyone in the country should lose their jobs and perhaps we need to start from scratch again.

A college degree isn’t a level of success.its a bill

I think you are absolutely right!!!

Every employer outside of retail wants someone in their 20’s with 20 years experience to be hired. I want to work in public transportation. Every entry level job I’ve applied for is rejected rejected rejected. In my parents time you didn’t even need a high school diploma to get a job in the public transportation industry. The training to be a commuter railroad conductor in the 1980’s used to be two WEEKS. Now it’s over a YEAR.

My dad got a job as a firefighter with a highschool education and average grades. They trained him the job like driving an air brake truck and first aid. These days you have to pay to take those courses first then apply.

The market is absolutely flooded with finance majors, psychology majors, etc. Consider this in making your decision. Look up whats in demand? IT, Computer Science, all health related jobs. Do your research before spending hundreds of thousands.

Im baffled the guy with the Mechanical Engineering Degree cant get a job. There's probably additional info we are missing. Is he applying to other provinces or countries? Is he a bad interviewer? The poli sci major is no surprise. Its a worthless degree.

i was looking into some job roles that were hiring people in different areas of knowledge just out of curiosity and i was shook, even for starting roles they are asking years of experience and for god sake how can you have years of experience if you just graduated from college?

My favorite "punchline" in this situation in my own personal life is when after 4 years of college and earning my BA in Criminal Justice/Pre-Law the only positions I seem to be "qualified" for are jobs where they want to pay me $11-12 an hour to answer phones, sort mail, and make coffee all day. These jobs out here literally require you to have a BA. . . to do what any competent 16 year old in high school can do. And the jobs I feel I'm actually qualified for want me to have 10+ years of experience!!! I've only been out of school 5 years! These companies stress how much they want you to have experience, but don't want to be the ones to give you a chance and train you up and allow you to gain the very experience they demand of you. And I'm realizing now that it's not just me; out of my small group of friends and former classmates (about 10 of us altogether) only ONE of us has been able to afford to move out and get our own place. The rest of us still live with our parents . Maybe 20-30 years ago we might've teased each other about it but at this point we just see it as being better than living out on the street. I'd go back in time and go to trade school if I could. All having a college degree has done for me is acquire debt and having my future goals pushed back another 5-10 years if not more.

I dropped out of two colleges. All they ever accomplished is make me depressed, disillusioned and self loathing in my failures. Only late in my twenties did I realize I was working in the wrong direction. I will never be a model student. I picked up studying fitness by way of part time courses with no deadlines and now working two jobs in the fitness industry running my own business. Barely 30 hrs of work over 6 days a week and I can afford a house, a car, a motorcycle and a girlfriend. Working for myself and learning skills through real world working experience is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better than the isolated, academic bubble that DOES NOT PREPARE YOU FOR ADULT LIFE.

Gosh, I am with the young man at the beginning of this video. When I moved to the US I was jobless for almost a year despite the fact that I have a Ph.D. and multiple years of PostDoc experience. If I did not have my husband's full emotional and financial support, I probably would have ended badly. Those days were the darkest days in my life, the sense of uselessness after spending so many years in schools and universities. I probably sent out 300+ hundreds of CVs to apply for jobs and got less than 10 interviews. Fortunately, I landed my dream job eventually somewhere in CA. One thing I learned from this experience was that I realized job hunting also requires some essential techniques, e.g., soft skills (assuming we are competent to do our jobs) that were not taught or probably cannot be taught in school. And never stop practicing what you are already good at it and try to learn some new things in your field.

Isn't it terrible how they make you buy text books in college and only cover 2 or 3 chapters during the entire semester. The books are so expensive, they used to let you make copies but then the copyrights kicked in and you had to buy the books.

Wow it hit me hard when the lady said "I work in a university, I work in a place that SELLS education! And I have no job security there and can't afford her kids medicine.. I am sad

I hate the saying "its not what you know..its who you know"

It is the university’s job to provide you an education, not a job. If you view universities as the stepping stone to a career, it is up to you to network and obtain the experience to get that career beyond the educational requirement. The engineering student, judging by his interview and resume, was clearly under the impression that the degree gets you the job. Maybe in a good economy he could get away with that. I feel bad for him and hope he develops the skills he needs.

That promise IS broken... my sister spent over 4 years in post secondary education and has 60,000+ debt

“College is not necessary for success” - A Wise Man

RU-vidrs are better teachers than college ones professors ✌🏼

I just finished paying off my student loans and I graduated 18 years ago! University is just another business, it doesn't get you prepared for the job market, it just puts you in debt. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to have 2 university degrees, but the truth of the matter is, I don't need them.

So true. I got stuck in retail and bulding supplies. Still here but management.

India is the largest producer of engineers in the world 68% are unemployed. Mostly Engineer are working in call centre