How much does a degree really benefit you in the long run?

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>After seeing so many people say it, I wanted to ask the people that might be able to shed some light on it.</p>

<p>So the big question is... in the title.</p>

<p>I've seen people claim that in today's economy employment is relying heavier on hands-on experience in favor over degrees attained through conventional study. Do you think degrees mean as much as they did in the past? Unemployment rate among graduates continues to rise and many resources are readily available through the Web. Many students are losing more money from loans than they're making. I know for many people their degrees opened up better job prospects but the same can't be said for everyone. Do employers consider education as much as work portfolios? I'm not looking to diminish the value of an education but just want to see what people in the real world have to say about how beneficial it proved. What contributed most to your success or failures, other than determination, persistence, etc.? </p>

2

<p>For me it was good luck and good timing. However, my degree also provided me with the skills necessary to make the most of that good timing. As a hiring manager, it depends - if you have zero work history but a related college major, internships, etc., I will at least call and prescreen you. If you have progressive work history and no degree, I will prescreen you. If you have neither, I likely won’t reach out at all. But related, progressive work experience catches my eye the quickest regardless of education. </p>

<p>People can make the most of any situation. College isn’t for everyone, and those who don’t attend aren’t automatically set up for a long, difficult road to the top. Sometimes a good personality and creative thinking can offset the “educational disadvantage,” if you even want to call it that. </p>