Does a college degree still matter in the digital age?

[gowron24]

Coming from a European background, I very well understand that university education is a bit of a fetish here. At the same time, I do notice that it opens up doors. Although you finish with a degree, there is much slack you need to pull up in comparison to people who have been really working in the field those 5 years youve spent reading old books and getting drunk for your parents' money. But the horizons which open up during those years of study can mature and ripen into something which people without a university experience might not be able to achieve. It opens up potential, but you need to work that much harder to actually fulfill it. You dfream bigger, but also gain the skills to sift through those dreams and make the worthwile ones a reality.

[jeffryluna]

Yes because you can get a better job in the future .

Yup not unless you’d like to give jobs instead getting one.. like Steve Jobs who dropped in a uni, attended classes that only mattered to him and had himself educated from there. Then that’s when he got to hire folks with doctoral degrees.

But not everyone is destined to do the same, a degree can always be a safety net! So that the next steve jobs gets to hire us

[Lhanjhong]

i agree that why do we still need degree even if there is a digital age that will begin. we must need to learn more about technology and more on technology. because this is where the world become, become digital and modernize.

[joebrook]

When it comes to the IT industry, more and more employers are no longer seeking a college degree for employment, they are rather seeking IT certifications like the CCNA, CCNP and other certifications in the relevant fields before a person will be able to get a job nowadays. Research the field that you want to work at and see whether it's necessary to get a degree for it.

[oseikuf44]

College degree broadens ones knowledge and make you useful in the digital age. Digital age needs new skills and knowledge to operate efficiently and going to college is the sure place to acquire these skills and knowledge.

[jeffryluna]

When it comes to the IT industry, more and more employers are no longer seeking a college degree for employment, they are rather seeking IT certifications like the CCNA, CCNP and other certifications in the relevant fields before a person will be able to get a job nowadays. Research the field that you want to work at and see whether it's necessary to get a degree for it.

This is true. We never hired a fresh graduate in the tech company I work for ee ask for a minimum of 3 years in experience and certifications in Python, PSQL and other programming languages that matter to us and our project. In other specific fields that degree matter so much, even in the tech scene but not so much as a make or break requirement.

[jeffryluna]

College degree broadens ones knowledge and make you useful in the digital age. Digital age needs new skills and knowledge to operate efficiently and going to college is the sure place to acquire these skills and knowledge.

Well not necessarily a “sure thing” fundamentals is what you learn in the uni. A bunch of hands on during your internships, there are just a bunch of people who prepfers years of habds on asking themselves “do I really want this field” because lets admit it, college isnt that accesible unless you are very smart to get a full scholarship or here in my place if you are really poor- and really smart.

[CryptoKyddie]

Depends on the individual and individual situation. College leads to debt and lots of overqualified people for trashy positions. Equally, college helps people to earn more on average in their lifetime than non-college graduates. If you can make money without college do it. If you study philosophy at college expect to be unemployed or work a McJob. Its up to your brother.

[janaiz]

VOTE in the Poll!

Like many people I’m a college drop-out and the current consensus for people who does not have a degree is not that great compared to those who has at least a Bachelor’s diploma.

When people asks me how would I be able to compete with those graduates my answer is, a lot of the things that I do in my current job can be learned through an 8 hour online course in Udemy or a simple search in google.

However, I was passing by a big drugstore chain in my place and I saw the job posting outside and it says:

“WANTED: Cashier
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in any field”

That made me wonder, why does a degree matter for that position?

I am a Software Development Quality Assurance Engineer and I was very lucky that my employer trusted the skills I bring in, because if to take and count money requires the fancy diploma, then I won’t survive getting a job at least not for now.

My thoughts are, if it were my doctor, Im pretty sure I wouldn’t want someone who would tell me that “Well I googled it and I think you have cancer” but other positions in a company, or the mahor industries as well, can easily be learned through training and self education.

What are your thoughts folks? Share and reply. Let’s have a meaningful exchange!

Nowadays companies prefer to hire Bachelors degree than  undergraduate, But why? It doesn't mean that if you are a graduate of bachelors degree you are ahead of other people like undergrads but to think of it, most people who are undergrad is more efficient and more knowledgeable and lots of skills than bachelors degree for example in my work now, i'm undergrad but I can compete with them but sad to say I can't get promotion because of I didn't finish my studies and I need to go to school to finish bachelors degree so I can get a promotion. But it is better to Finish it so that if time comes and you have your own family we will be a good example to our children.

[Sithara007]

Without a college degree, it is impossible to get a decent paying job, in any field. If you are happy with blue collar jobs, then there may be no requirement for a college degree, but don't expect the salary to be respectable. And this is the reason I am saying that we should make education completely free of cost for everyone, up to the college level.

[thrylos]

Yes it is always matters,  why because education has always offer to everyone with great opportunity even time is changing. But the value of education will never lost to those who wants it.

[salinizm]

Absolutely yes, It is still matter in our competitive world. If someone have not any bachelors degree , he or she cannot have any chance to become successful in work life. It does not matter whether mankind in digital era or not People must have college degree.

[gabmen]

For me, it matters less and less now. The more people become exposed to the internet ar a very young age, the more they become efficient in it without having formal education. Exposure is the best teacher when it comes to digitalization.

[She01]

Yes it still matters in this digital age but it is not an indicator of success in life. It is a challenge to find a job if one doesn't have a degree. But hardwork and determination are what I think will help to succeed in anything we do.

[jeffryluna]

For me, it matters less and less now. The more people become exposed to the internet ar a very young age, the more they become efficient in it without having formal education. Exposure is the best teacher when it comes to digitalization.

This is the reality, right now you would see kids who knows how to code as early as 9 years old. If only the internet was that accesible during my childhood, I think I'd do the same thing. Although it really varies from one field to the other, if it's pure tech I agree that it matters less for sure, a lot of people could be a living testament of that, but other fields that requires deep expertise in sciences, such as the medical field, engineering and scientific research - then it should matter more and more.

[jeffryluna]

College degree does not matter if the person who graduated is not hard working.There are so many successful person who are have no title in college degree but despite of their being hardworking they achieve their goals in life.Diploma is just a paper we present when were finding a job but what is the importance of it of that person is lazy and no goals in life.

Preach! 80% of the people I interviewed before did not even like what they took in college, making them not too passionate about the industry they are about to take in. When we started hiring people who are categorized "skilled" they did a better job having a skill centric contribution to the development of our project.

I just hope College education is as accesible as it should be, so that the people who are hardworking, passionate and dedicated could get that piece of paper as easy as how those who can afford it did.

[yinyangwinwang]

Generally going to say no it doesn't matter because you can be successful whatever you put your heart and mind into. What matters more is your work ethic and smarts to get it done.

[cyber_smiley]

VOTE in the Poll!

Like many people I’m a college drop-out and the current consensus for people who does not have a degree is not that great compared to those who has at least a Bachelor’s diploma.

When people asks me how would I be able to compete with those graduates my answer is, a lot of the things that I do in my current job can be learned through an 8 hour online course in Udemy or a simple search in google.

However, I was passing by a big drugstore chain in my place and I saw the job posting outside and it says:

“WANTED: Cashier
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in any field”

That made me wonder, why does a degree matter for that position?

I am a Software Development Quality Assurance Engineer and I was very lucky that my employer trusted the skills I bring in, because if to take and count money requires the fancy diploma, then I won’t survive getting a job at least not for now.

My thoughts are, if it were my doctor, Im pretty sure I wouldn’t want someone who would tell me that “Well I googled it and I think you have cancer” but other positions in a company, or the mahor industries as well, can easily be learned through training and self education.

What are your thoughts folks? Share and reply. Let’s have a meaningful exchange!

It all depends what do you want to do in your life and what are your goals. If you want to find yourself working for someone else or being some kind of manager then I guess that degree matters if you want to be paid more at first. But even today you can learn some skills and some companies don't require you to have a degree. But at some point when selections needs to be made they may look at who has degree? Guess who will get a job.


On the other hand you may want to end up working as freelancer or making an startup? Well degree is not necessary here but knowledge and experience is all what counts.

To sum up my views all depends on what are you searching for in life.

[reymartH]

The better their skills and education have, the greater their chances for quality employment. Many job markets specifically call for a degree, and those who wish to enter them have no choice but to get the qualifications they need.

[shaun98]

Yes, I think a degree still matters as most companies still believe that their employees should have some sort of higher level education before joining.