# You have the easy opportunity to go/go back to college. Do you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860 "2008-12-19T03:53:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/41 "2008-12-19T23:01:00Z")
I’d go. I’ve been thinking about this. I’d be working on a Master’s this time around and I’ve been toying with the idea of mathematics, but I might try to get a degree in foreign language education when I get back to Sweden. Stockholm University has two - one with and English focus and one with a Russian focus. The latter would be much more in line with my B.Sc. but might not be as useful on the job market as the former. Dunno, though. It’s a toss-up. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/42 "2008-12-20T02:51:38Z")
Yes. I think I’d like to study sociology. One of the main things that sucked about my first go-round in college was the constant worrying and anxiety. There was always fear losing scholarships, flunking tests, bombing classes, being unable to register for mandatory classes, not getting into grad school, not getting a “good” job, being a disappointment to everyone, etc. All of this was self-imposed angst and only half of it was rational, but as a young person I didn’t realize that. But if I had a chance to do it all over again, as a financially secure 31-year-old, then I could learn in peace and actually have fun. ---
**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/43 "2008-12-21T05:11:06Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > (Inspired by a pit thread.) > > Someone offers you your current salary/wage (or some survivable yearly allowance) plus the tuition so that you can go or go back to college for any degree/post grad work. Do you go? > I’m a college graduate in English and History, but I’ve long regretted my college decisions. If I had it to do over, I’d go one of three directions: pharmacy, chemistry, or a foreign language with the goal of translation. > > Circumstances being what they are, this isn’t something I could swing right now, but if the College Fairy offered me the chance, I’d snatch at it. > > How about you? I’d do it in a New York minute. I am a History grad, and I feel your pain. I should have started in fast food as soon as I got out of High School. I would be further along now. I cannot imagine a more worthless degree. I can see English being a good move, however. I am 50 yrs old, and I am starting again in a Modern Language program. If I were younger, I would do accounting or engineering, things that I like. I already have two years because of the History degree, so the degree wasn’t totally wasted. Just the History part. ---
**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/44 "2008-12-21T05:19:43Z")
OK, hold it! Just a cursory inspection of this thread shows that people are already tossing about the choice of foreign language degrees quite as handily as I tossed about History degree before I graduated. What’s the deal? Is it so totally a gimmee degree that it will be totally worthless when I graduate, or is it just such a dork degree that it will be totally worthless? Thanks for the tipoff. I’m changing programs. Thanks, greatshakes ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/45 "2008-12-21T06:07:32Z")
Oh heck yes, I’d go. I’m really tired of this part-time, one-class-a-semester stuff. I’ll be 90 before I get the degree at this rate. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/46 "2008-12-21T15:00:31Z")
My current salary plus tuition? Oh, hell yes. I’d go for an MBA. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/47 "2008-12-21T15:17:32Z")
If I had to answer the OP’s question today, I’d say no; I wouldn’t go back to school. Note, though, that I graduated from law school just last spring, and I’d like to be called to the bar and practice for a while before I entertain the thought of returning to school. However, in a few years, I’d probably think differently. If I had the opportunity to go for either an LL.M. or an M.A., I would. Although I can read and study history on my own, there is plenty of history that I would like to study formally. ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/48 "2008-12-22T06:56:28Z")
In a second. I’ve managed to stagnate myself into a bad position career-wise. My degree isn’t especially marketable and nothing I’ve done in the last few years would count for crap back in the US. Considering that I’ve done a job I don’t especially like for no money, I’d like to make (moderately large) piles of money doing something else. Just about anything else. Considering that I’m not ugly, have social skills, and have a brain, I’m betting that my lack of paper qualifications has something to do with why I haven’t been able to get a better job. I’m trying to figure out how I can do distance learning or attend classes part-time at a branch campus in Japan right now. An MBA might be a possibility, but I don’t know how marketable that will be with a bunch of experienced people being thrown out on their asses in the current market. I’d really like to go back to an earlier interest, architecture, which I probably should have pursued instead of taking the easy but interesting route that looked to get me out of school in less than a decade. I should have remembered that shortcuts usually aren’t worth it. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/49 "2008-12-22T20:52:49Z")
Hmm. Good question. On the one hand, I’d have to say “no.” I’ve been in the workforce about 20 years now. If I were to go back to school and get trained in a new field, I’d be re-entering the workforce as an entry-level (whatever). I think I’d have a hard time convincing potential employers that I was OK with being a junior-level employee at my age, with the experience I already have. I’d probably earn less as a newbie (whatever) than I do now. On the other hand, if I could roll back the clock about 15 years, I think I’d do it. It would be nice to have pick a field that I like AND which has the potential to make me highly employable (unlike the subject I studied, which I like but which did nothing to make me desirable to employers). ---
**Author:** ![eldowan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/50 "2008-12-23T00:49:15Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > (Inspired by a pit thread.) > > Someone offers you your current salary/wage (or some survivable yearly allowance) plus the tuition so that you can go or go back to college for any degree/post grad work. Do you go? > I’m a college graduate in English and History, but I’ve long regretted my college decisions. If I had it to do over, I’d go one of three directions: pharmacy, chemistry, or a foreign language with the goal of translation. > > Circumstances being what they are, this isn’t something I could swing right now, but if the College Fairy offered me the chance, I’d snatch at it. > > How about you? Done. Not a question. Actually it has been my thought that I would love that exact situation, I’ve been thinking of that for years now. ---
**Author:** ![eldowan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/51 "2008-12-23T00:56:03Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I already have an MBA and I make too much money. Well, if you make _too much_ money, I’m sure I know someone who can help you with your problem. me 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/52 "2008-12-23T01:15:13Z")
I have a BA and an MBA - but I would happily go back for PhD if someone was going to cover my half of the mortgage (Mrs. Algher works too). PhD in Strategy, teach in the B School would be my goal probably. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/53 "2008-12-23T01:23:40Z")
I’d love it. It wouldn’t do me any more good than the first go-around, in all likelihood (career-wise), but I do miss being a college student. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/54 "2008-12-23T10:09:24Z")
No way. While I loved certain aspect of college, by the end I was really burned out on academics. So much so that I failed to get my degree because of one class that I got an incomplete in, and have been unable to will myself to retake that one class to get my piece o paper. I still love learning, but prefer self directed learning. If I needed schooling for some kind of actual work related skill, I’d rather take a adult education class that is focused on skill building and not on tests and papers. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/55 "2009-01-16T03:41:52Z")
> [@Rachael\_Rage](#): > > I was just fantasizing about this the other day. Count me as another English major who would go back and take a crack at science. I wonder how many scientists would go back and study literature? I’m another English grad (though mine was focused on linguistics) who’d love to study science. Not that I regret what I studied - I’d just love to be able to study science to that level too. Maybe then I could combine the two and go into neurolinguistics. I’m actually looking into a way of studying some degree-level science (slowly through the Open University) without having to pay too much for it - just reading books at home isn’t quite enough for me, as I learn better with deadlines and essays. ---
**Author:** ![Sundrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sundrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sundrop)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/56 "2009-01-16T17:33:49Z")
I’m working full time as a computer monkey and working on my MBA at the same time at a fairly prestigious university. So that would be an affirmative. This would be a total no-brainer for me. I can’t imagine anyone saying ‘no’ to the question as posed unless they are just completely fulfilled and already working at their dream job. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/57 "2009-01-16T17:47:29Z")
In this scenario, do I have to give up what I’m doing now? Do I have to start all over again? Because if so: No. I like what I do, I’m good at it, I make a good wage, and if going back to school meant starting over at Square One with something else, then no, thanks. BUT if I could somehow swing it to go back to school in a way that doesn’t prejudice my career – this dream scenario involved my employer letting me work half-time and go to school half-time, with no prejudice to my job – then I would love to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/58 "2009-01-16T19:19:42Z")
No – everything **ZipperJJ** , right down to the degree in Journalism that I didn’t go into Journalism with. School was fine. I did fine. I was SO VERY READY to be out where I could get paid for my work and have a definite line between work and home. School bleeds into personal time, and you deal with all the same bullshit that you deal with in the workplace, only you have to pay to put up with it rather than the other way around. I am now a happy professional and hope to stay that way. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/59 "2009-01-16T20:13:04Z")
Another vote for “Absolutely, yes, in a heartbeat.” But I’m thinking how depressing this thread must seem to current college students as they see how many people look back on college as being so great in comparison to the rest of their life and they’re thinking “This is the good stuff? It’s all going to be downhill from here?” ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860/60 "2009-01-16T20:41:12Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > (Inspired by a pit thread.) > Someone offers you your current salary/wage (or some survivable yearly allowance) plus the tuition so that you can go or go back to college for any degree/post grad work. Do you go? I did. I happen to work for a large University situated in Austin. Although I had started out in college with the best of intentions, life got in the way so I eventually just stopped going. Years later I was able to take advantage of a plan here whereby I could take one course per semester on the University’s dime. When I got to within a year of completing my degree, the University paid me to take off and finish it, tuition and fees included. I could still take advantage of the ‘one course per semester’ plan but haven’t yet. Someday though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-the-easy-opportunity-to-go-go-back-to-college-do-you/477860.md?page=4)