There are many good points brought up so far. My Dad and oldest brother opposed me going to the University after High School. They both visited with me many times about it, but Dad eventually told me that I would have to leave his house if I wanted to go to the University. So I abandoned my goal, lived with parents and worked in the family business. Looking back, that was a huge mistake, but I was young and had no other place to go or means to make a living, or so I thought. Mixing a witness family in business and in the congregation is painful. But I have always supported education and when I was active as a JW, on a personal level I have been vocal with younger ones encouraging them to not make the same mistake I had.
I enjoy learning and have a large appetite to continue learning. In the world we live in with things chang so fast you must be able to quickly access quality information, learn, and make decisions even after a degree. Life long learning is and has been crucial for balance and success.
On a previous post I spoke about a brother who had spent most of his 65 years of life in Bethel and had been reassigned out of Bethel to the congregations and to provide for himself. He said he was struggling in accounting getting enough customers. He said that every potential customer that he meets asks, "Where did you go to the Unversity?". As you guessed, he has little to say and is 65 now, and without a degree struggles to convince others to become his customers.
Most of us will agree that the recent years of the economy have not been the most properous. Those with College degrees at the worst of the economy had a 4 percent high unemployment, while those without degrees were coping with 12-16% unemployment. (On memory)
The economy also varies from place to place, even here in the U.S. Anywhere you go there can be opportunities, some may jump out at you and others you might stumble upon, being at the right place at the right time. Some very young men in my old congregation hit the surge of residential construction before 2007 and they did well. (I don't know how they are doing now). I've talked with others who were just as qualified or even more talented in other parts of the country and they were struggling.
I was forced by other family members (stock holders) to walk away from the "family" business after Dad died. They wanted to liquidate all assets and have some immediate cash bling right then. I believe they thought the end would be here before they burnt through their money. So a new day began for me. I moved far enough away from the family that they would never affect me again. Time, distance, and shielding has protected me from the toxic family.
I applied for many jobs and I will admit I shot high. Two different companies human resources' called me back and said that I was probably the most experienced applicant, but I lacked a four year degree, and they only hire degreed people. So in my situation with the work I wanted and was capable of, without a degree the door of opportunity did not open. I thought that listing my accomplishments and experience would open a door for me, but my eyes were opened about what the real situation was.
So at every opportunity I visited with many "degreed" individuals that assisted me in making a decision to go for a four year degree. One "brother" told me that it took him 16 years after getting out of the navy to get his degree and now he works for the NRC. Others told me that the work environment changed and that they were approached by the company and told that they would have to at least begin a four year degree to retain their current job, and that eventually their job would require a degree, they were told that when it is a requirement, "hopefully, you will have graduated". Specifically, On one recent job the men working in safety were telling me that orginally they were able to get into safety without a degree, but things have changed, and now men that were in their 50's and 60's were taking courses.
In 2008 I entered the online course with the University of Phoenix for a degree in business administration. I completed the last course earlier this year. I have not done anything with the degree yet, but I have it in my pocket if my work situation ever changes, and as some will say, "Nobody can take the degree away from you". This is important.
I will clarify that I doubt the financial benefits of many degrees and would have difficulty justifying the cost. For example, I spoke with a young man (if I remember this correctly) that was studying Russian poetry, not as an elective course, but to have a degree in it. My question is basic: how is he going to make a living with that? Perhaps someone reading can assist me.
When I entered my online courses in 2008, I started encouraging my wife to find a profession that she wanted to learn, and she recently graduated, passed the state exam, and is employed at the local hospital. Her wages being a first year nurse are lower than if she had at least two years of experience. But, once she has the experience she will get a substantial increase. The back side of this is that she probably will have to continue on with her education to attain a Bachelors degree. Even though this is not required to go to work initially, having a Bachelor's degree is becoming the industry standard expectations.
As mentioned, many say, "Nobody can take a degree, or education away from you". Sure, a college degree used to mean more than it does now, just because more people can attain them they are not as rare today. However, the industries have raised standards for employment that require degrees, certifications, etc. to qualify for many of the jobs. An individual that has a degree indicates that he or she is somewhat "fit for duty", or in theocratic language, "tested as to fitness".
If you have the degree it will not necessarily guarantee your employment, but having a degree will ensure that the door is not shut in your face either . Once you have the employment, it is up to you individually, to behave and make good sound decisions. Personally, I believe that it is a testemony to the qualities of an individual that is willing to invest several years of their life and money to learn the basics and become adapt and capable at their profession, and that have demonstrated their ability to stick with a long range goal and achieve it. Funny, Once you've graduated, no one ever asks what you GPA was.