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The PERILS of the Unused College Degree

 


How many of you graduated with college with a degree you never use and you have NO student loan debt??


If you fall into that category, consider yourself lucky.   


Hopefully, if you are not using the degree, you, at least, had a good time during your college years partying, traveling, and making new friends.


But how many people who have attained degrees and are not using them?


And I’m not talking about working in a field relating to your major.  I’m talking about using the classes and education you acquired in pursuing your degree in your current job.   How many of you are using the skills, the knowledge or the experience from your college experience to advance personally or professionally??


One of the perils of the ‘lure’ of a college degree is that most people probably don’t realize that your college education as well as your degree is just a tool.   What makes things even worse is that most people don’t know HOW to use that tool in order to advance professionally or personally.


Another peril is the perception of ‘security’ associated with a degree.   Now, mind you, there are many jobs that require specific degrees in order to get hired.  However, you STILL have to get hired and the degree is no guarantee of getting hired. 


Another peril is the perception of ‘advancement’.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  Depending on the degree, your ability to use that degree may place you in a higher socio-economic bracket.   But, think of the number of people with advanced degrees who are in the same socio-economic bracket as those with just one degree.


Now, I am not advocating against attaining a college degree.  What I am advocating is learning how to use the degree to advance yourself personally and professionally.  In addition, I am advocating analyzing whether you need the degree in order to achieve the success and wealth you desire.


Before you allow yourself to be seduced by the attractive ads about ‘career opportunities’, ‘employment advancement’ and ‘higher socio-economic status’, make sure you go through the exercise of evaluating how the degree you want will serve as an effective tool to help you progress and evolve.


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