what career is worth pursuing as of 2014?

[C0NCH3TO]

i hear that many majors are worthless....women studies, english, french. Pretty much all humanities majors. Hell I even heard about how worthless was going to school for a business degree.
I had a chat with a guy who was running a clinic (had a masters in healthcare admin.)and he told me that he would't get into the medical field knowing that the obamacare reform is going to destroy it.

Is it worth going to college? Maybe going through an apprenticeship program is a better option (ie welding, electrician, plumbing....)? What's your opinion/advice? Thanks.


Btw, I want to assist a relative of mine who is way younger than myself. He's really undecided as far as what career path he might follow. He is considering a variety of fields.

I got a degree in human resources and I work for a hospitality group that runs hotels and spas throughout the states. Not a bad thing at all but this is something i could have easily done without going to school for 4 years. I did not gain any skills to apply at work to be honest, the most valuable things i learned were during interships/jobs.

 

[BPA00]

Depends on what your interests are. Technology is really good right now, but unless you have a strong interest and/or knack for it, you really won't make it very far. I have a degree but think college is REALLY over-rated... but on the flip side, way more than 50% of the jobs I've applied for have a degree as a requirement.

 

[Lekarzem]

Medicine, can't fail really

 

[C0NCH3TO]

Depends on what your interests are. Technology is really good right now, but unless you have a strong interest and/or knack for it, you really won't make it very far. I have a degree but think college is REALLY over-rated... but on the flip side, way more than 50% of the jobs I've applied for have a degree as a requirement.

Totally agreed.

 

[OderusUrungus**]

Be wary of apprenticeships. I am a union plumbing apprentice and most of the guys in my local don't work during the winter, or get PTO. Also the work is very dangerous and can be quite strenuous. Working outside putting in drain lines when it's snowing and 5 below is a different kind of horrible.

 

[C0NCH3TO]

Be wary of apprenticeships. I am a union plumbing apprentice and most of the guys in my local don't work during the winter, or get PTO. Also the work is very dangerous and can be quite strenuous. Working outside putting in drain lines when it's snowing and 5 below is a different kind of horrible.

wow, i wasnt aware about that, thanks for the info.

 

[WalkenWouldOwn]

Definitely major in "General studies" or "Communications" - gots to keep your options open!

 

[OderusUrungus**]

wow, i wasnt aware about that, thanks for the info.

No problem. Pay is good though, I'm just a second year and I make a good living.

 

[BigDaddyBach]

Real Estate/Investing.

My girl has her Phd. from Harvard and is a Fulbright Scholar. After 12 years of schooling, she by chance got into buying/renovating, renting and flipping houses. Now, she doesn't use any of her schooling but knows what she is doing and makes upwards of 2 million a year. You can buy a nice house for 5 thousand dollars in parts of the country, fix it up, turn it into a multi family and rent it for $500 or more a unit a month. Almost all paths of real money require no schooling, just common sense, intelligence, balls and conviction.

In todays world, you really need to make atleast 150K a year to be comfortable and plan for the future. Being a doctor or lawyer is a lot of work and you won't see real big money unless you get into some type of investing. Real estate is a real safe bet and with the right connections, research and due diligence, it really is not that hard to be set for life.

 

[OderusUrungus**]

In todays world, you really need to make atleast 150K a year to be comfortable and plan for the future. Being a doctor or lawyer is a lot of work and you won't see real big money unless you get into some type of investing. Real estate is a real safe bet and with the right connections, research and due diligence, it really is not the hard to be set for life.

If that's true, I've never met anyone that is comfortable or able to plan for the future.

 

[Reverse Flash]

CIA/MI5 spy.

 

[Uchi Mata]

Real Estate/Investing.

My girl has her Phd. from Harvard and is a Fulbright Scholar. After 12 years of schooling, she by chance got into buying/renovating, renting and flipping houses. Now, she doesn't use any of her schooling but knows what she is doing and makes upwards of 2 million a year. You can buy a nice house for 5 thousand dollars in parts of the country, fix it up, turn it into a multi family and rent it for $500 or more a unit a month. Almost all paths of real money require no schooling, just common sense, intelligence, balls and conviction.

In todays world, you really need to make atleast 150K a year to be comfortable and plan for the future. Being a doctor or lawyer is a lot of work and you won't see real big money unless you get into some type of investing. Real estate is a real safe bet and with the right connections, research and due diligence, it really is not that hard to be set for life.

That's what a lot of people thought in 2007 too bro. Sometimes I give them my change outside 7-11.

 

[BigDaddyBach]

Well, I'm talking about the typical American consumer with a family, no saving/plan for the future, having everything material they want, no debt and owning everything that you posses. Obviously, you have people that desire very little and are very good at saving and planning but if you are a typical American w/ a family, you are going to want to own a nice house, have a nice car, brand name clothes, put your kids thru college, etc...

We just bought our house on a foreclosure. The previous couple that lived here had a joint income of around 100k and ended up being 400K in debt. We negotiated with the bank and got the house on a killer short sale in cold hard cash.

The best advice for getting rich is: Cash is King. Never buy anything with credit unless you want to build up your rating. My Dad made 200K for 20 years of his life, bought everything on credit and went bankrupt at the age of 60, just when he was ready to retire. Also never spend more than you make and that is why I say 150k is comfortable in today's world with a buffer for unforeseen circumstances.

 

[Oblivian]

Real Estate/Investing.

My girl has her Phd. from Harvard and is a Fulbright Scholar. After 12 years of schooling, she by chance got into buying/renovating, renting and flipping houses. Now, she doesn't use any of her schooling but knows what she is doing and makes upwards of 2 million a year. You can buy a nice house for 5 thousand dollars in parts of the country, fix it up, turn it into a multi family and rent it for $500 or more a unit a month. Almost all paths of real money require no schooling, just common sense, intelligence, balls and conviction.

In todays world, you really need to make atleast 150K a year to be comfortable and plan for the future. Being a doctor or lawyer is a lot of work and you won't see real big money unless you get into some type of investing. Real estate is a real safe bet and with the right connections, research and due diligence, it really is not that hard to be set for life.

This entire post is facepalm worthy. First off, I'm in the industry and have seen a shitload more people fail at investing than succeed. If it was as easy as you say, everyone would do it. I'm not sure if your post is purposely misleading, but there is no way in hell she is making $2 million per year flipping some houses. She has to be deeply involved in the commercial and developmental side to make that kind of money.

Your entire view on real estate is out of whack. The market and ability for people to make real good money without A TON of risk is slim. There are ongoing costs that run with property. Periods of vacancies kill investors, downturn in the housing market kills investors, major repairs kills investors, etc.

Lastly - lol at $150k annually being the number for someone to live comfortably. The amount of money needed for someone to live comfortably will vary greatly on where you live, and I'll say $150k is extremely high in most parts unless your idea of "comfortable" differs from the real world.

 

[CJrider]

Engineering is a sure fire degree with a good career at the end of it. Medicine is and always will be, don't think access to medicine due to Obamacare is going to ruin it, it will make you busier because everyone will have access.

If you go into a science program realize every decent job requires a PhD, or at very least a masters if you don't want to use your own head, bachelors degrees in science are a dime a dozen.

All depends what you want. If you wanna make 200g + a year the moment you graduate get a petroleum engineering degree or Geology degree and move to Calgary Alberta, you will be able to become a millionaire if you have a tiny bit of risk in you.

 

[nostradumbass]

States are starting to legalize weed so you can't baby step into dealing drugs either. You gotta go straight to coke.

 

[BigDaddyBach]

That's what a lot of people thought in 2007 too bro. Sometimes I give them my change outside 7-11.

Ha! Touch

 

[Uchi Mata]

Ha! Touch

 

[NurseKnuckles]

Something professional
Nurse, engineer, etc...

Otherwise trades are a great place to go, too.

 

[BigDaddyBach]

This entire post is facepalm worthy. First off, I'm in the industry and have seen a shitload more people fail at investing than succeed. If it was as easy as you say, everyone would do it. I'm not sure if your post is purposely misleading, but there is no way in hell she is making $2 million per year flipping some houses. She has to be deeply involved in the commercial and developmental side to make that kind of money.

Your entire view on real estate is out of whack. The market and ability for people to make real good money without A TON of risk is slim. There are ongoing costs that run with property. Periods of vacancies kill investors, downturn in the housing market kills investors, major repairs kills investors, etc.

Lastly - lol at $150k annually being the number for someone to live comfortably. The amount of money needed for someone to live comfortably will vary greatly on where you live, and I'll say $150k is extremely high in most parts unless your idea of "comfortable" differs from the real world.

Her big money investing is in major cities but it is all residential. All that you say is true, I did not mean to say it was 'easy', it takes incredible risk and hard work but she has done her work and I can assure you, it has worked.