tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post5687601792598815937..comments2024-03-28T04:14:03.262-04:00Comments on Vanessa Alvarado: I'm Considering College, What Say You? YOUR Thoughts on College and Creative LifeVanessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-30261595495385176802014-03-09T14:39:20.437-04:002014-03-09T14:39:20.437-04:00I would never go into to debt at all for school, d...I would never go into to debt at all for school, definitely researching and looking into it all carefully. I would like the experience/knowledge of school and wouldn't necessarily pursue a career in it. Thanks for the helpful tips!Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-17459065718499212982014-03-09T01:29:50.532-05:002014-03-09T01:29:50.532-05:00Van, my suggestion to you is to do some informatio...Van, my suggestion to you is to do some informational interviews with people who are doing what you would like to do with a college degree to see if it is worth it. That will serve as a reality check for you. Like you, I grew up in a home where education was stressed. I was surrounded by friends who grew up similarly. When I went to work in corporate America, a lot of people I worked with went to school part time to get another degree. I don't recall any of these people doing anything with their degrees; they just continued working where they were at. I would caution you to not get into too much debt should you decide to go back to college, especially for something that may not work out for where you want to go. Certainly take classes in things you are passionate about, but really look into whether or not a degree is what you need to achieve your goals. Are there alternative, less expensive ways to get there? Am I going back to school for the right reasons? Ask yourself some hard questions before you make the plunge. I am not knocking higher education, but when you graduate and go out into the work force, it is a reality check when you can't find work related to your degree, or the work you think you want to do ends up not being all it's cracked up to be. Take it from someone who's been there, done that.Serenahttp://craftycreativegal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-15472086655812369032014-03-07T10:00:22.140-05:002014-03-07T10:00:22.140-05:00Agreed on so many points here, many of us just go ...Agreed on so many points here, many of us just go because we're told it's the road to success and riches and there's no other way to reach it. A lot of us indie-biz owners are problem solvers that have marched to our own drummer life-long, I know I am. I self-taught a lot of things and just like you, hate the grind/bureaucracy of a typical job and liberation that comes with working for myself. I do want to take classes, participate in critiques and grow my mind so I may look into related indie non-college classes, networking, and projects first. I'd only go back to college in earnest if I can find a way in for free or close to it ;) Especially since I'm likely addicted to the freedom of self-employment for life.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your story, it's the story of many in our boat!Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-9801709424411526232014-03-06T12:13:15.146-05:002014-03-06T12:13:15.146-05:00Interesting reading everyone's story. Lots of ...Interesting reading everyone's story. Lots of similarities. I went to college out of HS because it was the thing to do. I did my duty and graduated. I found that college was a lot of dull requirements I had to fulfill. It felt that people who graduated were just good at organizing schedules and signing up early. I will say that I enjoyed having the time to read the stuff I wanted to read. I got an English BA--an expensive way to read books.<br /><br />Then I went out into the world and found I had no leverage or special skills. I think I felt more well-rounded because I had four years to read a bunch of books I enjoyed. That's it. I worked, traveled, and did a bunch of cool things. Always flat broke. Never worked any particular promising job. Never paid more than $9 an hour. <br /><br />I went back to school at 26 thinking I needed to get a serious degree so I could make some real money. I realized that school hadn't changed. I took about 18 months of classes that were extremely dull. Everyday felt like I was wasting my time/money, but wasn't school important and serious? I saw an internship posted on the school's bullet board, called the number, and began interning in the field I was interested in (TV Production). After a couple months, I quit school and just worked at that TV station. That was the best education. Maybe that school was worth it because I got that internship? Maybe, but it feels a dumb way to do it. An expensive way to get an internship and work for free. <br /><br />I spent the next ten years working in TV. Moved to different cities, and landed in Manhattan working at a cool station. Great times. But I also realized I hate working for other people. I hated the grind, personal politics, and bureaucracy of any job. I started doing personal online projects that landed me outside work. I realized I didn't need these jobs and could go independent. Thank you internet.<br /><br />So I don't know maybe fancy schools are better? I went to big faceless state schools. Maybe if I studied medicine or engineering, I'd feel different? I always took liberal arts. But in the end, I always felt that everyone in my classes were there because they didn't know how to do anything. When I look at your blog and what you're doing, you have it going on already. You're miles ahead of anyone I went to school with. Maybe just be more adventurous, travel more, and start some new projects. Shake it up some.<br /><br />I always feel college is good for people who want 9-5 jobs because those places are run by people with college degrees and they like hiring they're own. But out here in the Wide World, we Independents know it's all about what you actually DO. No safety net. No rules. It's whatever you make it. Totally freedom is totally scary and totally fun.<br /><br />Jay Dedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06780377790850198302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-32556450558420363952014-03-05T21:40:19.272-05:002014-03-05T21:40:19.272-05:00Thanks for being honest and sharing your story. I&...Thanks for being honest and sharing your story. I'm inspired to take up indie studies and practicing for sure after reading the comments, many ways to get enrichment outside of conventional colleges.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-66820621843138825232014-03-05T21:39:09.635-05:002014-03-05T21:39:09.635-05:00So awesome that you landed a gig, I'd have lef...So awesome that you landed a gig, I'd have left, too! I may never make it back either, especially if I can't get in for free or close to it! Thanks for your comment and sharing your story, love that you went for musical theatre and followed your dreams.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-27104636688811162662014-03-05T16:48:15.812-05:002014-03-05T16:48:15.812-05:00Oh and I even went to an excellent school for my m...Oh and I even went to an excellent school for my masters. Columbia and Im not sure it was worth ittubby3pughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01315017048832512111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-20373429294893500632014-03-05T16:47:31.239-05:002014-03-05T16:47:31.239-05:00hmmm Im not sure. Im a special education teacher ...hmmm Im not sure. Im a special education teacher and I have a BA and MA and a second MA. For my career it was a must, however, for those in the creative field Im nbot sure Id pay the big bucks to get the degree. Im turning 36 and I still owe buckets for my degree, of course I had to have it. I do feel though I learned just as much on my own as in college<br /><br />retro rovertubby3pughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01315017048832512111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-37236094431230295372014-03-05T13:59:31.068-05:002014-03-05T13:59:31.068-05:00hey Van, speaking of jobs that will refund your in...hey Van, speaking of jobs that will refund your investment, I went to college for MUSICAL THEATRE. Bananas. Luckily, I landed a gig and left early. The thing I struggle with most when contemplating my return to school (which I do, about every 6 months) is that college has such an unbending schedule. There isn't the same freedom with scheduling nights, and certain days off as there is in University. Until I feel like I've found something i HAVE to do, (instead of contemplating) I'm not going to commit money that I don't have and I'm not sure i'll ever make back! WILDTHINGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14431233063036120252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-8128965048268143542014-03-05T11:56:18.069-05:002014-03-05T11:56:18.069-05:00Thanks for that link and info, will have to look i...Thanks for that link and info, will have to look into that. I loathe how you have to take so many classes you'll never need to get a degree! Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-36603036955590044672014-03-05T10:08:16.771-05:002014-03-05T10:08:16.771-05:00I haven't read all of the comments yet so I do...I haven't read all of the comments yet so I don't know if someone already posted this. I heard about this on a story on NPR. Check out MOOCs. Massive Open Online Courses. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course They are courses, many of which are free, offered by top universities. I have an interest in trying it out but haven't fully researched it yet. <br /><br />I went to college straight out of high school. Dropped out after a year and then went back several years later and finished. My degree did get me a job but it wasn't a passion and I no longer work in that field. The thing I don't like about college is the hours spent fulfilling course requirements that have nothing to do with your interests in order to have a well rounded education. I'm not sure what the requirements of a journalism degree are but you would probably have to take some classes that you had no interest in. As someone said previously it feels very high schoolish having to slog through it, memorize and make the grade because it's a required course. I think it's great that you're thoughtfully considering your options. The article about Art school was interesting. Maybe you should research some people who are doing something similar to what you want to do in journalism and find out how they achieved that goal. Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13938880698057594793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-26913333492996911792014-03-05T09:59:22.524-05:002014-03-05T09:59:22.524-05:00Definitely agree with a lot of this- I could never...Definitely agree with a lot of this- I could never go to school in the medical field or for anything guaranteed to make money, I'd be too bored in the classes and then with life. I have too much in my mind brewing always ready to be made. I'd love to make more money but can do a lot with even $30K a year, my expenses are so low.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-46601535444755893212014-03-05T09:25:39.514-05:002014-03-05T09:25:39.514-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jenny Whiskeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14435748993009645139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-32701147910754999432014-03-05T09:25:37.181-05:002014-03-05T09:25:37.181-05:00This is something i go over and over and over agai...This is something i go over and over and over again myself. I'm 31, and i went to college for about 1 and 1/2 years. In my opinion college is completely wasted on 18 year olds! I'm an artsy fartsy person too. My major was Music, and then switched to Photography. I paid my own way and worked full time too and it just got to be too stressful, and i was much more interested in moving out of my parent's house and just living life. I'm not really a school person, so i hated spending tons of money on classes that i was not interested in (econimics, math classes, computer basics classes that they didn't allow you to test out of!!!) i considered going back for a trade (Nurse, Mortician, Beautician) but when it came down to it, none of these things were REALLY what i want to do. And spending money on them seemed pointless. Unfortunatly for me i am not a money minded person. I have no interest in big money careers at all and would crash and burn going to school for them! So i'm back to working a "job" not a "career". I love my day job. I'm valued and work with great people. And i have plenty of time to do the things i truly love (play in a band, crafting, thrifting, makeup artistry , etc) So i never really feel deprived. I've never taken that step from making my passions my job like you have, and I'm not sure i ever will. In any case, taking a long hard look at finances, and time (since in your business time is money!). ANd i agree with all the folks who posted prior, DEBT IS THE DEVIL. I would go the workshop/single classes, not necessarily a degere type route. All of the successful people i know who graduated college with an Arts degree are now working the office grind in a not-so-artsy way. When it comes down to the arts, all people care about is , how good you are at what you do.Jenny Whiskeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14435748993009645139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-73681376982490459882014-03-05T09:07:49.420-05:002014-03-05T09:07:49.420-05:00Thanks for the tip. I don't regret my flounder...Thanks for the tip. I don't regret my floundering early college experience at all and did learn while I was there.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-39988955381425069162014-03-05T09:07:02.801-05:002014-03-05T09:07:02.801-05:00Definitely helps, thanks! I really should get into...Definitely helps, thanks! I really should get into more clubs, meet-ups, organizations and internships first or while I'm at it.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-73650126351647174992014-03-05T09:05:26.608-05:002014-03-05T09:05:26.608-05:00Thanks for the suggestion, will look into it!Thanks for the suggestion, will look into it!Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-40573483365194180512014-03-05T09:05:04.983-05:002014-03-05T09:05:04.983-05:00All good points to ponder. I'm desiring person...All good points to ponder. I'm desiring personal enrichment, the challenge, networking and knowledge more-so that job-earning potential, I may be self-employed for life for all I know. I'm passionate about the subjects and wonder if I should go back to school while I have the desire to study again. I'd also have the degrees in case I want to get another job in the future. Thanks for the detailed information!Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-1688551316274095202014-03-05T08:59:33.437-05:002014-03-05T08:59:33.437-05:00Thanks for the kind words :) Definitely sacrificed...Thanks for the kind words :) Definitely sacrificed for years to learn and get where I am now. Also aware that journalists/photographers have low pay but it's just something I love. Quite used to doing tons of work for low pay now being self-employed, you definitely do more work than you're paid for. I will continue to feel it out and see what happens.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-16834149922975988182014-03-05T08:57:25.630-05:002014-03-05T08:57:25.630-05:00Thanks so much for sharing your story. Definitely ...Thanks so much for sharing your story. Definitely will never take out loans, I'm a very anti-debt person.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-69884842820745973812014-03-05T08:54:09.366-05:002014-03-05T08:54:09.366-05:00Journalism and photojournalism, I passionate about...Journalism and photojournalism, I passionate about English literature too, but I think I've ALWAYS been a journalist. If I was blogging I was making amateur videos as a kid with info or making "articles" in notebooks by writing a cutting/pasting in photos.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445764937751339633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-28959684705842398442014-03-05T08:49:34.238-05:002014-03-05T08:49:34.238-05:00So worth it! Everything about the experience made ...So worth it! Everything about the experience made me a more well-rounded person. I think everyone should go. Seriously! Even if they know they want to do something that doesn't require a degree. :)Lyndsay Almeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925222950211857614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-87438782661529742882014-03-05T02:19:30.539-05:002014-03-05T02:19:30.539-05:00Hi Van, here are my thoughts. I have a degree in ...Hi Van, here are my thoughts. I have a degree in business management and have found that I probably could have done without it. Fortunately most of my education was paid for through my tribe's scholarship fund and without such funding, I probably would have just worked instead of going to college.<br /><br />If I were to do it again, I would not take out any loans whatsoever or take our very little as possible, and try to work part time at the same time. I'm satisfied with my career path as of now but there is a part of me that thinks about going back to school. However, if I were to do it again I would go the vocational/community college route and try to learn a tangible skill. Plumbing, carpentry, barbering, really anything that you can actually tangibly do and whose skill can't be shipped off to China.<br /><br />I look at my barber who is in his early 20's, has his own business and is doing well. He didn't go to some fancy liberal arts school, didn't go into student loan debt, and already is doing quite well with a small but growing business.<br /><br />I wouldn't go into school to "discover" what you like. If you're not sure, read up on what you're interested, try to get involved with local clubs or organizations with those things you tend to like and get a feel for what it is you really want to do before returning to school.<br /><br />Just my two cents, hope it helps!<br /> Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999992894625161824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-16234631898279129182014-03-05T00:57:47.324-05:002014-03-05T00:57:47.324-05:00Van, you should look into open course content. If ...Van, you should look into open course content. If you want to poke around without a commitment, I highly suggest Kahn Academy. Totally free and constantly adding topics.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04316859450654397950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2966296007306432724.post-76956783834485515262014-03-05T00:29:38.450-05:002014-03-05T00:29:38.450-05:00Whether or not to attend college? Having attended ...Whether or not to attend college? Having attended a few universities and worked in the field of education myself, I would ask you the simple question, why? What is your reason to go? <br /><br />One point I always emphasized to people, and you've probably heard, is that the days of guaranteed employment ["security"] with a college degree are long gone. The successful marketing done by higher ed. institutions on the value of college degrees has, in my opinion, worked counter to that marketed message. It has created 'degree inflation' in which the street value of a BA or BS has decreased. Many applicants in higher-earning positions have a Bachelor's, so employers begin to ask for Master's while many people are seeing a Master's as a way of keeping up with degree inflation. Statistically on average, colleges point out, the long-term earning potential of college graduates exceed high school grads. However, that depends upon what one is learning to later to be earning. <br /><br />Institutions of higher learning are now beginning to realize that what they have been peddling doesn't always work with the new economy we are entering. Content (knowledge) is still important, but as things change rapidly, skills and adaptability applied to problem solving are the new commodities. We have more content at our fingertips than at any point in human history . . . . and who's going to - or willing to - pay thousands of dollars every time they need to upgrade their resume, content knowledge, or skills? <br /><br />Knowledge is power, no doubt. So, go back to the original question of why? Why do you want to learn what you want to learn? Sometimes college/university is the best route. Other times its entrepreneurial bootstrapping. And still others it is the old-fashioned mentorship/apprenticeship. <br /><br />Consider yourself an investment. Invest wisely by considering your desired dividends (what you want out of it), and then invest in what will bring about those dividends. <br />Keithnoreply@blogger.com