A friend of mine's dad graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in astronomy, then became an auto mechanic. He now programs computers.

Just curious to hear from everyone.

For the most part it is a recognized credential that shows you worked hard enough and were smart enough to obtain it. Success getting these credentials often translates to success on the job.

Another way I frequently see people obtain success is through family or personal relationships. People get their family and friends hired even though they don't have any degree or experience.

Not a lot of fun to see someone's 22-year old daughter hired into the firm as a "Network Engineer".

But the economy is tough now and the power resides with the employer.

The good thing about having independent credentials (vice being related to someone) is that you can change jobs. The credential goes with you.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

No relationship at all for me. Degrees in Math and Ethology -- besides selling Mercedes parts, I've owned and operated a small computer software company and worked as a free-lance writer (also computer-related). I don't get it either, really...

Ron
http://germanstar.net

I don't know how good I am at what I do, but I took my degree and have always worked in the field that applies. I like what I do, and have done so for the past 17 years (although I've worked at three companies within that time).

__________________
1992 500SEL 25K
1995 E320 40K
1995 SL600 120K
2002 JX8 Sport 43K
2005 Volvo S40 95K
2006 Isuzu NPR 304K (Frankencamper)
2007 Crown Victoria 150K
2014 Smart Electric 20K

Two graduate degrees in Botany (specializing in Plant Physiology), working as a chemist. sorta related.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Trade school degree as an electronics tech, now work as a machinist.
Nope. No relation there. But would like to get back and finish my EE degree someday, and get a real job

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

I had to have a good laugh when I read the title to this one.

I did for a long time. I worked in my "field" after graduation for many years. Not now. Never again.

However, it makes NO difference. There is NO SUCH THING AS WASTED LEARNING. Anyone that says so is a moron and doesn't deserve school.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

I argue that some types of learning are better than others (cue for a fight ). I resent some of the crap I have to trawl through at work, when I rather be learning something else.

One could even argue that some 'learning' is worthless if it gives a distorted balance of the world, ideas from a limited perspective. Reading religious books ad nauseum lies in this category for me.

And the general dumbing-down of University as more and more of the population is processed, under the banner of 'access for all', means that kids are doing mickey mouse courses with no real challenging content or degrees which amount to little more than technical training. I'm in favour of reducing access to higher education to a lower level, rather than expanding it, for the reasons above and also because the 'value' of a degree as a measure of acheivement is eroded by levelling down.

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'79 280SE
'87 560SEL
'83 280CE
'01 Nissan Micra
'98 VW Passat
'83 911 turbo

If you didn't have "bad" learning experiences, how would you appreicate and seek out "good" learning experiences?

Withdraw from said forest, hover overhead, examine trees from high altitude...

You got me there..maybe.

If you learn crap and don't know it, you wont know a pearl from a hole in the ground..would you?

I'm off to read some computer mauals.

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'79 280SE
'87 560SEL
'83 280CE
'01 Nissan Micra
'98 VW Passat
'83 911 turbo

Eeeewwww. You are highly unlucky person.

That depends on how you want to think about it.
I work in the geotechnical field, ( soils, foundations and concrete).
My degrees are in Bible (!) and even a Masters in Relgious Ed.
Not exactly related, huh!
Except .......... I am the total of all experiences that bring me to where I am now. my education is part of me; the choices I make, the way I view people, the relative importance of people and tasks all combine to make me who I am.
I agree with some posts above that true education is never wasted. In fact I do not like the current trend in education to view all education as simply job training. What a sad view of the purposes of education.

No. Sort of. Primarily trained one side of my brain my whole young life then ended up using another. (A third side reputed to exist.)

Degrees in music performance (classical).

Work as a transactional attorney (had to get a degree to do that).

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David

His:
2003 Dodge Durango SLT
2002 BMW E39 530i Sport
1988 Mercedes 300TE
Hers:
2003 Chevrolet Suburban
1999 E430

75% of the people in the US are not in there major field.

I'm an airline Pilot.

AAS degree in Aerospace Technology--Directly related
BS in Meteorology-- Directly related, I spend 99% of my time flying in the atmosphere. The 1% is spent on the airport.

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

I was an English mager But for sum reaen I coudn't find a job teeching, so biomedical enjineering came naterally.