How important is that degree?

[joyseeker]

I am a 20 year old looking for some much needed guidance on my future plans with my education. I am a third year college student in Graphic Design on the 5 1/2 year plan. Ever since I was young I have been interested in hair and beauty. In elementary school I would dye my hair different colors with kool aid with my neighbors and always remind my sister when she was due for a little eye brow plucking. It would only make sense that I would go to attend cosmetology school doesn't it? Getting a 4-year degree is the norm, and people always say that there is no down side to getting one. So I went to college, started in business, then switched to graphic design. My mind always seems to wander to the field of hair though. Finally I decided to listen to my heart and I applied to a cosmetology school over the summer. (this year) I had the start date and everything. Before I knew it, I was back at my college and calling the hair school telling them I was no longer going there. I am not sure if it was out of fear or if I wanted to finish my degree or what!Why did I come back? Now that I am back at school I feel that I did not make the right decision and it is hard for me to stay on task with homework and school. What do I Do!!!!!!! Please any advice would be great. I kindly appreciate it!

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by joyseeker

it is hard for me to stay on task with homework and school. What do I Do!!!!!!!

That is a problem which 99.9% of all students face, to some extent, regardless of whether they like their choice of course or not.

Even if you opt for a hair-related course, you will no doubt experience some bad hair days.

[sbdiane]

Cosmetology school will still be there when you are finished with your degree. And by then you'll be able to make your own PR materials, or help other cosmetologists with theirs, and earn money on the side.

[joyseeker]

I also think it would be a good idea to graduate then do cosmetology school after. I just feel like if I do it now it will save me a lot of money and time. I already know the programs that graphic designers use and I am pretty educated in them. So the only thing that I am getting out of my classes right now is just some ideas on design and some rules here and there. I feel that if I am already creative and know how to run these programs it's like I am just going to school to get the piece of paper to tell people I am good. I don't think I will end up at a agency or firm. It will be more of a side job along with hair. So do freelancers really need a degree?

[Eisho]

Get your degree first. Education is very important and - like it or not - so are the tangible qualifications that go along with it. A degree is a way of getting your foot in the door. So many places want a degree as a minimum requirement even before they will look at your resume. I live in Japan and to get the visa I have I need a degree just for that.

Cheers,

Eisho

[medaille]

Why don't you go to your local salon and tell them your interested in the profession and see if they'll let you hang around and help out for an afternoon or a day or two.

Then you'll have an idea if it seems as good as it is in your imagination. You've already invested a large amount of time and money into your current education, so to me it would only make sense to investigate it further before committing to quitting your current degree plan.

[simonsta]

Hi Joyseeker

It sounds like you know what your passion is, and to be blunt, you must follow it. If you don't there is misery ahead.
Having a passion gives you a vision for what you want to be (not do) and burning this into your brain by constantly reminding yourself of it (this is often called Affirmation) will give you intense motivation.

This motivation will lead you to do things you didn't think you would, like working in a salon for free. You won't mind it is for free as it is helping you achieve your vision.... you will *want* to do it.

At any point you don't feel motivated to achieve your vision through 'hook or by crook' then you should question it if you are really passionate about it.

You've chosen your path, so follow your passion!

Simon

[joyseeker]

Thank you all who are taking your time to give me your advice on the matter.

Simonsta- Your words were a relief to me. I believe that you will do your best at things that you are most passionate about.
"You've chosen your path, so follow your passion!" I also think that I have already chosen my path. At this point I think I am just scared to leave what is familiar to me and what seems right in everyone else's eyes. So I thank you so much. I really appreciate your advice and point of view of this matter.

[openyourize]

i have a theory that due to the economy struggling, companies will soon find themselves unable to afford to pay people the salaries that an education demands. this will cause a huge divide in the job system. there will be more availability for the uneducated, at average or below average salaries. There will still be opportunity for educated people, at higher salaries, but still probably not as high as they should be. AND competition for those jobs will be extremely tough. My 2 cents... work for yourself, start your own business or something, do what you love. only go to college if you need to learn how to do that, or if you want to learn to master some kind of skill. maybe that wont necessarily promise getting rich, or even definite success, but at least you will be in control of it.

[Stephen]

Here's my tuppence.

A University Degree is by no means necessary for making money.

However if you want to become a capitalist slave-clone and work your way into, and up, the neo-liberal corporate class hierarchy of social division and intolerance, then a college degree might just be a prerequisite.

I left school at 15 years old and worked ever since, 25 years now. A few years back I went back to Uni in the UK whilst I continued to work and completed my degree: for myself. It was purely a learning exercise and a challenge to myself as I was successfully self employed and making pleasant cash to support myself and family.

As it happened I fortunately discovered as life unfolded that my degree came in handy when it got me into Australia as a skilled worker (where I am now) and it has enabled me to change careers to become a teacher (to give something back to the community)

I suppose the question you want to ask yourself is: How important is a degree to me?

[chopsaw]

Years ago I knew this young woman who quit college to cut hair. We all thought she was nuts. She was smart... you get the picture. Within a year of becoming a "hair dresser" she started entering contests, etc, and was winning. She happened to be extremely gifted and now charges several hundred dollars a cut. She's booked solid, has her own salon, and lives and breathes a job she loves.

We were all wrong, and she knew in her heart what to do. She did the courageous thing and is living an exemplary life. It didn't come easy, as she has attested. But, valuable lessons are always earned.

Good luck in what ever you choose to do.

[openyourize]

Originally Posted by chopsaw

Years ago I knew this young woman who quit college to cut hair. We all thought she was nuts. She was smart... you get the picture. Within a year of becoming a "hair dresser" she started entering contests, etc, and was winning. She happened to be extremely gifted and now charges several hundred dollars a cut. She's booked solid, has her own salon, and lives and breathes a job she loves.

We were all wrong, and she knew in her heart what to do. She did the courageous thing and is living an exemplary life. It didn't come easy, as she has attested. But, valuable lessons are always earned.

Good luck in what ever you choose to do.

that is a very cool and empowering story! more people need to start sharing stories like this!

[ellie]

Originally Posted by medaille

Why don't you go to your local salon and tell them your interested in the profession and see if they'll let you hang around and help out for an afternoon or a day or two.

I think medaille has it spot on!!!

I've got a degree in multimedia and I am so happy I did the degree. It just means that I have one less thing to worry about and I never have to worry about " if only I had stuck at it".

In australia, having a degree means that if I want to get a qualification in some other field it will take me much less time to do. For example I thought I wanted to be a kinder teacher just recently (after multimedia) and it would only take me an extra year, but if I had no degree it would take me thee years.

Now getting back to what medaille said, I did just that. I took a casual job in childcare to see if it was truly my passion ( I was so sure it was) but you know what now I'm not so sure - ha ha! So even if you think something is your absolute passion it may not be once you get there.

I think now I need to blend multimedia and children's work together as I do really like the animating and interactive side of things, but found working in childcare that I loved making games and objects for kids to play with. So I want to start creating online children's site, games etc

Get you degree and find a casual job in your local salon..

[joyseeker]

Chopsaw- thank you for that great story.
Openyourize- I love how you put this.. "work for yourself, start your own business or something, do what you love" I would love to have my own high end salon in the cities one day. i have already designed my logo and have been thinking of the interior design of the place
medaille- as far as getting my feet wet and checking out a salon for a day, I actually worked for Trade Secret, a salon and beauty product store. I loved it! (environment, products, salon gossip, you name it).

Thank you all for your awesome input. I am slowly getting more clarity on my issue.

[joyseeker]

I am in a downward slope that I don't know how to get out of. If I am not 100% into my subject I am learning I will not do well. The past 2 years I have made the Dean's List and now I find myself waiting until the last minute for projects, zoning out in class, and "trying" to make myself find something interesting about what I am learning.

- Is this because mentally I have checked out and know that I could be doing something much more interesting in cosmetology school?
- or b/c I am just going through a phase and trying to get back in the school mode?

[Daniel Birdick]

Originally Posted by joyseeker

I am in a downward slope that I don't know how to get out of. If I am not 100% into my subject I am learning I will not do well. The past 2 years I have made the Dean's List and now I find myself waiting until the last minute for projects, zoning out in class, and "trying" to make myself find something interesting about what I am learning.

- Is this because mentally I have checked out and know that I could be doing something much more interesting in cosmetology school?
- or b/c I am just going through a phase and trying to get back in the school mode?

It's because you haven't made a clear choice. Decide and refuse to reconsider once you've decided.

[MisterEThoughts]

It is what you make of it.

[SomeRandomGuy]

If you were planning a career known for requiring a college degree to get started, get promoted, etc then I would say to finish your degree. It sounds, however, like you know what you really want to do and the degree is not going to help you in that path. I believe that far too many people waste thousands of dollars and years of their life getting a degree because it is expected or because they will feel like a failure if they do not get the degree. I am not anti-college, if it truly helps you in your future. I am, however, against college in situations where the end result is a piece of paper that has no benefit in your life other than the ability to to be hung on a wall where others can look at it.