To Get a Degree or Not: Part 4

By Rebecca Miller

Earning a degree is expensive and many wonder if the cost is worth the reward. This article demonstrates the vital importance of earning a degree.

Growing up, my father constantly perpetuated the notion that if you work hard, put in the leg work and start from the bottom, you can work your way up into any job. My father’s perception came from his experience as a blue-collar worker who labored his way up from a part-time floor-sweeper at his father’s printing shop to a full-time lithographer at a reputable printing company.

It’s not that my father didn’t believe in college, but he felt that true career knowledge could only be gained through experience, trial and error and learning by doing. As a man faithful to the ways of his era, my father failed to recognize the change in the job market and its adoption of a prejudice against those without a degree.

When I told my father I wanted to be a writer and get my degree in journalism, he was supportive of my dream but wary of my decision to hit the books. He preached that I should get an internship at a newspaper, work hard and eventually earn my keep as a writer/reporter. As a modern-day woman, I knew that simply starting from the ground wasn’t enough and would not guarantee my rightful place as a journalist. I needed a degree to not only get my foot in the door but to learn the foundations of my trade through an expert-taught, industry-current accredited degree program.

Earning a degree not only prepares you for your field but teaches important life skills such as time management, organization and critical thinking. Additionally, degree programs allow students to gain written and verbal communication, reading comprehension and interpersonal relations skills. These skills are vital not only for life but for a successful career.

If you’ve searched job boards, you’ll likely see that the first requirement for most jobs is a degree. From health care careers to criminal justice positions to jobs in business, today nearly every field requires some sort of formal education. So, as far as getting a foot in the door, having a degree is the first step.