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Do you need a degree to be successful?
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The Toronto Star-By Krystal Yee
University students in Canada are now graduating with an average of $26,680 in debt. And along with that debt, many have been told that a degree is a necessity if we want to have a successful career and live a comfortable life.
Some students will spend more by going on to graduate and post-graduate studies. But is it really worth the years spent in the classroom? Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and the late Steve Jobs are among the most successful businessmen in the world. Yet, all three are also college dropouts. While some might say that they are the exception to the rule, can the average person be successful without a degree?
It is an undisputed fact that graduating college will give you a better chance at landing a job. The unemployment rate of those with a University degree is only 5.2 per cent, compared to 13.2 per cent for those with no certification, diploma, or degree. Additionally, post-secondary graduates are likely to make nearly double the salary of those with no education past high school. However, having a degree does not guarantee anything except a tuition bill in the tens of thousands of dollars.
You don’t need a design degree to have a career in graphic design. And you don’t need a business degree to be successful in business. There are also plenty of people that I know who are in industries completely unrelated to their major. The microbiology major has turned into a social media coordinator; the history major is now working in hospitality; and the kinesiology major is making six-figures in construction management.
Mike Smith, a 28-year old web designer and business owner of Made By Guerilla Designs, has 10 years of freelance experience to his name, and no post-secondary education. With an annual salary of around $75,000-80,000, he believes that you don’t need a college education in order to excel in most fields of study.
“I studied and taught myself everything,” said Smith. “The knowledge is out there, and you can attain it simply by reading, studying, and practicing. Nobody in this world is going to give you a hand out, whether you have a degree or not. You’ve got to get out there and take it for yourself.”
There are, however, a lot of benefits to a university education. Even though a degree probably won’t give you a higher wage, or give you an automatic pass to work for the company of your dreams, it can help you in the following ways:
• Interviews. If you are looking to snag your first “real” job without any education or experience, you might have a hard time getting an interview. However, if you have a degree on your resume, you’ll be much more likely to get called.
• Networking. This could possibly be the most valuable thing you get out of your post-secondary education. With the right contacts, you will have access to the “hidden job market,” where you can score those great jobs that will never be advertised to the public.
• Work ethic. Getting some sort of post-secondary education will give you the work ethic you will need to be successful in the work force. Your classes, assignments, and stress level are bound to be at about the same level as you graduate and try to climb the corporate ladder.
While having a degree is an admirable attribute, and an important credential in a range of different professions, your success in life is not defined by it. Whether they can’t afford it, or do not want to spend the time or money going to school, there are plenty of individuals who have succeeded without an education.
“Never let someone tell you that you can’t make it,” said Smith. “If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen – post-secondary education, or not.”
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