Thinking About Education In Recession

By Author: Yossarian Smythe
Total Articles: 25
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Education has been treated as one of the constant goods in this world. A trip down Hollywood memory lane of many youth-oriented movies and series has shown more than a dozen lost teenagers finally finding a better future for themselves by deciding to go through with college or any of its post-graduate and undergraduate equivalents.

There used to be nothing wrong with getting further education, until now. Before pro-education advocates get their spears out, there's an explanation. In these times of the less-than-stellar performance of the economy, education should be viewed as an investment. There are reasons which would make education more like an unnecessary limb rather than a weapon.

Good Education Is Usually Equal To Expensive Education

There's a reason why people actually think long and hard about college. Universities that offer degrees that you would only be too happy to put in your resume are expensive for that reason, especially in the United States. This is why things such as student loans and student loan consolidations emerge.

Sometimes, education is so expensive that you would need to ...
... pay for it until after you finish with it. Now, there's nothing particularly harmful with it since this is a common practice, but you've got to think about the returns of acquiring a particular degree. Post-graduate studies, for example, are pretty expensive, but does it really add that extra kick to you resume?

Experience Is Worth a Lot

In acquiring education, you not only invest time but also money. Education is not like any other purchase, so to speak, that affects your experience immediately after the transaction. You would also have to attend lessons, make papers and take exams like any other student. Post-graduate studies take up time in terms of dissertations. Some jobs and some employers, although they will take note of your degree, would rather pay attention to your experience.

So, the months of studying and taking tests could've been replaced by internships and job experience. This is especially applicable for those who have already taken up sufficient education that concerns their field. Internships and maybe recommendations from former employers may just make your resume more attractive than an additional degree. Furthermore, unlike college degrees, internships and on-the-job trainings pay, especially if it's a good company, experience is worth a lot.

Unpredictable Job Market

It's also worth noting that in the face of recession, some jobs are actually fading out. Stacking up on knowledge for a job that may crash in the future would not be a very good decision. In the age of technology, finding out if your career option is bound to sink is easier. Job databases are all over the Internet and print media. It would be easy to spot which jobs are in demand and which are not.

As said before, education is an investment. If you're looking to further your career by taking more degrees, it is important to note that this is something one needs to think about more carefully now than before. However, if you're going for education purely because of added knowledge and you have the finances to back it, then these financial concerns shouldn't even be part of your considerations. GP

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