This assumes that he's in it purely for the money, which is a bad assumption. Choose something that will allow you to live comfortably, but that you still love doing, you're going to be doing it for half of your waking life for the next 35 years at least.

This is an easy answer if you HATE or dislike your job.
Yes! go back to school. You don't want to have stress and the pyschological effects of it over the next 30 years.

But if you are somewhat okay with it and dont mind it at all, then other factors have to be taken into consideration.

I made a career move to something I had a passoin in, and honestly it's one of the better decisions of my life. Yes I make considerably less now, but I enjoy what I do and actually enjoy going to work. Yes theres always going to be some cons of working, but overall I'm pretty happy with what I'm doing. The pyschological effects of that is worth the investment alone.

Just make sure that the switch you are switching too is what you actually WANT to do.

It is never to late!

I recently had a group member who was around 45 years of age. He was a great guy, he knew a lot of shit from his work experience that helped us on our project. He told me he dropped out of college because he had an "unexpected" baby on the way, lol.

Don't go back to school.

Don't buy into the dream that it will improve your outlook or career, times have changed greatly in the past 30 years. The path that our parents took to success doesn't exist anymore.

A lot of successful people are now advocating for alternatives to university. Post secondary is the next bubble, this has been a long time coming.

Unless you truly want to pursue some high level academic research or be a doctor forget about going back to school. Be honest with yourself, if you're going back to school to be because you think it will help make you rich/successful/pedigreed realize that it will grant you none of these. More and more college grads are waking up everyday realizing this.

Some additional reading:

The Great College Hoax - Forbes.com

PIMCO | Investment Outlook - School Daze, School Daze Good Old Golden Rule Days

UnCollege

The Innovative Educator: The College Myth: Why College Isn't Worth The Cost For Many 21s Century Students

James Altucher: Don't Send Your Kids to College

I read the second link in the previous post, "PIMCO | Investment Outlook - School Daze, School Daze Good Old Golden Rule Days". I think the basic idea here is clear. If you are going to go back to school, don't just waste your time with an arts degree or other relatively easy coursework. A post secondary education is more likely to pay off if it is hard, as in technology or math and science based. Alternatively, training to work in the trades is also worthwhile. Ask yourself, how many people do you know with a university degree that got a job related to their field of study, and what was that field of study?

I don't think anyone is saying that going to school is a bad idea. If everyone stopped getting an education, then where would we be? Our whole society would be made up of people with nothing more than a high school education, which is slowly becoming more and more worthless as our government continues to cut funding to education. In the end, you must make a realistic plan for your career goals, and work towards them, rather than just going to university and studying whatever.

I wouldn't go to college if it cost hundreds of thousands like in the US but we have it easy here in Canada. A few grand a year? That's like a 10th of what it costs in America.

I'd look at education like a compliment to skills rather then an end all be all. You have to get experience before, during or after graduation that will help you use your education. I don't think it should be looked at as graduate and I'm going to get a great job, it's a tool to help you get there.

It's sort of like losing weight. Sure you can do it by just eating healthy but if you compliment it with regular exercise and working out you're going to get further faster. Education isn't a waste but it also isn't the holy grail to a guaranteed job, you have to have a good balance of education and experience.

^I think it depends on what field you're going into. Although experience counts for alot, not many people will take a look at you if you dont have the education/credentials.

The first time I went to school I didn't even finish it and im still paying for it later (im 22 went to college at 18). Now I want to goto school only for a trade. I'm happy with living and doing something I enjoy not necessarily love.

No doubt, same holds true for having no experience though especially when trying to move out of entry level positions.

I suggest taking some part time class that relates to what you like. Just to see if you actually like it or not( most often times it turns out to be something you don't really enjoy).

I am taking part time class just to advance my career. Sure I don't like what I am doing now but with the crappy economics these days I rather not take the risk and change career. Beside not many ppl actually get to work at the job they dream about, the important factor is can your currently provide you with job security, advancement, put food on the table........

Im going back to be a dentist, an additional 5-6 yrs on top.

damn this got me thinking.

i might get promoted soon and aroound 2 yrs i will quit to go back to school.

iono if it would be worth my time and money to do so

oh, i will be moving up to a supervisor spot. i will be going to school for business.
i feel if i become supervisor, i will have some knowledge of a business and managing etc....

u see, I always thought I was good with business. Thats what I majored in, I got promotions, rose a couple ranks. Not bad, but I hated the politics... and thats what made me want a change.

Have you tried changing envirounment not neccasryly changing careers? maybe its the business position/company your fed up with..

I mean it wouldnt hurt to try stay in the field your in but apply to different companies to see how it is like?

with most private companies, all the same. Gov't a little diff, but the stuff I do doesn't really apply to Gov't jobs.

I started my first year of university when I was 27. I just knew that if I didn't go back to school I would regret it for the rest of my life. I'm graduating this year and am already working in my field. Committing to school was the best decision I've ever made. Why settle for a "decent" job when you can have a great career? Go for it dude.

^That is exactly why I'm going back

how do you guys decide what to take?? im working atm but hate my job i want to go to school for accounting cuz i really liked it in highschool and was good at it

how do you deal with having no income? do you work part time? i plan to go to school in a year or so but im afraid it will be the wrong choice but im only 22 =s

For me it was easy to decide what to take since its directly related to what I do.

I suppose it depends on what you're going into, your course load etc but engineers and technologists in my office have said if you go back, DO NOT work part time.
Focus only school, that will be your job for the duration of your program.

Gdoh, if you're worried about having no income, think of it this way.
You can tough it out for a few years while you upgrade yourself, or keep working at a job that you hate.

Money can be made later. The opportunity to go back to school wont always be there

At 22 YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN SCHOOL and you are supposed to be broke. Don't let the Vancouver rich chinese kids and drug dealers pressure you into thinking you need to make money to get a car or to take the girls out. Thats a mistake I think a lot of us did when we are younger, trying to get out there fast and make the dough.

If I was 22 all over again, things would have been diff, I would have def stayed and did more schooling. I know once I grad with a MBA, or something more prestige my salary would be way higher than just a regular BA.

Pick something that you're interested in and have an aptitude for. It's hard to motivate yourself to study when you have no interest in the subject matter.

Regarding income, I live on my own and also pay for school. I'm pursuing a science degree with a full course load. I've had to work evenings and rely on bursaries and student loans to get by. But the struggle has made me value my education and motivated me to work even harder in school. And it's finally paying off.

At 22, you're young enough to try something and fail miserably.. but at least try.

Don't be delusional. If at your junior position you couldn't face the politics then don't assume your cut out for anything intensive. The amount of politics is directly relational to the more money/stress/prestige/respectability a career represents. Yes, that is even the case with dentists.

BTW, with dentistry at a cost of around ~220K (w/out living expenses) and 4-6 years, the opportunity cost to do this into your 30s is massive. If you do it, follow through.

UBC Dentistry Class Of 2016 Fees PDF


I'm not disputing that University might open opportunities to provide a "great career", I am a UBC grad and have found what most grads would consider to be an extremely rewarding career job.

However, I am also aware that I am among the rare (and the lucky?) who have accomplished this.

University from a financial standpoint is a huge risk that people are not aware of. It's a risk that many people take without considering other options and without fully committing to that path.

A popular notion, but can you back that up? I see this type of confirmation bias all the time ( I did it, so it must be right ).

It's easy to assume that the opportunity to generate money is ever present. Without going indepth, have you done an actual financial assessment? Factoring in opportunity cost and compounding interest into the long term financial picture?

Secondly, why would the opportunity to go back to school disappear? Sure it might be more difficult mentally, but I highly doubt if that if you are eligible now, that you wouldn't have the same opportunity a decade down the road. Our university institutions are not going anywhere.

Long story short... Make sure that the outcome of University is alignment with reality and your true priorities.

Because, once you have a family and are locked down in a mortgage, taking courses, even on a part-time basis, is extremely challenging mentally, financially, and physically.

Yes agreed, but replace "taking courses" with "making money" and the claim still rings just as true.