Originally Posted By TomSawyer While there are those like Bill Gates who do well without a college degree, they are people that had a special skill or talent that they were lucky enough to have at the right time. And they had the drive to make it happen, which is no small factor in their success. It's far, far more likely that your earning potential will be limited if you don't have a degree.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer It's also important to note that Gates, Dell and Jobs all at least started college before they started their businesses.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Good point Tom. the other is they took a great risk to themselves. People who get degrees with higher paying salaries do not necessarily have to take great risks. A piece of paper means nothing though, unless you have the charisma, drive, tenacity and the ability to deliver results. Hence why I think it is only a door opener. Whether one is invited to stay, depends on the talents and attributes of the individual.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<It's also important to note that Gates, Dell and Jobs all at least started college before they started their businesses.>> That is true. Though I didn't graduate (long story), I have completed three years of college.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <My 5 year old wants to be a "Fire Fighter." That is all well and good and if he still wants that after college I will encourage him 110%. With a college degree he will be more upwardly mobile than most of his contemporaries< the town ( suburb of 160,000) I live in requires a college degree to interview for a police or fire position.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <But without that initial debt for my education, I think I would have struggled much much more with the other expenses.< yes it's a timeline of bills and debt --LOL ( and I agree0
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed. Jean Jacque Rousseau once said "Man is born free and yet everywhere is in chains" I think this applies to the debt cycle. See, I just used something I learned as a Grad!
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<the town ( suburb of 160,000) I live in requires a college degree to interview for a police or fire position.>>> How on Earth does the city afford to pay these people? Your town (and I am sure there are many more) is the very FIRST and ONLY I have heard of concerning Fire, now police I have heard of this but not a 4 yr BA or BS.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<<<the town ( suburb of 160,000) I live in requires a college degree to interview for a police or fire position.>>> How on Earth does the city afford to pay these people? Your town (and I am sure there are many more) is the very FIRST and ONLY I have heard of concerning Fire, now police I have heard of this but not a 4 yr BA or BS.< not an issue, and the requirement has been in place at least 10 years, I believe actually longer. 188 officers - starting salary $50,175. with highly trained and skilled officers - not Mayberry. <a href="http://www.naperville.il.us/index_template.aspx?id=415" target="_blank">http://www.naperville.il.us/in dex_template.aspx?id=415</a> <a href="http://www.theblueline.com/feature/ILnaperville1.html" target="_blank">http://www.theblueline.com/fea ture/ILnaperville1.html</a> <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/may03/05-06napervillecyberpr.mspx" target="_blank">http://www.microsoft.com/press pass/press/2003/may03/05-06napervillecyberpr.mspx</a> Although median house price listed at approx $400,000K - that will get you a 2 bedroom townhome - maybe, depending on where in town it is at. Property taxes brutal. But schools are world class and the people willing to pay the extra costs .... i will get the fire info also <a href="http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/" target="_blank">http://money.cnn.com/magazines /moneymag/bplive/2006/</a> <a href="http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/snapshots/PL1751622.html" target="_blank">http://money.cnn.com/magazines /moneymag/bplive/2006/snapshots/PL1751622.html</a> <a href="http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2005/index.html" target="_blank">http://money.cnn.com/magazines /moneymag/bplive/2005/index.html</a> <a href="http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/bestplaces/compare_tool.jsp?id=PL1751622" target="_blank">http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools /bestplaces/compare_tool.jsp?id=PL1751622</a>
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Here is sample job post - police and fire as you can see go thru same application process and review board: <a href="http://www.naperville.il.us/dynamic_content.aspx?id=366" target="_blank">http://www.naperville.il.us/dy namic_content.aspx?id=366</a>
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>How on Earth does the city afford to pay these people?<< I believe they have above average property tax rates.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^ oh yeah, big time. I would say the 'average' property tax bill in the city would be approx $12,000 - $14,000 ($500,000 house ) with many of the newer homes being built kicking in 4 times that amount.
Originally Posted By avromark <<oh yeah, big time. I would say the 'average' property tax bill in the city would be approx $12,000 - $14,000 ($500,000 house ) with many of the newer homes being built kicking in 4 times that amount.>> Just think at McDonald's wages how long it would take to pay off your debt. Could be worst could be WalMart huh?
Originally Posted By jonvn You know, that's a lot of property tax. In CA, taxes on a $500,000 house would be $5,000. Of course, a $500,000 house there would probably cost like $1.4 million here, making the taxes about the same.
Originally Posted By JohnS1 "By the time my son graduates High School we will have paid a total of around $180,000 in tuition alone." Huh? Since when does elementary and high school education cost anything? Or are you figuring what you paid via taxes?
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>You know, that's a lot of property tax. In CA, taxes on a $500,000 house would be $5,000.<< We pay $2,200 a year on our 400K house in Loveland, CO.
Originally Posted By avromark Bah you all, with our wonderful mill rate I pay 3500 on a home I paid just over 200,000 for... Course I'm glad I pay less then half of what my parents pay I shudder thinking how much i'd pay if they reassess my home (It now has a finished basement, deck, fence, etc).
