Education

[CAD Guy]

How many of you have a formal education? And (if it's not prying too much...) what is it? Do you think it was worth the time to achieve?

Personally, I have a tertiary degree in Design, and while I feel that I've learnt a lot from my study, I feel that my most important learning (both professionally and personally) has all been from things that aren't taught at school.

I've heard that 90% of uni graduates end up working for someone with no formal education. In the scheme of things, I believe that formal education has no bearing on your outcome in life. What do you think about that?

 

[agent007]

In my particular case, formal education has been paramount to achieve what I have achieved so far. But, my personal situation is very different... Nonetheless, I understand where you are coming from and agree with you. Formal education only is far from been enough!.

Regards,

James.

 

[Aceyducey]

Yes
Batchelor of Business (Marketing)
Yes - for the entire uni experience, No for the rote learning & exams.

Henry Ford was once in court and called to the witness stand. The prosecutor asked him a series of questions to prove to the jury that Ford was not formally qualified in anything and therefore not fit to operate a car company.

In the end Ford told the prosecutor that if Ford wanted specialist information he'd simply hire someone to provide it.

I think too much weight is put on formal qualifications, but I've got a degree so what would I know

Cheers,

Aceyducey

 

[BUNDY]

CAD Guy,

Depends what you mean by formal education? Are you referring to education/degrees in economics, real estate, business, marketing etc.

I'd say many here have agreat deal of "Formal Qualifications", but as to whether they relate to property investing??????

Many of us have learnt by reading books, attending good seminars, networking, researching and interacting with other investors - not to mention - learning by yours and others triumphs and mistakes.

Cheers
BUNDY

 

[sbe]

My 2c - The piece of paper helps you get in the door. It doesn't mean you can really do the job, just that you can pass that subject at school....

I've seen unqualified people do amazing things, and qualified people stuff up (and of course, vice-versa.)

I am qualified to do what I do at a general level, although not really with the specifics of what I do. Mind you, I'm classified as above those who are qualified....

Qualifications do look good on resume's..........

Could I have got my first job without it - Not sure, but not likely. After that, it's all what you do. The qualification is less important as time goes by.

Unless of course you're a brain surgeon......

Of course, this is still from a position of having that piece of paper...

Cheerio

Simon.

 

[Mrs Bird]

Hi,

I have a University degree and I would not be where I am today without it.

However I used to believe that going to Uni and getting a degree sets you up in life but even though it worked for me, it will not be the case for my children.

I have been on a Robert Kiyosaki read-a- thon kick and he reminds the reader throught out all his books that the world is changing and the winning formula that worked for our parents is not the formula that will work for our children.

Therefore, I dont mind if my children decide against a teritary education!
This goes against everything I have ever believed in. Why would I want to see my child in life time debt trying to pay off a HECS loan and worse still, full paying fees. This will cripple them financially for years. I believe that in 10 years time, most uni courses will be around the 80K mark.

Therefore the answer to your question Cad guy is no, in the future I believe formal education will not be relevant to how successful you are in life.
Unfortunately, for most kids there will be no other option but to make it on their own.

Mrs Bird

 

[kierank]

I have a B.Sc (majoring in Computer Science) so I have the same mental deficiency as all other IT people. Completed it in 1976.

My dad went to school part-time to Grade 2 (i.e. until he was 7 years old) and he was far smarter than me.

But my degree has helped me get to where I am now. My daughter is in 2nd year Uni now and my son is hoping to get in next year. I believe their pain will be worth it.

KieranK

 

[Sunstone]

Dear CAD,

Education is useful if it teaches you to teach yourself.

I am a firm believer in self education. Why else are we here on this forum?

Just say you have a problem with a computer program. Who would you get to solve it - Someone who has done a course to teach them exactly how to do it? Or someone who has enough intuition to go and make mistakes and think laterally how to work it out?

I once did desktop publishing in Arabic. Now I don't speak Arabic and never expect to. However I have a firm grasp of linguistics. This understanding and mindset at the time meant that I believed that I could do it. Accordingly I worked out how to do it.

Self taught people are more adaptable to new situations. However they have to have learnt first to have the mindset to be able to tackle anything new, think outside the square and be able to teach themselves.

Cheers,

Sunstone.

 

[Joe D]

The degree / diploma / certificate is not important. The discipline in obtaining the extra education and the realisation of more opportunities is what counts.

I have a degree in engineering which guarantees me an above-average income, but hopefully this hasn't blinkered me to all the possibilities out there or limited me to my true potential.

Do the best you can with what you have .....

Joe D

 

[Savanna100]

I have degrees in law and architecture and a Masters in Environmental Law and some grad dips.....
However, I probably shouldn't have wasted my time (although I have a good job) but if I could start over I'd get a degree in building/project management and become a developer !!!!
ah......hindsight !!!!!

still, i don't mind what I do (I'm a senior Urban Planner) and its a nice feeling knowing I could walk into almost any good planning job around but I could have made more if i'd started this whole property gig in my 20s and gone into it as a developer.

I hope to do some developing and am on the way but it would have been nicer to start young.

I'm encouraging my teenage daughter to not necessasarily see Uni as the only game in town.

Savanna

 

[jahn]

Hi
Good topic
My 2c worth
It seems the answer may be, who has the education and what they do as a result.
I think it was Lang Hancock who was at one stage the richest man in Australia, and I believe he never finished standard high school. (Interestng to see his wife and Daughter fighting over whats left for the next 20 years)
Me? I'm just an average Joe that does all the extra things like pass the uni course to get a real estate license and then move on to a different career ??
jahn

 

[CAD Guy]

Hi all.

Thanks for the responses - it's very interesting to see what kind of a background other investors are coming from.

The point I was trying to make with my last post was that a tertiary education is not important to investing. It is (in my opinion) often those who have had to start with very little that achieve the greatest success, simply because they have to think outside the square just to survive. Mix need with determination and you have a formidable force.

Having a high paying job doesn't make you rich. Having a low paying job doesn't make you poor. It's simply a matter of WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE that determines your success.

 

[XBenX]

Originally posted by CAD Guy
How many of you have a formal education? And (if it's not prying too much...) what is it? Do you think it was worth the time to achieve?

Personally, I have a tertiary degree in Design, and while I feel that I've learnt a lot from my study, I feel that my most important learning (both professionally and personally) has all been from things that aren't taught at school.

I've heard that 90% of uni graduates end up working for someone with no formal education. In the scheme of things, I believe that formal education has no bearing on your outcome in life. What do you think about that?

Ive got a formal education, it is/was BCom (Economics) Im currently studing also studying two masters, a MBA (business administration) and a MFP (financial planning) - they are valuable for the wage earner...

But are they worth the time ? for me yes, I enjoy studying, etc..... I plan to complete my Phd/Doctorate after I finish these two masters.... but bottom line being a wage earner doesnt make you rich...

I dont know about the quote that 90% of grads end up working for someone without formal education...