There are a few fields where I would say a bachelor's degree is necessary. They're predominantly in the sciences. My team lead was held back from a promotion because she didn't have a bachelor's degree, so she had to go to night school to get one before she could go anywhere else in the company.
In addition, a ridiculous number of lab related fields require a bachelor's with the understanding that you'll go for a master's degree down the line.
That said, a lot of the business, soft skills, and arts programs are a crap shoot. There may be great teachers out there (and I've gotten to know done of 'em), but the usefulness of such a degree is scant compared to the cost. Skilled trade schools for electrical, pluming, HVAC, and automotive, are definitely a bigger bang for your buck if you're looking at schooling. You just need to be sure you love what you do.
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nice follow-up. I think the reason why I didn't know many people in the STEM field is because they actually were dedicated to their fields and were working.
Community colleges and trade schools are excellent. If i could go back in time i would still go to the college town i lived in but instead just pick and choose individual classes from the offerings there and take stuff i was truly interested in and you really had a real skill by the time the class was over... like welding, automotive something or other, masonry etc.
The prescribed 4-year program is the system i have a problem with.
and the biggest point in your statement is the last sentence and unfortunately i feel that for most college students, that doesn't end up being the case. :(
Let's be honest. If skilled trades hired 16-year-olds for basic stuff, give 'em an overview of the trade, there might be more interest in a lot of 'em.
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for me personally, and a think a big part of the reason why i have a chip on my shoulder is because i was fascinated with circuitry as a teen i was constantly fiddling with stuff and mainly working on car stereos... even got a job as an install tech at 16 and was better at it than a lot of people much older than me in the business. I dunno why, but it just interested me immensely. My parents encouraged me to go into that field but of course, i didn't listen and ended up going to a 4-year school because "that's what you are supposed to do" and got a degree in just whatever.
But yes, you are correct about the skilled tradesmen taking on apprentices. I think that a lot of people's minds are getting changed now though. I think at least in part due to that guy who hosts dirty jobs (Mike Rowe?)
But just like anyone in their 40's, i am one of those people that wishes they could go back and tweak a few things about my past :)