Does a Diploma Really Matter?

Which is better, GED or High School Diploma?

  • High School Diploma

    Votes: 27 61.4%

  • GED

    Votes: 1 2.3%

  • About The Same

    Votes: 16 36.4%
  • Total voters
    44
B

bigblockz8

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I'm 16 and taking my GED tests next week. I have friends who are giving me grief about it but personally I do not see the difference between a HS diploma and a GED. I know that some people in the business world have preconceived notions about GED holders.I want to ask what the general consensus really is.
Most aviators are well educated, well rounded, experienced people, especially those that I have met on PoA. In your mind is a HS diploma any different than a GED?

In Maryland the GED is officially called a Maryland State High School Diploma ironically enough! I plan I do plan on doing an associates degree at an I-hate-school-minimum but I just wanted to know opinions from an educated group.

Anybody have a GED?
 
It all depends on what you're doing, who you listen to, and how much you care.

FWIW - I have a GED. Not that it really means much, I passed at like the 98th percentile of all the tests without any studying and hadn't been in high school in like 7 years when I took it.

You'll get to a point in your career where you've obviously demonstrated skills, knowledge, and intelligence that is by far above that which is demonstrated by holding a high school diploma and it won't matter anymore.

It *may* matter in some entry level jbos.
 
If you go to college, no one will even ask about high school. Same will apply if you secure some other educational level (such as a trade school, etc.).

As long as it gets you into what ever you want to do *next*, all's well. I have never, ever, ever been asked for high school information, except in the context of applying for college.
 
And if you refer to 5th grade as "my senior year . . ."

J. Foxworthy

SCCutler said:
If you go to college, no one will even ask about high school. Same will apply if you secure some other educational level (such as a trade school, etc.).

.
Click to expand...
 
To me, a GED says that you assessed the error of your ways in not getting a normal HS diploma and took measure to correct the issue. That can be seen as a plus.
 
SCCutler said:
If you go to college, no one will even ask about high school. Same will apply if you secure some other educational level (such as a trade school, etc.).

As long as it gets you into what ever you want to do *next*, all's well. I have never, ever, ever been asked for high school information, except in the context of applying for college.
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This. (Although you may have to take additional tests to get into some colleges/universities) Work experience and good credit is often worth more to them, afterall, they want your money.

<---<^>--->
 
Mom has five children.

One has a GED
One has a High School Diploma
One has a High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree
One has a High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree
One has a High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree and finishing a Law Degree

The one with the GED is the only one supervising employees or acting in any management capacity. Financially, he is also ahead of two of his siblings, even though he's the youngest.
 
If you took the GED as a way of getting out of high school early, that can be seen as a plus. Otherwise I'd say it's neutral. Either some significant experience/apprenticeship or a college education is desired for most professionals anyway.
 
Steve Foley said:
Mom has five children.

One has a GED
One has a High School Diploma
One has a High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree
One has a High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree
One has a High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree and finishing a Law Degree

The one with the GED is the only one supervising employees or acting in any management capacity. Financially, he is also ahead of two of his siblings, even though he's the youngest.
Click to expand...

But for how long? By this I mean that early on the person without lots of school bills will be ahead because they don't have the millstone of huge school loans around their neck... but will their salaries keep up? At some point the person with more education is going to pay off those school bills and their salary will continue to grow higher.

Yes, I realize there are people like Bill Gates. Not everyone is Bill Gates.

A lot depends on what you want to do with yourself. You don't need a degree for everything.
 
woodstock said:
But for how long? By this I mean that early on the person without lots of school bills will be ahead because they don't have the millstone of huge school loans around their neck... but will their salaries keep up?
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Kind of depends. Lots of college degrees that result in pretty much no income difference.
woodstock said:
At some point the person with more education is going to pay off those school bills and their salary will continue to grow higher.

Yes, I realize there are people like Bill Gates. Not everyone is Bill Gates.

A lot depends on what you want to do with yourself. You don't need a degree for everything.
Click to expand...
Indeed - but the person without the degree can grow just as much. It just depends on what they do and sometimes a little luck helps. Same as in the degree world.
 
Like all other bets, it's an odds game. The problem is that the payoff can't be determined when the dice are thrown and the bets are placed. The good job that doesn't require a degree may someday lead to a real good job that does. The preparation seldom hurts, sometimes helps, but it doesn't have to be done in a single 4-5 year block, or any other particular time. I think the work-study approach provides as much or more value to the student in many cases, and can make more sense than requiring 21-year-old kids to take advanced courses that will be of little use for a long time.

jesse said:
Kind of depends. Lots of college degrees that result in pretty much no income difference.

Indeed - but the person without the degree can grow just as much. It just depends on what they do and sometimes a little luck helps. Same as in the degree world.
Click to expand...
 
bigblockz8 said:
In your mind is a HS diploma any different than a GED?
Click to expand...

As so many others have said, "It depends".

It depends on why you dropped out of HS.
It depends on why you got your GED.
It depends on all the variables that make you who you are. Are you an incompetent quitter or are you someone that can excel through hard work and intelligence.
It depends on what your goals are in life.

Quite frankly, our public schools around here suck. The graduates wouldn't have made it past 6th grade if they went to the HS I went to. Good students get bored and drop out, but they know that education is important so they take the inititative to get their equivalency outside the public school. I have found that these people generally make good employees. Some of them even made good supervisors.

But I have also lived in areas with very good Public Schools. Most of the drop-outs there were just people that couldn't cut it. Guess what I think of them, and what kind of job offer I would make them.
 
Greg - from your "How did you pay" post I imagine that you will end up as an entrepreneur and own your own business. In that case - probably doesn't matter if you graduate 6th grade or not.

As stated before, the biggest hurdle is going to be the quality of college you go to (if you choose that route). You're going to have a hard time getting into a good 4-year school without some amazing other scores or experience to make up for not finishing high school. Once past that - no one will ever ask about high school again. But - if you are just hoping to one day have a job that only requires a high-school diploma, then they probably won't care too much if you have a GED, especially if you have a good back-story.
 
Steve Foley said:
Mom has five children.

One has a GED
One has a High School Diploma
One has a High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree
One has a High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree
One has a High School Diploma and a Bachelor's Degree and finishing a Law Degree

The one with the GED is the only one supervising employees or acting in any management capacity. Financially, he is also ahead of two of his siblings, even though he's the youngest.
Click to expand...
It really depends on how one measures success. If making money and bossing people around is the measure of success, the manager of McDonalds is successful. I don't measure success by either of those criteria. I would say that success is not objective, but subjective. Subjective success is hard to measure. A far as success bossing people around and making money, my nephew works for Union Pacific and lays track. I think he makes a ton of money. He complains all the time about working long hours away from home, and being out in the weather all of the time. My niece is a graphic artist. She makes pretty good money, but works inside doing what she really loves doing. So who is the most successful? It just depends.
 
I personally have a GED; well a MD HS diploma that I obtained when I was 16. It was the recommendation of my HS councilors as a result of my excessive truancy. I do not recall ever showing it to a hiring manager or actually seeing it myself for that matter.

Currently I'm 30 with a successful career. When education does come up on interviews generally my response is I withdrew from high school to go to college with my councilors recommendation at the age of 15, all factual. I do for obvious reasons leave out the truancy part. While 13 years in an industry isn't significant, the accomplishments that I have achieved in that time frame generally speak for themselves. As a result the limited formal education is overlooked or a non-issue.

What I'd take from this- plan to be questioned about dropping out. Initially you will need to prove yourself when you find the career that you enjoy. This means always work hard and achieve those things that will make you standout (while not throwing coworkers under the bus) since you'll need a little something to get over the "education" section of life at that next interview. (or if your in the DC/MD/VA region, when you get older and start dating....)

You do learn some valuable stuff in college. All that I really remember is this- I had one professor that I liked a good bit. He said to the class "To come here take classes and listen to me talk will not make you educated, reading will make you educated- everything you ever wanted to know is in a book somewhere."

On a different note- I did miss life events like my prom, HS football games, reunions, parents are out of town parties that the whole class went to, etc. because generally I was viewed among classmates (and by what I considered as my best friends in HS) as a drop out/loser. I do not keep in touch with any friends from HS at this point. I was lucky in the fact that my childhood (read before high school) friends were: a) 2-3 years older and b) didn't go to my HS school in the first place. This choice WILL change the direction of your life- whether or not it's the right decision is something you have to ask yourself. You are the only one that knows if you will put forth the effort and dedication to succeed and that is a question you have to answer on your own. Have you started a business? Have you considered it? Invented anything?IMO (and I'm not an expert, just first hand experience) this is a great indication of the drive to make it...

Good luck, and feel free to PM me or post any other questions, if you'd like.

Last comment- if I were to go back and be able to change the past- I would not change a thing. I strongly believe that I would not be as successful as I am at this point in my career if I had gone the traditional route.
 
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My HD diploma and college degree sit in my desk. They have never been requested by anyone.
 
bigblockz8 said:
I'm 16 and taking my GED tests next week. I have friends who are giving me grief about it but personally I do not see the difference between a HS diploma and a GED. I know that some people in the business world have preconceived notions about GED holders.I want to ask what the general consensus really is.
Most aviators are well educated, well rounded, experienced people, especially those that I have met on PoA. In your mind is a HS diploma any different than a GED?

In Maryland the GED is officially called a Maryland State High School Diploma ironically enough! I plan I do plan on doing an associates degree at an I-hate-school-minimum but I just wanted to know opinions from an educated group.

Anybody have a GED?
Click to expand...

If you're 16, and "completing" the equivalent of HS, I don't think you have anything to worry about. If anything, it shows that you are more advanced than the majority of the 18 year olds graduating HS.

Ill agree with what others have said, once you get any additional education, the GED is never looked at. And for the purpose of entry level positions, its considered the same.
 
A lot of excellent comments.

Everyone is different and having formal education can open some doors for you; some do fine without it, but those with a college degree are shown to earn higher incomes over time and have more job stability.
I hated HS; did graduate, but couldn't wait to get out. Did much better in trade schools when younger--mainly in the Army. I liked practical things. HS could be pretty subjective. I was also very creative and entrepreneurial which didn't fit the highly structured HS environment.
Later, I went back and finished college and got an MBA. I was ready for it then; did much better and learned a lot. It was at a time my business was in the dumps and it was a manner in which I could stay active and improve.
If you ever own a business and try to raise money or borrow large sums, academic credentials will matter to a lot of folks. You may be O.K, without them, but some doors will be closed.
You just have to weigh it all and see what fits you. At a young age, I wasn't ready to continue on in formal school. Later, I was ready and did very well. You have a lot of time to decide and can always go later if you really need to and it doesn't fit now.

You have to decide what doors you will need to open on your journey through life; having more formal education opens more.

Best,

Dave
 
ep_chart_001.JPG


What you have to ask yourself is: how far from the median do you think you can be? The standard error, in this case, is $22 for a high-school diploma only. Living life in the tenth standard deviation may not be sustainable prospect; mean reversion is a violent and unforgiving force.

Cheers,

-Andrew
 
woodstock said:
But for how long? By this I mean that early on the person without lots of school bills will be ahead because they don't have the millstone of huge school loans around their neck... but will their salaries keep up? At some point the person with more education is going to pay off those school bills and their salary will continue to grow higher.

Yes, I realize there are people like Bill Gates. Not everyone is Bill Gates.

A lot depends on what you want to do with yourself. You don't need a degree for everything.
Click to expand...

Actually I know a perfect example of this.

My dad has a HS diploma, my mom has a B.S. in programming. My mom got her current job at 24 and is in the same job (unrelated to her degree, went to school and worked). My dad got his current job at 26 with just a diploma. He makes $90,000/yr before taxes and with O/T he pushes that to a really nice six figure number. The difference is that my mom stayed and got raises and still owes $15,000 in student loans. My dad is buying a custom built house in cash and my mom has about $3000 total for her retirement.My mom makes $56,000 before taxes, student loan payments,bills,daycare,etc. I doubt that they will ever catch up.

Mom= 56k- Student loans, car payments, bills
Dad= 115k on avg.- Insurance (paid cash for cars), property taxes,bills

Mom=15yrs of work
Dad=15yrs of work
 
Thanks for all of the replies! I guess that I'm just a little unsure because growing up the drop outs were always portrayed losers or criminals. I've met a few people with GED's and one is an aerospace consultant at NASA. It's reassuring to get a few more views before I conclude the general perception of what exactly a GED is.

Thanks once again!
 
Life long learning is important; no matter how one does it. My Son just finished a course in neurology. It clearly shows how the neural networks grow as one learns. Those that aren't in as good a learning environment, don't seem to establish those networks as well and are at a later disadvantage. Doesn't mean formal school is the only way to do this, but it certainly is one of the ways.

My advanced reading skills certainly came from higher leaning. My Son is in an EE program now; he does math equations most of the day working through problems. His ability to solve problems in this area has grown exponentially in a few years. Those capabilities simply weren't there a few years ago and would be almost impossible to learn another way. They are dissecting things at the atomic level and organizing them in manners that make electronic components work--where would one learn that skill outside of a college? Maybe the military could provide a repair base, but not the design level skills.

Best,

Dave
 
I'd advise against planning (or rationalizing) a career choice based on a single example. My college degree (and I graduated debt-free) was instrumental in a launching a career that was (and some years still is) far beyond my expectations.

bigblockz8 said:
Actually I know a perfect example of this.

My dad has a HS diploma, my mom has a B.S. in programming. My mom got her current job at 24 and is in the same job (unrelated to her degree, went to school and worked). My dad got his current job at 26 with just a diploma. He makes $90,000/yr before taxes and with O/T he pushes that to a really nice six figure number. The difference is that my mom stayed and got raises and still owes $15,000 in student loans. My dad is buying a custom built house in cash and my mom has about $3000 total for her retirement.My mom makes $56,000 before taxes, student loan payments,bills,daycare,etc. I doubt that they will ever catch up.

Mom= 56k- Student loans, car payments, bills
Dad= 115k on avg.- Insurance (paid cash for cars), property taxes,bills

Mom=15yrs of work
Dad=15yrs of work
Click to expand...
 
bigblockz8 said:
Actually I know a perfect example of this.

My dad has a HS diploma, my mom has a B.S. in programming. My mom got her current job at 24 and is in the same job (unrelated to her degree, went to school and worked). My dad got his current job at 26 with just a diploma. He makes $90,000/yr before taxes and with O/T he pushes that to a really nice six figure number. The difference is that my mom stayed and got raises and still owes $15,000 in student loans. My dad is buying a custom built house in cash and my mom has about $3000 total for her retirement.My mom makes $56,000 before taxes, student loan payments,bills,daycare,etc. I doubt that they will ever catch up.

Mom= 56k- Student loans, car payments, bills
Dad= 115k on avg.- Insurance (paid cash for cars), property taxes,bills

Mom=15yrs of work
Dad=15yrs of work
Click to expand...

This is the exception not the rule. Also, women make less than men no matter what.

As a counter story, I have a friend living with me while he job hunts. Some college, but he dropped out. Finished his associates, but is still looking for a job in his field. Over the last 10 years he's bounced from entry level job to entry level job, making not much more than minimum wage. He's smart and a good worker, which is why I'm helping him out. (Odds are it won't be long term)

I started school a year after him, finished a BS in engineering. Got a job, moved jobs to a higher paying one, and then got paid to get my masters degree. I've turned down 3 recruiters in the last month, had an interview in MN, and turned down that job.

Point is...... With a degree I'm turning down job offers in a down economy. While my friend is having a hard time just getting a call back from companies.
 
I don't think this post is of particular interest to the OP because I think his talent and drive would be wasted in the military. But, for others commenting it might be interesting.

My grandson is considering the military when he graduates HS. In doing some research I stumbled upon this website which spells out "Each of the services have their own minimum standards when it comes to Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery score requirements, and education levels needed to qualify for enlistment. "

All of the services now require more education than was the case decades ago. Consider this requirement for the Air Force. The Coast Guard is tough as well.

"Education - You're more likely to be struck by lightning than enlist in the Air Force without a high school diploma. Even with a GED, the chances are not good. Only about 1/2 of a percent of all Air Force enlistments each year are GED-Holders. To even be considered for one of these very few slots, a GED-holder must score a minimum of 65 on the AFQT. The Air Force allows a higher enlistment rank for recruits with college credit."
 
Bruce: That's a place I was either very lucky or unlucky, depending upon your perspective <g>.
One had to have a college education to get a commission in the Army for many years. I was able to go to OCS with HS and excellent test scores during the Vietnam war and get an infantry commission.
Things will get much more difficult now with the pull backs.

Best,

Dave
 
Dave Siciliano said:
Bruce: That's a place I was either very lucky or unlucky, depending upon your perspective <g>.
One had to have a college education to get a commission in the Army for many years. I was able to go to OCS with HS and excellent test scores during the Vietnam war and get an infantry commission.
Things will get much more difficult now with the pull backs.

Best,

Dave
Click to expand...

Thanks for mentioning about the pull backs, Dave. I intended to mention that in my post but in my advancing years I forgot it.

If the budget cuts do cause the military to be downsized to the manpower levels it was before the outbreak of WWII they are going to be considerably more selective when screening applicants. :(
 
OTOH, a college degree in the right field along with six years of enlisted reserve service got me a direct commission in the finance corps.

Dave Siciliano said:
Bruce: That's a place I was either very lucky or unlucky, depending upon your perspective <g>.
One had to have a college education to get a commission in the Army for many years. I was able to go to OCS with HS and excellent test scores during the Vietnam war and get an infantry commission.
Things will get much more difficult now with the pull backs.

Best,

Dave
Click to expand...
 
astanley said:
ep_chart_001.JPG


What you have to ask yourself is: how far from the median do you think you can be? The standard error, in this case, is $22 for a high-school diploma only. Living life in the tenth standard deviation may not be sustainable prospect; mean reversion is a violent and unforgiving force.
Click to expand...

So is compound interest. How much do each of those levels cost and how long to pay them back, is another factor.

Also factor in your proclivity towards envy of the neighbor's possessions. You can make significantly below the median if your expenses are kept in check.

Positive cash flow is even more powerful than mean reversion if debt is not accrued. ;)

So there's lots of paths to "success".
 
No wonder I always feel like I should stand in a line to see you; getting paid in the Army was sooooo much fun <g>. All that time to get my eighty-four bucks <g>. And may never have appreciated money more in my life!

Best,

Dave
 
Not saying i took the best route but... I dropped out of school in the 10th grade, due mostly in part to being bored, mandates for graduation forced me to do the work for the lazy idiots and at a high school that emphasized sports so we took tests in groups and were taught by coaches, I had better things to do than watch game tapes. I got a job and held down rent at 16, took the GED the day I was eligible to, got a scholarship based on my ACT grades and went to Mississippi State and walked away with 2 engineering degrees. I wouldn't sweat high school unless it opens up some scholarship opportunities, go to college though. I've never once been asked about HS/GED. If you're into aviation, take something that resembles engineering. I hated college a lot less than the lowest common denominator of education that is high school. Did I mention go to College, you can postpone life and have lots of fun doing it.
 
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To me the real question is that if all you have is a GED, will it effect how many people you hire to help you run your business?

I know that I have had to employ more people over the years simply because I did not have the education to do it myself. Accountants, lawyers, etc.

John
 
My major for my Bachelor's was Professional Pilot... waste of money but I finished it in 3 years because it's easy for me to geek out on flying stuff. Master's (still working on) is in Aeronautical Science too but I chose Space Studies as my major. Figured I would diversify a bit even though if I really wanted a NASA job (which I don't think I do as cool as it sounds) I should been taking physics all my life.

<---<^>--->
 
denverpilot said:
So is compound interest. How much do each of those levels cost and how long to pay them back, is another factor.

Also factor in your proclivity towards envy of the neighbor's possessions. You can make significantly below the median if your expenses are kept in check.

Positive cash flow is even more powerful than mean reversion if debt is not accrued. ;)

So there's lots of paths to "success".
Click to expand...

There are, indeed. As they say in the UK, "horses for courses". What is irrefutable is that median income is positively correlated with education level.

The financing aspects of said income is an interesting question, and as you point out, may drive negative or break even cash flow, which negates the contribution from the increased income. (An interesting study would be savings rates by level of education, over time)

Disclosure: I do not possess an undergraduate degree of any sort. I am currently a candidate for a masters degree.

Cheers,

-Andrew
 
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