College Degrees

Will an ag. business cert. be enough of a college education in the future to peak the interest of businesses.

I was looking into this college and was curious about what you guys thought.
http://www.nicc.edu/index.php?option=com_program&task=view&programid=39&campus=Online&Itemid=715

I doubt it, not in today's world... 

I graduated yesterday.. my majors are in Animal Sciences, and forestry.. My minors are Natural Resources and Conservation.  Not sure if that will be good enough for me. 

My GF has a Ag bus degree, and if her plan doesn't work out, she's up a creek w/o a paddle too!

I think that degree would be fine. The key is if you are interested in a particular company do an internship with them. That's the biggest foot in the door you can get.

Future Breeder,

I'd say it depends on what you want to do.  I did Ag Business at the community college prior to transfering to a university where I got a BS degree in Ag Business.  Depending on the job market in your area, it could be tough getting a high paying job even if you have a 4 year degree.  That was what I experienced.  I went on to get an MBA so that I could be more competitive in the market place.  Now, I make six figures working for an insurance company.  Cattle is my hobby/habit/side business/etc, but I can't quit my day job just yet.

Internships will also help, and if you want to go into management find a company that has a management development program.  Most fortune 500 companies have them.

Hope this helps,
GM

it mainly depends on what you are wanting to do.  I have done two internships through Army Corp of Engineers, and seem to be having trouble finding an opening to jump in.  I've switched, and now headed towards NRCS.  

GF has done 2 internships with FSA office, and she's in trouble as she won't grad until May, and they only hire in Jan... Good thing she's already been excepted to interview next week- even though she's not graduated yet.  

Here is my input, for what it is worth. The degree is essential and one thing that can never be taken from you. I have friends who just got a 2yr ag degree and are doing fine. I went on and got my BS. In the end it is just a piece of paper. It all depends on your knowledge of the industry and your personality, IMO. I know some very intelligent people who's personality are pretty dry and they are having a hard time getting jobs. Some of them have also been told they are overqualified, (they have masters degree). When companies can hire someone with the same knowledge or close to and have a lower education ie BS or AS, they tend to do it  because these new employees start on a lower pay scale.

Also, you have to be able to work hard and not afraid to work up the ladder. I have seen way too many kids turn down a job because they are "better'' than that, or want more money. Just because you go to college and are educated doesn't mean you get to start at the top. But that is the mentality that many college graduates seem to have now days.

Just my 2 cents and what I have seen working with a university.

Thank you jackpot and everyone else for you input

I truly believe this depends on you.  I know plenty of people out there 20-35 that are doing very well for themselves with little or no college education.  some things these people have in common is that they all own their own business, they're very enterprising and they are very good with people. 

I went the education route as did my wife.  I earned an Agri-business degree and a Computer Science degree and then went on to get my masters in computer science.  I work for a Fortune 500 company, that is very well known in the agricultural community, as a software engineer. 

A college degree proves you can open your mind, learn something new, and work independently toward a goal.
A college degree also proves you have the persistence to finish what you start.
A college degree gives you the leg up, not a hand out.
A college degree does not, by any way, guarantee success.

The biggest factor on if a college degree is helpful, is who is holding the degree.

First of all great decision for furthering your education.  You are getting some good advice from this thread.  Depends on what you want to do in the future.  Any corporate position will require a degree if you get high enough up the ladder.  Some professional licenses require a degree of some kind before you can apply for a license.

I have an associates degree and it has done me justice so far, but I am actually in the process of finishing my bachelors.

My cousin has his BS in Economics and applied for jobs everywhere, but was going up against former upper level management for some entry level positions because the job market is so tough.  He went back to school to get his Masters just to have an extra boost in the job market.

Depends on what you plan to do, but 5 years from now the requirements will probably be higher, and 10 years from now will be the same.

Best of Luck to you.

As of now I'm interested in starting my own business selling seedstock and show calves along with another job to help supplement that and pay the bills.

I'm just not sure what that other job will be yet.

Fence Rider said:

A college degree proves you can open your mind, learn something new, and work independently toward a goal.
A college degree also proves you have the persistence to finish what you start.
A college degree gives you the leg up, not a hand out.
A college degree does not, by any way, guarantee success.

The biggest factor on if a college degree is helpful, is who is holding the degree.

Click to expand...

Exactly, I got a bachelors in computer science, but I honestly don't know if I would have been better off to hit a tech school.  I wouldn't trade away my experience of college.  I am self employed, so a degree provides no name value.

College gives you a degree that has some adaptability, I would assume the tech would be way more specialized.

I work in a family business, no degree was required.  My degree is more of a fall back on deal in case things change in the future.  I don't want to be 40 or 50 and have to go back to school, I would at least pursue your Associates and during that process you might find what path you want to take for that other job and can decide what education will be necessary to fulfill those ambitions.

Best of luck to you.

I have noticed that 4 or 5 years ago many jobs were advertised as "Bachelors degree or commensurate experience required."  More recently I have noticed similar jobs that now say "Bachelors degree required" and have done away with the commensurate experience option.  I know someone who is very intelligent, talented and experienced who could run circles around most people in these jobs, but does not qualify because she has an Associates degree.  She regrets not going on to finish her Bachelors degree.  It never hurts to achieve a bachelors degree.  Besides, college is really fun  <beer>  if you get it finished before having kids and a mortgage.

I am graduating in May with my Master's in Animal Science, Beef industry, Cow-calf Production Specialization...I will inherit a farm and hopefully never need a degree for a job but it has taught me a tremendous amount about our industry and has prepared me for my future.  And on top of that there is a fairly good pool of jobs that I will be well qualified for should the need arise.