Is college even worth it?

I realize saying this makes me sound like a dick, but I'm going to say it anyways:

You won't get a job in politics (or any field) with that attitude. If you really want to be involved in politics, then be involved. Join clubs, network, make it happen.

Also, I've been told by many people (although I can't say for sure if it's true) that just having a college degree is enough to get a job in a lot of fields. Some employers want to see that you can set a huge goal for yourself and meet that goal. That is, a degree in political science might get you a job in a field other than politics. So you wouldn't be going all in on a career in politics. Your degree would still be valuable.

College is absolutely worth it if you go into the right major. I would recommend health care related fields (nursing, pharmacy, any doctorate really) or engineering. If you are uncertain with what you want to do and are on a limited budget, don't go to school and waste your money.

If you don't have the drive for a 4-6 year program, go into a trade skill because there is a lot of work involved in school and dropping out is not a financially sound decision :)

Edit: also you don't have to go into an ivy league school that is 60k a year. There are cheap universities that aren't community colleges that offer assistance.

I'm a political science and English double major, and I intend to go to law school. Most of my fellow classmates have the same idea. Poli Sci is a great degree if you plan on furthering your education, but if you have doubts about it with not even 2 years under your belt, you're going to have a difficult time finding a job in this field. Do you have any interest in being involved in campaigns, local government, or law?

Well the good thing about you not knowing what you want to do is that you are in community college. I am in community college now and have changed my major a countless number of times and have just found out I want to pursue accounting and I am heading towards my last semester of community college. It is odd that you got no scholarship money. I know that there are colleges around me that would give an almost free ride to someone with a decent GPA and an associates degree. For a major I think you should pick something you have interest in, but at the same time can earn a decent living doing. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics website for poli sci careers and their median incomes. College is definitely worth it if you are willing to put in the time, it will most definitely pay off in the long run.

It is difficult to find high paying jobs in this field right out of college. It's not a technical degree where you can make 50K right out of the gate. There is definite risk involved, but I think you should determine what your specific interests are. Do you want to manage campaigns? Be an analyst? Be a staffer for a congressman? There are many opportunities, but your best bet would be to thoroughly research specific jobs and look at what your ROI will be in the long run. If there's not a reasonable reward, a Poli Sci degree may not be worth the risk for you.

It is worth it, if only for the fact that a bachelors degree in any subject is the equivalent to what a high school degree was a few decades ago. If you want a decent shot at good white-collar work, you need a bachelors degree. Now of course it's ridiculous because of the insane costs of college today. But what's the alternative? Trades? Trades are good but they aren't for everyone. There are risks unique to a career in the trades, like the physicality of the work. If you sustain a significant injury or develop some physical limitation down the road, your career is over in the trades and you'll have nothing to fall back on.

Figure out a specific career and choose a school/program which will prepare you for that career. Start looking at job postings to see what jobs are available, what they do, and what skills/experience they require.

"Something in politics" could be anything.... it's like someone getting a business degree because they want to "do business".

I've done a lot of work with district judges, attorneys, and local police in terms of volunteering, and I also served as a defense attorney for two years for juvenile offenders during their sentencing trials. It was a unique program that allowed me to gain a lot of connections. Other than that, I'm currently a student. Many of the professionals I have worked with did not attend Yale, Harvard, Princeton (insert any prestigious college). Which is not to say they do not provide opportunities that other schools may not. However, there are options regardless of where you obtain your degree. There are innumerable internship positions in DC and surrounding areas to "get your foot in the door". Networking will occur on the ground for most people. Sure, Yale may have a more affluent alumni base, but that is not to say you can't achieve the same level of success. My best advice is to transfer to a reasonably notable state school, save money where you can, and apply for internships. Do all that you can to achieve a high GPA and pad your resume- there are internships out there, but in DC the competition is fierce.

Edit: sorry for replying as a new comment. I'm on mobile and I screwed up my formatting

As someone pursuing a political science degree and being from the DC area, you can find a job. It may not be on the hill, it may not be with an agency, but you'll find something and thats all you need to start out. I'm getting mine from Radford and I've been approached by one consulting agency, a government agency, and a candidate himself. Not to mention there are run of the mill 9-5 office jobs that really only care that you went to college and not really about what your degree is in.

What do you want to do in politics?

Do you want to be a reporter or journalist on politics? Do you want to become a secretary, an aide, or even a congressman? Being a lobbyist is also an option. Politics is a very broad field.

You say that you have no money and that the financial situation is making it difficult for you. An easy way is to do ROTC or Enlist in the Army. (Either way, it's going to be minimum of 4 years active, 4 years reserve and free college). Having the military pay for it is good if you can't afford it, because that means you don't lose out as much if you graduate with a degree in bullshit.

Plus, if you want to get involved in politics, having served does get you a few points (don't rely on it as a base though). Becoming an officer and having an MOS that involves something foreign (such as a linguist) can help get you started on the path to being a diplomat or something.

Feel free to PM and I can help you make a plan for college.

Have you researched the requirements for the types of jobs you are interested in? No, then start there.

College can elighten you and/or give you job training. Many times people only leave with one so decide which you prefer.

What is worth it to you?

Financially? Most majors are sustainable, financially, if done correctly. Some earn more than others for the money put into it, though... But I'm of the opinion that with enough budgeting and the right attitude + effort, you can make any major "worth it" financially.

That provided, it's worth it just to be able to do a job that you love. Even if it's not as financially stable as other majors.

But some people don't mind work being a grind as long as it doesn't take up your whole life.

Have you tried getting involved in your political party? Have you sought out the democratic party (for example) in your area and asked about volunteer positions? Internships? Have you contacted your local city/county government and asked about internships for college students? Volunteer positions you can put on your resume to find real work?

Trade school, plus an AA degree if you earn it, is a good idea. Neighbor of mine finished up his his DTA (direct Transfer Degree) in general studies/liberal arts just as he figured out he wanted to be a diseal mechanic. Stuck around working $12 an hour 30 hours a week and went back to school for 4 more quarters to take the classes he needed to get his AS in automotive studies. He and the other 18 graduates of the program literally were handed $25-$30 an hour 38-42 hour a week guaranteed jobs.

Listen, I quit a long time ago and did it my way with "go nowhere" jobs for 10+ years. I felt like I had no direction and dropped out with a bunch of unused credits and debt and nothing to show for it. Now when I try to find anything better for myself, I can't even get my resume looked at without a degree.

Once you have that degree, nobody can take it away from you, and unless you have a solid in somewhere, you pretty much have to have at least a bachelors to be considered for so many jobs out there.

Also, as I've gotten older, I meet tons of people that start with one job and their career evolves into an area that isn't even related to their initial degree. Don't treat your major as an end all be all, and a lot of companies want to see that you completed something that wasn't mandated for you.

Be it University or trade school, basically don't do what I did. If you're like me you can find a healthy paycheck with just a HS diploma, but eventually, you are going to want more.

It's easy to be cynical in this day and age, but you really do have a higher chance at finding a job you want if you have a degree.

Working at Wal-Mart for 1.5 years really solidified my desire to not be stuck in the workforce.

If you're trying to do a monetary analysis of whether or not a degree is worth it, you're not a good fit for college.