Should You Get a Degree or Spend Your Time Gaining Experience?

You’ve spent your entire life deciding what you want to do when you grow up. Now that it’s finally here, the first question on your mind might be, Do I get a degree or spend my time gaining experience? It seems like two different paths going in opposite directions, but they actually can compliment each other quite nicely. The decision of whether to get a degree or spend your time gaining experience will depend on three factors: your current situation, the resources available to you, and what you ultimately want out of life.

Introducing the debate

There is no right answer to this question. If you’re focused on building your experience, then skip the degree and go for it. If you want something more formalized and can’t wait to get started in your career, then go to school. There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument, so it’s important that you evaluate what’s best for your situation. First, let’s consider someone who wants to build their experience. They will have spent less time in school than someone who has a degree and an undergraduate degree usually takes 2 years with about 2-3 hours of studying each day. Those without degrees might be able to find some freelance work if they have skills in high demand but don’t expect them to be highly compensated. Someone with a graduate or professional degree may also need time before they start earning money but should earn more once they do start working than those without degrees.

The value of a degree
A degree is not necessary to succeed in business, but it can help. Degrees provide knowledge and credentials. The value of a degree will vary depending on the type of work you want to do. For example, if you want to be an engineer, then getting a degree is essential. In contrast, if you want to start your own business like I did, then getting your experience first may be more valuable than going back for another degree.

The value of experience
While some argue that experience is more valuable than a degree, others say that with the right degree you can get an entry-level job and then spend time gaining experience as you work your way up the ladder. A degree can help you get in the door and gain experience faster, but it’s important to consider what kind of job you want before deciding.

Which is better for you?

The answer is subjective, but it depends on what your goals are. If you want to work in a specific field and be an expert, then you’ll need the degree. If you don’t know what industry you want to work in but want to experience different jobs and industries, then gain some experience first. But if you have the opportunity to go back for your degree, then do it!