First, let’s address the elephant in the room. In 2024, the value of a traditional college degree is more contested than ever. Student debt in the United States alone tops $1.7 trillion. At the same time, the “degree inflation” barrier is real: many middle-skill jobs that once required a high school diploma now ask for a bachelor’s. Meanwhile, tech CEOs and trade advocates argue that apprenticeships, certificates, and self-directed learning can yield better ROI.
If you’re writing to me today, you’re likely 24, unsure, and feeling pressure from parents, peers, or your own ambition. Here’s my motherly advice: If not, start with a cheaper, shorter credential. Work for one year in a field you’re curious about. Then, if you hit a glass ceiling, return for that degree — older, wiser, and with a company that might even pay for it. askyourmother 24 09 20 crystal clark get a degr
You didn’t provide your age, field of interest, or financial situation, but let me give you the advice I’d give my own daughter — and then some. First, let’s address the elephant in the room
You’re 24. You have time. But don’t waste another year guessing. Pick a direction — degree, trade, or bootcamp — and move. At the same time, the “degree inflation” barrier
Note: These are rough averages. Fields like nursing, computer science, or finance have much higher returns.
Dear Crystal,
Since no verified source matches this exactly, the best approach is to write an on the topic of whether Crystal Clark (as a generic or representative name) should get a degree, framed within an advice-column format — as if “askyourmother” were a site offering maternal life advice. AskYourMother: “Crystal Clark, 24-09-20 – Should I Get a Degree?” A Mother’s Take on the Degree Dilemma in 2024 Originally published (hypothetically): September 20, 2024