Guidance for a 17-year old? ( school question )

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Hi everyone, i'm new I've grew up around welding/fab work since... well, pretty much all my life, since that was my Father's line of work, so I developed a passion for it, and want to pursue it as my career, but... There's so many educational roads/paths to take that it's just confusing me. I know how to tig, mig, etc. there's not much more I could learn on that aspect, but if I want to be a professional welder, should I get a tech. degree ( 2-year ), a diploma ( 1-year, basics ), or should I pursue a BS? My dad doesn't have any education, but... times have changed. Is knowledge of how to do it enough, or do I need the degree, or will the diploma be good enough?Thanks, all help is appreciated.
Reply:Wow! You have already had a great example in your dad, I think that is such a cool thing for you! So many people I come into contact with agree that further education is a good thing. The part that is so cool in your case is that you have a clear idea of the field in which you want to study. With the talent that you already have, you might stand to benefit a great deal if you aim high. Don't sell yourself short, there are far too many of us old guys that hack our way through low end jobs. Crack the throttle wide open!! City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:The people with the degrees are the ones who are really in a world of hurt in this recession.  They have no hands on work skills.A college degree isn't worth much when there's no demand for your specialty when you graduate.Your father is in a better position to weather the storm than some PHD living down the street.  He has skill that is always in demand whatever the situation.  Think about it.  You can always pursue the school thing later.  It's all about survival now."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Look at it this wayYou don't need an 150/hour therapist to tell ya you're depressed when ya can't find a job.  That dude is suddenly irrelevant.  It's real world now, and people find out they can live without therapists, but they can't live without the physical things that make life possible.  Food, shelter, ..........  They need hard real things that make living possible.  Your Dad put food on the table for years, and you'll be able to if you take up his trade."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I'm surprised when I talk to someone with their own business. I don't know a thing about running a business. Some guys have taken the time to type long posts explaining business sense to guys asking. So, since you already know welding, some sort of business degree will fit in nicely. Good luck.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by Craig in DenverI'm surprised when I talk to someone with their own business. I don't know a thing about running a business. Some guys have taken the time to type long posts explaining business sense to guys asking. So, since you already know welding, some sort of business degree will fit in nicely. Good luck.
Reply:Well Samm on this I have to disagree.Yes Shoo Head has the skills already, but adding to the background knowledge & theory of the welding processes can only help.  Getting a degree - AS, BS, MBA would only be a good thing.  As you already said, he has the skills to put food on the table & a roof over his/family's head.  Now is the time for him to get the theory behind it all & position him for a much better life "down the road".That said, in the future, more recessions will happen, more economic dips will happen, boom/bust cycle & all that.  In my own case, I'm in a pretty recession proof profession.  However, I also know if push comes to shove, I could make a life for myself & family doing the other skills I possess.  I was a pretty good mechanic, general laborer, farmhand, ranchhand, roofer, siding installer, ect, etc.......But, doing what I do now, is the best lifestyle I could hope for now.  That is due to a college education.  That is why I respectfully disagree Samm.  And suggest to Shoo Head to go for the education.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Originally Posted by Shoo HeadHi everyone, i'm new I've grew up around welding/fab work since... well, pretty much all my life, since that was my Father's line of work, so I developed a passion for it, and want to pursue it as my career, but... There's so many educational roads/paths to take that it's just confusing me. I know how to tig, mig, etc. there's not much more I could learn on that aspect, but if I want to be a professional welder, should I get a tech. degree ( 2-year ), a diploma ( 1-year, basics ), or should I pursue a BS? My dad doesn't have any education, but... times have changed. Is knowledge of how to do it enough, or do I need the degree, or will the diploma be good enough?Thanks, all help is appreciated.
Reply:Posted by Farmersamm:The people with the degrees are the ones who are really in a world of hurt in this recession. They have no hands on work skills.A college degree isn't worth much when there's no demand for your specialty when you graduate.Your father is in a better position to weather the storm than some PHD living down the street. He has skill that is always in demand whatever the situation.
Reply:I dont know that an actual degree in welding would help much, unless you want to become a weld engineer or a welding professor or high level inspector.  Welding classes at the local college or tech school and certification tests will certainly help with getting a welding job with a structural contractor or manufacturing plant or the like.  Business classes in marketing, accounting, economics, etc at the local college, as well as math, science and english classes will certainly help if you want to go into business for yourself or become a manager of someone else's business, or even just for your general knowlege in life.  It also never hurts to have unrelated skills or education, should you decide to change your path in the future, by choice or by circumstance.   Working with the body is good, but it doesn't last forever.  Some may have it last to retirement, others may be forced to retire early when their body fails before schedule.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I re-read the original post this morningHe's considering a degree in ADDITION to the welding.  I thought he was considering going into another field altogether.  Doh!!By all means do both if you can Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammThe people with the degrees are the ones who are really in a world of hurt in this recession.  They have no hands on work skills.A college degree isn't worth much when there's no demand for your specialty when you graduate.Your father is in a better position to weather the storm than some PHD living down the street.  He has skill that is always in demand whatever the situation.  Think about it.  You can always pursue the school thing later.  It's all about survival now.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammThe people with the degrees are the ones who are really in a world of hurt in this recession.  They have no hands on work skills.A college degree isn't worth much when there's no demand for your specialty when you graduate.Your father is in a better position to weather the storm than some PHD living down the street.  He has skill that is always in demand whatever the situation.  Think about it.  You can always pursue the school thing later.  It's all about survival now.
Reply:Get as much education as you can.  A college degree demonstrates to an employer that you have commitment and are capable of absorbing knowledge.The "hands on" experience you already have will be invaluable to you as you advance your education.  The theory will make more sense to you than it will to the guy who's never done what you've already done.I started out working construction (light commercial) when I was eleven years old.  Stayed with it all the way thru HS and college.  Did my undergrad work in Civil Engineering.  I can unequivocably state that I had a better "grasp" of the practical applications of what was being taught than my contemporaries who had never worked in the field.Welding is a fast changing field.  Higher education will show a prospective employer that you've got the goods to "keep up".Good LuckSyncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:No worries Samm.  I figured that's what happened.Although a totally different career isn't always a bad thing.  Just depends on the career the young feller chooses.  I chose nursing because I was more afraid of unemployment than hard work.  I've been doing this for 20 years & will be the last career change I'm going to make.  I've often thought of going back to school & getting more education (become a nurse practitioner for example) but can't justify the expense.  That said, I have enough skill to read blueprints, figure out how to build it from the prints that I could do anything I set my mind to.  As he gets older he will decide "what he wants to be when he grows up" & the career path best for him will appear.Good luck with your endevors, regardless of you school/no school choices.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Soooo... yall probably think I haven't paid any attention to this thread, but I've just been keeping my mouth shut in order to absorb some of this wisdom that I KNOW I don't have. After reading through this thread a few times, and re-reading it, and talking to my dad, this is what I've decided...I'll take what I know and try to get an entry level job welding- WHILE going to school a bit here and there, so that way I can acquire more hands-on, job-related experience ( education  ) along with book-wise education.Thanks to everyone who's posted so far
Reply:Originally Posted by Shoo HeadI'll take what I know and try to get an entry level job welding- WHILE going to school a bit here and there, so that way I can acquire more hands-on, job-related experience ( education  ) along with book-wise education.Thanks to everyone who's posted so far
Reply:I think working part-time and schooling is great, i did it.  If you're lucky enough to have a good father to teach you his trade, you are already way ahead of the game.  I think you realize that.  My father built glass factories, makes glass (from recipe), blow glass, finish them... and I'm an opera singer.  I dont know what happened, but they say musical genes usually skip a generation.  So i didn't have the benefit of having an old man teaching me the ropes.I think you should go for a three prong attack for your "education"A welding certification of some sort (degree, tech degree whatever), an academic degree and working part time.Seeing that you're going to be way ahead of anyone in the classes for welding certification (i'm sorry, i'm not familiar with welding education), I'm sure you'll breath through it with no or little trouble.  as for the academic degree, it doesn't have to be totally off the left field from welding.  Things like metallurgy, engineering (architectural, industrial), business.  Or you can get something else that ALSO interest you... psychology, physics, aeronautic engineering so on and so on.  Engineering degree and welding qualifications.. that's a killer combo.the third part is tricky:  part-time job.  I agree with a lot of people here who say a college degree is useless SOMETIMES.  But this is YOUR time to get an education, part-time job is secondary (or tertiary.)  you have the rest of your life to get part time jobs, and get work experience.  so, the time you spend working part-time, has got to be used wisely.  flipping burger? no.  Delivering pizza? no.  Pulling espresso shots? no.  this time for part time job is to be used to get your foot in the door:  work experience in, say, a fabrication shop, welding shop..etc.   On the other hand, this is also the time to try something else besides welding/fabrication related.  Say, maybe you're interested in being a chef (im just pulling things out of thin air here, but you get the example) so maybe you want to try working at a real restaurant and see how that's like.  whichever you choose, welding-related, or just something you're interested in thats not welding-related... try to keep it under 10 or 12 hours a week.  Like i said, you have the rest of your life to try different jobs, but you only have your youth for education.  Talk to some of your pops friend or older people, when you are 30 and trying to work (put food on the table for a family) AND going to school at the same time... it's 10 times as hard.this is just my advice.  ultimately you'll have to decide for yourself.  I just hope you choose to value the time thats given to you (late teens and early 20's) for education, bc when you're older, its just that much more difficult.I've done the whole "college thing" and got my degrees, i'm not "using" my degree right now, but it's always gonna be there when i need it.
Reply:Gotta agree OxyAfter misreading the original post (Sorry man), I pretty well sided with everyone else.Got my doggone degree in Business Administration.  Nice thing to have.  Ain't a soul gonna take it away from ya.My only problem was that I drove a truck the whole time before, during, and sometime after getting the degree.Finally got the piece of paper, and went out lookin' for a job."We don't think you'd be happy in this line of work(office work) judging by your resume(drove for years paying the damn bills, AND  paying the double domed professors their tuition), but you might be happy working in our transportation department"   NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!So that gives ya an idea where I'm comin' from when I get a little ballistic.Actually, the yahoos I met as a young person did me a favor.  I came back to where I belonged in the first place.  Right here, doin' what I'm doin'."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/