41–49 of 49 posts
Are you more motivated to conquer your depression or to sidestep the situation? From an opportunity standpoint, this could be a chance to overcome a difficult personal challenge (depression) while also being able to do something many don't (go to university). I hope that you find your answer.
I don't have any advice that's not been said, but wanted to wish you luck whatever path you take.
If it's not going to make you kill yourself, go back to school. In American society, a degree from an elite university is a skeleton key to opportunity. It's a clear signifier for 'upper-class' in a society that likes to pretend there's no such thing as class. They could teach you nothing except what wine goes with the fish for four years straight, and it'd still be worth the price of tuition. I have a history degree…
I talked to several programmers, and they mostly said that a prestigious degree only helps out with the first few jobs (though they said that no degree at all is a slight to moderate negative). I'm not sure how accurate their perceptions are, and I think the tech industry might also be unique in caring less about prestigious credentials. These programmers also said that a prestigious degree does help significantly in…
Any degree helps out with the first few jobs. A prestigious degree is for life man. Would that I lived in a state with a top-tier CS school in a good location. I'm doing fine, don't get me wrong, but a Stanford or MIT or Carnegie Melon degree is worth so much more.
Whatever you decide to do, keep your options open.
If it's not going to make you kill yourself, go back to school. In American society, a degree from an elite university is a skeleton key to opportunity. It's a clear signifier for 'upper-class' in a society that likes to pretend there's no such thing as class. They could teach you nothing except what wine goes with the fish for four years straight, and it'd still be worth the price of tuition. I have a history degree…
I talked to several programmers, and they mostly said that a prestigious degree only helps out with the first few jobs (though they said that no degree at all is a slight to moderate negative). I'm not sure how accurate their perceptions are, and I think the tech industry might also be unique in caring less about prestigious credentials. These programmers also said that a prestigious degree does help significantly in…
This effect is so pronounced, some people try to avoid saying where they went to school, instead saying things like 'I went to school in the Bay Area' or 'I went to school in Boston'. They find the automatic obseqious treatment they get awkward, so they only mention their school when they need to use it for something they want.
In practice, this general 'we automatically respect your opinions and assume you're right' effect makes getting all kinds of opportunities easier. Jobs, promotions, meetings with and mentorship from powerful people, etc. It can also help with petty bureaucrats, law enforcement, medical doctors - pretty much everywhere.
It doesn't surprise me that programmers say a prestigious degree doesn't matter - this is America, after all, and automatically treating someone as your better seems profoundly undemocratic. But saying you don't care about prestigious degrees is kind of like saying 'advertising doesn't work on me'. People who actually don't care about and react positively to prestigious degrees are very rare.
I'll add that I didn't know this effect existed when I was going to school - I just wanted to be a history professor! I only noticed it later, when I realized the game board of life was oddly slanted to favor me. But I bet your parents are very well aware of this, and that's why they want you to stay in your school.
Are you more motivated to conquer your depression or to sidestep the situation? From an opportunity standpoint, this could be a chance to overcome a difficult personal challenge (depression) while also being able to do something many don't (go to university). I hope that you find your answer.
Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure if I want to try and conquer my depression right now, but I'm definitely thinking about the choice ahead.
Jerry Colonna was at the top of the business world, partnered with Fred Wilson, and couldn't out run his depression. How he solved it isn't going to work for you, but he tells a wonderful story and really talks about what can be at the core of our desires.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I talked to several programmers, and they mostly said that a prestigious degree only helps out with the first few jobs (though they said that no degree at all is a slight to moderate negative). I'm not sure how accurate their perceptions are, and I think the tech industry might also be unique in caring less about prestigious credentials. These programmers also said that a prestigious degree does help significantly in…
When many people hear you have a degree from a prestigious school, they automatically assume you're smart and talented and right about whatever you're talking about, even if it's unrelated to your degree. This is a general effect that goes far beyond individual fields like science or law. Just being aware of your school will cause many people to unconsciously defer to your opinions and automatically treat you like th…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
When many people hear you have a degree from a prestigious school, they automatically assume you're smart and talented and right about whatever you're talking about, even if it's unrelated to your degree. This is a general effect that goes far beyond individual fields like science or law. Just being aware of your school will cause many people to unconsciously defer to your opinions and automatically treat you like th…
Thanks for the informative response. Based on your experience with people from prestigious schools, do you think this automatic deference is justified?
That said, we all get to deal with the world as it is, not as it should be, and an Ivy degree is a pretty nice perk. It seems a shame to toss it away if there are other ways to deal with your depression.
Then there is the root problem, which is depression. There is no rational advice about "suck it up and go back to school" that will help here. Your problem is uniquely yours, but you are not the only one to feel it. It is a chemicals in the brain problem, not a willpower issue. Depression hits smart people more than dumb people. (Shouldn't it be the other way around?) If you can't go to your parents, do be aware that most Ivy League caliber schools do have strong support networks if you look around.
If you want to talk, create and post a dummy email address and I'll shoot you my contact info.