Feeling Inferior for not having a College Degree (core aspect of social life?)

[innerchild]

Logically I know possessing a college degree isn't mandatory to get one in order to bootstrap one's a career/occupation for living. I'm running a self-help blog which is generating adequate wealth through sponsorship programs and course materials. I'm no longer dependent on employment or a traditional 9 to 5 job.

 

Yet, I still consider myself inferior or less in certain ways relative to the conventional people who designated their career based on the college degree. I often feel guilty for not obtaining a college degree. Whenever I see someone with fancy degrees and multiple majors listed on their profiles I'm feeling depressed.

 

Is college degree meant to offer more than money?. how good or different my life could be if I had one. am I missing any significant parts of social life?

Of course, I could resume my alma matter if I want so, yet I don't find any concrete reason to have one. At the same time, I can't help with feeling alone from the mainstream herd of people.

 

I would like to publish research papers and do surveys on personality types and certain aspects of behavior/impulses. Could I do such a thing without getting a major in psychology? (I had discontinued my studies since high school! :P)

How could I overcome FMO of not having glittering college life like group studies, sleepovers or some other crap! (I don't have an interest for such things yet I miss them).

[Commodent]

15 minutes ago, innerchild said:

Is college degree meant to offer more than money?

It gives credibility. But so does experience as well. Writing a book is also an option.

16 minutes ago, innerchild said:

am I missing any significant parts of social life?

Where I study there's lots of different stuff organized by student organizations. However, there's plenty you can do even if you're not a student. You like climbing? Join a climbing group! You are free to pick your community regardless of where you are in life.

24 minutes ago, innerchild said:

Of course, I could resume my alma matter if I want so, yet I don't find any concrete reason to have one.

Then don't. You can begin studying when you see a specific need for it.

25 minutes ago, innerchild said:

I would like to publish research papers and do surveys on personality types and certain aspects of behavior/impulses. Could I do such a thing without getting a major in psychology?

Yes, you can as long as you're adhering to scientific standards. Research is open to everybody. A degree would definitely be helpful for these purposes though.

29 minutes ago, innerchild said:

How could I overcome FMO of not having glittering college life like group studies, sleepovers or some other crap!

See it for what it is; craving. Need not fight against it.

[studentofthegame]

19 hours ago, innerchild said:

I would like to publish research papers and do surveys on personality types and certain aspects of behavior/impulses. Could I do such a thing without getting a major in psychology? (I had discontinued my studies since high school! :P)

If this is what you want to do then why not go to college and study? You'll have a formal education, supervised training in how to write a paper and contacts in the field, as well as making new friends for life. If you can afford the time and money then i'd say it's worth it. I don't see the benefit in shortcutting the process 

I went to university in my 30's to study psychology. I was applying for my first post-grad job before covid shut everything down.

[intotheblack]

I never went to university.  I went straight into an apprenticeship from leaving school (only 1 day college per week)  I hated school at the time and wasn’t academically minded.  I just wanted to be done with full time school and my parents also didn’t push me to go to university. 

I know what you mean though because where I live now many people have degrees or they are studying.  When I first moved here I would go to a lot of meet up groups, and to be honest it gets boring when everyone you meet is studying.

It was like a breath of fresh air when someone would tell me they were doing something non mainstream!  Or tell me they hadn’t been to university! 

I’ve also met a lot of people who went to uni, but now they don’t work in that profession,  that they feel they wasted their time. 
 

But I have a skill and a trade set for life.  Whatever happens I know I can make money with this skill, if and when I decide to do something else I always have this as a side job. 

I also have no debt.  

As for missing out on the student experience,  I don’t really care, I still used to party and hang out with friends but I was making my own money 

Me and my friends (boys and girls) all had jobs at age 17/18 (apprentices also) so we could save up and take group holidays together in the summer.  

These days I don’t like partying or hanging out in big groups so don’t feel like I’m missing out really. 
 

Don’t feel like you should do something because that’s what everybody is doing.  Be different   Btw I’m not against it,  and maybe one day in the future I will study if it is to help me to grow in some way.  But I won’t do it for the sake of it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2020 by intotheblack

[innerchild]

 

 

 

 

 

3

2 hours ago, intotheblack said:

It was like a breath of fresh air when someone would tell me they were doing something non mainstream!  Or tell me they hadn’t been to university! 

I’ve also met a lot of people who went to uni, but now they don’t work in that profession,  that they feel they wasted their time. 
 

But I have a skill and a trade set for life.  Whatever happens I know I can make money with this skill, if and when I decide to do something else I always have this as a side job.

Yes, I totally agree with you, there's no point in doing things that we don't really into, That's why I have taken content creation as a fulltime profession. Of course, I have faith and appreciation for skillsets. It can help you during worst-case scenarios.

 

But sometimes it feels lonely and secluded to do things that aren't common in mainstream society. And could you give me suggestion on how to meet people or befriend random people you met?. How do you feel when you're hanging out with random acquaintances?.

[intotheblack]

@innerchild 

So I would use the meet-up website and see what events were on.  Usually I would just choose an ‘internationals meet up’
I am also in many Facebook groups for expats.  
Sometimes I would organise my own meet up.  Like creating an event within a group to meet at a bar or something.  I’ve made a few friends that way, also because I found more people around my age or older.   

also I found it better when I arranged the meet up because then more people will talk with you if you are the organiser, haha. 

In my opinion the best way to meet people is travel ! 
I have been on solo city trips and last summer I went by myself to a festival.  I stay in hostels.  You just have to say hello and strike up a conversation with the people sharing your room.  More than likely you will end up hanging out together.  that’s how I met the guy I’m dating now because we shared a hostel room ! 
Just choose a date and see where has the cheapest flight, look for the hostels with good reviews, and just go alone ! Even if you don’t end up meeting anyone you’ll have a new experience  
 

the main thing though,  is to do all of these things without expectation.  Don’t expect to meet amazing people or to make friends straight away ,  or you’ll just be disappointed ! Because a lot of the time people you meet you probably won’t see them again,  but every now and then you’ll find someone to stay in touch with...