Askyourmother 24 09 20 Crystal Clark Get A Degr File

The worst decision? Doing nothing because you’re paralyzed by choice.

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.

You wrote to AskYourMother on September 20, 2024, with a short but heavy question: askyourmother 24 09 20 crystal clark get a degr

| Pathway | Total Cost | Time | Avg starting salary (US, 2024) | 10-yr earnings potential | |--------|-----------|------|------------------------------|--------------------------| | No degree (retail/admin) | $0 | 0 yrs | $32,000 | ~$380k | | Associate degree (community college) | $8k–$15k | 2 yrs | $45,000 | ~$580k | | Bachelor’s degree (public university, in-state) | $40k–$80k | 4 yrs | $60,000 | ~$800k | | Bachelor’s + 2 yrs experience (instead of degree) | $0 (but 2 yrs low wage) | 2 yrs work | $40k (starting) | ~$700k |

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. The worst decision

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.

You’re 24. You have time. But don’t waste another year guessing. Pick a direction — degree, trade, or bootcamp — and move. Here’s my motherly advice: If not, start with

Dear Crystal,