Chris & Naomi Hathaway Home

Hey there Chris! I actually relate a little to what you are saying about your future plans and the decision you are making to choose grad schools. When Garrett (my best friends husband) got a full ride to go to Colorado to study Excersise physiology, I thought it was might cool, but in the end, his degree wasn't very useful and almost seemed like a waste of time up until a few weeks ago.

Garrett studied what he liked, and it didn't seem to matter what school he attended because he was doing what he wanted to do. Colorado isn't the most prestigious school, but recently, after making meager wages for a couple years even though he had a masters degree, he was accepted to study for his PHD at a school  where he will get even MORE of an opportunity to study what he loves. That school just happens to be BYU, but I think this is kind of a dream come true for Garrett.

I am telling you all of this because in my short experience in the working world, I have come to the conclusion that education only serves a few very important purposes and if education is either A.) Overly expensive or B.) Something you don't love and want to be an expert at - THEN BAG IT AND MOVE ON.

These are the things I have learned while being a manager and a sales consultant at a very large corporation and being a part of the local business network. I have observed MANY professionals, successfull leaders, and others at the local Chamber of Commerce Meetings. I have some opinions based on my observations since I have graduated from BYU. Take it as advice from a crazy lady.

#1. The MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do with your education is study exactly what you want to study. It doesn't matter where you go to school as long as you are getting exactly what you want. The best place to go to school is a place where you know the curriculum fits your interests and educational goals.

If a person comes to me and says, "I want to be a graphic designer" I tell them, "Dont waste your time getting into a private art school for the fancy degree title because its expensive and a waste of your time. No employer really cares about where you get your degree or knowledge, all they care about is your skills. Go to the local community college where the same professors teach at the private school teach part time, pay less money for tuition, and study what you love rigorously."

So, number one is: Go where the program fits you to a "T"! Forget about prestige. When you get into the work place, the most important skills you have will be the ones you gained in your area of expertise and how likeable your personality is. The current marketplace is saturated with high quality degrees, technical certificates, etc., but if you ARE the expert in YOUR area of interest, and you're not a social idiot, you won't have to surf around for a job very long. You can start your own business, or be a consultant, or find a niche in a very large company like GOOGLE.

Google won't care where you went to school, but they will care about how much you know, and how you put your knowledge to use.

I went to Valve (the big game software developer) and I asked them who they hire. She said the most important credential isn't the education, but how well they write MODS for the current games. The better the MOD, the more likely they are to hire you. Valve writes some of the most impressive games on the market, so I think they're approach to hiring shows that educational degrees aren't everything.

#2. Study what you love because you are going to be working for a long time. I WISH I would have stayed in school long enough to get my web design down.  I fell in love with XML and server side scripting, but never learned it well enough to put it to good use. I now realize what I want to do, and I want to become the expert. I like the stuff you are doing, and want to know more about it. Right now, I work for survival, but I know a career change is eminenant. (Once I learn how to spell). Save time. Do what you love. Go where-ever it is that will get you there. And don't rack up a large amount of debt....it sucks because it potentially locks you into working at a job you don't like.

#3. No matter what degree you have, you will still have to be personable and have a skill at selling yourself. Those who get high paying jobs are those who sell themselves the best. You can be a PHD, but if you are a bad people person, you won't get the best jobs. You can have LESS skills and beat out a person with more skill simply because you are more sociable. Trust me. It is true at ALL levels in ALL corporations.

MY personal opinion is that: if the school is offering you a full ride (no debt for you! WOW!!! WHAT A GREAT INVESTMENT!) and they offer a program that FITS your interests, then swallow your pride a little and go for it even though its not a top 30 school. What does a top 30 school have that Texas doesnt? I guess thats the most important question. If it doesnt fit your interests or your future goals, then keep shopping.

So, those are my basic pieces of advice. Take it as a grain of salt. You know what is best for you, and I hope this just sheds a little light on the situation for you. As a former BYU grad, I know how daunting the experience can be when trying to figure out what to do with the rest of your life. Its something I never got settled about, and that is why I see myself back in school soon. I still haven't reached that professional platue I am striving for.

Good Luck! Tell Nomi and Spencer I love them too!

Emily