I knew people who got a 2-year ADN degree and went for the 4-year BSN later. Nursing isn't for everyone, but if you can deal with the smells...

A degree does not magically transform you into a good employee, nor does it automatically launch you into a higher strata of pay.

What will carry you through your career is good skills.

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I graduated with an Associates degree and I've made it to a nice, respectable position in a fortune 500 company. A degree isn't everything. It can help, depending on what you're trying to do, but it isn't life-ending to be without one.

A lot of people go on to get nursing degrees and stuff from community colleges Just keep your head up

Currently in a CC program for paramedicine/firefighting. Having the time of my life. For me it was finding what I wanted to do with my life, not about the “prestige” of the program. A lot of firefighters I know only have associates. That’s a great job to me :) keep your head up!!

I got my associates from a community college in 1991. Went to a 4 year school for a bit after, but just got tired of it and stopped going. After bouncing around a few jobs, I got hired at my current company (29 years and still going). When I was hired, I literally made less than the co-ops/interns. Had to prove myself, over and over, to work my way up...for years, I was working beyond my compensation and every time I tried to bring that up, I was beat down with the "you don't have your degree, yet...just go back to school and get it". Well, I didn't and I've still arrived at a very good place....it just took me longer to get here.

One thing to bear in mind is the Golden Rule. "He who has the gold, makes and/or breaks the rules." If you can find someone willing to pay you what you want, then you can either go there or use that as leverage to get raises/promotions. You have to actively work it, it won't just come to you. But you definitely can succeed.

My recommendation, though, would be to finish the degree. It just removes that from being used against you and it'll pay off again and again over your career.

Good luck!

I enrolled in community college when I was 33 (2012) because I was bored with my shitty job. Couldn’t test out of math 65. Six years later I was graduating with a physics/math BA, took a lot of work and dedication but was totally worth it. I have cool job in electron microscopy. I’ll never be bored ever again, don’t give up!!!

I graduated right into a well paying job right after college-I stayed there till I left that community and my husband used his two year diploma to work his way up into upper municipal management in that field. Same with our oldest, they are working in their chosen field making good bucks after graduating with a two year diploma while our youngest has never been able to work in her field after getting her soft science degree (would need to have gone on for her masters) but she used that degree to help join the military as an officer, so I guess it was a positive life experience for her.

Ya EMT/Paramedic do all those classes takes a year and you’ll have a job right after

Been working as a PTA for years now. Got a job right after graduating, tons of opportunities out there. Two year degree from community college, one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Just got my associates for architectural drafting. Found a decent job in my field to work during school. Just graduated and looking for a firm to for. A good handful came to class for recruiting.