Degree vs straight to work comparison

[Zyffyr]

I was wondering about the relative 'value' of a degree in this game relative to just jumping into a job. Mainly for purposes of an Immortal Dynasty, but also as general information.

I created a household with 4 sims. 2 were for testing, the other 2 were to handle all household duties (cooking,cleaning, repairs) as well as to insure a decent influx of money and provide easy socialization.

Both testing sims were Genius, Good, Geek, with the Computer Whiz aspiration. One went straight into work, the other applied to Uni. Due to the lack of any existing skills, he only got the option for basic degrees. For coursework each term I chose 3 degree classes and 1 elective, and lived at home.

Each focused on maxing their relevant career/school progression as well as doing as much as possible on the aspiration.

WorkerSim finished his aspiration 4 days before StudentSim graduated, and achieved the level of Independent Consultant (L8 ) on the day before Student graduated.
Student managed an A+ average, entered the workforce as The Next Big Thing? (7), with a bonus of 1988. As the only thing blocking him from completing the aspiration was career level, it completed instantly.

As for skills, both reached 10 in programming and 7 in video games. Beyond that Worker had picked up 2 level 2 skills and a level 3. Student gained 3 level 3s, 2 level 4s, and a level 5.

Career-wise Worker is in a slightly better place, didn't spend a bunch on tuition, and was earning the whole time. Student on the other hand has the advantage of a wider range of skills.

Overall, I think the benefit was slight. If Student had been played from a younger age and had the chance to develop some meaningful skills prior to Uni applications, the Distinguished degrees would likely have made it a significant advantage.

[Brian_Z]

Your college graduate will also now get a raise probably every day that he goes to work.  Also, they can change careers to whatever other career benefits from the same degree, and breeze to the top of that career too.  I do think they should have made some careers that either require a degree to start, or require a degree to advance any further. 
You don't really spend much money going to university, even with no scholarships.  And every term you earn an A, you get a 500 Simolean scholarship that will last til you graduate.  But mostly, the pack is about getting to send your sims to college.

[Playalot]

I agree. the Distinguished degrees would have made it a decent advantage and really it is the only option to choose if you have been playing the Sim from birth etc. But it was interesting to see that for two new Sims with no/little skills that the worker was only just a little ahead. I had assumed the worker would have been able to complete their career within those three weeks but it often relies a little on chance and how the days-off fall after each promotion.

[igor140]

To some degree, you're describing the way many actual college degrees work.  I spent seven years in college getting three degrees, and now I'm making a really good salary for teacher where I live, but not for some one with three degrees.

On the other end of the spectrum, some of my former students graduated from high school, went straight into the workforce, and are making more money that I am. 

Now, my career REQUIRES at least one degree, where welding does not... but welding pays better.

[Jr29715]

I've sent a half dozen Sims to uni.  I have a patriarch with about a dozen kids.  What I've done is got them working as soon as they hit high school and (as laborers always) and let them build skills until I am satisfied they can get a few scholarships (they're usually earning $100 an hour as backhoe operators when they leave the house) and then I send them.  They keep their jobs (I actually had to stop applying for the athletic scholarship because it takes too much time away from school) throughout school and sometimes even came back to do more skills after college. Grandmom and Granddad have a full house and keeping everyone on task sucks....:/ but they all have a great start in life.

[Brian_Z]

In my current game, I started as a young adult, and applied to university right away.  So, no distinguished programs available.  I sent him to Foxbury to major in history, because I haven't done the Judge branch yet.  I'm having him do 3 classes per term.  As he got near the end of his 2nd term, I had him apply again.  He was accepted for lots of distinguished degrees now, so I've had him transfer to UBrite and he's in his final term, got straight A+'s for the 3rd term.