Show Measuring the Value t of a College Education Daniel Contributing Writer Youre fired Billionaire Donald Trump told Todd in inthis inthis inthis this years year's season premier of The Apprentice NBC's popular show The Apprentice is reality show where contestants compete for fora a job working with the Trump Organization and a six-figure six salary In its third season The Apprentice has taken a new twist instead of men competing competing competing ing against women it is high school graduates against college college college col col- col- col lege graduates In the first episode Trump M. M A. A mentioned that the net worth of f the high school group was nearly three times that of the college group But it came asa as asa asa a surprise to the college students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents that their degree did not give them as much of an advantage a as they thought The high school group proved this by winning the first com com- petition College is good and offers a away away away way of learning but I think experience is more important than a degree said Mark Allred a team lead at Discover Financial Allred leads a team of twenty employees and is also involved with the hiring process is a popular web site for job searches Chosen at random eight out of often often often ten jobs required job experience ence Some jobs needed up to seven years of experience When looking at two candidates candidates candidates candi candi- dates one with a degree and theother the theother theother other with job experience the candidate with experience hasan has hasan hasan an advantage said Paul a manager at Northrop Grumman However when the candidate with a degree 4 T 1 1 j gains job experience he is a better asset to the company While many companies offer excellent employment opportunities to applicants with extensive experience these same companies usually I require a degree as well as experience to apply for the higher positions in the compa compa- ny For college students it is easy to forget the importance of gaining experience in their own field of study I think that it is important for any student to get a job in their field of study before they graduate If possible I suggest suggest suggest sug sug- gest getting a job related to your major maior about half oJ J way through your college college col col- lege career said Chris Webster a dedicated student The difference between a career without without without with with- out a degree and a career with a degree is evident in the salary made by these different groups The average yearly income of a college graduate with a Bachelors Bachelor's degree is approximately This is significantly higher than the average average average aver- aver age of a year made by people who have not graduated from college The Themore more college experience ence a person has themore the themore themore more likely they are to tomake tomake tomake make a larger salary For instance a person person person per per- son with a Masters Master's degree can average per year It is hard to measure the value of a college education against 1 1 t 11 experience as The Apprentice is trying to to do The most valuable employee is isone isone isone one who has both education and experience |