The Alternatives to University

For the sake of argument, let’s say you decided that the ROI of higher education isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. It’s OK, most of us really don’t think the debt and stress of debt was worth it. But in the end you decide that you really, really want a career in a science related field, and for that you need formal training, certificates, and a bit of time at the bench. This is what the university would give you… if only you can convince yourself it’s worth the money.

Hold up; there are some options.

The first thing you need to do is realise that making a career of science without a Ph.D. is possible, but a very up uphill climb. Most people believe that you must have at least a bachelor’s degree, but to really be taken seriously you’ll need to toil away to get that Ph.D. That, of course, isn’t true. Gertrude B. Elion, 1988 Nobel Prize winner, among others, have gotten master’s degrees, then worked in industry where she developed life-saving cancer treatments.

Clearly, hard work and apprenticeship takes the Ph.D. — and four more years of toil and debt — out of the equation if you are willing to work hard in industry and keep elevating yourself to higher and higher standards. And, according to Annie Favreau of Inside Careers and the Brazen Careerist, there are even some pretty cool jobs out there that don’t require you to get a Ph.D. from environmental science to biomedical engineer.

But what can you do with a bachelors? With just a bachelor’s degree, you have some basic training and skills under your belt, as well as a shiny piece of paper, so you might think you can do a lot. This will help open the doors to some alt-ac (alternative academics, for those of you just exploring this area) support jobs, which can in turn open up more doors when you apply yourself and help out the team. This was especially common in the old days, but a more modern example would be Alexandra Morton, who obtained a bachelor’s in biology, then went on to make some pretty significant discoveries in aquatic sea life.

As you can see, it’s possible to succeed and go far in science without a lot of time commitment in the Ivory Tower, but you’re going to have to apply yourself at every turn, look for opportunities to advance, and volunteer to put yourself on the line. This advice is a good thing since it was obvious that more traditional routes in science have been closing off since 1999 due to the market flooding with science and science related fields.

Good thing there are untraditional routes.

Many scientists agree that you are a scientist when you start thinking like one, regardless of age or level of training. All you have to do is prove it, then keep learning as follow the questions to their answers.

And that coveted ability to pay bills? You can still get certificates through MOOCs and bench time at an apprenticeship to work your way up the ranks. A college diploma is a rather expensive way of saying you are smart and ambitious, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth the money. Of course, you have to ask yourself the obvious question lying in wait for your scientific mind:

Are MOOCs worth it?

The short answer is: It’s complicated. Very, very complicated.

It’s clear that MOOCs can’t replace every skill that one would need for obtaining a really good job, but it can help you put in the door of an apprenticeship (especially useful for high school students), get you set up with an IT job, and even help enhance your résumé once you’ve got your foot in the door. Some schools may even accept them for partial credit — so ask nicely if you want to get a hybrid MOOC-Uni degree. Taking a MOOC shows initiative, willingness to further your own knowledge and skills, and — thanks to the interactive and group projects — show the ability to work with virtual teams. All of this is positive growth in the direction you want to go AND a makes for a good impression on the future bosses.

With the way things are now, I believe that MOOCs provide the most bang for their buck if a signature class is taken by high school students. They then have the option to either use them for partial university credits or as a way in for an apprenticeship that could lead to a science career without touching a campus. If you’re older, MOOCs have the benefit of providing a bit of extra oomph to your résumé to help you change careers or get in to your dream job, but I wouldn’t count on it.

According to The Boston Globe, I’m not the only one that is thinking along these lines. People are using them to up their value, knowledge, and prospects across the board and across a few different fields. The biggest impacts seem to be computer science and tech, with business and marketing close behind. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised to see MOOCs having more of an impact in the future.

In the end know that there are ways to cut down the cost of the university to make it worth the trip, and there are ways to get to that science career with a few short cuts.