I've seen this both in the work place, with fresh out of school kids thinking they know everything, as well as the kids still in school thinking they're going to get some fabulous job.

As an instructor at a university, I usually get at least once a semester, a student who will raise his (not being sexist, just not ususally any women in my CS classes) hand, and ask something like: "What kind of salary range can I expect when I graduate?", or "What kinds of jobs are there out there?".

I usually laugh first, then tell them the grim truth, that seems to have escaped them up til this point.

You should see their crushed looks when I tell them that if they stay here in NE Ohio, that they'll be lucky to get mid to uper 30's to start, and REALLY lucky if they get in the lower to mid 40's to start.

For some reason, they're expecting 50's to 60's, fresh out of school or something. I just don't get it.

So I tell them, move, or pick a field that doesn't have many people in it, if they want to make more...

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

Oh, and the funniest, are all the new kids, who think they're going to get jobs with big video game development studios right out of school! I laugh, and then when they look hurt because they weren't joking, I tell them they'll be lucky to get a testing job for my little ponies 4 paying $7/hour on the west coast...they don't seem to like that much...

The sad reality, is that 90% of them will be doing web development, and "playing" video games on their free time...

You think the degree matters? I think you'll be lucky to get a job regardless of where your degree's from. The only thing going to a better school will get you is a better shot at a good grad school... And unless you really want to spend 7-10 years in school getting a phD, I'd just stick with wherever you're happiest.

Only thing a better school will mean is more work and less beer/fun!

Take it from some one who has been in school FAR too long and has a crappy job...hell the one moron here with no degree, no training, and no skills whatsoever makes more than me simply because...well no one really knows why...I think it's just cause the "Director of Operations" "likes his hussel"...I think those were the exact words...

Ok done venting...yeah focus on having fun and getting by with "good enough" grades...you'll be happier in the long run...