highly educated? and Aspergers?

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I'm 46, so I'm older than you, but have a similar outlook. Looking back, me and those of my generation were fooled into believing that college educations, specifically what is/was called "liberal arts" degrees here in the U.S., would be very valuable to those who acquired them, and far more valuable than any sort of education that someone might obtain at a vocational school for something like becoming an auto mechanic, electrician or plumber. Well, the complete opposite happened, and any of us who went to college to get economics, sociology, psychology, or geography degrees get zero job opportunities based solely on our college degrees. My Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics is COMPLETELY WORTHLESS. The job experience I obtained related to that degree could still be helpful, but not really to me anymore since I veered off that previous path and now work as a horticulturist. If I had a botany degree, maybe my education would help me but I am one of many people in the workforce nowadays who is the dubious owner of a college degree that will do SWEET F**K ALL for me for the rest of my life.

I went on a bit long here, but perhaps I should just say that ANYBODY is better off avoiding getting a traditional college degree as opposed to getting education related to a skill that people actually value. If my pipes burst in the middle of the night, I'll gladly pay a plumber $100 an hour to fix them, but I don't see myself ever waking up at 3 a.m. thinking, "damn, I'd gladly pay $12 an hour to someone with an economics degree so I can finally resolve this inner conflict I feel when I weigh the consequences of the implementation of Keynesian-based fiscal policies versus using the principles of Milton Friedman's monetaristic policies to understand the relationship between supply and demand, blah blah blah, etc.

For those young enough for it to matter, do yourself a favor and pursue an educational path that makes you a useful person to society. Vocational schools are probably the best place for this, and many autistic people could successfully complete such an educational path if it corresponds with that person's special interest. NOBODY should bother pursuing anything for a "Bachelor of Arts" degree -- with the exception of those focused on providing education, as Bachelor of Arts degrees (without some subsequent Master's Degree and/or Ph.D. in that field) are completely worthless in today's job market, and will probably be worthless forever going forward.

Well, what's said in the dressing room stays there

In all seriousness, I have played with players of near all ages and skill levels: anywhere from their very first time on skates up to ex-NHL. One of my groups was originally formed by two "rival" electrical companies, so the majority are electricians or tradesmen and they are all VERY well off for being under 30. I mentioned to one that my high school counsellor called electricians, plumbers, etc 'dropouts' and he laughed and said "$65,000/yr is pretty good for a dropout!"

I want to save this and read this to my future child when they are in High School. I went for economics because I believed the lie that "employers" want a well-rounded person to work for them. Maybe in a mom and pop shop, but almost all jobs want specialists! Like you said, I would be willing to pay for a competent plumber who specializes in plumbing but I am not going to pay two economists to try to convert me to geolibertarianism or to supply side economics no matter how smart they are.

I remember in my University convocation how they hyped up that only 1% of the world had a University Degree and what a privilege it was. You know what else 1% of the population has? A significant police record! Neither help in the job hunt.

I have autism and have an undergraduate degree (2:1 from Cambridge University in Natural Sciences) and a Masters. I would like to do a Phd but I would need to get funding for it. I found academic work easy but joining other students in the bar almost impossible. Learning things is really a bit of hobby for me.

Ph.D. in advanced aircraft control theory.
It was nice to be able to lock myself either in the library or the laboratory, shut the world out, and concentrate on a specialist topic for a number of years

I have the following degrees:

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Science in Sociology
Graduate Degree: Juris Doctor

If you want to look for people with AS that have higher degrees try: 1) Doctors (MD), and 2) Lawyers (JD).

Personally, I found that the focus and lack of social life HELPED those people get their education.

IMHO the legal field is PERFECT for someone with AS. Lawschool is only 3 years. Added bonus the LSAT is not a test you "study" for because it does not test your knowledge. It tests your logic and reasoning skills which Aspies seem to find easier than NTs.

I have earned a PhD in chemistry and am self-diagnosed with AS. Being able to concentrate on one particular topic for long periods of time did help on the research side of things. Many graduate students get burnt out doing the same thing after a few years and fail to finish the program. Life tends to interfere with some of them, while others just get plain board. The success rate at my PhD university in the chemistry program (from start to finish of all graduate students) averaged around 15 to 20%. AS has caused problems with me being able to do social networking (something that I am currently working on), so that has limited my career somewhat. Since I am already in my 40s, I see that there is no real reason for me to obtain a formal diagnosis from a licensed professional.


My diagnostic scores:
Aspie quiz score: 136, NT score: 86
AQ score: 40
RAADS-R score: 143
(L:12, SR:67, SM33, CI:31)

That is a very low success rate.
It is a wonder that the program continues to exist.

Well, yes and no. Of the ones that fail to get the PhD, many of them go on to finish a Masters degree there. It really depends upon how far along in the program that they are before they fail. If it is at the Research Proposal Defense stage (ie. before actually being classified as a PhD candidate), they usually are given the option to finish up with the Masters. If the graduate student fails to maintain a 3.0 overall GPA, they only have one chance to bring it up or they are gone with no chance at a Masters. Some of those that fail transfer back into another PhD program and basically start over. That particular university wants to keep a certain level of standards for obtaining the PhD, so it makes sense to keep the requirements and have only a few graduate each year. They were admonished once for too low of a graduation rate by a national chemical organization (ACS), so they had to slightly change one of the requirements (at the RPD stage). Otherwise, it has remained the same over the past twenty years.

I have AS and I've earned a Bachelor's Degree in Conservation Biology.

I eventually want to go back to get my Master's and Doctorate's Degrees but want to get field experience first. Still, if I don't get anything in the next year, I will try to go back to College anyway.

I have a BA, and am finishing an M.Ed. with Asperger's. I think it works out if you are able to find extremely liberal situations that can differentiate, and if you go slowly or to your abilities. I have the M.Ed. Degree, but I cannot teach, because my math is so bad that I cannot pass the state tests.

I've only just realised I excelled academically at school and uni because I thought I'd get attention for being bright. Once I realised social skills and networking count for much more, I completely lost interest in perfectionist academic results. I learned to follow my interests instead. I'm less successful, in terms of social standing and commonly accepted signifiers of 'success', but much happier. I have a half completed PhD. Real life is loads more educational and entertaining than academic ivory towers.

I have a degree in law though i really struggled in college and i'm struggling at my job. The education in my country mostly relies on having a good memory so i did well in high school and primary school, but not in college.

I have HFA, & earned 2 BS degrees plus a lot more college credits that I didn't apply to a degree. I did poorly in school until college. This is because I can study at my own pace in college. I had no control over the pace before that. Taking college classes has become a hobby. With my HFA & other diagnosis, I qualify for reduced tuition, else I couldn't afford to attend.

I have a Master's Degree in English. I taught junior college level English for a year, worked at my local newspaper as a proofreader and now work at the library. I have been working at the library (part time) for fifteen years. One day, I hope to get a full time job. I would love to work in the children's department in some capacity.

My crazy dream is to go to a tennis tournament, meet Denis Istomin and write the story of his life. It is an inspirational story and needs to be told. I think it would be very inspirational to anyone who was told, for whatever reason, they couldn't do something.

There i was on way to a four year degree, 3 credits short of a AA .. Just stopped could not do it anymore . Repeatedly not getting the education was expecting . The things necessary life are not contained within the university system . Saw the goal was not necessarily towards excellence but towards commonality . Information i wanted / needed was not there , thank gawd for the internet . Life is too short. Is not meant to be cut and paste
And literally was not percieving roadblocks towards education .
" A Ship is safe in harbour but thats not what ships were made for"