Is an Exercise Science Degree Worth It? | elitefts.com
Is an Exercise Science Degree Worth It? | elitefts.com
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6 years too late to hear this
So in a word, no
Always felt bad for not finishing my exercise degree and always wanted to go back for it. Never did finish due to life kicking my ass. Although, everything that I did learn I had to unlearn over the years. I am still training because I love it.
Useless pursing medicine now exercise science sucks it is not worth it even if the school gives full ride scholarship
This is insane! I’m a career counselor. You all don’t know what you are talking about! Your cost-benefit analysis is totally misleading, biased and totally wrong.
Bachelor’s in Ex Sci, Master’s in Kinesiology and CSCS here. It was great to learn it all, but you have to have exceptional entrepreneurial and networking skills to make it happen.
My cardiac rehab was with people with exercise science degrees. They work for a hospital system and do pretty good, looked like a great job.
Wendler is spot on. 2 year college with full credit transfer to a university. Jump on the co-op or internship to network and make the right contacts.
I now understand what others mean by "It doesn’t matter what you know it’s who you know".
you make your own situation the best, wether youhave a degree or just a certificate, or just a gym junkie. At some point, over time, you will learn, and develop, depending on your passion, how much faith you have in yourself and how much you ignore the naysayers.. i wish i knew this in 2001. Now with 23 years of reading and training, and being obsessed…. still only have a shitty job, and played it safe! Bad choice!… take home message. take the risk – enjoy the reward. now in my 40s, regretting it big time!
100% worth it
I was able to work throughout studying my MSc in Sport & Exercise Science and later my MBA. That has meant minimal education-related debt. I would 100% say that these qualifications have benefited me in my career. But that said, I don’t work full-time in a coaching/trainer role; it just wouldn’t provide the ROI. But a lot of employers just want to know you’ve got a degree/higher degree as your skill set will be transferable to many industries. So, in a world where the job market is increasingly competitive, I’d suggest higher education will help set you apart from the crowd.
Hey why doesn’t elitefts website load on my phone anymore
It seems only worth it if you can get a job as head S&C Coach at a top 25 D1 college football program. Otherwise it’s gonna be a life of living on baked beans and driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla.
First !
I believe you can get the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by passing an exam and having a bachelor’s in any field. Seems like a good way to get a degree in something more lucrative, but also be able to have a credential.
If I could go back and do it again I would have gotten a degree in business. I’ve had 9 of my former interns move on to Head S&C jobs and 6 of them did not and do not have a degree in exercise science. Awful ROI
Currently making 40-50k/year as a private strength coach and personal trainer.
The knowledge I received from informing myself from people like Dave and hands on experience has been free and already allowed me to live this lifestyle. I don’t see why an exercise science degree is worth it when there are plenty of other opportunities. Not even mentioning what that you will probably never pay off the loan like David stated.
In the private sector the degree is absolutely unnecessary. However, most collegiate jobs require an undergrad degree in Exercise Science and CSCS these days , some even a masters. But that’s just to get a foot in the door. Like Wendler says you still need to learn how to be a coach and the only way to learn is interning with the guys in the field, period. All the guys with the big college jobs spent years doing unpaid work for others. I’ve heard stories of guys sleeping in facilities cause they couldn’t afford to live anywhere. So the pieces of paper don’t make you qualified for the job they just allow your application to go through – current strength intern 🤘🏻
A single mother of two. Getting a free bachelors degree thru financial aid. I received my associates from a community college for free, and transferred to an affordable university Everyone says it’s not worth it but it really depends on the individual. If you think it’s not then it will not be worth it. If it is it will be. I’ll be graduating summer 2022. Then will apply for the PT program. Trust me ppl have laughed and think it’s ridiculous for me taking on an exercise science degree. Don’t listen to ppl.
Not worth it unless you KNOW that you wanna go to grad school, nursing, etc. My Bachelors is basically worthless in itself.
Go in the military for help paying for college if you can’t get scholarships
Please don’t take this is as a bash towards teaching. I respect the hell out of the teachers who make a living out of it and go "unscathed".
I spent $56k on becoming a special education teacher, graduating in 2000. I have only made a slight dent in paying it back. Not only that but after being assaulted three times and stabbed twice (I taught inner-city high school gang members), I no longer teach because I couldn’t change the world. I am now co-owner in a gym and have enjoyed some success as a trainer and coach for over 30 years. I love my life now, and it only took 19 years after college to make it happen.
My opinion about a degree? Definitely not worth it. The only benefit I took from teaching is that I am capable of being an effective communicator and I have the ability to read people’s faces to see what kind of day they’re having.
Study hard and pay for it yourself as Dave said, but if you can’t afford it, learn a trade and build as much wealth as you can, because chances are you’ll make more money.
To add, I have 3 certifications that were challenging but very much worth the time and effort for my livelihood. Definitely worth the personal satisfaction. My next certification will be with Westside.
Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, NATABOC Athletic Trainer, and most NSCA (sponsored?) College S&C jobs required a degree in something like Exercise Science or Kinesiology. Look for new and evolving programs though with fitness and performance centers tied into the curriculum directly offering internships, work studies, opportunities to earn income, become certified as a coach, etc. Find programs also that have adjuncts who are in the field teaching the classes versus all academic professionals who have not worked in the industry. Otherwise, if you go to college, get a business or finance degree with a minor in Exercise Science, or something along those lines – this will allow you to coach but also give you some knowledge for starting a business.
What’s the best path to be a Physical Therapist?
10/10 regret my Exercise Science degree
I would have liked to hear them explain some of the curriculum involved in an exercise scoence degree. Most of it is similiar to physical ed teacher,which is basic anatomy kinisiology. Physiology courses conprise some of it. But here is the catch,after you graduate and thrown into the field, how do you apply it to specific sports?Basically you have an incomplete education. Sports medicine degree requires a doctorate,and is what gets you a job over an exercise science degree
It really depends, I lucked out that I come from a very small town, like 2500 people with a smaller recreation center. I applied for the fitness director position and was hired the same week, and make 28 dollars an hour. It was mostly perfect timing, perfect place and i’ve worked for way less than that before.
The biggest problem is, the education system knows this and lies to you, so they can get their money
I like to train triceps when I bench, does that make sense? I also like to listen to audiobooks on bluetooth when I drive. Does that make sense? 2 plus 2 is 4, does that make sense?
Really liked what you guys tapped into at the end, about sleep “schedule”. However what’re your thoughts in that same concept for training?
College degrees now are all about the cost benefit analysis
I tell up and comers to major in business if you want to make this thing we love a life long career.
This question is HIGHLY situational. I’ve had an exercise science degree for 8 years now and I work in corporate fitness management making 75k per year. So yes in my case it was extremely beneficial to get it. For the other 80% of the people that went to my classes that decided to go a different direction after college it clearly wasn’t worth it. You have to commit to the process and be careful with which avenue you choose to follow after school is over. Most avenues will not pay you back for your degree but some can if you don’t just take the first trainer job you find. There’s a good chunk of people in the fitness world that don’t even realize there are corporate and medical environments that exercise science grads can get jobs in that offer very high salaries.
Kinesiology degree is worthless trust me. It’s not what you know it’s who you know. If you don’t “look” the part, no one will listen to you.
Lots of S&C Coaches look at experience, not degrees. There are so many “expert” Trainers out there who look the part but have NO education and make a killing. Plus, people buy into their crap cause of the way they look, it’s just the way it is.
Look at CrossFit, pay thousands for a weekend cert level 1 and done, no education. I can keep going on and on, I left the industry for mechanical eng., never looking back . 🙂
Don’t waste your money, just compete.
Graduated with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science to become a S&C Coach. Not worth it.
no college major is worth it. Other than engineering or nursing. If you use exercise science to move onto med school or PA school or PT school. then it is 100% worth it. However that being said, just a BS/BA in anything is only worth having if you have the degree. The education system is fucked.
I have a lot of friends working with exercise science degree. My other friends laughed at them and are still looking for their job
Generally not a good degree/major and a waste of time and resources. You don’t need the degree to be a fitness trainer. Get a strong cert to be a fitness trainer….educate yourself if you want to start a fitness business. There are too few degree requiring positions (managers, directors, etc.) to go around. Only pursue ExSci if you plan to go to PT/OT/Physician Assistant etc. grad school. Only pursue the ExSci degree and bachelor degree level positions (manager, director, etc.) if you are part of a strong network (nepotism…and all the other -isms). If you are part of nepotism and other -isms….middle finger to you. Other than that….ExSci degrees are part of the college debt worthless degrees scam.
Everything you have knowledge of within exercise and physiology came from academia. Without the important research conducted within exercise science, exphys, and biomechanics nothing you say has validity. Academia is extremely important and beneficial. If you’re going to school to become a strength and conditioning coach, then of course you’re not going to making any money. If you’re going to to school to continue a career in academia or the medical field, then you’re going to be set. Saying academia is a waste of time is foolish to say. Please tell me how many papers that have been published have your name on it.
You can make good $. Keep educating yourself. Keep reaching higher. The more you learn the more you earn. Don’t stop at exercise science. Keep going. Get that $. Keep reading. Keep grinding.
Hope you’re ok jim. Looks like you missed a few rounds of synthroid.
And when these guys get injured,they go to a sports med doc. Exercise science is a small step for studying to be a coach.