Credo
Master Eminence Grise
Posts: 6,242
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Post by Credo on May 22, 2019 19:34:23 GMT -8
There are so many problems with what's been going on for decades now in the American "higher education" system that I've begun to seriously question its value on multiple levels. Perhaps we need a serious do-over.
Add your thoughts.
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Bick
Administrator 
Posts: 6,901
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Post by Bick on May 23, 2019 6:15:12 GMT -8
While I think the author's position is an extreme, there's been a very large negative impact to the cost / benefit equation of a college degree as a whole.
When the cost of the ticket for the job waiting for you has grown 8x more than wage on the other end, it's pretty clear you put yourself in the hurt locker... especially if you financed the cost of your ticket.
Maybe little AOC can do a parody showing what happens when the government intervenes in yet another area. That seems to be the level of understanding most can comprehend.
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duke
Statesman
Posts: 681
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Post by duke on May 23, 2019 7:05:49 GMT -8
If you have a little time, investigate the new adversity scores being assigned to the SAT scores. Some of this crap you just can't make up.
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davidsf
Master Eminence Grise
Posts: 5,252
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Post by davidsf on May 23, 2019 8:32:26 GMT -8
I have two teenagers at home so we have just had these conversations (one graduates HS on Saturday).
I have told both of them I will not be paying for their college should they decide to go, so we’ve been discussing options. Amongst those are: - Get a job, attend part time and pay as you go
- Join the military
- 2 years at community college, then transfer
- Get full ride scholarships (which doesn’t seem likely)
- Go into a career, first, then decide if you even need college
- Trade school
To answer the opening question, however, no, college is no longer THE winning option it once was. My former employer, and many others, do not demand it like they did previously for professional/technical jobs.
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RSM789
Eminence Grise
Posts: 2,286
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Post by RSM789 on May 23, 2019 16:57:40 GMT -8
No.
Unless you are going to be a Doctor, lawyer or architect, then maybe (depending on the school & cost).
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Luca
Master Statesman
Posts: 1,317
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Post by Luca on May 23, 2019 16:58:09 GMT -8
You’ve got to qualify that by distinguishing what kind of major you're talking about. Just having a college education per se in something like philosophy or English or history or women's studies is a questionable investment. Some of those people will do well in the future, but not necessarily because of their particular major or having a degree. They'll do well because they have innate ability and drive, and having a college education was helpful. But for a large number, no, the degree isn't worth what the education costs these days.
On the other hand when you're talking about engineering or math or certain sciences it's indispensable because those are some professions you can’t get into without having the appropriate degree.
When I look at my own kids, 6 have finished college so far and for 3 of them it was worthwhile. The other 3 could have picked daisies for 4 years and still wound up where they are
Its fashionable to denigrate the value of a college education in general but obviously for a substantial number and possibly the majority it's still very worthwhile.................Luca
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Bick
Administrator
Posts: 6,901
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Post by Bick on May 23, 2019 20:40:53 GMT -8
Exactly, Luca.
Best axiom for this and nearly all decisions like this...Fail to plan, plan to fail.
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Credo
Master Eminence Grise
Posts: 6,242
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Post by Credo on May 23, 2019 21:37:56 GMT -8
My two biggest criticisms of the current state of college are as follows:
1. They have become the vanguard of indoctrination into the Leftist worldview, with increasingly negative political and social consequences (which is one of the reasons they are largely immune to scrutiny by the media, the government, and the entertainment industry, entities that enjoy the benefit of these taxpayer-subsidized farm teams).
2. Their skyrocketing tuition and reckless non-academic spending that is enabled by federally-guaranteed loans. It's a giant racket that creates useless administrators and even more useless "studies" departments.
And my own angst is that as a part of the college-prep high school system, my own school unwittingly provides the fodder for the rotting corpse of American higher education. We promote the idea of 4-year college for all of our students and the "investment" that our own families make for grades 9-12 practically demands that they continue with the next logical step. It's a real Catch-22.
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not4u13
Active Contributor
Posts: 74
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Post by not4u13 on May 27, 2019 10:16:24 GMT -8
I have four kids and as of last week, they now all have a college degree. One has a PhD and is now teaching college classes as a lecturer. We talked a lot about ensuring the degree they pursued had earnings potential and so far, that appears to be the case. The last to graduate has a degree in Computer Science with a minor in Math.
We, as parents, made a deal. They could choose to attend college and we would pay tuition and fees. They would pay for books and incidentals. They could live at home as long as they were attending full time, meals included (dinner time at 7pm or it's leftovers). Very clear and they all took us up on it (eventually). Those who chose not to live at home through college had to find a way to pay for their room and board.
Now to the question. Was it worth it?
That's a really good question. Our PhD kid could not have pursued the career choice without the PhD and as a part of the now in question educational system, there is a high value placed on the education received. Our Computer Science major will undoubtedly see an ROI within a few years. Those that don't have a degree in the field typically earn far less to start and the gap gets wider. The Business and Dance double major didn't really "need" the dance degree, but as it turns out, that degree is valued as well, increasing opportunity and earnings. The business degree is a bonus. The Human Development degree is not really bearing fruit, although on paper, it should. Time will tell on that one.
A degree often means higher earning potential. That does not mean at any cost though. I believe a lot of folks are paying WAY TOO MUCH for what is little additional value at higher tuition universities and private schools. I've seen people talk about student loans of over $150,000 for undergrad degrees and I just can't see why anyone would pay that much when that same degree could be had for much less. With few exceptions, you don't really get what you pay for.
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