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We need focus - as a society. Training by which ever means is utilized is a good aim, and may be a good goal. That's does not mandate nor dicate a degree in a great many of the general job sectors, (outside of medical, science, tech and such). But for all these crazy requirements for sales, basic supervision, various levels of management, not only is a degree not necessary, but what is necessary is understanding the scope of what is business- how does it relate to employees, community, city, and what is its national relations to the domestic economic model. Then how does it best serve the people and the future concerns as it relates to building good, solid and strong customer service.
This is critical in a multitude of ways. Often times this can be found as value components in existing employees who have experience in the field, and some year of service in the category of such jobs.
We lost our way, with this degree obsession and voided out the fact, 'we live in a common sense service model when it comes to customers and delivery of goods for consumer selection.
We voided out what is service - and not only do we not have time nor staffing to serve the customer, the concern for such has escaped the colluded mindset of the system.
The young are "job jumpers", they don't grasp what is stability, nor longevity - their agenda is based on a variety of other factors, therefore they have limited sense of loyalty investment to any industry or company. But this too is a fault of the Administrative mindest of treating people as simple "numbers on a roster".
There is not even the concern for generalized public apperance of public contact employees, that sense of standard of professional self persentation is pratically gone in the general atomsphere of business. Except, at the executive level, when they care about their impression during deal making sessions.
A degree is not going to fix that!!!! far too many people get that " I've arrived mentality" and go casual, once they can ride a degree into some positions.
The OP is asking if 4 years are truly needed, because the first 2 years are taken up with general education requirements. Well, in Europe, the general ed courses are done in HS, and in a 13th college-prep year (not sure if that's still the case, but it used to be). And they still have 4 years of college, all devoted to the "major", the chosen area of specialization. So, clearly, European universities feel that 4 years of increasing specialization are needed. By comparison to US schools, their specialists are better prepared--more in-depth.
In my previous post, I made the mistake of ignoring wealthy families. If you're wealthy then you have to pay expensive tuition prices. However, if you're not wealthy, you receive grants and aid from the endowment. Most decent schools determine wealth based on an income of $180k or more for a family. The reality is that most Universities do not make this much.
If you're a sucker that has to take out a loan, that's on you. Take a look at the schools near you (assuming you're in NJ). Penn and Princeton have no-loan policies.
Most every one is complaining about student loan debts. They cant pay back thereby it is too expensive. Not everyone can get grants and endowments.
Side question: Three years degrees are the norm in the UK. Are UK students learning less material or are they cramming more into three versus someone taking a comparable four year program in the USA or Canada?
Side question: Three years degrees are the norm in the UK. Are UK students learning less material or are they cramming more into three versus someone taking a comparable four year program in the USA or Canada?
Nope. They have the equivalent of a year or 2 of intro college work before being accepted at their universities for the 3 year degree program.
My daughter graduated from the University of London after 2 years at a US college. She received no credit for that work other than that it was acceptable as prelim background. Plus she had to submit her SAT scores plus 2 more SAT subject tests (in addition to AP scores) in order to satisfy what they call A levels. Plus an interview was required.
Not an easy process, many American students are turned down.
Very little of the elaborate, expensive and highly inefficient signaling rituals we're compelled to undertake are needed. The only reason we have to deal with them is because the concept of disparate impact lead to the outlawing of IQ tests as a standard of employment in the private sector. The extent to which society has contorted itself to avoid this is difficult to overstate.
Surprising that with 6 pages of responses nobody came up with a few different alternatives:
1) Exams for credit. Most schools will except CLEP, DANTES and other options as ways of earning college credit through standardized exams. Even 6 credit hours for that CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature exam (which can probably be studied for in a short amount of time if one is literate) is 5% of a degree for around $100-$150. Some schools accept far more credit. One of the ultimate examples is using one of the CLEP language exams - some colleges will grant 2 years of Spanish, German or French based upon a high score. That translates to 12 credit hours for that same $100-$150.
2) Taking the #1 example further and getting a degree from one of the "Big 3" credit accumulator colleges. Excelsior College, Charter Oak State College and Thomas Edison State College allow nearly unlimited transfer and exam credit. Until around 10 years ago it was literally unlimited, and the enterprising student who was a good test-taker could complete 120 credit hours in under a year for around $5000 out of pocket.
For #2, does it give you a "name brand" degree? Absolutely not, but it is regionally accredited. It WILL make you eligible for a great graduate degree program if you combine that with a great GRE/GMAT/etc. score.
The average 18 year old really benefits from the full college experience. But for someone who perhaps didn't get a degree early on, or dropped out and needs 30 credit hours to finish, these "Big 3" colleges are great value.
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