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I believe that any degree obtained with the soul purpose of gaining employment or advancing ones employment is a waste of time, energy, sleep, money, life etc. There are people out there who truly have a life-long passion for their desired field or for the pure love of learning. Those are the people who will find their degrees invaluable.
The unfortunate fact is that advances in cybernetics have diminished and or outdated many of the skills that used to be in greater demand. It also means that people who retain marginal marketability in those skills have to physically participte at a faster rate -- in call centers, etc.
I have a BS in Business, which includes a good deal of underpinning in Accounting; two friends and I generate a fair amount of cash every winter doing income taxes. So some years ago, I looked into CPA certification and completed the first 12 credits of the necessary 24. However, while the instructors loved both my work and the insights provoded by a 37-year-old in a roomfull of undergrads, it was impossible to escape the internship and the senseless regimentation that accompanies nearly all entry-level accounting work.
The dispartity between the technical and the inatngible has changed -- and not for the better, since globalization has allowed more offshoring of the pick-and-shovel work. The boss will charge Gramps and Gram several times what he pays you, while you spend too much time feigning itnerest in the Sacred Pictures of the Grandchildren and promising to read their Bible tracts. And don't forget that a lot of that first raise (if you're lucky enough, or just two-faced enough to get one) will have to go to an expensive. uncomfortable, and unnecessary wardrobe which () isn't even tax-deductible.
So probably the best advice I can offer is that if there's any job that has always turned you on -- go for it. A long-time hobby as a railroad buff once landed me a temporary job "slamming switches" from a now-closed signal tower -- it's where my "screen name" orginated, and I will likley recall it as the best job I ever had, if only for one summer.
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 11-04-2012 at 01:16 AM..
I get tired of the stereotype that people with degrees in liberal arts disciplines are shiftless losers.
Not what anyone said. They, myself included said that the poly-sci, liberal arts degrees are not particularly helpful in this economy to find work other than to scale the employer bar "requiring" a college degree. I'll be willing to bet that you aren't a recent grad, probably pre Y2K.
You may not think that but I've seen exactly that sentiment expressed here quite often. I am a pre-Y2K grad, but not by much: 1997.
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I think we can all agree that not everyone is cut out for college. Either they are too immature at the time to properly apply themselves or they aren't sharp enough to get into top schools and then to distinguish themselves academically. Would you folks that are advocating for college education for everyone be willing to make it part of public education (IOW free) so that the folks that aren't cut out for college can attend state schools with your tax paying dollars rather than saddle those youths with 40-50K of debt for a "magna-***-nada" degree that won't do them doodly squat in the job market? That system isn't working except for the best and brightest. What about the rest of them? That's my point.
I don't believe that college is right for everyone, but I think everyone who is college material should have the opportunity to go.
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Maybe these kids that are living with mom and dad 3 years after graduating from college working part time at the Gap would have been better off with Vo-tech or starting at the bottom of the pile and working up. Maybe beauty school, dental hygiene or auto shop. I understand that machinists are in high demand and employers are looking for those with the skills which tend to be the gray heads ready to retire but these manual jobs aren't "sexy" nor do they convey tons of recognition or esteem. Ridiculous society that we live in denigrates the folks that do the actual work and we've passed that to our children.
Dental hygiene is morphing into a four-year program, but I see your point. We need more vocational education for sure.
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No one is saying that if Jack or Jill is super bright and are willing to apply themselves that college is a waste of time or money. It is where these type of kids belong, but they probably better get an advanced degree or choose their courses well with a specific field in mind.
It's not an either/or argument. What most folks are saying is the college track is not working the way it should for a significant portion of the post graduates saddled with debt, no job prospects and further behind than the HS grad that started working from the bottom up.
Agreed on all points.
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FWIW I have no dog in this fight. I retired in great financial shape in my late 40s, but I see the world realistically and it isn't working the way it should for many, passion, anger, opinions, beliefs to the contrary notwithstanding.
Lucky you. I'm 37 and my retirement plan is to smoke a LOT so I don't survive my 70s.
I believe that any degree obtained with the soul purpose of gaining employment or advancing ones employment is a waste of time, energy, sleep, money, life etc. There are people out there who truly have a life-long passion for their desired field or for the pure love of learning. Those are the people who will find their degrees invaluable.
Yeah, whatever. This kind of thinking works only if you happen to be independently rich. Kudos to those who are.
For the rest of us mortals, higher education ----> $$$$. And that's the bottom line.
Yeah, whatever. This kind of thinking works only if you happen to be independently rich. Kudos to those who are.
For the rest of us mortals, higher education ----> $$$$. And that's the bottom line.
AMEN-
the way i see it, why bother doing high education if it is not for an investment toward employment. There is no way I want to put down 40-50k spend 4 years and come out with debt to "better myself, become a global citizen, more well rounded etc..." bull, ask the english grads working at Starbucks, the pysch grad working at Stop and Shop, ask them ithere thoughts on college.
The purpose of college is to give on a better shot at employment than if he/she stopped after high school, that is it. At the same time that does not mean the student should jsut go to class and come home everyday for 4 years, there must be effort on his part outside of class. Internshps, part time, work unrelated to major, willing to settle etc...
The unfortunate fact is that advances in cybernetics have diminished and or outdated many of the skills that used to be in greater demand. It also means that people who retain marginal marketability in those skills have to physically participte at a faster rate -- in call centers, etc.
Interesting. For example?
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) isn't even tax-deductible.
