OT:College Is For Suckers

[livinincali]

The problem with college in my eyes is that the educational content hasn’t changed much yet the cost has soared. Calculus hasn’t changed, Basic Chemistry hasn’t changed, nothing short of bleeding edge PhD level research has changed yet college costs 3 times as much as it did 10 years ago. It might cost 8 times as much at UC schools by 2015.

Social aspects certainly are helpful but with social media do you really need to live in a dorm with other 18 year olds to establish future business contacts. Research is good use of money, it actually can produce a good return on investment in many cases.

College costs are a function of supply and demand. Give unlimited money in college loans and the demand for a “college experience” soars. Cut off those loans and the demand for education will still be there but the demand will be for efficient eduction opportunities like online classes. We don’t need fancy facilities to teach kids math, science, and history we just need kids with a computer and a desire to work hard on learning the material.

[zk]

[quote=meadandale]The one thing all of the people mentioned in the article all have in common? They are all type A personalities and would have been successful in any businesses INCLUDING tech…with or without college.[/quote]

I agree with this. If you have a (viable, profitable) vision and the drive and other traits necessary to force your vision into reality, you don’t need college. Not many people have those things.

[CDMA ENG]

[quote=outtamojo]These guys just don’t get it- college is for meeting chicks.[/quote]

Comp Sci guys meeting chicks?!?

I think you don’t get it.

They were never going to meet chicks in the first place.

CE

[scaredyclassic]

i dont think ofmyself as a total sucker but I still think a lower-costcollege degree isn’t a bad long term investment on a smart kid.

[KIBU]

Hey Blogstar,

That is extremely deep what you are saying. I would follow you. There is a truth in it. I need to learn the wisdom of slacking off and the stupidity of the worker bees.

[flyer]

Interesting how this topic comes up almost once a month in some form.

As I know I’ve posted before, I can only speak from the perspective of what I’m actually seeing in the real world with my kids, and their peers, who are now in their mid to late 20’s.

All of my kids went to college, and have done well, but they all had very specific goals when they started, and each knew exactly what they wanted to try to achieve.

On the other hand, many of their friends who also attended college with very specific goals have had problems finding positions in their desired fields. Those who attended with no particular goals in mind, are completely lost.

Sadly, many expected their dreams would be handed to them with little effort on their part, and that has not worked out well. In reality, it seems to be about a 50/50 success rate from what we’ve seen–and that’s being optimistic.

If I were to analyze what gave my kids an edge, I’d have to say it was probably inside connections in their desired fields. Each one of them built amazing connections with people they knew along the way, and we threw in a few, too.

Apart from genius–to which the OP alluded–never underestimate the power of connections. IMO,that single element can really make all the difference in whether your kids live their career dreams or not–with, or without a college diploma.

[scaredyclassic]

So true. It’s not what you know it’s which epistomologists u know at least for philosophy careers

[scaredyclassic]

Wait maybe the joke shoulda benn it’s not what you know it’s how you know at least for careers in epistomology

[EconProf]

Not mentioned so far is the importance of the major the student takes as a determinant of their future occupational success. There is a huge difference in outcomes for humanities, ethnic studies, gender studies, social science majors vs. STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and other more difficult majors.
Freshmen are rarely informed of this by the professors in these easier majors who need upper level students to maintain their employment. A little truth in advertising is needed…plus the parents need to step in to exert their influence–and pocketbook.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=EconProf]Not mentioned so far is the importance of the major the student takes as a determinant of their future occupational success. There is a huge difference in outcomes for humanities, ethnic studies, gender studies, social science majors vs. STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and other more difficult majors.
Freshmen are rarely informed of this by the professors in these easier majors who need upper level students to maintain their employment. A little truth in advertising is needed…plus the parents need to step in to exert their influence–and pocketbook.[/quote]

Econprof, I did address this issue earlier, here:

[quote=bearishgurl]FT college is the right thing to do for recent HS grads IF:

-snip-

-they know what they want to major in;

-and, their major of choice is one in which they can easily get hired into FT employment (w/benefits) … even if they have to relocate to do so.[/quote]

And yes, I think parents SHOULD influence (their student’s choice of major) with their pocketbook, REGARDLESS of the size of it. They’re not doing their kid any favors by financing their kid’s “degree” in “underwater basketweaving.”

Either the student is going to “go along with the program” of majoring in a currently-in-demand and highly-employable field or they have to find their own financing for college or drop out.

Parents who are financing their student’s education (in whole AND in part) should also insist on seeing their student’s grades in a timely manner after every semester and get their student’s promise that they will chain their academic advisor to their ankle so they will NOT make expensive class-selection mistakes (which cost them additional semesters to finish their degree programs).

In most cases, parents today are sacrificing a large portion of their retirement funds to “launch” their kid into the world properly and I feel they are “entitled” to practical results … or their student should at least bail out after the first semester/year (or after 2nd yr with all their GE credits finished) if they cannot decide on what they want to major in.

College is now far too expensive to be “child’s play” anymore. Many of these college-bound and college freshman kids need to “grow up” and appreciate all that their parents have done (and are doing) for them, which is not without great sacrifice to their own futures.

[outtamojo]

[quote=CDMA ENG][quote=outtamojo]These guys just don’t get it- college is for meeting chicks.[/quote]

Comp Sci guys meeting chicks?!?

I think you don’t get it.

They were never going to meet chicks in the first place.

CE[/quote]

Are you kidding me? With social media, it is easier than ever for geeky types to meet chicks.
(without having to face them in person.) I know cause my Bro does it all the time. Things go great while there is a firewall between them, but as soon as he actually has to be alone with a chick or even talk on a phone…

[outtamojo]

[quote=flyer]Interesting how this topic comes up almost once a month in some form.

As I know I’ve posted before, I can only speak from the perspective of what I’m actually seeing in the real world with my kids, and their peers, who are now in their mid to late 20’s.

All of my kids went to college, and have done well, but they all had very specific goals when they started, and each knew exactly what they wanted to try to achieve.

On the other hand, many of their friends who also attended college with very specific goals have had problems finding positions in their desired fields. Those who attended with no particular goals in mind, are completely lost.

Sadly, many expected their dreams would be handed to them with little effort on their part, and that has not worked out well. In reality, it seems to be about a 50/50 success rate from what we’ve seen–and that’s being optimistic.

If I were to analyze what gave my kids an edge, I’d have to say it was probably inside connections in their desired fields. Each one of them built amazing connections with people they knew along the way, and we threw in a few, too.

Apart from genius–to which the OP alluded–never underestimate the power of connections. IMO,that single element can really make all the difference in whether your kids live their career dreams or not–with, or without a college diploma.[/quote]

I agree about the connections thing – I’m at this moment watching as a complete moron is a finalist to become CEO where I work. He is the son in law of the former CEO, who left the place in shambles. The BOD was always in the former CEO’s hip pocket.

[CDMA ENG]

[quote=outtamojo][quote=CDMA ENG][quote=outtamojo]These guys just don’t get it- college is for meeting chicks.[/quote]

Comp Sci guys meeting chicks?!?

I think you don’t get it.

They were never going to meet chicks in the first place.

CE[/quote]

Are you kidding me? With social media, it is easier than ever for geeky types to meet chicks.
(without having to face them in person.) I know cause my Bro does it all the time. Things go great while there is a firewall between them, but as soon as he actually has to be alone with a chick or even talk on a phone…[/quote]

You should always use a “firewall” when meeting chicks. You never know what “viruses” they may have!

😛

CE

[flyer]

Absolutely agree, EP and BG.

25+ years ago, when my wife and I finished college, that allowed you to walk into just about any job you wanted. Not true today. If kids aren’t majoring in “in-demand” fields, they are really wasting their time and their parents money.

As far as the connections thing I mentioned, I’ve seen that strategy work out well for both “morons” and “non-morons”–OM. Hopefully there are more in the “non-moron” category.

[Hobie]

[quote=outtamojo]… but as soon as he actually has to be alone with a chick or even talk on a phone…[/quote]

just the kind of guy I want my daughter to date 🙂

Kidding,, you will understand if you have a daughter;)

[Author]

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