So apparently more of us need to go to College

[Ketchup]

Saw a commercial while passing through the break room this morning. Apparently, there are about to be so many jobs in the near future, we all need to go to Devry. I guess the number of people drowning in student loan debt isn't quite high enough.

I couldn't find a link to the commercial. If anyone can find it, please post a link. I think it was on HLN.

 

[DesiPower]

Its been on the air for a long time now. But yes, collage education is essential, if we want to compete with India and China in white collar jobs then, yes, we need it. Does it have to be something like Devry? ofcourse not, the local state univ will do, but higher education is very important. Specially as be move further and further away from manual labor type jobs, more and more factories are being automated, most jobs in the future will unfortunately be white collar type...

Student loan is obviously a big issue that we need to address but that's no reason not to go to collage. And we need to ban loans for degrees that don't make sense like history and political science and maybe even "Information systems", whatever that means...

 

[Eureka]

There is nothing wrong with getting educated to prepare yourself for a better job. However, getting a mail-order degree, or getting a degree in something useless, is not getting educated.

People don't realize the difference between going to school and getting educated.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Thanks to banks/government handing out money left and right to EVERYONE and the fact that almost everyone is going to college now days..........the value of your degree decreases.

While the prices of education go up more than ANY other sector. It's obvious that they are milking the cow while they CAN.

It used to be a privilege to go to college. It was only for certain people that excelled in education. Those days are long gone. College is now the new High School diploma it seems (just an expensive one).

I think we are getting to a point (pretty sure we are already there actually) where college degree is no longer worth the price of the tuition/reward.

As far as College loans go, it's the financial bubble that hasn't burst YET (just like Car loan business).

just a matter of time....

Student loan is obviously a big issue that we need to address but that's no reason not to go to collage. And we need to ban loans for degrees that don't make sense like history and political science and maybe even "Information systems", whatever that means...

You are assuming that the bank CARES about your future. They don't. They are simply loaning you money so that they can get a lot more back.

What you do with that money is irrelevant. Risk is on YOU and YOU are the one that becomes a slave due to your poor decisions.

Fact that colleges even offer these sort of degrees is even more worrisome.

 

[Ketchup]

Its been on the air for a long time now. But yes, collage education is essential, if we want to compete with India and China in white collar jobs then, yes, we need it. Does it have to be something like Devry? ofcourse not, the local state univ will do, but higher education is very important. Specially as be move further and further away from manual labor type jobs, more and more factories are being automated, most jobs in the future will unfortunately be white collar type...

Student loan is obviously a big issue that we need to address but that's no reason not to go to collage. And we need to ban loans for degrees that don't make sense like history and political science and maybe even "Information systems", whatever that means...

Gotcha, we got rid of cable a long time ago, so I don't see commercials like this often. I just think it's ridiculous how many people are sitting on degrees and can't find a job, while they are drowning in loan debt. I am not upset with Devry for people choosing to roll themselves into this kind of debt, but I am a little ticked by their pretending to see into the future, which will only make the current situation worse.

 

[Phoenix86]

It's not just Devry and the likes, go check out the average state college's tuition. They figured out years ago "well if everyone is just getting loans from the gov't we can just jack up the costs".

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Hopefully the school loan bubble bursts sooner rather than later. I'm now seeing many job ads stating "Master's degree preferred" when there is no way that a Master's degree really adds anything for those particular positions. It is just crazy.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

It's not just Devry and the likes, go check out the average state college's tuition. They figured out years ago "well if everyone is just getting loans from the gov't we can just jack up the costs".

That's right, and the schools have no accountability for their students' employment prospects either so they offer all kinds of worthless degree options. Then we end up with people with worthless degrees, few marketable skills, and tons of debt.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Gotcha, we got rid of cable a long time ago, so I don't see commercials like this often. I just think it's ridiculous how many people are sitting on degrees and can't find a job, while they are drowning in loan debt. I am not upset with Devry for people choosing to roll themselves into this kind of debt, but I am a little ticked by their pretending to see into the future, which will only make the current situation worse.

We have 2 people in our "help desk" positions with BARs (lawyers).

Just think about how much money they spent on their education......now the have a 35-40k job (at best).

And it's not like a law field is picking up anytime soon as it's saturated with "I'm guaranteed to be rich if I become a lawyer folks".

:biggrin:

And we are not even talking about a worthless degree....

Hopefully the school loan bubble bursts sooner rather than later. I'm now seeing many job ads stating "Master's degree preferred" when there is no way that a Master's degree really adds anything for those particular positions. It is just crazy.

I agree, many places are just silly

To be honest, MOST places are starting to value "on job experience" MORE than ANY education (if they are smart of course). Let's face it, even during the glory days....many of these kids coming out of college are not educated enough and are not skilled enough to do ANY job.

Quality of education at some of these colleges (not all of course) is subpar.

That's right, and the schools have no accountability for their students' employment prospects either so they offer all kinds of worthless degree options. Then we end up with people with worthless degrees, few marketable skills, and tons of debt.

This is what Banks/Government call "mission accomplished".

I call it "modern day slavery".

It's sad, but true.

 

[kyrax12]

So the only degrees that aren't useless in your guy's eyes are fields related to engineering or medical right?

 

[Phoenix86]

So the only degrees that aren't useless in your guy's eyes are fields related to engineering or medical right?

You try and repay $50K in debt with a masters in English.

edit: and of course there are other useful degrees, but of course most people don't enter the field they got a degree in either.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

This is what Banks/Government call "mission accomplished".

I call it "modern day slavery".

It's sad, but true.

I bet that if education loans were made dischargeable via bankruptcy like all other loans, education loan policies would change in a hurry.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

So the only degrees that aren't useless in your guy's eyes are fields related to engineering or medical right?

Not at all. I think degrees in accounting/finance, engineering, medical, computer science, and most technologies are still pretty good. I don't think law degrees are worthless either but right now, it is really tough out there for law school graduates given the cost of law school compared to employment prospects. I think the same holds true for the MBA as well.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I bet that if education loans were made dischargeable via bankruptcy like all other loans, education loan policies would change in a hurry.

Of course, wouldn't even need Government regulation.

Meanwhile risk is on Consumer side (as always).

Not at all. I think degrees in accounting/finance, engineering, medical, computer science, and most technologies are still pretty good. I don't think law degrees are worthless either but right now, it is really tough out there for law school graduates given the cost of law school compared to employment prospects. I think the same holds true for the MBA as well.

Agreed

Law field is doing pretty bad right now (I work closely with a huge lawfirm). Way too many kids assumed they would be rich by going to law school and now there is millions of them waiting for a job.

Meanwhile, clients are not only cutting back. Once a wild west "charging" by the lawfirms is no more. Client's want to see every little detail down to an hour. Heck, now they want quotes BEFORE the work (unlike in the past).

If you were to go back 5-10 years, companies paid WHATEVER lawfirmes charged them/submitted.

No more. So now lawfirms tightened up their wallets as well. And due to the fact that there is so much unemployed lawyers out there.....salaries are going down as well, and expect longer hours at work too.

heck even when I worked at a big lawfirm back in 2005, these associates were consistently putting gin 12-14 hour days. You tell me how much they made per hour with their $150k salaries.......no life....and in many cases ruined families as well.

It was pretty sad to watch. Lot of these folks were great people too!

 

[Wyndru]

What gets me is that we have very low functioning graduates here that get into community college with no questions asked. I'm talking special education students, not just the kids who don't try.

It's a guarantee that they will drop out, but the colleges don't mind taking the $$ before they do. I understand the kids really want to go, but lets be realistic, it's wasting time and money accepting them.

 

[Vdubchaos]

What gets me is that we have very low functioning graduates here that get into community college with no questions asked. I'm talking special education, not just the kids who don't try.

It's a guarantee that they will drop out, but the colleges don't mind taking the $$ before they do. I understand the kids really want to go, but lets be realistic, it's wasting time and money accepting them.

It all goes back to "college being a place for very few/special people that excel in education". It has turned into "get as many in as you can, more the better".

It's fine, as anything else it will level off and people will realize that their degrees are worthless (as everyone and their mother has it).

It went from privilege to mainstream.

 

[diesbudt]

Its been on the air for a long time now. But yes, collage education is essential, if we want to compete with India and China in white collar jobs then, yes, we need it. Does it have to be something like Devry? ofcourse not, the local state univ will do, but higher education is very important. Specially as be move further and further away from manual labor type jobs, more and more factories are being automated, most jobs in the future will unfortunately be white collar type...

Student loan is obviously a big issue that we need to address but that's no reason not to go to collage. And we need to ban loans for degrees that don't make sense like history and political science and maybe even "Information systems", whatever that means...

If only a major in music appreciation was worth something...

Good thing I chose an engineering profession

 

[SheHateMe]

Get connected for free with Education Connection!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

It all goes back to "college being a place for very few/special people that excel in education". It has turned into "get as many in as you can, more the better".

It's fine, as anything else it will level off and people will realize that their degrees are worthless (as everyone and their mother has it).

It went from privilege to mainstream.

I'm afraid that unless there is reform, the next phase will be "Everyone needs a Master's degree!" My company posted an ad for one of the lowest level positions in the company a couple of weeks ago and it said "Master's degree preferred." A Master's degree would not help in that position much, if at all, especially at the salary range for that position.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I'm afraid that unless there is reform, the next phase will be "Everyone needs a Master's degree!" My company posted an ad for one of the lowest level positions in the company a couple of weeks ago and it said "Master's degree preferred." A Master's degree would not help in that position much, if at all, especially at the salary range for that position.

That is correct, they HAVE to find a way to make money......in order to sustain the unsustainable.

:biggrin:

 

[diesbudt]

I think another similar related issue is high school education. All it is now is teaching sciences, maths and languages preparing for college. Where are the life lessons?

How to do yoru taxes?
How mortgages work?
How to calculate interest on a loan?
How to financially plan?
How to learn risk management?
How to "eat healthy/live a healthy life"?

These in High schools around Ohio I know are option classes that no one really takes. yet all these physics, math, languages, and such are.

So really people leave high school today kowing nothing on how to really preapre for lifes foot in their ass. On top of college.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

That is correct, they HAVE to find a way to make money......in order to sustain the unsustainable.

:biggrin:

And they'll just keep adding additional degrees too.

 

[Fritzo]

I'm going to Jupiter to get more Stupider.

 

[diesbudt]

I'm afraid that unless there is reform, the next phase will be "Everyone needs a Master's degree!" My company posted an ad for one of the lowest level positions in the company a couple of weeks ago and it said "Master's degree preferred." A Master's degree would not help in that position much, if at all, especially at the salary range for that position.

Yea. As I have been told by marketing manager professors in college.

In 5-10 years:

-2yr degrees will be like high school diploma level
-4 yr degree will go as far as a 2yr degree
-Masters will be the new "norm" like the 4 yr degree was for decades
-Doctor degrees will still be up there, but less and less needed unless going into a specific specialization of a science/medical field

I think the biggest thing that helped me in college, was making myself go to a university that had a mandatory Co-op program. basically it turned a 4yr program into 5. And the middle 3 years I would go to school for half of it for classes and the other half I would work as a paid intern for some company in my field. Not only did I gain actual experience, both in corporate politics and what its like to be an engineer, but opened up doorways through networking. So upon graduation, finding a job when I have 2yrs experience on top of a degree, helped out bunches.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Yea. As I have been told by marketing manager professors in college.

In 5-10 years:

-2yr degrees will be like high school diploma level
-4 yr degree will go as far as a 2yr degree
-Masters will be the new "norm" like the 4 yr degree was for decades
-Doctor degrees will still be up there, but less and less needed unless going into a specific specialization of a science/medical field

Pretty sure we are already there......3-5 years ago!!!