Young woman talks about her useless degree, and her huge student loan debt.

[Mai72]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/...561075_788155814561075#f7b9e4168slide=2172062

I am 23 years old. I've got $60,000 in debt from student loans. I make around $10 an hour working as a cook, and I live off of about $20 a week after I cover rent and other expenses.

Since I graduated, my degree has been pretty much useless. When people see that I have a degree, it's like it doesn't even mean anything. Every job that I've done, it's kind of been by personal relation or word of mouth.

Her degree is film production. A very difficult field even in good times. Somebody should've told told that risk involved, but she probably wouldn't have listened.

What's even more shocking is the slide further down the page. There are graduates with $100k and more in student loan debt. Damn. How do you even begin to pay that back unless you're a doctor or banker?

SMH...

*140k for video production degree
*80k for journalism degree
*150k for a BA + MA
*175k for a degree at The Art Institute

The last one I feel sorry for the guy. He wants a family, house and car. I doubt he's going to get any of that with those student loans. Unless congress acts on this matter, but I don't see that happening.

 

[Mide]

Isn't this predictable? A fine arts degree = not a whole lot. The graduates aren't very marketable, no real skills, and yeah...who is going to pay money to give them a salary? There are only so many museums out there..

 

[Ancalagon44]

But but but.... I'm a unique, precious snowflake!

 

[pcgeek11]

*140k for video production degree
*80k for journalism degree
*150k for a BA + MA
*175k for a degree at The Art Institute

The last one I feel sorry for the guy. He wants a family, house and car. I doubt he's going to get any of that with those student loans. Unless congress acts on this matter, but I don't see that happening.

I don't feel sorry for any of them. Stupidity has consequences.

 

[Ns1]

Get a degree in film production from a state with minimal film production - the kind of brilliance that would define her career

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's too bad that colleges (especially for-profit ones) are able to prey on the foolish like this.

No just for the fools' sake, but also because my tax dollars go to subsidize their loans and line the pockets of the predators.

 

[dmcowen674]

*140k for video production degree
*80k for journalism degree
*150k for a BA + MA
*175k for a degree at The Art Institute

Awesome.

America has the most low paying jobs in the world and she spent $60,000 to get one of them.

Great going.

 

[videogames101]

I'm graduating with like 100k in debt, and will easily be able to make the payments with my EE degree and an IC design position.

YMMV

 

[Mai72]

But but but.... I'm a unique, precious snowflake!

This is part of the issue. Parents mean well, but I think their words cause more harm. They tell their child that they are unique and special. They also tell them to go after their dream no matter the cost. Then the child gets out into the real world, and finds that it's brutal and cold. Nobody gives a rat's ass that you are precious snowflake.

Now get my coffee!

 

[sdifox]

Chinese parents would have told her to get a real degree that pays. But apparently that is materialistic :awe:

 

[halik]

I'm graduating with like 100k in debt, and will easily be able to make the payments with my EE degree and an IC design position.

YMMV

My masters in finance and accounting ran me around $50K, paid it off in 3 years. Get a degree that will actually provide you tangible skills and you won't have an issue.

 

[SagaLore]

For-profit colleges need to be eradicated. Not-profit colleges need to be regulated.

All student loan debt should just be paid off by the government and the cost will be absorbed by the national debt.

 

[TallBill]

For-profit colleges need to be eradicated. Not-profit colleges need to be regulated.

All student loan debt should just be paid off by the government and the cost will be absorbed by the national debt.

Terrible idea after terrible idea.

 

[Ventanni]

If I had known what I actually wanted to do for a living when I was 18, I would have saved myself about ten grand. I think that's the biggest catch when you're young and shopping around for colleges is that a lot of these kids, like me when I was young, either have no idea what it is they're truly made for, or aren't quite old enough to put two and two together and recognize what's a sensible degree and what's not.

"Turning 30 is like turning 20 all over again, only this time you don't make as many stupid decisions."

 

[Mai72]

If I had known what I actually wanted to do for a living when I was 18, I would have saved myself about ten grand. I think that's the biggest catch when you're young and shopping around for colleges is that a lot of these kids, like me when I was young, either have no idea what it is they're truly made for, or aren't quite old enough to put two and two together and recognize what's a sensible degree and what's not.

"Turning 30 is like turning 20 all over again, only this time you don't make as many stupid decisions."

Did you know that most of the student loan debt is from people who are 30-45 years old? I think most people don't know this, because we tend to think of it as an issue that young people are going thru.

 

[Mai72]

Terrible idea after terrible idea.

Why is it a terrible idea? For profit colleges are terrible and prey on poor people. 99% of their profit is from student loans. What incentive do they have to stop giving out huge loans to people who are never going to be able to pay them back. Guess whose going to fix this mess? We are, the taxpayers.

Nonprofit colleges need to be regulated. College costs have gone up 200% over the last 10 years. Why is this? Let's end this madness.

Finally, I like the idea that we should start over. Let's hit the reset button. We did it with Germany at the end of World War 2. Why can't we help out our own citizens from crushing student loan debt?

 

[Grooveriding]

Whenever I read or meet people who made this mistake I am so thankful my father talked me out of pursuing a philosophy degree in university. It's what really interested me, that and psychology which is what my mother does, but in the long term there are no prospects in the arts. Apart from if your plan is to take it to a doctorate and teach, otherwise it's a waste of time and money.

Sciences, law, engineering or don't bother imho.

 

[AMCRambler]

I have a friend who's dealing with the same problem. Production degree with little to no prospects. Loves tv and movies and wanted to be a part of it so she goes to school for 4 years to go for her dream.

Problem is to get a decent paying job in that industry you either know somebody or you get lucky. So far she's only gotten small part time jobs helping people making low budget independent films. She ends up working her ass off for little to no money in the hopes she'll catch a break. I told her to forget tv/movies and get into radio. More jobs that are more accessible there but she refuses to. She's slowly giving up on the idea that she's going to be able to work her dream job and its sad but hey you gotta eat and you need a roof over your head.

 

[Brovane]

At some point this entire house of cards that the College Industry and student loan providers has built is going to come crashing down.

 

[Veliko]

I don't feel sorry for any of them. Stupidity has consequences.

Then you are most likely a sociopath.

 

[kranky]

I don't fault anyone for pursuing a career they will love, but I don't know why people don't look into the actual job prospects before committing to a costly degree program.

I have a friend in Toronto in the production biz where there is probably as much work in film/TV as there is in Hollywood or NYC - and after 15 years he still scrambles from project to project. Last time I we talked he thought he'd have to sell his house because the gaps between projects is getting longer, even with his huge personal network of contacts. Too many people trying for too few jobs.

 

[z1ggy]

My masters in finance and accounting ran me around $50K, paid it off in 3 years. Get a degree that will actually provide you tangible skills and you won't have an issue.

I totally agree. The problem is, not everybody is smart enough to be Drs, lawyers, engineers or finance people. There are those average to less than average people who still feel like they need to go to school. Unfortunately, they are too lazy or society has made them feel that those jobs that are "less sexy" and make them less of a person.

Society is always going to have those people that aren't cut out for those more prestigious positions. If we had a society of 100% engineers and Drs, who would pick up our garbage, or build our bridges, etc? We really need a culture shift or for the government to help subsidize school for everybody. People need to feel okay with the fact that maybe they aren't smart enough for that science related degree and opt for a tech/vocational school instead. There shouldn't be any shaming from parents or culture as a whole.

Another thing I forgot to add is that I think that kids also want to let loose and party. No better way to party your tits off and skate through school than getting a useless degree.

 

[pete6032]

I don't fault anyone for pursuing a career they will love, but I don't know why people don't look into the actual job prospects before committing to a costly degree program.

First I don't have any student debt, but I think it's important to point out that at least some of these people who are unable to find a job pursued careers that were absolutely gutted by the financial and real estate crisis.

I remember looking at BLS growth projections for my job and seeing fast growth and good pay. Neither of those turned out to be true after the crisis hit. I'm lucky to have found a job in my field, but certainly larger things are at play too.

 

[highland145]

I totally agree. The problem is, not everybody is smart enough to be Drs, lawyers, engineers or finance people. There are those average to less than average people who still feel like they need to go to school. Unfortunately, they are too lazy or society has made them feel that those jobs that are "less sexy" and make them less of a person.

Society is always going to have those people that aren't cut out for those more prestigious positions. If we had a society of 100% engineers and Drs, who would pick up our garbage, or build our bridges, etc? We really need a culture shift or for the government to help subsidize school for everybody. People need to feel okay with the fact that maybe they aren't smart enough for that science related degree and opt for a tech/vocational school instead. There shouldn't be any shaming from parents or culture as a whole.

My bro, with his 10th grade education, messes with other peoples poop and makes a ton.
Here, welders are making $38/hr. More in other places.
Bro in law's son made over $100K a couple of years ago as an electrician.
HVAC guy pulls in your drive...$85 service call.

Shame on them....

Another thing I forgot to add is that I think that kids also want to let loose and party. No better way to party your tits off and skate through school than getting a useless degree.

I got a comp e degree and lost my tits but my 2.3gpa ratted me out. Oops.

 

[Anubis]

My bro, with his 10th grade education, messes with other peoples poop and makes a ton.
Here, welders are making $38/hr. More in other places.
Bro in law's son made over $100K a couple of years ago as an electrician.
HVAC guy pulls in your drive...$85 service call.

Shame on them....

This is true but its part of the bigger issue, for the past 30+ years we as a whole have been pushing people away from such jobs. and now there is a massive lack people who can do a skilled trade.
it was all "go to college and get a degree" and getting a job will be cake

that lie is now rearing its very ugly head