without college, i could NEVER have had the jobs that took take me 3/4 the way round the world and paid for the cars and houses to which i have become accustomed.
Posted on 09/03/2007 2:45:58 PM PDT by shrinkermd
...Only about 28 percent of jobs in this country require a four-year college degree. That percentage isn't projected to increase much in the future. Of the top 10 fastest-growing jobs over the next decade, only one requires more than a BA -- ironically, the position of college instructor. (The Occupational Outlook Handbook is an invaluable resource for this and other job information.)
It's true that many of the fastest-growing jobs are low-wage and in the service industry. But the nation also needs nurses and physical therapists; network systems and database administrators; veterinary and dental technicians; carpenters and plumbers; and retail and sales managers, all of which can be rewarding middle-class jobs with just an inexpensive associate's degree.
There are other careers where talent, moxie, and a head start can be worth much more than a BA: actor, artist, dancer, stylist, or makeup artist; entrepreneurs of all stripes; real estate agent; retail manager; club, bar, or restaurant worker; event planner; web and graphic designer, tattoo artist, and so on.
So, if a job like this calls to you, don't be afraid to sidestep college. Take a licensing exam, a business course, or an apprenticeship, and go for it. If you find that you want more education down the road, your work experience will greatly extend the benefits
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
I chose to excerpt the center of the article for its general relevance and interest. In Minnesota 40% of HS graduates start college, but I cannot recall the actual percentage graduating. The idea is to increase this figure in spite of the present finding that only 28% jobs requiring a BA or BS.
College is too expensive, but it is necessary for most young people now. It’s one of the few defenses you have against the current trend of outsourcing and importing slave labor. I’m glad I went to college.
As a network admin, I take issue w/ the idea that those jobs will be increasing in the future. Those jobs will continue to decline.
However, as a guy w/ a BA from a great college, and an Master’s (M.Div. actually), I too wonder why we send people to college, put them 80k in debt, so they can have a job that doesn’t require anything they learned in college.
I know many people that went the 2 year specialized college degree - drafting, programming, graphic design, admin assistant, etc. and are doing alot better than if they’d went the 4 year route.
As a parent who has spent close to hundred thousand dollars for my children’s education and watch as they pay more than hundred thousand more of their own - I would say it is not worth it unless you are becoming a scientist, engineer ( and even then I know two guys who never finished and are doing quite well), or doctor/lawyer.
The rest - Communications, Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, History, English, Political Science is all BS unless you become a public school teacher in which case you are overpaid - although that’s a good thing if you are the one being overpaid.
We do need more plumbers, carpenters, electricians, etc. We have enough realtors, retail sales people, writers, and clerks.
One other thing is Business and Government. Unfortunately, large corporations and government want to see college credentials and will not hire or promote unless you have them.
I do not fully understand why it is so often said that a college degree is so terribly expensive and necessarily plunges the student eighty or a hundred thousand dollars into debt. A student who doesn’t have this kind of money or doesn’t want to incur that much debt can go to a community college for two years, then transfer to State U. Most state universities don’t cost much for residents, so the student will come out of the experience with a four-year degree but much less debt and stress. Not everybody needs to go to a private school, and very few indeed have a specialized need that requires them to attend Brown, Princeton, Harvard, Chicago, etc.
If you don’t pay for it.
Because "higher education" is one of the most profitable industries rackets in this country.
But in many ways a high school graduate of 50 years ago was better educated than many today coming out with a BA or BS. Current US university students and recent graduates have an appalling lack of knowledge of US and world history. Requirement inflation occurred, because high school diplomas are not very meaningful anymore espcially with illiterates being allowed to graduate.
without college, i could NEVER have had the jobs that took take me 3/4 the way round the world and paid for the cars and houses to which i have become accustomed.
The cost that they don’t refer to is the cost of having your child indoctrinated in most colleges and universities to value everything that should be rejected. This cost can be avoided by guiding your child to attend a Christian/conservative/statesmanship/value-based institution.
Can an education provide anything of use besides earning ability?
College education is not about preparing for a job, usually. It is more about preparing for life. Years ago, Princeton was making a fortune teaching the liberal arts to corporate execs who had risen through the ranks without college but embarassed themselves and everyone else by boring behavior and lack of perspective.
Being in the workforce for 25+ years I’ve met an incredible number of people who are doing jobs that aren’t even remotely related to the degree they hold. Three quick examples; a VP of IT who has an bachelors in agriculture; a VP of international sales who has a forestry degree and a 47 year old cousin who is a water supply manager in the Seattle area who has a theater degree. My head spins when I think about the money spent for degrees that are there for one thing, to hang on a wall.
Most college degrees equip graduates with just enough education to be bitter and jealous of others. The result? Socialism.
I argue the same as you.. the only point on getting those bs degrees is on the way to law school. Even then I advised some young people if you are going for lawyer get a science or engineering degree first on route. Another valuable one is accountant. But you’ve got to go all the way and become a professional accountant.
I can’t quite wrap my head around the people who get 4 years in a business program, or liberal arts.. then stop without getting a law degree or accountant. I can see if they try and fail, but a lot don’t even try.
When my kids get old enough for college, I’m not paying for it unless I view it as being valuable. You will notice how many Chinese students do you see in any of the fluff programs.. .like none. Yet in the money ones they are everywhere.
The FEDERAL government is way too involved with education in this country.
Its sort of funny now you look at who makes the most money and its the tradesman. Besides the really big degrees like doctors, lawyers, engineers.
A lot I believe is first women in the workforce killed the supply/demand side for many degrees. In addition the educrats naturally value education as they are in that business. So they push kids towards educated fields.. lowering supply on the trades side.
Probably so. The number was much smaller when I graduated. But, the choice of college major is not the only option in America. The trades can be the ticket to financial independence in short order. Or, aim for international corporate attorney or CEO, where one million dollars would be walking around money.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.