if it's a (hard)science degree, it is, if it's a social science degree, prolly not so much...
Posted on 06/05/2011 7:42:28 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Did Peter Thiel pop the bubble? That was the question on the minds of parents, taxpayers and higher education leaders late last month when the co-founder of PayPalannounced that he was offering $100,000 to young people who would stay out of college for two years and work instead on scientific and technological innovations. Thiel, who has called college “the default activity,” told USA Today that “the pernicious side effect of the education bubble is assuming education [guarantees] absolute good, even with steep student fees.”
He has lured 24 of the smartest kids in America and Canada to his Silicon Valley lair with promises of money and mentorship for their projects. Some of these young people have been working in university labs since before adolescence. Others have consulted for Microsoft, Coca-Cola and other top companies. A couple didn’t even have to face the choice of putting off college — one enrolled in college at age 12 and, at 19, had left his PhD studies at Stanford to start his own company.
Of course, Thiel’s offer isn’t going to change the way most universities do business anytime soon. These 24 kids represent the narrowest swath of the country’s college-bound youth. (Though it’s important to note: When we talk about America having the greatest system of higher education in the world, these are the kind of people we’re bragging about.)
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
There are some benefits — I went to a small public college and have benefited A LOT. The Professors were fair and unbiased... although they were jerks, sometimes (but for other reasons than political ideology). That was many years ago, though.
I learned a trade, developed skills, that have been a huge plus for me and my family.
I have absolutely no regrets.
if it's a (hard)science degree, it is, if it's a social science degree, prolly not so much...
My guess would be that every community college wants to be a university when it grows up. Adding living space for students will make the institution more attractive to students from farther away. This will enlarge enrollment and require hiring more staff and building more classroom space.
What a shame — “If it ain't broke don't fix it.”
CCs are great!
At what cost? Does this mean that people won’t be able to afford it?
High cost and huge student loans is the problem. Making education more expensive is not going to solve the problem. Only make it worse.
For some corporate jobs, the college degree is the broomstick of the Wicked Witch. It doesn’t matter how you got it, but you’d better have it. In these cases, get it cheaply.
For some important jobs, like engineering, sciences, law, it may well matter where you studied, how well you did, and spending more may count.
If you don’t have a clue what you want to do with your life, unless there is a ton of money sitting around for your college, don’t go, until you have a reason to go.
If your interests lie in a field of study where there is not much money ever to be made, go and study to your heart’s content, but take no student loans to do it.
Student loans should be avoided for all but those who will start their careers with a fairly high salary.
Many people would do far better to find someone doing what you want to do and work (even as an unpaid internship) for them. Even at the bottom, sweeping ro fetching coffee. This works for a lot of jobs but not all.
I think that's been offered as argument. But then the school is no longer a community college.
they always expect the taxpayers to pick up the tab.
“If you don’t have a clue what you want to do with your life, unless there is a ton of money sitting around for your college, don’t go, until you have a reason to go.”
Community Colleges are a good way to “test the waters” fairly cheaply. Plus, some credits can be transferred if/when the student decides to get serious.
Also, a lot of engineers and techs were in the Service.
But that’s half my point. If the government did health care well do you think it would be okay for them to run it? I’m sure there will be good medicine practiced from time to time, but why should my neighbor pay for my health care; why should my neighbor pay for my education? I’m sure there is always the greater good argument, but you can use that for most anything. Education is a blind spot for most Americans.
Ah. Suddenly it makes sense. “Other people’s money.”
Community College is fairly cheap if you don’t look at the actual costs and only look at what the poor children pay. Have you looked at where your real estate taxes go? Community College is criminal.
Unfortunately, that is the system however flawed. I have to pay for things that my neighbor benefits from and visa-versa.
Then don’t complain about the things you don’t like to pay for that they get for nothing, like abortion, like welfare, like automobile subsidies, like free cell phones... Accept it as just a flawed system and get what you can.
BTW, >my< real estate taxes go to the non-higher education — local elementary, middle and high school. Only a very small portion goes to State higher education.
But remember that it is hard working person (persons), paying his/her taxes, that keeps things going. Not some politician making promises.
After service in WWII I went 2 years to a very good Jr. College for fees (not books or room and board) of about $200.00 a year. I then transferred to world renowned, and particularly in my field, university for something like $415.00 a semester, sans books and board and room, as an out of state student. This was a tremendous education for the cost and has served me very satisfactory over the years. I realize that increasing costs and dollar value play into increasing costs of education but I believe it is as much unnecessary ballooning and plain financial machinations that have caused so much increase in educational costs.
If done right, a university education is good for everyone. The problem is that the universities are doing such a horrible job. As with many parts of our society, there is no accountability in the universities. Separate research from instruction. There are not very many good instructors at the universities. Instructors are responsible for teaching students. The test scores should reflect on the instructors, too. And it’s the instructor’s job to make the class relevant. If I want to learn trivia, I can watch Jeopardy. Alex doesn’t charge me $1,000 to watch him.
We don't disagree. I should have made it more clear that I was just stating what the people at the community colleges are probably trying to accomplish.
I'm fortunate to have a really good junior college near me. I wasn't able to convince either of my daughters to attend. They both wanted to attend a full university. They got tuition and expenses but no possibility of a later fancy wedding.
The eldest daughter will certainly get a payback for her engineering degree. The younger; well, it's too early to say.
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