America Needs to Let Go of Its Reverence for the Bachelor's Degree

The Atlantic ^ | 10/2015 | MARY ALICE MCCARTHY

[Borges]

Two years ago, my nephew was set to graduate from Maryland’s Towson University with a degree in political science. After six long years, both he and his parents were ready to breathe a sigh of relief—he had made it to the finish line. He had never been excited about school, and his parents had worried about his lack of enthusiasm, wishing he could be engaged in something that ignited his curiosity and provided him more of a motivation to focus, something more hands-on and practical. But they also knew that without a bachelor’s degree, my nephew’s ability to move into a rewarding career, earn a middle-class salary, and enjoy some economic security would be very limited. And they worried that if he didn’t complete that degree before he turned 25, he likely never would (a reasonable concern, given national statistics on college completion). Determined to launch him into adulthood with the strongest possible foundation they could, they persuaded him to go to college and crossed their fingers.

[oldtech]

I know there are many times a college grad can’t get a job,but I also know that many times the opportunities in a skilled trade are not real good either. It just depends on the skilled trade you get into & what the opportunities are where you live. Training for a skilled trade could leave you owing for a school loan,plus tools needed for your trade & starting out in a situation that pays less than a living. You may have to work for years to get anywhere,but in the meantime are starving to death. Or,you might do well if you have the skills & find the right situation.

[oldtech]

I know there are many times a college grad can’t get a job,but I also know that many times the opportunities in a skilled trade are not real good either. It just depends on the skilled trade you get into & what the opportunities are where you live. Training for a skilled trade could leave you owing for a school loan,plus tools needed for your trade & starting out in a situation that pays less than a living. You may have to work for years to get anywhere,but in the meantime are starving to death. Or,you might do well if you have the skills & find the right situation.

[Lou L]

It just depends on the skilled trade you get into & what the opportunities are where you live.

A friend of mine has a son who went to a trade school for motorcycle engine repair. Perhaps you can do well with that someplace, but not where we live. The young man traveled out to Phoenix for school, spent a couple of years, and became "certified" to work on a number of different cycle engines, but never really made much more than 9 or 10 dollars per hour. I think they "promised" that he could make much more than that.