(01-08-2014 08:30 AM)Banter Wrote:  

(01-07-2014 10:13 PM)DMT Wrote:  

(01-07-2014 02:36 PM)Banter Wrote:  

(01-07-2014 02:30 PM)Eastside_J Wrote:  

(01-07-2014 01:42 PM)Major ----de Coverley Wrote:  With over one trillion in college loans and growing ( greater than all credit card debt) a new bubble has been born. When the easy money eventually dries up the campus overbuilds across the country will
blow up worse than florida real estate in 08 and 09.

My prediction as well.

Near zero long bond rates have allowed it to continue.

The debate has already started regarding whether a 4 year degree at current costs/debt loads is even worth it for many students.

More and more people are going to begin to look for lower cost alternatives.

The one real shame is that going to college is beat into so many peoples brains that it has become expected even though only 33% of the US have BA's or higher. There has been a demand for tradesmen for awhile, and it is because everyone feels college is the answer. Granted learning, and doing a trade is not easy, but it does offer good paying jobs, and is a great alternative for those who don't want to go the college route.

It's easy to say there are too many people going to college, but the reality is there are no jobs. Skill trades like electricians and plumbers are not glamorous and to think people are going to take less pay, with their only reward being a repetitive, mind numbing, daily grind; is unrealistic. I think a lot of people would benefit from just going for an associates but really, college should not cost as much as it does. There are countries who give it away and some of them make ours look like retarded diploma mills. Say what you want about the welfare state, in this day and age, the days of manufacturing and assembly are gone. If you don't have a degree, you're nobody. In fact, even if you have one, you might be nobody.

There are many trades That have an average salary higher than the average salary with a B.A.. They are not glamorous, but only thirty some percent of the United States has a B.A.. I would rather learn to be a welder, plumber, or electrician than manage a Panda Express.

Why? Plumbers and Panda Express managers both make slightly over 40 grand a year. Neither person matters, there's a mass of people doing the same thing you're doing. Your life is just as insignificant, the only difference is you'd be working way harder.
Harder work for equal pay just means you're a chump. I can understand immigrants being plumbers, welders though? Isn't welding something a lot of people learn to do in their off time? That's not an occupation, that's a hobby. Trade school isn't full of geniuses, that's for damn sure.