http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answ...important/
Quote:Amid a national debate about the worth of a college education, a respected annual poll about the education views held by Americans has found that only 44 percent of Americans now believe that getting a college education is “very important” — down from 75 percent four years ago.
That's a pretty big swing for 4 years.
I still do. In fact my 8 year old and I were talking about it last night. I think college is still very important as long as one chooses the right major. However, I've become a proponent of doing the first two years at a community college. Since both provide basically the same classes the first two years, why pay more at a university when you can get the same classes cheaper at a community college.
I do agree that college isn't for everyone though. Someone with trade skills can make a lot of money without going to a four year school. Just go to a trade school, etc.
(09-18-2014 09:59 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answ...important/
Quote:Amid a national debate about the worth of a college education, a respected annual poll about the education views held by Americans has found that only 44 percent of Americans now believe that getting a college education is “very important” — down from 75 percent four years ago.
That's a pretty big swing for 4 years.
I agree. I recieved a Computer Science degeree in 1982. My area of expertise was systems design. My career was centered around advanced robotics in the commercial nuclear industry. Everything I learned from my Navy Electronics Technican training was what I relied on to perform my job. The degree, while nice to have, really was not necessary.
When the majority of people have college bachelors degrees and folks with associate degrees are flipping burgers; yeah, a college degree doesn't mean what it used to.
(09-18-2014 10:07 AM)VA49er Wrote: [ -> ]I still do. In fact my 8 year old and I were talking about it last night. I think college is still very important as long as one chooses the right major. However, I've become a proponent of doing the first two years at a community college. Since both provide basically the same classes the first two years, why pay more at a university when you can get the same classes cheaper at a community college.
I do agree that college isn't for everyone though. Someone with trade skills can make a lot of money without going to a four year school. Just go to a trade school, etc.
I do think the experience is important. The choice will likely be:
A. Go to the best 4-year you got into.
B. Go to a fallback 4-year on scholarship.
C. Go to the 2-year and transfer into the best 4-year you get into.
IMO, it depends on both the student and the schools in question. If the best 4-year they get into is top tier, choice A is probably worth it. If not, B looks like a good option if applicable. If B is not an option (no scholarships offered), C is probably the best option. As mentioned in another thread, what scares me about C is that being in the workforce and local and on their own for 2 years means they will get accustomed to a lifestyle, make tight-knit local friendships with new freedoms, and more likely develop much more intimate romantic relationships, making it less likely the transfer to and completion of the 4-year goal will ever go according to plan. One thing that will not be an option will be living at home and not working while doing the 2-year. He won't want to stay home and pay rent either because the rules of my house will not change upon turning 18 and graduating high school.
(09-18-2014 10:29 AM)EverRespect Wrote: [ -> ] (09-18-2014 10:07 AM)VA49er Wrote: [ -> ]I still do. In fact my 8 year old and I were talking about it last night. I think college is still very important as long as one chooses the right major. However, I've become a proponent of doing the first two years at a community college. Since both provide basically the same classes the first two years, why pay more at a university when you can get the same classes cheaper at a community college.
I do agree that college isn't for everyone though. Someone with trade skills can make a lot of money without going to a four year school. Just go to a trade school, etc.
I do think the experience is important.
I don't. Maybe sometime in the past the experience was important, but not now.
(09-18-2014 10:32 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ] (09-18-2014 10:29 AM)EverRespect Wrote: [ -> ] (09-18-2014 10:07 AM)VA49er Wrote: [ -> ]I still do. In fact my 8 year old and I were talking about it last night. I think college is still very important as long as one chooses the right major. However, I've become a proponent of doing the first two years at a community college. Since both provide basically the same classes the first two years, why pay more at a university when you can get the same classes cheaper at a community college.
I do agree that college isn't for everyone though. Someone with trade skills can make a lot of money without going to a four year school. Just go to a trade school, etc.
I do think the experience is important.
I don't. Maybe sometime in the past the experience was important, but not now.
It's not important for everyone, especially those that don't have the chops or need to attend a 4 year school.
(09-18-2014 10:29 AM)EverRespect Wrote: [ -> ] (09-18-2014 10:07 AM)VA49er Wrote: [ -> ]I still do. In fact my 8 year old and I were talking about it last night. I think college is still very important as long as one chooses the right major. However, I've become a proponent of doing the first two years at a community college. Since both provide basically the same classes the first two years, why pay more at a university when you can get the same classes cheaper at a community college.
I do agree that college isn't for everyone though. Someone with trade skills can make a lot of money without going to a four year school. Just go to a trade school, etc.
I do think the experience is important. The choice will likely be:
A. Go to the best 4-year you got into.
B. Go to a fallback 4-year on scholarship.
C. Go to the 2-year and transfer into the best 4-year you get into.
IMO, it depends on both the student and the schools in question. If the best 4-year they get into is top tier, choice A is probably worth it. If not, B looks like a good option if applicable. If B is not an option (no scholarships offered), C is probably the best option. As mentioned in another thread, what scares me about C is that being in the workforce and local and on their own for 2 years means they will get accustomed to a lifestyle, make tight-knit local friendships with new freedoms, and more likely develop much more intimate romantic relationships, making it less likely the transfer to and completion of the 4-year goal will ever go according to plan. One thing that will not be an option will be living at home and not working while doing the 2-year. He won't want to stay home and pay rent either because the rules of my house will not change upon turning 18 and graduating high school.
In fairness the survey says about 90% of parents believe a college education is "very" OR "fairly" important. But, I think you two really encompass the new thinking. Students should be savvy in how they go about things today. For some, a tech school or going straight into the workforce is best. For others, it depends on what kind of school you get into and how much you have to pay and what kind of career you want to get into.
(09-18-2014 10:32 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ] (09-18-2014 10:29 AM)EverRespect Wrote: [ -> ] (09-18-2014 10:07 AM)VA49er Wrote: [ -> ]I think college is still very important as long as one chooses the right major.
I do think the experience is important.
I don't. Maybe sometime in the past the experience was important, but not now.
It's still "important" (in the sense that it has a huge impact on your life). What's changed compared to (say) 1940s-1970s is that back then there wasn't any downside to college. Having a B.A.-level degree pretty much guaranteed that you would find stable middle-class employment if you wanted it.
Now, it has the same functional equivalent that a high school diploma had back then. With the significant difference that a high school diploma was available for free, whereas a lot of people today accrue five-figure debt to get a bachelor's degree, and then are still relegated to minimum-wage jobs. I think
that is what the phrase "higher education bubble" really refers to, and that is what people are talking about when they ask is college "worth it"? The answer (of course) is a resounding No, and more and more people are catching on to that. When the market-correction really kicks in, the effects will be brutal. A lot of colleges will simply shut down because there won't be a sufficient # of paying students to justify keeping the doors open.
(09-18-2014 09:59 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answ...important/
Quote:Amid a national debate about the worth of a college education, a respected annual poll about the education views held by Americans has found that only 44 percent of Americans now believe that getting a college education is “very important” — down from 75 percent four years ago.
That's a pretty big swing for 4 years.
not surprised at all....most aren't trained properly or smart enough and the associated costs based on the current wage scheme/openings for many positions is out of line with reality....
What can a degree get you nowadays? The best bet is either a nursing degree or engineering degree.
(09-18-2014 01:44 PM)LSU04_08 Wrote: [ -> ]What can a degree get you nowadays? The best bet is either a nursing degree or engineering degree.
...and those are somewhat suspect long term (security) when it comes to technological advances that will most certainly narrow down the numbers moving forward....
for the lay person in today's world, I would choose something along the lines of underwater welding (niche) or getting a two year safety degree....
....or starting a service business at a very young age...lawn care/landscaping can be shockingly lucrative if you massage the right folks in the right geographical climate....the earlier the better
My advice to almost anyone with an IQ over 110 would be to go to a community college for two years and then to a quality public school. The whole thing could cost under $40K.
And I would advise them to confront every liberal/socialist professor they encounter with the truth.
Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App
(09-18-2014 08:09 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote: [ -> ]My advice to almost anyone with an IQ over 110 would be to go to a community college for two years and then to a quality public school. The whole thing could cost under $40K.
And I would advise them to confront every liberal/socialist professor they encounter with the truth.
Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App
...never burn a bridge unless you got nads of steel.....metal fatigue is much more damaging to the psyche than picking up a viagra script at 3 am......
That's surprising. I can't think of a single parent I know that doesn't want their kid to go to college.
Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App
(09-18-2014 10:11 AM)bevotex Wrote: [ -> ] (09-18-2014 09:59 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answ...important/
Quote:Amid a national debate about the worth of a college education, a respected annual poll about the education views held by Americans has found that only 44 percent of Americans now believe that getting a college education is “very important” — down from 75 percent four years ago.
That's a pretty big swing for 4 years.
I agree. I recieved a Computer Science degeree in 1982. My area of expertise was systems design. My career was centered around advanced robotics in the commercial nuclear industry. Everything I learned from my Navy Electronics Technican training was what I relied on to perform my job. The degree, while nice to have, really was not necessary.
I imagine that a 1982 computer science degree is not worth much.
(09-19-2014 12:06 AM)firmbizzle Wrote: [ -> ] (09-18-2014 10:11 AM)bevotex Wrote: [ -> ] (09-18-2014 09:59 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answ...important/
Quote:Amid a national debate about the worth of a college education, a respected annual poll about the education views held by Americans has found that only 44 percent of Americans now believe that getting a college education is “very important” — down from 75 percent four years ago.
That's a pretty big swing for 4 years.
I agree. I recieved a Computer Science degeree in 1982. My area of expertise was systems design. My career was centered around advanced robotics in the commercial nuclear industry. Everything I learned from my Navy Electronics Technican training was what I relied on to perform my job. The degree, while nice to have, really was not necessary.
I imagine that a 1982 computer science degree is not worth much.
Honestly it really wasn't. I learned some new programing languages, (Pascal, Forth, Machine..etc) but the systems design part I already had from my ET training.