A college degree: what exactly is it worth?

[Valuist]

As this clip will show, clearly not what it used to be. People need to re-adjust their thinking regarding college.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXpwAOHJsxg

[mostpost]

Originally Posted by Valuist

As this clip will show, clearly not what it used to be. People need to re-adjust their thinking regarding college.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXpwAOHJsxg

This video is not about the value of a college degree, it is about the state of the economy. If you think a college degree has no value, then try to get a job with out one. The first woman had a degree in evolutionary biology. At present she does not have a job in that field, but she still has a chance to get one. What do you think her chances are without a degree in her chosen field? ZERO.
The same applies to any of the fields discussed in the video.

The statement accompanying the video says "President Obama promotes the myth that everyone must go to college." But is that what Obama says, or does he say everyone should have the opportunity to go to college? For many jobs a college degree is important, even essential, but not all jobs require one and not everybody is college material.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by mostpost

This video is not about the value of a college degree, it is about the state of the economy. If you think a college degree has no value, then try to get a job with out one. The first woman had a degree in evolutionary biology. At present she does not have a job in that field, but she still has a chance to get one. What do you think her chances are without a degree in her chosen field? ZERO.
The same applies to any of the fields discussed in the video.

The statement accompanying the video says "President Obama promotes the myth that everyone must go to college." But is that what Obama says, or does he say everyone should have the opportunity to go to college? For many jobs a college degree is important, even essential, but not all jobs require one and not everybody is college material.

I was not trying to make a political statement in as much as trying to point out many people have unrealistic views on a college education. It may be fine for some, but it is clearly not for all kids. People need to look at other options, such as trade schools, as well as the conventional 4 year colleges.

[Actor]

Just my opinion.

• College is no longer a way to get ahead. It's a way to keep up with the crowd.
• If you major in basket weaving, English, art, history, etc. you are wasting your money. Major in computers, information technology, certain kinds of engineering.
• A major in business is a waste unless you go on to get a Master's at one of the better business schools like Harvard.
• A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is a must. Forget sex, drugs, alcohol and partying for four years.
• A PhD is not worth the money.
• Learn a skill. Consider a two year degree. Do your research and study something for which there is a current demand.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by Actor

Just my opinion.

• College is no longer a way to get ahead. It's a way to keep up with the crowd.
• If you major in basket weaving, English, art, history, etc. you are wasting your money. Major in computers, information technology, certain kinds of engineering.
• A major in business is a waste unless you go on to get a Master's at one of the better business schools like Harvard.
• A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is a must. Forget sex, drugs, alcohol and partying for four years.
• A PhD is not worth the money.
• Consider a two year degree. Do your research and study something for which there is a current demand.

I agree with most of what you said but regarding the majors, as you can see in the video, it wasn't just liberal arts majors who were working on Bourbon Street. Plenty of business majors, engineers, accountants etc that were on there.

[cj's dad]

What value is a BA to your average employer ? Now, grad school is another matter. At that point you have a marketable skill.

Evolutionary Biology is a grad school program; not a college degree by itself.

Plumbers, Electricians, carpenters, steamfitters etc.. Those jobs cannot be shipped overseas and also pay well. I know first hand.

[Robert Goren]

The last parking company required a degree for even the lowest management positions. The lowest management position in the parking industry is roughly equal to a construction foreman. I think this is a trend. If you want to work for a large company and want to get into management, you will need a degree. If you want to push a broom all your life, you won't.

[Actor]

Originally Posted by Valuist

I agree with most of what you said but regarding the majors, as you can see in the video, it wasn't just liberal arts majors who were working on Bourbon Street. Plenty of business majors, engineers, accountants etc that were on there.

Business majors and accountants are not currently in demand. Engineers only in certain fields. It's the economy.

If you're going to be asking people working in strip clubs whether they went to college you should also ask:

• Did you graduate?
• What was your GPA?

[Actor]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

The last parking company required a degree for even the lowest management positions. The lowest management position in the parking industry is roughly equal to a construction foreman. I think this is a trend. If you want to work for a large company and want to get into management, you will need a degree. If you want to push a broom all your life, you won't.

Robot brooms are taking over that industry.

[Tom]

Some of them most worthless people I ever met had college degrees.
They had no sense of reality, just theory and how thing should be done.
The last thing I ever look at when hiring is educational background.
Experience and attitude make or break candidates for me.
Education is a bonus if it is there.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

The last parking company required a degree for even the lowest management positions. The lowest management position in the parking industry is roughly equal to a construction foreman. I think this is a trend. If you want to work for a large company and want to get into management, you will need a degree. If you want to push a broom all your life, you won't.

There's is more than pushing brooms and working for "large" companies. Small businesses are still the biggest employer in the US.

[cj's dad]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

The last parking company required a degree for even the lowest management positions. The lowest management position in the parking industry is roughly equal to a construction foreman. I think this is a trend. If you want to work for a large company and want to get into management, you will need a degree. If you want to push a broom all your life, you won't.

What an ignorant statement. I do not have a college degree; Master Electrician in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and State of Md. The only broom I push is around the house.

Go back to parking cars.

[redshift1]

College degree's are somewhat watered down with the goofy degree's from the likes of University of Phoenix and others but a degree from one of the top 50 universities will likely lead to greater lifetime earnings.

Problem is 95% of the population has neither the grades or SAT's to gain admittance let alone the 250k cost of a premium education.

.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by redshift1

College degree's are somewhat watered down with the goofy degree's from the likes of University of Phoenix and others but a degree from one of the top 50 universities will likely lead to greater lifetime earnings.

Problem is 95% of the population has neither the grades or SAT's to gain admittance let alone the 250k cost of a premium education.

.

Its significantly worse than that; 53.6% of college grads age 25 or under are either unemployed or underemployed.

http://news.yahoo.com/1-2-graduates-...140300522.html

[redshift1]

Originally Posted by Valuist

Its significantly worse than that; 53.6% of college grads age 25 or under are either unemployed or underemployed.

http://news.yahoo.com/1-2-graduates-...140300522.html

My opinion, when measuring the value of a college education vs post degree employment you really have to throw out 75% of college graduates because of unemployable degrees or relaxed academic standards. Once you eliminate those the remainder will be extremely employable in the non-repetitive type of jobs and will have a higher rate of commensurate employment.

Some of the totalitarian regimes in europe probably had it right in the sense that you only went to university if you could pass a battery of exacting tests primarly in science and math.

.