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College Conspiracy

#21
No doubt that college tuition is on the rise, but the value or lack thereof of a given degree is a much broader picture than just blaming colleges. The financial sector took a hit and so many students choose this path. Law is a little saturated, so some colleges are cutting enrollment. It's unfortunate that a degree can take several years and a lot can change during that time. Only 6 years out, my field is already at a saturation point in most areas, which is a combination of colleges cranking out more grads and the economy wiped out retirements, which disrupted the natural turnover cycle.

Furthermore, my experiences in college kinda showed me how kids can really rack up debt with things well outside of college. How many college kids go to fall and spring break while often not having any sort of job during the school year??
 
#22
WalterBush said:
From my point of view, starting out life thousands in debt is nothing compared to being in the middle of life with no money, and no way to exercise the job experience accrued over the course of the previous decade.

If I had my Associate's Degree already (just a few classes shy, back in school) I'd be going to work by now instead of posting on TB.

Just my point of view, yours may vary, but I'd love to hear from people who are employed in a field outside of their degree, who are crushed by the burden of paying off their student debt. Most people I've met gripe about their unpaid student loans, but I've only met one person who said their degree was a complete waste of time and a bad move. I've met and worked with tons more wishing they'd stayed in school.
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I have much Bachelors Degree in Business. I didn't get a loan, worked my way through school. See, 15-20 years ago, you could do that. However, with the whole loan racket, prices have skyrocketed... because schools figure, "hell, we can jack up tuition now that students can go get these easy loans". Working your way through school is near next to impossible these days. You either need rich parents, or a loan....

I am not yet in the middle of life, but I am wondering what I am doing right now.... I had a couple really good jobs early in my career, however, like I said, after the downturn, havent really done much of anything valuable....
 
#23
powderfinger said:
I have much Bachelors Degree in Business. I didn't get a loan, worked my way through school. See, 15-20 years ago, you could do that. However, with the whole loan racket, prices have skyrocketed... because schools figure, "hell, we can jack up tuition now that students can go get these easy loans". Working your way through school is near next to impossible these days. You either need rich parents, or a loan....

I am not yet in the middle of life, but I am wondering what I am doing right now.... I had a couple really good jobs early in my career, however, like I said, after the downturn, havent really done much of anything valuable....
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I can identify with everything you're saying. Up until 2008, I was able to make some good use of my degree. After 2008, things were much worse.
 
#27
BurningSkies said:
This sounds like an economy problem, not a higher education problem.
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Does it even matter what the problem is? The money was spent by that individual, and now has zero ROI. If you spend $60k on school only to come out where you would be had you not spent that, I would be rather cynical about it, too. My work is way out of line with my degree, and my loans are almost paid off, but I felt that college was the biggest waste of time and money I ever managed to do. That's my, very specific, situation though. For others, the exact opposite is true.
 
#32
powderfinger said:
The guy just said he felt that he had a degree that wasn't marketable during a recession. How is he blaming someone else? I think he made an honest assesment of his current situation. I feel the same way. I made good money before the downturn with my degree.
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I was not speaking about Rocker949's personal situation, but people in general.

I'm fortunate that the economic downturn hasn't changed much with my current job, but really hurt my chances at finding a new job.

I'll say this somewhat delicately, but a lot of folks are only willing to pick degrees for jobs they want. That's not always the same as what sort of workers are needed. As much as my brother and wife have off and on struggled to find jobs, neither are willing to do anything that they don't want to do. My job sucks and I'd rather do something else, but there's a paycheck and I don't think I'd ever be able to find a position that's as solid/necessary as mine.
 
#33
Life is *way* to short to be in a job that you are not enjoying. That's, at a bare minimum, 8 hours a day of your life that you're not going to get back. Might as well make it something you enjoy. I can't fault someone for taking a degree in an "off" field at all.
 
#34
spade2you said:
I was not speaking about Rocker949's personal situation, but people in general.

I'm fortunate that the economic downturn hasn't changed much with my current job, but really hurt my chances at finding a new job.
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Well, keep that in mind that you haven't had to suffer with the downturn before making judgements about others. Its easy to say things like, "ah, son.. just pull yer self up by the boot strap" or "chin up"... but the reality is, you don't understand the emotional impact that guys like Rocker and myself are going through. But in all honesty, if I had not been affected by the downturn, I would probably be in an ivory tower as well, thinking that everyone is just "whining" or "making excuses". Come down and spend some time in the trenches with us, and you will learn to appreciate our plight a bit better.

I'll say this somewhat delicately, but a lot of folks are only willing to pick degrees for jobs they want. That's not always the same as what sort of workers are needed. As much as my brother and wife have off and on struggled to find jobs, neither are willing to do anything that they don't want to do. My job sucks and I'd rather do something else, but there's a paycheck and I don't think I'd ever be able to find a position that's as solid/necessary as mine.
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I wasnt thrilled about a Business degree. I would much rather have been a journalist or a musician, or something "fun" like that... but I realized, and was encouraged by my dad who was successful with his business degree to take the same route. Id much rather have majored in music or journalism, or whatever ya know.

And when I got out of school, I had 2 REALLY super jobs, which I would never had gotten without my degree. Im just saying now... my degree aint opening too many doors right now. No one seems to care if I have a business degree, right now... I feel like the world I lived in, in 2000-2006 and the world I live in now are light years apart.
 
#35
PS- my dad graduated college in 69 or 70 (around there), and cant understand why I am not successful. I try to explain to him the economy was different back then, and he tells me thats "nonsense". Of course, he's retied, lives in a gated community, and has a lifetime pension. Hes my dad, and I love him, but he hasnt a clue. I told him the other day that had he graduated college when I did, he would never have had the home he does today or his pension. He was furious, but facts are facts.
 
#36
ssbass said:
We're not :rolleyes:
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powderfinger said:
Of course we are. Whoever you were quoting obviously has no comprehension of monetary policy...
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I understand monetary policy as well as economic data, thanks very much. Do you guys understand the difference between debt and inflation? Have you looked at the CPI and exchange rates? They do not indicate skyrocketing inflation.
 
#37
powderfinger said:
Well, keep that in mind that you haven't had to suffer with the downturn before making judgements about others.
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Just because I haven't been unemployed doesn't mean I haven't suffered. My job is a suffer fest from the time I clock in until the time I clock out. I don't have normal hours, never will. The workload is unreasonable. The stress is unbearable. I've also had a boss that wanted to can me, but decided to use this power to more or less force me to work even harder and more hours to keep me out of the hot seat.

The stability and benefits are nice, but it's far from free or without pain and suffering.
 
#40
GregC said:
I understand monetary policy as well as economic data, thanks very much. Do you guys understand the difference between debt and inflation? Have you looked at the CPI and exchange rates? They do not indicate skyrocketing inflation.
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Debt and exchange rates aside..

Do you sir, realize that when more money is printed, and put into circulation, that the money we have is devalued? It's a simple case... increasing money supply= lower value of our currency.

This is very basic economics. Are you sure you understand?
 

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