As a college student, I realize that
higher education can be a huge waste of time, money, and resources if the time
at school is not spent wisely. The job market has been flooded with young
people who have received degrees in general areas of study such as a business.
People are going to college, getting four-year degrees, and graduating
with massive amounts of college debt. Because the job market is so
concentrated, these college graduates are being given jobs for which they are
overqualified. (http://www.salon.com/2014/09/03/robert_reich_college_is_a_ludicrous_waste_of_money_partner/ )
My mom is a perfect example of this
situation. She went to college, graduated with a degree in History from the
University of Cincinnati, and she now pushes paper across desks and enters
numbers into a computer, nothing to do with History. Although she did not
graduate with debt, she had to work her way through school. After college
she never really did anything with her degree. She ended up working for
her parents as an event planner at a rental agency. Subsequent to that,
she moved on and now does secretary work. A lot of her skills that she
uses at her current job come from working for her parents. She was taught
how to talk with customers and appeal to what they need. She learned how
to manage people to accomplish specific tasks and guide them in the right
direction. These skills were not taught to her at college. So why
do we go to college? Why do we go into all this debt?
College can be a good place to learn
skills that will be used in the workplace, after all people go to college now
and thrive at their jobs with their college degrees. This system I have thought of has many flaws,
like who would like to hire someone not knowing if they could be a total bust
at the job and be a waste of time and energy for the company. If people do well in college, put in the time
and graduate from school with good grades, and prove they are hard workers,
they would be at a disadvantage, because people who did not go to college are
being given the same opportunities.
As I said above this is not a perfect
system but it’s definitely something that is fun to think about and consider. If the school system could integrate some of
the ideas I have said or change the cost of school, I believe that college
would then be more efficient and effective for students to attend. With this more affordable system everyone
would benefit. Companies would have a
higher educated work force, workers wouldn’t be in nearly as much debt, and
colleges could still be places of business, although the cost is cheaper more
people would attended causing schools to bring in more money altogether.
These are all great points. College has become almost cultural compulsory--we just expect people to go to college, even if they don't really know why they are going or what they are going to do there.
ReplyDeleteThe counterargument is, of course, that at least while in college students are getting experience with being on a schedule, meeting deadlines, etc., and being asked to learn various tasks. The same people who go to college clearly have resources to live a relatively comfortable life of leisure. Indeed, there might be a strong temptation to just find oneself for a few years before seriously settling into a career-and before you know it, four years have passed with little to show for it, even if there is no debt.
We do, of course, need to think more seriously about what a four year degree is four. Perhaps the problem is that we think of it TOO much as vocational training--as something directed toward getting a job. Arguably, you get more out of college if you focus on developing your higher critical skills. Now, if you don't see yourself getting a job that requires these, or aren't sure how they might be relevant, then maybe college isn't for you. Or at the very least, you should consider vocational school or two year college instead.
How might we address this issue, other than just saying "give people jobs" instead? Who would give them these jobs? What would prevent this from simply eliminating the competition for those who did go to college, leaving those who didn't relatively poorly off?
The one thing I believe you missed is jobs that require a necessary level of education. It is the law that to be a medical doctor you have to have medical degree from an accredited medical school. Same if you want to legally become a lawyer you need a law degree from an accredited law school. These jobs and there are more, are where title is important and college is an absolute must. That being said I agree that college has become to much of a formality. To many people go to college who do not want or should not be there. Though if you ever have the opportunity to make hiring decisions for a company would you ever consider some one with out a college education?
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeletePlenty of libertarians, and even some liberals like Baker, might say that that's a result of government regulation. We can get rid of those laws that require a certain level of education, or at the very least (this is closer to Baker), allow more immigration.
RJ, John has a good point about certain forms of education being compulsory legally. but of course most jobs don't require this--why then do so many people go to college? There is no formal obstacle to the system you are talking about. Indeed, the majority of people still don't go to college. So what's the problem exactly?
Although you bring up many good points there are a few different aspects that this argument failed to bring up. For instance many people go into college thinking they know what they want to do with their lives but are completely wrong. Many change their focus of study as they start to get into their major classes and realize this isn't their passion. Also FASFA was created to try to allow everyone go to their college of choice. Education is important and scholarships are granted by the government to try to eliminate insurmountable college debt. In the end I do agree with a lot of the points made and many graduates are stuck searching for jobs with the pressure of debt in the back of their mind.
ReplyDeleteAlthough you bring up many good points there are a few different aspects that this argument failed to bring up. For instance many people go into college thinking they know what they want to do with their lives but are completely wrong. Many change their focus of study as they start to get into their major classes and realize this isn't their passion. Also FASFA was created to try to allow everyone go to their college of choice. Education is important and scholarships are granted by the government to try to eliminate insurmountable college debt. In the end I do agree with a lot of the points made and many graduates are stuck searching for jobs with the pressure of debt in the back of their mind.
ReplyDeleteGoing to college is not simply about getting a job. While the main reason that people attend college is to receive higher levels of education is specific fields so that you are prepared for a job when you graduate, there are many other important things that college offers students. In America, there are many different types of college that prepare you for life on your own in different ways. In a two year institution, it focuses on giving you the necessary skills for a job in a specific field at a much cheaper price; it is basically two years of job training. There are also four year schools that have main schools of focus inside of them like Clemson, that greatly increase your knowledge, ability, and job readiness in one field while also furthering your education less in others. In a liberal arts school, you amass a great wealth of overall education over four years and even more in one field.
ReplyDeleteEmployers today are looking for workers who come in ready to work, and this is why college is becoming more and more important in the competitive job market. Though the idea of getting paid to be trained is a good idea in theory, no employer would want to pay to train someone, especially if there are people who not only have the skills necessary, but are well versed in other fields that could be beneficial as well. Therefore, college is a way of getting ahead of the competition. Then it becomes a matter of which type of higher education is best for the job you want out of the choices I mentioned above