Higher education's bubble is about to burst

[Heracles 417]

The reality is...even if you have a master, you may still be managed by someone who has a bachelors. I know a Chief Engineer who just have a Bachelors at TI. Many of his subordinates are Ph.Ds.

However, Ph.Ds are better candidates for hire than Bachelors.

Gary seems to think assume that education automatically translates to wealth. I can hire 20 with masters from India that will do the work that Gary's children would do for 1/4 the price.

Some of the wealthiest in America, in the world, do not even have a BA.

[BishopM 114]

Gary seems to think assume that education automatically translates to wealth. I can hire 20 with masters from India that will do the work that Gary's children would do for 1/4 the price.

Some of the wealthiest in America, in the world, do not even have a BA.

For some reason I am reminded of a classic line from George Jefferson (for those of you who remember that old TV show). George paid for his son Lionel to go all the way through his masters, and then he wanted his son to work for him by taking over his entrepreneurial Dry Cleaning business. George's classic line to Lionel was, "I paid for you to get your masters so you could show the world that you're educated. Now come work with me to show me that you're smart!"

Most of the people I know don't really care much about their degree or their education after being out of school and working for 5 years or so. The degree is required to get a good start into the workforce. After a while though, I've found that most people leave their career fields for which they studied for as students. Engineers are great examples. In my experience it seems that hardly anyone remains a professional engineer for life unless they just really love science/research...they'll move over to management of some sorts, which has nothing to do with their education. However, by that time their post-academia experience is really more important than what they graduated with or from where they graduated...

I think George Jefferson was right...

[Heracles 417]

There is obviously nothing wrong with a an education but to assume education is some sort of golden ticket to wealth and prosperity is just wrong. It's what causes American kids to go into debt and then suffer immensely because they are unable to pay off the loans.

Education has become like pharmaceuticals here, the cost is unreasonably high basically just because. Whereas, you can acquire [purchase] an equivalent education abroad for 1/6 the price or less.

Edited June 10, 2010 by Booyah!

[BishopM 114]

There is obviously nothing wrong with a an education but to assume education is some sort of golden ticket to wealth and prosperity is just wrong. It's what causes American kids to go into debt and then suffer immensely because they are unable to pay off the loans.

Education has become like pharmaceuticals here, the cost is unreasonably high basically just because. Whereas, you can acquire [purchase] an equivalent education abroad for 1/6 the price or less.

A formal education, in my opinion, is just the first hurdle that one must take in a professional life. Its important to clear that first hurdle and it will help you win the race...but...it is still only the first hurdle...no need to go back to it...just get over it and keep going.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

What a good education does, and kudos to the folks who decided this one, is the exposure to a diversity of ideas through the general education requirement. My degree field was challenging, and required about 90% of my effort. However, all those other courses I took were a break for my mind, and those are the courses, whether is was Theater Appreciation, or Ethic Studies, that I find most useful in life. I took an unofficial minor in religious studies as well, and that has helped ground me over and over again. Why they mostly took religion out of public schools half a century ago, I will never know.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

A formal education, in my opinion, is just the first hurdle that one must take in a professional life. Its important to clear that first hurdle and it will help you win the race...but...it is still only the first hurdle...no need to go back to it...just get over it and keep going.

That's what my stepdad told me the night he died. "Just get the piece of paper. Whatever it takes."

Edited June 10, 2010 by ##########

[BishopM 114]

What a good education does, and kudos to the folks who decided this one, is the exposure to a diversity of ideas through the general education requirement. My degree field was challenging, and required about 90% of my effort. However, all those other courses I took were a break for my mind, and those are the courses, whether is was Theater Appreciation, or Ethic Studies, that I find most useful in life. I took an unofficial minor in religious studies as well, and that has helped ground me over and over again. Why they mostly took religion out of public schools half a century ago, I will never know.

Hmmm...I'm impressed.

That's what my stepdad told me the night he died. "Just get the piece of paper. Whatever it takes."

This was good advice.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hmmm...I'm impressed.

It does kinda spoil things at times. As Joseph Campbell said, when asked which was his favorite religion, I have lost my naivety, so I can never settle for just one religion.

Every religion is true one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble.

Joseph Campbell

Edited June 10, 2010 by ##########

[Niels Bohr 72]

One thing in which I disagree on is a Business degree will not give the person the ability to become engineers later on in life. Make sure to tell the kids that or else they'll think, yay! I have a Business degree, 20 years later I can work as an engineer.

[Heracles 417]

One thing in which I disagree on is a Business degree will not give the person the ability to become engineers later on in life. Make sure to tell the kids that or else they'll think, yay! I have a Business degree, 20 years later I can work as an engineer.

Business degrees give people the knowledge of business operations.

Why on earth and who on earth would think that means become an engineer?

[BishopM 114]

One thing in which I disagree on is a Business degree will not give the person the ability to become engineers later on in life. Make sure to tell the kids that or else they'll think, yay! I have a Business degree, 20 years later I can work as an engineer.

True. However, I have never met a person who wanted to leave business to become an engineer. It always seems to go the other way.

However, I suppose it definitely could happen.

[BishopM 114]

It does kinda spoil things at times. As Joseph Campbell said, when asked which was his favorite religion, I have lost my naivety, so I can never settle for just one religion.

Ya...I can empathize with that...

[Niels Bohr 72]

Engineers are versatile, they can become whatever they want.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Engineers are versatile, they can become whatever they want.

Where have you been, playing with your iPad?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Engineers are versatile, they can become whatever they want.