How out of touch are College professors?

[fozzie 41]

Heck, go to a state college, get a useless degree (Art History comes to mind) with a bad GPA (easy to get in state schools, grade inflation is a very private-sector thing) and you could still end up earning only slightly more than minimum wage.

Thats very true. Unfortunately.

Proprietary schools typically specialize in certain career areas. They focus on whats in demand because thats where they will make more money, the better the education/career training you provide the more money you make. Academic quality and grads getting good jobs leads to more students, more profits. You may have a pushy admissions rep selling you on your dreams to make you part with your money but their job is still easier if the reputation of the school is good.

[^_^ 5,021]

Thats very true. Unfortunately.

Why is it unfortunate? What exactly is the value add of an Art History major who doesn't even know his or her subject matter all that well?

Edited September 24, 2010 by Legacy member

[HAL 9000 96]

You're missing the point I'm making, which is that 250K in Little Rock does not equal 250K in Manhattan.

If I missed it I wouldn't have agreed with you, VJ Troll.

[fozzie 41]

You're missing the point I'm making, which is that 250K in Little Rock does not equal 250K in Manhattan.

I think the point is that $250k is a lot of money where ever you live. My wife and I live in NY and do not earn this much money, if we did we would move into a nicer place, go to more restaurants and generally live a life that our new found means allow. Its my choice to do that, I could however live well within my means and not be unduly concerned about the higher taxes. I would have that choice where as most people dont earnt that much money and an increase inthe tax rate would seriously affect the ability to live a comfirtable life. They would not really have the choice.

[chri'stina 190]

If I hadn't gotten full financial aid(which I did, books included), I could have applied for this: http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/awardamt.htm

A FL state scholarship and grant program where you need a certain gpa(3.5) through all 4 years of HS plus a certain SAT score, for any income level I believe.

I actually didn't take my SATs which was stupid. I started out at community college and then went to USF in Tampa(not able to afford living on campus or on my own). You just needed to take the entrance testing for comm. college and not the SATs. Then once I got my 2 yr degree there I transferred to USF to finish without needing SAT scores. I am pretty sure I could have gotten the above mentioned scholarship of at least 75% coverage of class costs through the program, possibly even the 100%. I had a high GPA all through high school.

My degree stinks, but with the same financial aid I could have gotten a degree that was more financially beneficial.So far, my degree has benefited my mind and a possibly better pay than min. wage, but not good pay at all.

[fozzie 41]

Why is it unfortunate? What exactly is the value add of an Art History major who doesn't even know his or her subject matter all that well?

Its unfortante that people spend 4 years going to college, taking classes that will not help them find or excel in a career and end up indebted for the privilege.

[^_^ 5,021]

I think the point is that $250k is a lot of money where ever you live.

Sure, it's not peanuts. But in Northern NJ it makes you upper middle class, not wealthy. In Arkansas it makes you wealthy.

And remember... most of the 250K+ earners actually live in high-cost metropolitan areas. So really, this tax on the "rich" isn't a tax on the "rich" but on the upper middle class. Wanna tax the truly wealthy? Hit the capital gains rate. But the Dems don't have those kinds of ballz.

[fozzie 41]

Sure, it's not peanuts. But in Northern NJ it makes you upper middle class, not wealthy. In Arkansas it makes you wealthy.

And remember... most of the 250K+ earners actually live in high-cost metropolitan areas. So really, this tax on the "rich" isn't a tax on the "rich" but on the upper middle class. Wanna tax the truly wealthy? Hit the capital gains rate. But the Dems don't have those kinds of ballz.

You should at least quote the rest of my post.

[ScottThuy 140]

The legislation you speak of is regarding proprietary schools not private schools. There is a huge difference. NYU is private, University of Phoenix in proprietary. The irony is that it is the proprietary schools that track the employment of their graduates as it becomes a selling point like at DeVry University. If you walk into Harvard or your local community college and ask how many graduates are employed in their field of study within 6 months of graduation they will likely not have an answer for you.

The legislation is to help with the ridiculouly high level of debt and loan default rates of students. They want to link loan default rates to Title IV funding because without it fewer students will go to school (FYI Community colleges are usually full to bursting point and you can get a better education at some proprietary schools.) NYU etc cost $200,000 to graduate in 4 years, not many jobs out there that will clear that kind of debt. $60,000 for a bachelors degree is actually not bad.

Exactly... I should have distinguished proprietary... that said, any proprietary education system will be held to a different standard than the rest.... sound right to anyone?

IMO the default reates are the results of them trying to educate those that dont have the needed motivation to complete the program and then have no possibility of following through on the student loans... The community colleges turned these people away and the proprietary colleges are trying to educate those in that niche...

[ScottThuy 140]

Its unfortante that people spend 4 years going to college, taking classes that will not help them find or excel in a career and end up indebted for the privilege.

I have seen this so many times... usually educated in state universities as well... Degree in anthropology but no desire to actually go where the demand is or to do the job... they end up settling for something else... When they go to college, they often have no path or realistic employment goals... "I like the pyramids so I got a degree in archeology" ... #######? that is probably what the parents were thinking but didnt have the balls to say... If my son decided to get a degree that did not have a long term path associated with the specific degree and the understanding of what people with that degree do, He would not be going through that program...

[luckytxn 2,265]

I have seen this so many times... usually educated in state universities as well... Degree in anthropology but no desire to actually go where the demand is or to do the job... they end up settling for something else... When they go to college, they often have no path or realistic employment goals... "I like the pyramids so I got a degree in archeology" ... #######? that is probably what the parents were thinking but didnt have the balls to say... If my son decided to get a degree that did not have a long term path associated with the specific degree and the understanding of what people with that degree do, He would not be going through that program...

I remember my father not liking what I wanted to do for a living and that I had done pretty well in and did all in his power to make sure I went to college to get educated in a science. I did well and even had that career for 15 years but hated that job and career and was unhappy. I finally changed careers and became happy. Most of the family has pretty much disowned me but somehow found happiness in spite of that set back.

The best job is the one that you enjoy doing and not always the one that pays the best.

[evli1966 88]

Sorry for the late reply some of us Blue Collar workers who work in Poor America unlike the secluded Isle of Australia that has 2 cities on it worth mentioning had to work. Oh BTW there are those of us who do work blue collar jobs that earn over 100K a year if not more; so your biased view of the American worker is flawed.

What about Canada and Australia or various other European or Asian nations that are doing well? The reality is that Keynesian economics has taken a number of those countries to the forefront. Keynesian economics is not socialism. All of the public projects conducted in AUS are done so using private companies. Various projects are even public /private partnerships. While you sit there and listen to talkshows and various people [Tea-party/Libertarian/Greedy Repubs] telling you how bad and wrong the rest of the world is, it's the average Joe - the Gary equivalents - over there that can literally purchase 6 houses in Peoria by selling their one house in Melb. What does that tell you about whose system works best to deliver the goal of Capitalism?

It tells me your housing market is bubbeling and when it pops the Grand Country of Australia will not have the economic means to recover just like we are seeing in other countries were the economy is collapsing.

That's a typical rebuttal to these things, that if you do not support our way, then you are basically communist or socialist; group em all together hey. Social democracies are next-gen [modern] first world countries, where people are:

• Paid a fair wage - Minimum wage $13 USD an hour. Yep and pricing goes up accordingly so Minimum wage is BS for the most part
  
• Where the government elected by the people looks out what is best for the people, rather than the business alone. So you are saying that the Goverment needs to ensure no one gets rich and if they do take it and give it to others to make it equal.
  
• where their government actually invests in their country to improve [lift] their Q.O.L. I agree to this somewhat but tell me hat does Australia have as a Military defense to protect its people.............................................
  
• Modern and maintained towns, roads, infrastructure, cities, parks for families, lack of ghettos etc. Aus has 4 major cities maybe, so what else do you have worth noting
  
• Receive a number of benefits while working: health care, 4 weeks vacation, adequate sick pay. Most working Americans working full time have this but you ignore this fact porting most likely what a part time employee gains.
  
• A welfare system actually designed to get people on their feet. Yes it does I know a number of Aussies that prefrred not to work but get thier UE checks until they had to do the community work.
  
• Private SS system, as well as a backup government pension for those who can least afford it. I think a SS system where the feds can not touch it is a good thing but to prevent or dole the money owed to the reciepients should not be a dictated amount based on their own earnings while in the work force.
  
• Immigration is monitored and adjusted accordingly to the country's needs. I agree we need this but truly how many refugees and Illegals try to come there now.
  
• Illegal Aliens are almost non-existent and it's almost impossible to function in the society as one - no free lunch ever. I also agree with this but who would be the Illegal tryign to get to a remote Isle like Aus

is a far far stretch from Communism, let alone Socialism. I guess you do not want any of those things. Ahh but it is Socialism but you wish to ignore it because it keeps you happy that no one else can get ahead of you nor do you have to think about what you could have as better.

Are you for real? No college education means shitty job and shitty pay in the US. This isn't Australia bud, where Blue-collar workers earn well over $100K. Now, I don't agree with the low pay blue-collar workers earn here, considering the work they do. Yet did you expect otherwise? When you have an endless supply, south of the border and greedy businesses.

Ignorant reply that is not 100% true.

I have 0 collge Eduation. I have a felony in my history and I earn a 6 figure income. Was it easy no is it possible yes.

I also agree adamantly the south border needs closed and illgals pushed out and strong laws adopted to penalize those who employ illegals and strong laws that prevent illegals from getting any public assitance on the tax payers dime.

Here is a prime example of a culture and attitude that I have been referring to for years, that many of the left-wing clowns on here deny. This attitude is why middle-American states are poor and backwards, third world poor by various standards. Are you referring to the poorer inner city or the southern States where they look to be poor. (Big deference)

I know what the problem is though and you and I have argued about this before; all about perception. Don't take this in the wrong way but the way you see yourself financially and living standard wise versus those in the Philippines [for example], is how people in various other first world countries view themselves compared to middle Americans. To us, you are the Philippines, you just do not see this.

Actually I do not complare my lifestyle to soemone in th Phillipines or in any other country that is you justifing your own judgemntal views of how you live.

Personally I think most 3rd workd cultures spur mor industrious and capitalistic thinking individuals because they must do it to survive with out jobs; if the educational system in these coutries were better then they possibly would in time rival any other country over time.

You see us as 3rd world we see Australia as a limited country where the individual has no motivation to do better.

Edited September 25, 2010 by evli1966

[웃 910]

Its unfortante that people spend 4 years going to college, taking classes that will not help them find or excel in a career and end up indebted for the privilege.

Some may think it is stupid, but I am only in school for the student loans. They are throwing money at me and I am putting it to superb use. Who else is gonna give me $9500 cash in August, another $9500 a few months later in January, and then $4500 in May and another $4500 in July? I am a grad student so they pay me more than the undergrads!

I would like to continue so long as they are giving me $10,000 per semester (after paying tuition). I bought a house with the help of the student loan from last year and am renting it out for $825/month. Now on my second house and will have a third when the next $9500 comes in January. I believe I'll have 4 houses worst case scenario (all rented out for minimum of $800, max $1200 per month, worth in a range between $60,000 and $115,000 per house in a better market) by the time I graduate. With some luck 5-6.

The monthly payment I receive from the first house I bought covers what my minimum payment will be on the student loan with about $500 cash to spare!

Edited September 25, 2010 by Lord Infamous

[Heracles 417]

Sorry for the late reply some of us Blue Collar workers who work in Poor America unlike the secluded Isle of Australia that has 2 cities on it worth mentioning had to work. Oh BTW there are those of us who do work blue collar jobs that earn over 100K a year if not more; so your biased view of the American worker is flawed.

You see us as 3rd world we see Australia as a limited country where the individual has no motivation to do better.

I don't know where you live but it sounds like you are a mid-westerner. Therefore, "those of us who do work blue collar jobs that earn over 100K a year if not more" is not the norm, certainly not in the mid-west; which not only looks like an abandoned ghost ship, but is also reflected by the high unemployment rates and extremely low property prices.

I read all of your other points, yet none of them illustrate or explain how those you call socialist, are beating [almost annihilating] you in the area you value the most - money.

Edited September 25, 2010 by Heracles

[Heracles 417]

Some may think it is stupid, but I am only in school for the student loans. They are throwing money at me and I am putting it to superb use. Who else is gonna give me $9500 cash in August, another $9500 a few months later in January, and then $4500 in May and another $4500 in July? I am a grad student so they pay me more than the undergrads!

I would like to continue so long as they are giving me $10,000 per semester (after paying tuition). I bought a house with the help of the student loan from last year and am renting it out for $825/month. Now on my second house and will have a third when the next $9500 comes in January. I believe I'll have 4 houses worst case scenario (all rented out for minimum of $800, max $1200 per month, worth in a range between $60,000 and $115,000 per house in a better market) by the time I graduate. With some luck 5-6.

The monthly payment I receive from the first house I bought covers what my minimum payment will be on the student loan with about $500 cash to spare!

Smart idea.

Keep in mind that if something happens, student loans can never ever be bankrupted; so you are stuck with them for life. This is the US of A, due to corrupt greedy bastards screwing over the country for a profit, things always happen.

Edited September 25, 2010 by Heracles