Mike Rowe trashes college degrees, says Harvard grads are taking their 'degrees off the wall'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who hangs their degree on the wall? I have no idea where my degrees are. Once every five years or so I clean thr basement and find one. My husband and I have 5 degrees between us, three of them Ivy, and none are on the walls. Nor do we talk about them. You wouldn’t know unless you read out online bios that our employer makes us put up.
The only people who I know where they went to college are the ones who went to big basketball or football schools, because they won’t shut up about the alma maters teams. Everyone knows a Duke/ or UNC grad around March madness time!

My, oh my. How superior you are!

DH and I have five degrees between us and three diplomas of five are on the wall in our office in our basement. Not sure what on earth you think is so awful about that.

[Anonymous]

This is like the National Enquirer reporting on an op ed from a random person. Like this guy has any idea what H donors or grads are doing. And, why would anyone cite Fox News? They may have done a good job leveraging the "both sides" argument, but they are still largely a propaganda mill made mostly of commentary with very little actual news. News reporting may have different perspectives, but shouldn't be sheer editorial.

[Anonymous]

I went to college 33 years ago upon threat of disowning by my parents if I refused - they only offered minimal financial help and encouraged me to go into huge student loan debt.

Without question it was a poor choice for me and I would be doing much better if I’d gone into a trade or done a certification program in something like dental hygiene or radiology tech or nurse’s aide with a path to employer funded educational advancement.

I am grateful for the stuff my education put in my head, and wish I had been born in a social democracy where higher education is provided at minimal cost to citizens who are interested and show capacity for it.

But encouraging young people to take on a mortgage for an education with uncertain returns is terrible policy.

[Anonymous]

Of course Mike Rowe posits all of this - he knows his audience, understands how to keep them engaged and appreciates that this is necessary for his personal brand and bottom line.

Is anyone really surprised that he'd say all this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who hangs their degree on the wall?

In my professional and life experience, the people in the most prestigious careers hang their degrees on their office walls- it is SOP for attorneys, judges, doctors, dentists, accountants, veterinarians, architects, etc.

I don’t think it’s about bragging so much as establishing credentials with lay clientele.

[Anonymous]

Come back to me when high schools grads make the same money. I’m pretty happy when college educated engineers design our infrastructure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who?

Con Inc grifter who's never had a real job in his life. Literally a drama/theater major who larps as a tough guy for GOP bucks.

Winner winner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to college 33 years ago upon threat of disowning by my parents if I refused - they only offered minimal financial help and encouraged me to go into huge student loan debt.

Without question it was a poor choice for me and I would be doing much better if I’d gone into a trade or done a certification program in something like dental hygiene or radiology tech or nurse’s aide with a path to employer funded educational advancement.

I am grateful for the stuff my education put in my head, and wish I had been born in a social democracy where higher education is provided at minimal cost to citizens who are interested and show capacity for it.

But encouraging young people to take on a mortgage for an education with uncertain returns is terrible policy.

This. Two things can be true. Higher education is absolutely wonderful for how it broadens you mind. But going into huge debt for an undergrad degree is a mistake.

[Anonymous]

First- this guy is not credible. Second, I am all for encouraging “trades” for kids. BUT be aware of the life that comes with it. Often, no or little paid vacation, poor benefits and frankly a tough work environment. Our friends kid is a welder. Still trying to get into a union shop so no paid vacation, no benefits and in summer the shop that goes from 80 degrees to over a 100. If she wants to start a family, imagine doing that job pregnant?

My own son wants to be a chef. I worked in a fine dining restaurant in college where most of my co-workers did not go to college. Many slep t until noon and went out all night and did hard drugs (cocaine bc it was early 90s). You work every holiday. It is a tough life.

Also to make big $ in a trade, you eventually need to own your own business and having some college classes would be really helpful! my plumber and his apprentice son both went to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s absolutely right. At this point most people are just paying for a piece of paper, not an education.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Have you met a biomedical engineer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who hangs their degree on the wall? I have no idea where my degrees are. Once every five years or so I clean thr basement and find one. My husband and I have 5 degrees between us, three of them Ivy, and none are on the walls. Nor do we talk about them. You wouldn’t know unless you read out online bios that our employer makes us put up.
The only people who I know where they went to college are the ones who went to big basketball or football schools, because they won’t shut up about the alma maters teams. Everyone knows a Duke/ or UNC grad around March madness time!

I started at community college, worked full time for 12 years, paid as I went and graduated with my B.S. from my state flagship at age 30 with a 2 year old. I sure as hell hang my state flagship degree up on my wall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come back to me when high schools grads make the same money. I’m pretty happy when college educated engineers design our infrastructure

I mean…if someone passes the engineering certifications I don’t care how they learned the material whether attending college or on their own.

You do realize that the founders of Oracle, Tumblr, Open AI and many other companies only have HS diplomas…however they are skilled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come back to me when high schools grads make the same money. I’m pretty happy when college educated engineers design our infrastructure

I mean…if someone passes the engineering certifications I don’t care how they learned the material whether attending college or on their own.

You do realize that the founders of Oracle, Tumblr, Open AI and many other companies only have HS diplomas…however they are skilled.

I mean yes. If they pass the certification, but you know where you learn how to pass the certification? College

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who hangs their degree on the wall? I have no idea where my degrees are. Once every five years or so I clean thr basement and find one. My husband and I have 5 degrees between us, three of them Ivy, and none are on the walls. Nor do we talk about them. You wouldn’t know unless you read out online bios that our employer makes us put up.
The only people who I know where they went to college are the ones who went to big basketball or football schools, because they won’t shut up about the alma maters teams. Everyone knows a Duke/ or UNC grad around March madness time!

My, oh my. How superior you are!

DH and I have five degrees between us and three diplomas of five are on the wall in our office in our basement. Not sure what on earth you think is so awful about that.

My husband and I went to undergrad at a school DCUM scoffs at (I was told here my degree isn’t worth the paper it’s written on) and we have ours hanging up in our hallway. Along with his two masters and my medical degree. I guess we suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who hangs their degree on the wall?

In my professional and life experience, the people in the most prestigious careers hang their degrees on their office walls- it is SOP for attorneys, judges, doctors, dentists, accountants, veterinarians, architects, etc.

I don’t think it’s about bragging so much as establishing credentials with lay clientele.

Barbers do too. It's not prestige; it's showing you aren't a complete fraud imposter in your licenses profession.