How is it possible that only 50% go to college?

[Anonymous]

How is it possible that 50% do go to college? When I was growing up only 5% of Americans had a college degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ILs don't think going to college is all that important. DH went but his two siblings did not. His nieces and nephews did not. According to BIL, in his experience, most people who start college drop out and are left with debt so it's a waste of time. Our 20-30ish yr old nieces and nephews include: one learned auto mechanics in HS and now has his own business, one is in the military, one works for a commercial builder, one works for an insurance company that trains so staff can advance without a degree, one did community college to become a medical assistant and works at a doctor's office.

They live in a pretty affordable East Coast city. Some have kids. They are generally doing fine in life.

My kids are in college and I wanted that for them but I understand there are others paths to a happy, productive life

Same here. I have nieces and nephews on one side of the family who are firefighters, welders, electricians, RNs who went for the associates degree, etc. The other side all have college degrees. Both sides and their respective families seem to be doing just fine.

RNs require a BS degree.

You can be an RN with an associates degree. But job advancement is more limited than if you get the BSRN. My cousin is an RN with an associates and her hospital system is helping pay for her to also get the BSRN done. There are many paths in nursing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ILs don't think going to college is all that important. DH went but his two siblings did not. His nieces and nephews did not. According to BIL, in his experience, most people who start college drop out and are left with debt so it's a waste of time. Our 20-30ish yr old nieces and nephews include: one learned auto mechanics in HS and now has his own business, one is in the military, one works for a commercial builder, one works for an insurance company that trains so staff can advance without a degree, one did community college to become a medical assistant and works at a doctor's office.

They live in a pretty affordable East Coast city. Some have kids. They are generally doing fine in life.

My kids are in college and I wanted that for them but I understand there are others paths to a happy, productive life

Same here. I have nieces and nephews on one side of the family who are firefighters, welders, electricians, RNs who went for the associates degree, etc. The other side all have college degrees. Both sides and their respective families seem to be doing just fine.

RNs require a BS degree.

No, they don’t. Associates degree allows you to take the NCLEX exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible that 50% do go to college? When I was growing up only 5% of Americans had a college degree.

I doubt that 50% actually graduate.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to be so tone-deaf?

[Anonymous]

It seems like this same post comes up about once a year. The OP needs to be reminded that just because everybody they know went to college, they didn't bother to ask the people they don't regularly talk to such as the folks who work at the supermarket, and the mechanics who work on their car. Also ask a plumber or electrician who may have gone to a trade school and possibly earn more than OP. People are all around who have taken different paths and are not necessarily poor, but it seems OP does not notice those outside of their closed circle of people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ILs don't think going to college is all that important. DH went but his two siblings did not. His nieces and nephews did not. According to BIL, in his experience, most people who start college drop out and are left with debt so it's a waste of time. Our 20-30ish yr old nieces and nephews include: one learned auto mechanics in HS and now has his own business, one is in the military, one works for a commercial builder, one works for an insurance company that trains so staff can advance without a degree, one did community college to become a medical assistant and works at a doctor's office.

They live in a pretty affordable East Coast city. Some have kids. They are generally doing fine in life.

My kids are in college and I wanted that for them but I understand there are others paths to a happy, productive life

Same here. I have nieces and nephews on one side of the family who are firefighters, welders, electricians, RNs who went for the associates degree, etc. The other side all have college degrees. Both sides and their respective families seem to be doing just fine.

RNs require a BS degree.

Please shut up already. No one cares. DP

NP. I care because RNs require a BS and it's a difficult degree to get. There are other types of nurses who require an associates or a basic certification.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible that 50% do go to college? When I was growing up only 5% of Americans had a college degree.

are you 100 years old

[Anonymous]

This is a good example that college alone doesn’t cure ignorance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a good example that college alone doesn’t cure ignorance.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

There are very few tv shows or movie characters that show this. And the news media really caters to the coastal elite. It’s easy to live in a bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are very few tv shows or movie characters that show this. And the news media really caters to the coastal elite. It’s easy to live in a bubble.

Homer Simpson has joined the chat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people I know who didn't go to college are family members who don't make much. How could it be that only 50% go? Everyone else I know has at least a bachelor's and usually more.

Did you know there are lots of Americans who "don't make much"?

You live in a bubble. Most people do. But it's alarming that you don't know that.

More than likely, if you are on this forum and this site, you do live in a bubble and "make more than don't"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Feel sorry for you OP. Obviously, college was wasted on you.

Maybe OP didn't actually go to college, everyone they know did except

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A 2022 Fed Survey found that about 37% of Americans could not cover an unexpected $400 expense. How do you think families in those situations (or those doing only slightly better) are going to pay for college?

Tbf, those families usually get the most aid

+1
Going for free leeching off of our tuition dollars. No sympathy for thieves.

Or they get loans with interest, you know the ones where you have to pay back.