Is college now just transactional?

[Anonymous]

At which schools is Intro To World Literature taught by grad students ?

Adjunct professors can be great depending upon their experience and the subject matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part of the problem is the way that corporations hire. There was a time that you could major in history and get a good job. For example, Sam Palmisano was a history major that went into sales at IBM and became CEO. I wonder if he would be hired today. Seems that many corporations want to hire students that have technical skills (engineering, business ...) rather than students that have potential that they will train. I believe in a liberal arts education but it can be tricky to get the first job, and college is stupid expensive.

It’s still there - at the t15 schools at least where consulting firms/IB are hiring - DH - was a history major at T10 school - Moved his way up the ranks in a finance job to eventually going to the corporate world. Became CEO.
He still talks about his undergrad history classes as being formative - in how he thinks about leadership.

He wasn't hired for his "history major skills" he was hired for his T10 credential and for the level of intelligence and conscientiousness that getting into and graduating from a T10 required.

Your major doesn't really matter if you attend a T10, gee what else is new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

These days talking about English/History/Poli Sci/Philosophy with a PhD in the subject is not necessarily going to improve your knowledge of the subject. At most it will improve your understanding of the latest academic fads in the subject.

That aside, is talking about a humanities subject with a PhD in the subject going to be worth $10,000 to you? Doubtful. You really would be better off just reading the books on your own time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

So you're willing to pay $10,000 for a babysitter to make you read a bunch of books you could read for free at library. Why not just "pay" yourself that money as a reward?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

So you're willing to pay $10,000 for a babysitter to make you read a bunch of books you could read for free at library. Why not just "pay" yourself that money as a reward?

Famous quote from the movie "Godd Will Hunting": You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for $1.50 in late fees at the public library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

Even if you don't take out loans I'd still argue that all these fluffy BS liberal arts classes aren't worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

Even if you don't take out loans I'd still argue that all these fluffy BS liberal arts classes aren't worth it.

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.

My husband has an industry-specific degree while I have a liberal arts degree (my graduate degree is more industry specific). There are certain things he doesn’t know that make me feel sorry for him. He’s really good at what he does, but he doesn’t really know what he missed by not having a liberal arts foundation.

If you think college is about training for a job vs being an educated person, you wouldn’t get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

Even if you don't take out loans I'd still argue that all these fluffy BS liberal arts classes aren't worth it.

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.

My husband has an industry-specific degree while I have a liberal arts degree (my graduate degree is more industry specific). There are certain things he doesn’t know that make me feel sorry for him. He’s really good at what he does, but he doesn’t really know what he missed by not having a liberal arts foundation.

If you think college is about training for a job vs being an educated person, you wouldn’t get it.

Hahaha. Okay lady. I bet he's the breadwinner in your house. A "liberal arts foundation" in philosophy or English isn't paying your mortgage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

Even if you don't take out loans I'd still argue that all these fluffy BS liberal arts classes aren't worth it.

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.

My husband has an industry-specific degree while I have a liberal arts degree (my graduate degree is more industry specific). There are certain things he doesn’t know that make me feel sorry for him. He’s really good at what he does, but he doesn’t really know what he missed by not having a liberal arts foundation.

If you think college is about training for a job vs being an educated person, you wouldn’t get it.

DP, what exactly does your husband not know that makes you feel bad for him? I'm sure he couldn't care less about world lit or art history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

Even if you don't take out loans I'd still argue that all these fluffy BS liberal arts classes aren't worth it.

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.

My husband has an industry-specific degree while I have a liberal arts degree (my graduate degree is more industry specific). There are certain things he doesn’t know that make me feel sorry for him. He’s really good at what he does, but he doesn’t really know what he missed by not having a liberal arts foundation.

If you think college is about training for a job vs being an educated person, you wouldn’t get it.

What you don’t get is that you don’t need expensive courses or a liberal arts degree to be an educated person. It is perfectly possible to get that “liberal arts foundation” without paying big bucks for it. And if you’re not willing to seek out that readily available knowledge on your own, then you didn’t need it and wouldn’t have benefited from spending big bucks on those college courses anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

Even if you don't take out loans I'd still argue that all these fluffy BS liberal arts classes aren't worth it.

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.

My husband has an industry-specific degree while I have a liberal arts degree (my graduate degree is more industry specific). There are certain things he doesn’t know that make me feel sorry for him. He’s really good at what he does, but he doesn’t really know what he missed by not having a liberal arts foundation.

If you think college is about training for a job vs being an educated person, you wouldn’t get it.

What you don’t get is that you don’t need expensive courses or a liberal arts degree to be an educated person. It is perfectly possible to get that “liberal arts foundation” without paying big bucks for it. And if you’re not willing to seek out that readily available knowledge on your own, then you didn’t need it and wouldn’t have benefited from spending big bucks on those college courses anyway.

Ding ding ding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

If you could get the same CS education at the Montgomery County library summer program for $150 taught by a computer science teacher from Einstein HS, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced Carnegie Mellon? It's just coding in the end. If you have to take out loans for all this programming you can teach yourself on YouTube, then CM is not a good value for the money!

Just watch the CS videos at home on your own time, while your sister reads all those Great Books by herself instead of getting a liberal arts degree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

Even if you don't take out loans I'd still argue that all these fluffy BS liberal arts classes aren't worth it.

If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.

My husband has an industry-specific degree while I have a liberal arts degree (my graduate degree is more industry specific). There are certain things he doesn’t know that make me feel sorry for him. He’s really good at what he does, but he doesn’t really know what he missed by not having a liberal arts foundation.

If you think college is about training for a job vs being an educated person, you wouldn’t get it.

Hahaha. Okay lady. I bet he's the breadwinner in your house. A "liberal arts foundation" in philosophy or English isn't paying your mortgage.

You're taking an unusually long break from your gaming tonight to post. Everything OK? hahahahaha. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think at 80K a year for a private school, it’s changed what people expect.

OP here. I figured this would be the first response. But, for $80k, don’t you want your kid to be more interesting than just technically capable?

Assuming 4 classes/semester, $80k/yr comes out to about $10k per class. Why spend $10,000 on some fluffy intro to world lit class when you can just read the same half dozen books on your own time?

Because people don't read them on their own time, and because if they do, they don't talk about them with a PhD in the subject.

Into to world lit is likely taught by an adjunct or grad student.

Not at a liberal arts college.

If you can get basically the same introductory literature class taught by an adjunct for $100 at a local community college, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced liberal arts college? If you have to take out loans all this fluffy general ed is just not good value for the money.

If you could get the same CS education at the Montgomery County library summer program for $150 taught by a computer science teacher from Einstein HS, why still pay $10,000 for the same class at the overpriced Carnegie Mellon? It's just coding in the end. If you have to take out loans for all this programming you can teach yourself on YouTube, then CM is not a good value for the money!

Just watch the CS videos at home on your own time, while your sister reads all those Great Books by herself instead of getting a liberal arts degree!

CS majors at least make $100k starting $150k for CMU