It is often an example of something called predatory inclusion.

Tressie McMillan Cottom’s book “Lower Ed” covers it really well.

I think getting a college education is vital if one wants to truly succeed in the world.

I raised my two children as a poor, single mother.
I told my kids since birth (j/k) how if they wanted a better life than what we had, w/more options available they had to go to college.
That education was their ticket out of the public housing they were raised in.

One of my children always understood the struggle was 💯% R-E-A-L.
He hated watching me carry around a calculator while grocery shopping.
After graduating w/full honors as well as academic distinction - he went on to graduate from a very reputable university w/a B.S.
He networked after graduation & found a good job in his field and he makes a good living w/many benefits.

On the other hand, my other child struggled w/a cognitive learning disability and ended up so behind academically that she opted to drop out two months before her scheduled graduation and take the GED exam(s) which she passed.
She attended Jr. College for one semester, then dropped out of that as well.
She then joined a franchise retail company where she currently has worked her way to assistant manager - yet her income is very low and at thirty-two she rents an inexpensive room from her uncle.

So yes > a college degree in my humble opinion is necessary to survive and earn a decent living.
Especially if you network immediately after graduation 👨🏻‍🎓.

Strike while the iron is scorching…..

The belief that most kids should go to college is a scam, yes.

I live and teach high school in Germany. Fewer than half of German high school students go to university because many people aren't suited to higher academic work and quality of university standards needs to be consistent across the country. Society needs and values people in the trades, like plumbers, electricians, hair stylists, etc, so there are appropriate specialised high schools where students best suited to those fields can receive training and apprenticeship support to successfully enter their chosen fields. We don't look down on the trades or try to encourage a child who isn't academic to struggle and strive for university at all costs with no backup plan here.

America has made university a business and everyone is catching on that US universities are not consistent in quality and weaker students who don't belong in university just pay to attend weaker universities. This is why university costs a fortune in America and is free in Germany.

Anonymous wrote:Was just thinking about this the other day. When I get in a rather dark place and start thinking about the pandemic, and the supply chain, and our crumbing government....I start to winder if we are focusing on the wrong things for our kids today. Sure, college has been a necessary evil to "access high paying jobs" etc. But I can see a major chainge coming in the near future to our society and I wonder if more focus on real life skills, developing support networks, etc will be more beneficial to our kids. If society swings in either direction- we will see either increasing wealth gaps that make those six figure high income jobs less and less a reality, or more socialist society that results in the same.

Good points.

Anonymous wrote:I think college is worth it for most kids. But it doesn't have to be a big name brand school.

I went to a big state school and it was the happiest, most carefree and fun time of my life. And I walked straight out into a job in my field.

I agree with this. People pay too much for prestigious schools, or even just private schools they can't really afford. I've recently taken some classes at Montgomery College just to further my own skill set in certain work areas, and I think they are fantastic. I'm a huge fan of community colleges for many (most) kids.

Anecdotally, I notice a difference between my college-educated and non-college-educated friends/coworkers/family in terms of their critical thinking skills when it comes to things like politics. And it seems to provide an advantage when raising kids and helping them academically. I haven't noticed much difference otherwise. I have cousins making more than me (I'm a lawyer) performing precision tool making in Ohio. No college education at all. They have good benefits and live a very similar lifestyle to me.

Now, kids these days don't seem very interested in planning out 30 year careers in one field. So that's something to take into consideration when thinking about higher education.

Was just thinking about this the other day. When I get in a rather dark place and start thinking about the pandemic, and the supply chain, and our crumbing government....I start to winder if we are focusing on the wrong things for our kids today. Sure, college has been a necessary evil to "access high paying jobs" etc. But I can see a major chainge coming in the near future to our society and I wonder if more focus on real life skills, developing support networks, etc will be more beneficial to our kids. If society swings in either direction- we will see either increasing wealth gaps that make those six figure high income jobs less and less a reality, or more socialist society that results in the same.

I learned a ton and it lifted me out of abject poverty. It taught me the skills to perform and land a lucrative career. College changed my life trajectory.

No it’s not a scam. Is it for everyone? No. But if you want the greatest opportunity to access the highest paying jobs, you need a bachelor’s degree from a reputable school. Plus many other benefits.
But finding a great school that’s affordable is key. Most tuition rates are ridiculous nonsense (see 60k/year ++).

They get out of it what they put in like many others things in life.

Yes it’s a scam.

Ivy League kids take 4 classes a semester to graduate.

State schools take 5 classes a semester to graduate.

Half the classes you are required to take to graduate have no rhyme or reason.

Colleges, universities, professors generally phone it in. Most professors don’t /can’t teach. They are there for research, students mostly teach themselves from the book or videos.

Depending on the teacher you could pass or fail any given class in the same university… there are zero standards.

No other business is run this way

So yes it’s a scam but it’s a scam that has proven to help you meet the right people and get the right jobs. And it’s fun.

I think college is worth it for most kids. But it doesn't have to be a big name brand school.

I went to a big state school and it was the happiest, most carefree and fun time of my life. And I walked straight out into a job in my field.

Yes it is. But we all want to keep up with the Jones’s so we keep doing it. My friend and I have elem age kids. I told her I’m happy for mine to do CC for 2 years then transfer and can live at home if she wants to. Or go into the military to get the training in what she wants to do. My friend was horrified and wants her kids to “ have the experience “ …. The experience is not worth the $$$ imo. There are plenty of other life experiences out there.

There are exceptions, but it's a scam in the sense that college doesnt give you the skills to do the job.

I think Bill Maher’s opinion became irrelevant a really long time ago.

Bill mahre was talking about this on his show saying that people are paying a fortune on degrees, than waiting tables anyway, because it’s hard to find work. He also said most people don’t even need degrees. What are your thoughts?