Knowledge is power: THE COLLEGE DISCUSSION THREAD

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

Whether its a community college or an ivy league school college is the most crucial point in your adult life. It stabilizes your financial future, help grow your character, and makes you a better person in general. This thread is basically meant to stimulate discussion about this significant topic. Things like community college, free college, GPA, and clubs ae the things that I hope to discuss in depth during the life of this thread. I'm honestly surprised that this thread doesn't already exist. We must really underestimate the power of a higher education. I myself have just been enrolled (again) for classes at the local community college. Now, now people community colleges deserve just as much respect as those 'million dollar' colleges. They give a great sense of community with a fraction of the price.

So I'm officially out of stuff to say.(I could probably squeeze out another paragraph if I wanted)...I hope I got the ball rolling enough.

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

why do people take the poll but don't comment?

[Alvero]

In response to the poll, I mean it depends on what job you're to do. But yeah you really should, for so many jobs they won't even look at your resume if you don't have a degree. More and more jobs are requiring them as well.

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

In response to the poll, I mean it depends on what job you're to do. But yeah you really should, for so many jobs they won't even look at your resume if you don't have a degree. More and more jobs are requiring them as well.

ive meet people that have made really good arguments about how the "degree" is just another class road block.

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

[Ohioan Territory]

It really depends. If you want to be a welder, college is a waste of time. If you want to be a lawyer, college is required. Conventionally, a degree denotes a grade of professionalism and dedication to your career (more so for doctorates and master's degrees), but you may not need a degree to make it in the business world. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are testaments to this, albeit both being uncommonly genius.

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

It really depends. If you want to be a welder, college is a waste of time. If you want to be a lawyer, college is required. Conventionally, a degree denotes a grade of professionalism and dedication to your career (more so for doctorates and master's degrees), but you may not need a degree to make it in the business world. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are testaments to this, albeit both being uncommonly genius.

well I wouldn't say that exactly.
I think that maybe we need more types of colleges so that a welder could get a degree as well. I don't think its ever a waste of time...maybe a waste of money....but never a waste of time. You can always learn something right?

[Incantata Phantasia]

I never wanted to go to college. I just went because my dentist said i should, and i do everything she says!
To each his own way, i guess...

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

I never wanted to go to college. I just went because my dentist said i should, and i do everything she says!
To each his own way, i guess...

Wait...your dentist?
/skip

[Ravenwaur]

I think it's possible to make your way through the world without a degree, but it's a lot harder. Someone once told me that you should go to college and get ANY degree, even if it's something you're not into. But I'm not sure I believe that frankly. I hear vocational school is cool though

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

Vocational school?
Isnt that like religious or something?

[Xmara]

Vocational school?
Isnt that like religious or something?

Another name for trade school

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

Vocational school?
Isnt that like religious or something?

Another name for trade school

Ah see I knew Ive heard it used like that before.

[Ahlta]

I mean, it is a bit harder to get through the world without a degree, but not everyone can do college or wants to do it. And for many of them that isn't the end of the line, but others fall into a black hole that they can't climb out of. Higher education has become a social construct but it really shouldn't be, because honestly if everyone goes and gets a degree, the all these degrees become useless because everyone has one (for the most part, obviously there would be some jobs and degrees that wouldn't be affected as harshly as others). There are options other than college, and for some people those alternatives may be harder to get the ball rolling with, maybe even impossible, but for still others these alternate routes may work like a charm. My point is that the mantra of "college for all" should really be "college for some/most," in the same way that when people talk about equality they are really referencing equity.

[Minoa]

Here is what I did in university: avoid all parties, just focus on the syllabus, and take advantage of all available grants.

[Xmara]

Here is what I did in university: avoid all parties, just focus on the syllabus, and take advantage of all available grants.

Same here, actually.

Of course, no one ever invites me to parties anyway...

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

Here is what I did in university: avoid all parties, just focus on the syllabus, and take advantage of all available grants.

Same here, actually.

Of course, no one ever invites me to parties anyway...

Me too
Well when your in a community college parties are in short supply....

[Feminists for Equality]

I definitely think that going to college is beneficial, but it certainly isn't for everyone. A lot of that depends on what field someone plans to go into -- sometimes going into a vocational trade might be a better option. Unfortunately, though, I also feel like the high costs of college deter students from attending, even if they would benefit from it.

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

MAybe the high cost of going to college stim from lack of students?
If they had enough students going to them I'm sure they'd be able to lower the prices on somethings

[Saiwania]

I forbid anyone from going to college unless they're able to have their tuition almost fully paid for via scholarships. To quote Mr. Wonderful of Shark Tank fame: It is killing money! All that is going to happen, is that they'll get a ton of student loan debt that can't ever be erased by law, that they will certainly almost never pay off when inevitably, the job they can get; is a tiny fraction of the debt they now owe and will pay interest on.

The value of college just doesn't exist as much anymore, compared to many decades ago. The concept is becoming more obsolete and unaffordable for more people all the time. Not worthwhile, unless your career choice absolutely requires it such as if you're becoming a doctor or lawyer.

"Finding something you're passionate about" is such a load of crap. Unrealistic and lousy advice. All that really matters in this world, is your ability to get income. Learning an in demand trade, is more valuable.

The promise of a higher income or the ability to "open doors" is how colleges sucker people into enrolling, but it is all a money making racket. It is a huge bamboozle. I plead with people to not fall for it and to consider shorter, more efficient, or alternate paths into different careers. Preferably at much less cost and time.

You don't even have to pick an obviously stupid/useless degree such as "women's studies" in order to get burned by having gone to college, it could be as simple as there being a mismatch between the degree you got and what the economy of where you live- actually looks like. If you won't have the means to move to where you can use that degree- you're screwed!

Even if it is something relatively decent like Computer Engineering. It apparently isn't broad enough in terms of market like Law or Medicine would be. Wherever a person moves to, there seems to almost always be at least some local medical professionals or lawyers which makes it a far better choice in terms of economic security.

I reiterate, DO NOT be in any rush to enroll into any college. It is no surefire ticket to prosperity and it can end badly, very easily. Consider alternatives to that first, even investing in physical platinum is likely to net a better return than getting expensive and time consuming education as opposed to learning from free or cheaper sources.

MAybe the high cost of going to college stim from lack of students?
If they had enough students going to them I'm sure they'd be able to lower the prices on somethings

This isn't how the education market works unfortunately. Colleges would have no incentive to lower tuitions under that scenario, they'd instead raise it even more if they know that more students will come. Colleges charge as much as they know they can get away with. What might have real downward pressure on prices? People quit applying for student loans and quit going to colleges/universities.

[Eol Sha]

MAybe the high cost of going to college stim from lack of students?
If they had enough students going to them I'm sure they'd be able to lower the prices on somethings

That's one part of the equation. Another is that colleges waste a lot of money on building recreational facilities that are incredibly expensive and just raise the stakes of the arms race for more students.

[Feminists for Equality]

In my opinion, college is not for everyone. It depends on what career a person wants to go into. That being said, for students who do need to attend college, it is so incredibly expensive that it is sometimes just not possible. Scholarships are often very scarce and student loans daunting, and from what I see in my peers, the cost of college is a huge turnoff.

[Geneviev]

I intend to go to university, as I will most likely be a forensic psychologist. That being said, I will have to start working when I'm fifteen so I will have at least some money for university, I will need financial aid, and I will need scholarships. The sheer amount of money that I would need is incredible and my family will probably not be able to pay for it. Another factor that makes the matter more difficult is that my sister will be in medical school during that time and I may have to sacrifice my ambition of being a forensic psychologist because medical school will be so expensive.

If university was less expensive, I could get a proper job and do something I enjoy when I finish school. Realistically, if I don't make enough money in those two years between being fifteen and finishing high school, I will end as an auto mechanic or something similar that I would despise and be no good at, simply because of money.

University in itself is a good thing, and it enables people to get any work they need. However, the cost makes is a serious problem.

[Uinted Communist of Africa]

I intend to go to university, as I will most likely be a forensic psychologist. That being said, I will have to start working when I'm fifteen so I will have at least some money for university, I will need financial aid, and I will need scholarships. The sheer amount of money that I would need is incredible and my family will probably not be able to pay for it. Another factor that makes the matter more difficult is that my sister will be in medical school during that time and I may have to sacrifice my ambition of being a forensic psychologist because medical school will be so expensive.

If university was less expensive, I could get a proper job and do something I enjoy when I finish school. Realistically, if I don't make enough money in those two years between being fifteen and finishing high school, I will end as an auto mechanic or something similar that I would despise and be no good at, simply because of money.

University in itself is a good thing, and it enables people to get any work they need. However, the cost makes is a serious problem.

You finished high school at age 17? Did you get bumped up a grade or something?
Also universities give people with good grade scholarships that help with the cost. But i am well aware of the ridiculous cost of knowledge (500$ for a book)

[Geneviev]

I intend to go to university, as I will most likely be a forensic psychologist. That being said, I will have to start working when I'm fifteen so I will have at least some money for university, I will need financial aid, and I will need scholarships. The sheer amount of money that I would need is incredible and my family will probably not be able to pay for it. Another factor that makes the matter more difficult is that my sister will be in medical school during that time and I may have to sacrifice my ambition of being a forensic psychologist because medical school will be so expensive.

If university was less expensive, I could get a proper job and do something I enjoy when I finish school. Realistically, if I don't make enough money in those two years between being fifteen and finishing high school, I will end as an auto mechanic or something similar that I would despise and be no good at, simply because of money.

University in itself is a good thing, and it enables people to get any work they need. However, the cost makes is a serious problem.

You finished high school at age 17? Did you get bumped up a grade or something?
Also universities give people with good grade scholarships that help with the cost. But i am well aware of the ridiculous cost of knowledge (500$ for a book)

I did, yes. That's why I only have three years and two months left.

It is all extremely expensive.