Young woman talks about her useless degree, and her huge student loan debt.

[z1ggy]

My bro, with his 10th grade education, messes with other peoples poop and makes a ton.
Here, welders are making $38/hr. More in other places.
Bro in law's son made over $100K a couple of years ago as an electrician.
HVAC guy pulls in your drive...$85 service call.

Shame on them....

I got a comp e degree and lost my tits but my 2.3gpa ratted me out. Oops.

Yeah, but I mean come on man, it's not impressive when the parents tout their son is an HVAC tech or a garbage man. Can't brag about those things to your friends (even though they might make more than their kid who has a business degree or even possibly higher degrees like engineering).

Well that's what I'm saying. It's hard to party and do well on the more challenging subjects. I went to a small tech school, and I struggled until I was a junior. I can't imagine if I went to a school with 20k+ kids, with an actual large group of hot females. No way would I have ended up doing well.

 

[highland145]

This is true but its part of the bigger issue, for the past 30+ years we as a whole have been pushing people away from such jobs. and now there is a massive lack people who can do a skilled trade.
it was all "go to college and get a degree" and getting a job will be cake

that lie is now reeling its very ugly head

rearing....

True. Skilled trades aren't in the glamor shots but there has always been a need. I think it's a great time for young people if they don't mind a little work. Finding skilled trainers could be a problem.

 

[Sinsear]

The US Army still offers the College Loan Repayment Program.

Do 4 years and they pay up to 65K in college loans.

That's what I did.

I don't feel sorry for any of them.

 

[Anubis]

rearing....

True. Skilled trades aren't in the glamor shots but there has always been a need. I think it's a great time for young people if they don't mind a little work. Finding skilled trainers could be a problem.

I knew that didn't look right...its early and I need more coffee

 

[highland145]

Yeah, but I mean come on man, it's not impressive when the parents tout their son is an HVAC tech or a garbage man. Can't brag about those things to your friends (even though they might make more than their kid who has a business degree or even possibly higher degrees like engineering).

Well that's what I'm saying. It's hard to party and do well on the more challenging subjects. I went to a small tech school, and I struggled until I was a junior. I can't imagine if I went to a school with 20k+ kids, with an actual large group of hot females. No way would I have ended up doing well.

Parents still "Keeping up with the Jones" You'd think they'd rather have them gainfully employed than living at home at 28yo playing xbox.

Man, those 1st few weeks at school...short shorts, tanned bodies.....Surprised every guy wasn't carrying their books in front of them.

 

[highland145]

The US Army still offers the College Loan Repayment Program.

Do 4 years and they pay up to 65K in college loans.

That's what I did.

I don't feel sorry for any of them.

That's a great idea.

I knew that didn't look right...its early and I need more coffee

More coffee is always a win. Kind of like beer.

 

[Exterous]

I don't fault anyone for pursuing a career they will love, but I don't know why people don't look into the actual job prospects before committing to a costly degree program.

Due to the lead time in education thats not going to be a guarantee and there are quite a few examples of this: Architecture 2006, MBA 2008, Lawyers 2014. It's not like these were gradual changes either. Both MBA and Lawyer careers turned in less than a year.

I also can't decide if sensationalizing student loan debt is helping or not. The average is still around $30,000 so these people that the news keeps reporting on with $100k+ are far outside the norm. It brings attention to the issue but I think it may obscure some of the larger concerns (like student loan debt eclipsing salaries for careers generally viewed as more worthwhile than video production or art like teaching, the sciences etc)

 

[MarkXIX]

The US Army still offers the College Loan Repayment Program.

Do 4 years and they pay up to 65K in college loans.

That's what I did.

I don't feel sorry for any of them.

Between this and the post 9/11 GI Bill I managed to make money at times completing my degree. Army strong!

 

[nehalem256]

Society is always going to have those people that aren't cut out for those more prestigious positions. If we had a society of 100% engineers and Drs, who would pick up our garbage, or build our bridges, etc?

Sanitation Engineers? :sneaky:

 

[highland145]

I also can't decide if sensationalizing student loan debt is helping or not. The average is still around $30,000 so these people that the news keeps reporting on with $100k+ are far outside the norm. It brings attention to the issue but I think it may obscure some of the larger concerns (like student loan debt eclipsing salaries for careers generally viewed as more worthwhile than video production or art like teaching, the sciences etc)

The news making news. But the soaring cost of college is real. $25K/yr for Clemson. The uni of SC was losing a ton of students because they couldn't pay.

A friend has a daughter that wants to be a missionary. She also wants to go to college. He, rightly so, doesn't want to blow $100k so she can have a piece of paper that she won't need for the job she wants. Yeah, she may change her mind but I think he should hold onto the $$ until/if she does.

 

[z1ggy]

Parents still "Keeping up with the Jones" You'd think they'd rather have them gainfully employed than living at home at 28yo playing xbox.

Man, those 1st few weeks at school...short shorts, tanned bodies.....Surprised every guy wasn't carrying their books in front of them.

Yup I know. It's all about status and seeming better than other people.

I have a neighbor who's a barber and his wife is one, too. They have a nicer house than I do and two luxury cars. I'm not sure how much barbers make, but I'm guessing it's less than I do. Granted they have two incomes, I can't see them making as much money to live comfortably with that stuff.

Sanitation Engineers? :sneaky:

Yup. It's the engineering job that really stinks

 

[Mursilis]

Sciences, law, engineering or don't bother imho.

Not so much law anymore.

 

[highland145]

I have a neighbor who's a barber and his wife is one, too. They have a nicer house than I do and two luxury cars. I'm not sure how much barbers make, but I'm guessing it's less than I do. Granted they have two incomes, I can't see them making as much money to live comfortably with that stuff.

You're doing it wrong.....reporting all of your income.:sneaky:

 

[TwiceOver]

If the loans weren't backed by the government they wouldn't hand out $140k to every 20 year old that walks through the door.

That's just ridiculous. Walking out of school with a house payment's worth of student loan debt and a degree that is worthless. I understand following your dream, but your dream to the tune of $140k is turning your life into a nightmare.

 

[imagoon]

Terrible idea after terrible idea.

I mean why not though? Look at the perfect job they do with K-12! </sarcasm>

 

[Dannar26]

Then you are most likely a sociopath.

And there you go folks, accountability: a sure sign of being a sociopath.

 

[akugami]

But but but.... I'm a unique, precious snowflake!

But honey, you still are! You're just a unique, precious snowflake that can't get a job!

 

[z1ggy]

You're doing it wrong.....reporting all of your income.:sneaky:

Meh, I make a salary, so I pretty much have to report everything. But I guess they would likely under report by a bit because it's mainly cash only. Only reporting something say, like $40k (when you really pulled in $80k), when you have a house worth $250k+ and two lux cars is going to smell fishy to an IRS guy if they got randomly picked for audit.

Then again, maybe they lease both cars. I'm sure neither has student loan debt either. Could be possible they live that well on just barber $$.

 

[master_shake_]

should have got in to a trade.

make more money and little to no debt.

 

[CPA]

But but but.... I'm a unique, precious snowflake!

"Do what you love...always...nevermind what others think"


Look, that's all well and good, but you better be ready for the consequences always going down that road. One of those is what many students are facing now - high debt.

I would have loved to be a professional motocross racer, but 1) I didn't have the means and 2) didn't have the connections. Instead, I focused on a career path that I knew would be able to support my other dreams. Too many people are short-sighted in regards to their career.

 

[CPA]

Yup I know. It's all about status and seeming better than other people.

I have a neighbor who's a barber and his wife is one, too. They have a nicer house than I do and two luxury cars. I'm not sure how much barbers make, but I'm guessing it's less than I do. Granted they have two incomes, I can't see them making as much money to live comfortably with that stuff.




Yup. It's the engineering job that really stinks

My 15-year old daughter, who is highly intelligent, is heavily involved in FFA and could do pretty much whatever she wanted (except maybe engineering - her math is not up to par), wants to a cosmetologist when she gets older. At first, I was like "what? why would you want to do that?" Then I remember how much it costs me to get my haircut, plus the tip I give, plus the fact that my stylist only works three days a week and lives a decent lifestyle. I'm all for it now.

It also helps that our school system provides a path to a state license at a much cheaper rate than if she tried to get it after school. Her ultimate dream is to be a "Hairdresser to the Stars", but I'm sure she'll be okay with just doing the average Jane.

 

[Cuda1447]

I don't feel sorry for any of them. Stupidity has consequences.

You should feel a little bad. Most of these stupid decisions were made at a time when they were highly impressionable (18 years old) and they had the whole world telling them they had to go to college and get a degree if they wanted to be worth anything in life. But those same people didn't give them any guidance as to what is a quality degree and what isn't. They probably didn't even realize the mistakes being made.

 

[manimal]

I have a friend who's dealing with the same problem. Production degree with little to no prospects. Loves tv and movies and wanted to be a part of it so she goes to school for 4 years to go for her dream.

Problem is to get a decent paying job in that industry you either know somebody or you get lucky. So far she's only gotten small part time jobs helping people making low budget independent films. She ends up working her ass off for little to no money in the hopes she'll catch a break. I told her to forget tv/movies and get into radio. More jobs that are more accessible there but she refuses to. She's slowly giving up on the idea that she's going to be able to work her dream job and its sad but hey you gotta eat and you need a roof over your head.

Start as a PA. Thats how I did it. PA for ANYONE in LA and make friends.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Think outside the box and put that film production degree to use!

Do lots and lots of pr0n!

 

[bradly1101]

Back when my parents went to college state school was basically free, and our society was growing in leaps an bounds. Connection? Now everything is 'for profit.' I've said it before and I'll say it again, profit at all costs is actually killing us. From out of control healthcare costs to the proliferation of guns and the raping of the environment. 'Supply and demand' with an ever growing population will destroy us. Yay capitalism!