I have to agree and second your post.

I have an arts degree in sociology but work as a computer programmer. If I had invested my university (and wedding expenses – another waste of money!!), I could have bought my house for CASH.

Then I would have the same job I have now without any debt. I could then bank $2000-3000 a month and get my degree part-time. I would be the same age, with a degree (and wife), but without any debt or mortgage!!

That’s wealthy!!

But consider the following.

What is the purpose of getting this better job? To make more money? Build More wealth?

Wealth isn’t what you make… it’s what you keep! I know PLENTY of doctors (for example) who make a lot more than most.. but at the same time are STRAPPED with Debt from “education” costs.

Consider that if that same amount of money was invested at age 18, a person could be a millionaire by the age of retirement. THAT’S WEALTH!

Also consider that the TRUE path to wealth is not in a good J.O.B., but entrepreneurship (which requires no degree at all)

2/3rd Paretns
1/3rd Kids

share the cost.

Consider 1rst 2 years at community college.

College teaches you to critically think, to communicate intelligently (orally and in writing), it gives you elevated literacy, it develops an appreciation of the scientific method, the skil of how to research thoughtfully, and of course, the 3 B’s – Beer, Botany, and Beowulf.

My 3 sons are expected to all get some form of higher education using the above formula. If one or all of them choose a trade, they still must take “development” courses (such as financial management, business administration if they are going to be a mechanic let’s say).

don’t know if the schools are different where i’m from, but we were writing essays in our last year of high school that would only be looked at by the teacher if they were university standard.
i really don’t think i need to go to college to learn how to ‘think’

@bb: it depends what job, obviously.

The most important aspect of my education was juggling school, work, extra-curriculrs, etc. That part shined on my resume, and was very practical “real life” experience. Most of my high school friends who lived off their parents and got “liberal arts” degree still struggle a decade post-college. Still going to school, living at home, working at Wal MArt, etc., etc. A large number of them are broke from their undergrad degrees and are pursuing cheaper degrees in more practical fields. IT seems kind of backwards – but the money is gone and the student loans are maxed before they even know what they really want to do.

I’d be careful assuming a big name school is the be-all, end-all. In my region and field, this is not the case at all. Various factors are at play – most people hiring went to the local state schools (which are abundant in the region, and have excellent business programs). The private schools in the area tend to have no business programs, or weak ones. My field rewards experience and practicality over education, in general, anyway. Locally priavte-degreed and higher-degreed candidates are never very good. There’s a way to get your resume in a trash, and we are desparate for qualified employees. But we don’t even waste our time any more.

College education teach how to think, research, write, report, present, etc. Most valuable benefit of college is somewhat non-educational — the college experience.

College is not real practical for learning a trade, true. But a degree is major advantage in technical professions. Those without a degree may get a lower level job, and they’ll stay there while people with degrees get senior positions. Someone who thinks they can learn to program in their garage and make a life-long career out of it is ignorant- they don’t know how much they don’t know.
College, even liberal arts, teaches critical thinking, getting to know new and different people, exposure to new ideas, following through on school work when a parent is longer supervising. You may not “use” your degree in the strict sense, but the fact that you completed one at all is the price of admission to many jobs.
Finally, I learned from working for a major pharma co. that where you went to school matters, too. The people from state schools got staff jobs, people from Ivy league & big name private schools got front office & management jobs.