patrick.net

That depends on which school is chosen (which largely determines the cost), and which field of study is chosen.

People need to revolt against high costs by choosing schools with reasonable costs and they need to look into employment possibilities and salaries in their desired field to avoid putting down lots of money on a specialty that will never repay it.

Is college even worth the current costs?

In many cases, no.

chemechie says

That depends on which school is chosen (which largely determines the cost), and which field of study is chosen.

Yep. Medicine, Engineering, Biotech, Law, etc are probably worth it as long as you don't overpay. But there are a lot of majors out there with little opportunity outside of academia. Think history, art, archaeology, astronomy, marine biology, etc.

Sounds like a call for Patrick.edu!

Not when you can get a Wikication for free.

As I'd stated in another thread, this is an HR (human resources) barrier of entry, into the white collar world. The idea is to create a concept of class, BA holder vs non-BA holder, so that everyone in an office setting appears to be *proper*, whatever that might mean.

Only a decade ago, paralegals had associates degree (2 yrs post-high school). Today, they're expected to have a BA, even if it's in basket weaving or Ancient Etruscan bong making, so that they can be "seen" around lawyers and their clients. I guess they really learned a lot of 'legalize' during those final two years of college :-)

At least the big accredited universities are 'real schools'.

I almost feel bad for the dopes the Quackhouse Schools suck in and they get loans. Mortorcyle Mechanic institute seems reasonable compared to

THE COLLEGE OF HYPNOTHERAPY. (wtf how is this legal?)

Its real. And you can get loans for it.....

http://www.staffordloan.com/colleges/california/hypnosis-motivation-institute.php

PockyClipsNow says

At least the big accredited universities are 'real schools'.

Real or not real, the fact of the matter is that little changed in the last ten years (in terms of legal writing), which now forces all new paralegals to have a BA vs an associate's degree. The bachelors degree has simply become an HR barrier of entry, which forces many persons, who didn't choose the electrician, HVAC, or auto mechanic path, into some college program.

The degree, in itself, is unnecessary for so many white collar jobs, including some sales/support for even engineering work, that it's a pity that it's become mandatory by cultural forces alone.

I remember a CEO, of a former firm, bragging that even the receptionist at our company was a college graduate. WTF? Who cares.

Rin says

As I'd stated in another thread, this is an HR (human resources) barrier of entry, into the white collar world. The idea is to create a concept of class, BA holder vs non-BA holder, so that everyone in an office setting appears to be *proper*, whatever that might mean.

Amen. College is just purchasing social status so that you can get a boring office job that any high-school dropout (or Indian peasant ) could do. And we wonder why there's so much outsourcing.

Here's a term worth knowing: "deskilling"

It turns everyone into a cheap disposable commodity, save for celebrities and CEOs.

Here we go again ...

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/obama-education-chief-u-complacency-caused-slippage-1st-122106354.html;_ylt=AuXBXoZX.Oj8aW6qREsolnKiuYdG;_ylu=X3oDMTNyOGg2ZXJnBG1pdANGUCBUb3AgU3RvcnkgTGVmdARwa2cDMjJjNTYzZjktNGRmZS0zNmQyLTlmMDktODhkYjE0MzZmMjI5BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzU2NDlmOWUwLWJhZDMtMTFlMS1iYTZiLWEwNjhkYmFjY2I2Mg--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

Initiative to try to get more people to attend and graduate from college than in admitting that college is an HR barrier of entry for white collar work.