(10-27-2014 01:44 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Whenever they said what the first girl majored in and planned on doing, I busted out laughing.

"Majored in urban geography, planning on a career building greener cities.."

Sorry sweetheart, but you were either lied to or are ridiculously naïve. There's no other explanation as to why you wasted 4 years and ~$100,000 on an education that is completely worthless, in hopes of a career that more than likely doesn't even exist.

It's a shame that college students aren't told the truth about their job prospects until after they've wasted "invested" their money. Rather, they're shown these phony "average starting salaries" based on the minority of those fortunate enough to actually receive *real* job offers.

The cold, hard truth: If you majored in liberal arts, humanities, etc., you were ripped off (I understand there are exceptions) and are more than likely going to end up a barista or equivalent, until you get the *great* idea that you'll just go to grad school and sink another 6-figures in your worthless education, to get another worthless piece of paper, only to find out that still no one will hire you because instead of a Bachelor of [insert worthless field of study], you are now a Doctor/ph.D of [insert worthless field of study] with still, no real work experience in a field that was never hiring/thriving/in demand for your services in the first place.

Is it not a symptom of a broken education system from top to bottom though?

We know that kids are all told to go to college, no matter what. Our public K-12 schools even function on "college ready" standards.

In the end, college shouldn't be the default setting, unless it is free.

(10-27-2014 01:42 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  Petty would describing a generation as "jobless" then complaining when a member of that generation points out they work two jobs...

I did job #2 last night, ended up being a really nice night in Memphis.

Everyone else on the planet who read that understood it was a general story on this generation. Somehow UofM convinced himself it was all about HIM.

Everyone less on the planet also understands that this is a real systemic issue we face.

Somehow UofM though if he alone pointed out he had a 2nd part time job that that would somehow be a valid point to the issue.

(10-27-2014 01:47 PM)ericsrevenge76 Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 01:42 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  Petty would describing a generation as "jobless" then complaining when a member of that generation points out they work two jobs...

I did job #2 last night, ended up being a really nice night in Memphis.

Everyone else on the planet who read that understood it was a general story on this generation. Somehow UofM convinced himself it was all about HIM.

Everyone less on the planet also understands that this is a real systemic issue we face.

Somehow UofM though if he alone pointed out he had a 2nd part time job that that is somehow a valid point to the issue.

I dislike painting with broad brushes...I know lots of folks from my class, you know, "generation jobless", who work their asses off...excuse me for pointing that out.

(10-27-2014 01:45 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  So, you posted it, are you now saying you don't agree with it?

This is nothing but pure trolling.

(10-27-2014 01:50 PM)ericsrevenge76 Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 01:45 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  So, you posted it, are you now saying you don't agree with it?

This is nothing but pure trolling.

anything you don't like, you call trolling...

(10-27-2014 01:49 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  I dislike painting with broad brushes...I know lots of folks from my class, you know, "generation jobless", who work their asses off...excuse me for pointing that out.

No, you prefer to show up and derail threads you don't like with pointless trolling nonsense like this.

Your sole situation has no effect on the issue at hand beyond the obvious trolling attempts.

And you've never had a problem using your ""broad brush" on conservatives, republicans and others you politically disagree with here, spare us the act.

(10-27-2014 01:49 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 01:47 PM)ericsrevenge76 Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 01:42 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  Petty would describing a generation as "jobless" then complaining when a member of that generation points out they work two jobs...

I did job #2 last night, ended up being a really nice night in Memphis.

Everyone else on the planet who read that understood it was a general story on this generation. Somehow UofM convinced himself it was all about HIM.

Everyone less on the planet also understands that this is a real systemic issue we face.

Somehow UofM though if he alone pointed out he had a 2nd part time job that that is somehow a valid point to the issue.

I dislike painting with broad brushes...I know lots of folks from my class, you know, "generation jobless", who work their asses off...excuse me for pointing that out.

Commendations for working 2 jobs - and for your friends as well. You and your buddies are evidently not the vast majority.

Fact is, until this country figures out a way to start making things again, there won't be enough good middle class jobs to go around...............and too many will have to get a 2nd job to make a go of it.

Sound familiar?

(10-27-2014 01:51 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:   anything you don't like, you call trolling...

Everyone here including you knows you are trolling this thread moron.

Stop wasting our time with this JR high nonsense.

(10-27-2014 01:55 PM)ericsrevenge76 Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 01:51 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:   anything you don't like, you call trolling...

Everyone here including you knows you are trolling this thread moron.

Stop wasting our time with this JR high nonsense.

Saying the sane thing over and over doesn't make it true...

(10-27-2014 01:57 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  Saying the sane thing over and over doesn't make it true...

And he continues.....

(10-27-2014 01:58 PM)ericsrevenge76 Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 01:57 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  Saying the sane thing over and over doesn't make it true...

And he continues.....

I do typically reply when addressed, even if indirectly...

(10-27-2014 01:58 PM)ericsrevenge76 Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 01:57 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  Saying the sane thing over and over doesn't make it true...

I see the spin doctor is *in*

The name of this room is what, again?

(10-27-2014 01:41 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Back to the topic:

The system is very clearly broken and this generation faces serious financial and employment problems. That's going to shape the future of our system and our politics.

Personally, I'm attracted to a lot of candidates with a populist theme.

I am more and more.

Memphis - why do you have 2 jobs right now? See post # 27.

(10-27-2014 02:03 PM)Crebman Wrote:  Memphis - why do you have 2 jobs right now? See post # 27.

1) more money
2) these jobs give me the flexibility to go back to school in January.

I have an AAS, but I would like to eventually finish what I started at Memphis.

(10-27-2014 02:06 PM)Kronke Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 01:47 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 01:44 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Whenever they said what the first girl majored in and planned on doing, I busted out laughing.

"Majored in urban geography, planning on a career building greener cities.."

Sorry sweetheart, but you were either lied to or are ridiculously naïve. There's no other explanation as to why you wasted 4 years and ~$100,000 on an education that is completely worthless, in hopes of a career that more than likely doesn't even exist.

It's a shame that college students aren't told the truth about their job prospects until after they've wasted "invested" their money. Rather, they're shown these phony "average starting salaries" based on the minority of those fortunate enough to actually receive *real* job offers.

The cold, hard truth: If you majored in liberal arts, humanities, etc., you were ripped off (I understand there are exceptions) and are more than likely going to end up a barista or equivalent, until you get the *great* idea that you'll just go to grad school and sink another 6-figures in your worthless education, to get another worthless piece of paper, only to find out that still no one will hire you because instead of a Bachelor of [insert worthless field of study], you are now a Doctor/ph.D of [insert worthless field of study] with still, no real work experience in a field that was never hiring/thriving/in demand for your services in the first place.

Is it not a symptom of a broken education system from top to bottom though?

We know that kids are all told to go to college, no matter what. Our public K-12 schools even function on "college ready" standards.

In the end, college shouldn't be the default setting, unless it is free.

I don't think it's broken from top to bottom. The system works for those who treat college like an investment, have a decent understanding of the job market and where demand exists, have a clear track to acquire those jobs, and then execute their plan.

My two roommates and I weren't exceptional students. Think ~3.25-3.5 GPAs. None of us majored in liberal arts. 1 majored in accounting, and now works in accounting for Apache Corp. The other went to law school (granted, pretty high risk and not for everyone), and is now a lawyer. I majored in finance, and was offered a job at Invesco (although I did struggle for about 6 months -- this was in 2009, mind you), but passed and decided I'd rather start my own business (something I was working on simultaneously while job searching). If I could of done if over again, I would of majored in accounting and just studied finance on my own (which I did anyway), as I think accounting is a better fall back and has better career prospects, as it is more of a learned discipline.

Liberal arts, on the other hand, you're correct. It is nothing more than a boondoggle, and I wouldn't lose sleep if it were to become extinct from institutions of higher learning entirely.

I also agree that it shouldn't be the default. I'd like to see a study done, but I wouldn't be surprised if more than 50% recent college grads hadn't wasted their time and money completely, as their job prospects are THAT bad.

I'd support a measure to just do away with all those worthless, first year undergrad requirements. Trim the fat (art history electives, foreign language requirements, etc.) and get it down to a 2 or 3 year curriculum revolving around why you're there (your major). Yes, I agree that learning a foreign language is a good idea in a vacuum, but two required classes in a college setting is going to do little to nothing for you if you truly desire to learn to speak fluently. You'd be better off learning on your own.

I think you would be surprised at the horrible prospects for a lot of degrees outside liberal arts.

Becoming a lawyer today is an absolutely terrible decision. Earning a business degree without some sort of specialization, like accounting, but not Finance is also a bad choice.

There is a serious lack of information out there for many students and schools are not above outright lies.

The willingness to lie has come into clear focus in the legal education arena. Schools would count graduates stocking shelves at Wal Mart as employed and would thus report a 90% employment score when in reality the legal market was providing less than half of ALL graduates a job.

The information isn't really there for many to make an informed decision in my opinion.

(10-27-2014 02:19 PM)Kronke Wrote:  You can't say law school is *absolutely* a terrible choice. For example, my roommate's parents are well off and paid 100% of his tuition and expenses. He joined a family friend's firm upon graduation and passing the bar. In general though, I agree.

Sure, there are exceptions. However, as a general rule you wouldn't be wrong to say it is generally a horrible choice for just about 90% of students.

The job prospects are abysmal and the education is expensive.

In my opinion, as a lawyer, the vast majority of new lawyers being put out today will not be practicing in 5 years, the numbers somewhat confirm that opinion.

That speaks more to a general problem with today's education system overall in that students are not prepared for real world realities. A lot of interns we've had simply weren't prepared to work as hard as is required to succeed. I see it even more so in the two classes I teach. Many of those students think that going to law school is a ticket and have no idea that being good at anything requires more than a degree.

Millions of students today are choosing their futures based on how much money they think they can earn and that certainly isn't a good way to go about it.

Anyways, that was sort of down the rabbit hole. I'm sorry.

No need to apologize, you seem well versed on the subject and I find it interesting.

(10-27-2014 02:23 PM)Kronke Wrote:  No need to apologize, you seem well versed on the subject and I find it interesting.

Thanks!

Higher education is something I have become more and more passionate about over the last few years.

In large part, I blame many of these troubles on the way in which we train young people to think. Life is not a series of steps in a regimented system set on rails. Life is not a ladder. Getting a degree does not move you up a peg.

I teach University students as an adjunct and can honestly say that many are not told and are completely unaware of the realities of the world around them . Just about every student in my class nurses 'dreams' of going to law school and I do my best to not discourage that while trying to give them a better understanding of what is really going on and how to insulate themselves.

The most common advice I give is to ignore rankings which draws some considerable blowback.

(10-27-2014 01:41 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  The system is very clearly broken and this generation faces serious financial and employment problems. That's going to shape the future of our system and our politics.

Get government out of the way of entrepreneurship. From my experience, this "jobless" generation has as much, if not more, drive to achieve success than previous ones. However, we're more independent. We don't want to work for the same company for decades like previous generations. We often don't even want to work for someone else at all. Attribute this to the "everyone gets a trophy" mindset if you want, but it's fostered a lot of independent thinkers.

Quote:Personally, I'm attracted to a lot of candidates with a populist theme.

I prefer individualists. We're not all in this together. We're all different. Recognize that and let us reach for our own success. We don't want what you think we want. The mass of a generation, choosing what they feel is best, will achieve greatness. Having these decisions made for us just breeds discontent because no one else can know what we really want.