I decided to be a Pharmacist in 9th grade After chemistry just made sense to me.
Like most things, I'm the exception
Like most things, I'm the exception
How many 18 year olds REALLY know what they want to do with their life? I know I didn't. I was into my second grad program until I really did.
Arguably, college should be delayed for an awful lot of people. The universal junior college idea I mentioned earlier might be a meaningful intermediate reform and allow many to find their way, and save $50K or so.
Unfortunately back in the day, high school graduation meant it was time to grow up & get a job or go to college. Today a college degree is the equivalent to a high school degree to get an entry level job. It sucks for the kids who don't want to go to school & for the kids that do,...it sucks for the parents footing the bills. I've paid $120k & have another $120k the next four years, so my kids have only their staffers loans to pay.I think that was kind of my point although I may not have stressed enough that the parents and students aren't necessarily at fault. There's a stigma about college, that once upon a time was far more true. Not everyone is made for it. Not everyone needs it. And quite frankly I've found over time that at least two years of it (save some engineering, technical, and medical fields) are a complete waste of time.
The answer to your question? Not many 18 year olds truly know. And even those who think they do - as most of us can attest - find themselves in a place 20 years later they never would have expected. And too many people find that their four year degree has absolutely no bearing on their field in the end.
So yes, I think the system is flawed and I do think the money involved will bring about change at some point. The costs of education will only continue to go up as they always have. At some point, many people simply won't be able to afford it. The good news is that knowledge is far more accessible and available to far more people today at no cost and that trend will continue.
Unfortunately, the undergraduate degree HAS been devalued already. It's basically just an entry ticket into the market in many jobs.many people end up in careers they didn't even have a degree for. Not that this a bad thing.
This thread has certainly taken a strange turn but it is relevant for those with kids or grand children in the education system.Mark Cuban has the best idea regarding student debt that I've heard and that's to limit the amount of money one can borrow. As long as the money is available why wouldn't the universities and colleges continue to raise tuition. If all you could borrow is 50/100k the 50-60k/ year schools would either be forced to lower coasts or disappear. I also feel that once you declare a major the university is obligated to review future employment opportunities and salary. The loss of high paying blue collar jobs is a problem in our society and with a world economy there not coming back.
People have shown the numbers. Pitt has done an abysmal job of converting recent students (i.e., Zoo alums) into donors.
There are many reasons for this, and blaming pitt would be far down that list.
Anyone who has looked seriously at the curriculum high school graduates had to master 100 years ago understands that many of them had more of the basic classic liberal arts education knowledge than many college grads today.
I don't think that's unreasonable at all..which was #1 reason why Steve needed to go.Nope. I totally disagree. The last decade or so was possibly one of the most important decades in Pitt history for attracting NEW athletic donor population, and Pitt fumbled badly.
I get your point, but how many people 100 years ago were learning calculus at 17?
I invented calculus.I was going to say NTOP, but then I remembered that he was 17 200 years ago!
In a quick search, I did't find ANY mention of calculus, but most studied Algebra and geometry. In 1970, my high school did not offer calculus.I get your point, but how many people 100 years ago were learning calculus at 17?
My 3 year old aced first derivatives. A little struggle with "shells".In a quick search, I did't find ANY mention of calculus, but most studied Algebra and geometry. In 1970, my high school did not offer calculus.
In a quick search, I did't find ANY mention of calculus, but most studied Algebra and geometry. In 1970, my high school did not offer calculus.
My 3 year old aced first derivatives. A little struggle with "shells".
Well, you had to navigate by Sextant...so geography was more important.In a quick search, I did't find ANY mention of calculus, but most studied Algebra and geometry. In 1970, my high school did not offer calculus.
My 3 year old aced first derivatives. A little struggle with "shells".
Did you actually know Newton ? what was he really like?I invented calculus.
Did you actually know ? Newton what was he really like?
Don't slight the importance of figs ! Did you see the picture of JD ? He might need them!NTOP really liked what he did with figs.
I was reading an article last week on the early generation Boeing 747's. They were made with a top cockpit window to navigate by taking star and sun sightings with a sextant. Seems hard to believe.Well, you had to navigate by Sextant...so geography was more important.