It’s a question that’s been on the minds of Americans across the country ever since Romney-pest, Rick Santorum, bravely chastised President Obama over his insistence that everyone go to a 4-year school. (A quick Google search disproves Santorum’s wording of the President’s position. But it’s still brave-ish).
On one of those Fox News shows with an anchor you don’t really know, Kai Falkenberg – Forbes Editorial Counsel, argued college is not worth the investment, saying “Look, it’s only good if you’re trying to improve your alcohol tolerance.” Good point. Clearly higher education has failed her. I mean, who wants to earn a lawyer’s salary these days, am I right!? “If you’re trying to get a good investment on your return, it’s not for you.”
Forbes contributor, Rick Ungar, disagrees. “I can’t believe we have reached a time where we are talking about a college education based on return of investment. Folks, it’s not all about money.” The student loans eating away at my bank account beg to differ. But this ultimately gives me a brilliant idea.
If going to college isn’t about money for the student, then it shouldn’t be for the university. As of now, colleges invest in a student by letting them take classes and study at their institution, expecting a return by way of student loan payments and a never-ending pile of letters asking for more money. And let us not forget about the phone calls alumni receive from those poor undergrads who are working a crappy job to pay off their current college experience.
“Hi, Mr. Baur! You recently graduated and appear to live off a political comedy show and website. How’s that workin’ out for ya? Now please write us a check, because you sometimes still laugh at that time you drunkenly pulled an entertainment center onto yourself and didn’t suffer a scratch!”
Both Falkenberg and Ungar have a point. Yes, college increased my alcohol tolerance greatly. One might even say my ability to consume alcohol is greater than my ability to earn enough money to manage this crippling disease. But Ungar is ultimately right. It’s not always about the money. I would simply ask the rest of the world follow suit and stop asking me to pay for things. Because it’s not about getting a return on your investment, K&D apartment management company. It’s about the joy you feel knowing I’m living comfortably in one of your units.
You’re welcome.
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3 comments
Kristel
April 6, 2012 at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
College was a great investment. I learned how to gamble, win drunken games of Chess against mechanical engineering majors, stay up for several days straight, share sleeping quarters with 15 other passed out students, roast marshmallows over a volcano, survive on Ramen noodles, bullshit my way through 20 page essays, and how to struggle financially for many more years to come. Thank goodness I didn’t attend so I could expand my mind and creativity. Geesh, now that would have outrageous!
anonymous
April 22, 2012 at 1:18 am (UTC -4)
I love how I always see articles on how college is not worth the price and how all these celebrities were successful without degrees. Being a college student, I can see why people say that college isn’t worth the anguish and money. But not once have I heard reasonable advice as to what future college students are to do. What other choice do we have, but to go to college? If you want to earn more than minimum wage for the rest of your life, you have to have some kind of degree. And heck, you’re even competing with people who have college degrees for minimum wage jobs. Employers are constantly raising educational requirements. It is becoming more and more apparent that even a bachelor’s degree will not get you a reasonable paying job. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a time when you can graduate high school and get a good-paying job that you can depend on. The job market is so competitive that you need something to set you apart (i.e. a degree). People without higher education cannot compete. If you can even find a decent job without higher education, employers will exploit you and cut your hours just right so that you are as close as possible to working full-time, but not enough to the point where they have to give you benefits. They will not pay you as much if you don’t have a degree. Employers can demand whatever they want and exploit whoever they want because there is a wide range of people to choose from and there will always be someone else who will accept poor treatment.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of college. I find it ludicrous that we pay $32,000 and waste 4 years+ of our lives for a piece of paper to prove that we’re teachable and know a lot about a school subject (regardless of whether we actually do or not.) But what choice do we have? The average person is not an inventor or a talented singer. Even if you are, and try to pursue a career without schooling, its extremely unlikely that you will be able to support yourself pursuing your dream. Not everyone is cut out for the military… or college. I’m all for promoting alternative and trade schools, but they are just as expensive. And even so, trade schools are not for everyone.
Until something major happens with our high schools and employers change their attitudes about job requirements, high school graduates don’t have a choice, but to be slaves to the over-priced, over-demading colleges.
anonymous
May 28, 2012 at 5:54 pm (UTC -4)
Yes,I think it is very important for every one to get educated on what you want to learn in school but school should not be the only place to think you are going to get a good paying job because you have a master degree.There other ways that will allow you to work and climb the later with or with out a collage degree. The issue here is no one wants to go in debt over trying to get educated.I think its healthy for young people to at least go to school wile they are at the ages of 18 through 24,even if they quite don’t understand school in general but still the best way to motivate you on what you want to be. The government should cover the cost of collage expenses so we don’t have to worry about debt problems that is, if you pay taxes.Every one should be fully paid for!