Too many Americans are going to college

[chewyxrage]

Hmm...passing calculus should be a mandatory pre req to graduate with a 4 year degree in anything...

that'll weed a good deal of people out right away

 

[-SD-]

Hmm...passing calculus should be a mandatory pre req to graduate with a 4 year degree in anything...

that'll weed a good deal of people out right away

Sure would. That was the class that made me realize I wasnt an engineering type. I got a C in that class by the way but I was steamrolling up until that point.

 

[Jimsbbc]

Calculus and regression analysis were two of the most fascinating courses I ever took in college. I think it is still true that most of the freshman class fails out at any college and that is the reason it is typically 3-4 times larger than the others. Most peeps only get some college and never actually graduate. It is still a minority that gets the BS/BA degree and it does still mean something to employers and they like to see that on a resume.

 

[UA_Iron]

i got a C in calculus I.

I had never been exposed to it before then.

A's and B's in the following math classes.

 

[Lao Tzu]

It was interesting until I saw it was an american enterprise institute article, and they are a notorious libertarian group. This whole argument is most likely just a smokescreen to encourage cutting of public funds for higher education. And it was a pretty elitist article talking about the IQ savants who should be considered for the science and technology jobs while everyone else does blue collar work.

Higher education via college is overrated. 50% don't graduate, and of those who do 50% don't use their degrees. I know in my field that about 30-50% of graduates are going to med or dental school, which has nothing to do with what they learned as undergrads.

Vocational school is a good alternative, and associate degrees from community colleges offer almost as much lifelong economic benefit as bachelor degrees from 4 year universities. However this elitist attitude of just writing off the bottom 80% due to IQ isn't really acceptable. IQ is important but so is motivation, learning methods and work ethic.

I'd like to see more respect for online degrees, or people who study a subject online and gain accrediation for it.

 

[p0ink]

your average welder/metal worker makes more per year than your average dip shit with a BA/BS (depending on their field, of course).

 

[redsamurai]

the article is dead right about one thing.......look for jobs that can't be outsourced. Even the engineering jobs asshat is talking about......are going to India and China where 15k a year is like hitting the jackpot. It's just more of the free market that we're told is so "good" for us......really? Good for who?...<rhetorical question>

 

[Jimsbbc]

your average welder/metal worker makes more per year than your average dip shit with a BA/BS (depending on their field, of course).

One of my best friends back home is a boiler/tank welder in Houston (the port of) where all the refineries are. A slow week for him is an 80 hr week. He never sees his kids and wife. Not the profession I would pick.

 

[mrplunkey]

The article makes some great points. Grade inflation and the "everyone gets a trophy" mentality means that now truly *anyone* can pass high school.

Now that attitude is sinking-into colleges and universities -- there are fewer and fewer "weeder" courses. At Vandy, Engineering Calculus was the weeder for all engineers. Organic Chemistry was the weeder for all pre-meds. Now contrast that to today's nebulous "Business Management" major. That guy is going to get a non-specific degree, graduate, and get turned-down for 50 corporate jobs. Then, if he's lucky, he'll land a job as a pharmacutical sales rep... otherwise he's waiting tables at O'Charleys. Why not teach him a real-world skill like electrical work? Or welding? Our certified welders for ORNL used to make $35/hour -- which wasn't bad at all consdering where they lived.

 

[myway]

Great article.