No, it doesnt. How does a socialogy major make it more attractive to run a business, become a Dr or become a vocational worker? You are spitting ads from the college/university marketing dept. There are some things that need to be done in a university setting, but its based on occupation. If i want to become a Dr, i need Organic Chemistry. But that student has a plan to work in that field. I havent seen a Dr yet that said, "I just want to take Organic Chem because I want to be a better person". Most would skip if it wasnt required to do their occupation.
Everyone on this board is an "eliteist" so lets not pretend otherwise. This whole thread is ridiculous, we are basically arguing if the ham sandwich should have Grey Poupon or store bought mustard.
Times have changed obviously, but I was a history major. Even through my last job search about a decade ago, a college degree, regardless of field was sufficient for what I was doing, and it’s a pretty well paying role. These days, if you go to college you should plan on getting a marketable degree, so on that front I agree with some of the criticisms. But that’s on you, not the value of college if you don’t know that going in. College is not wasted unless you choose to waste it. And again, no one is saying it’s for everyone. If people choose other jobs or industries that they think serve them best the awesome, have a great life. It’s the reflexive anti-college vibe that is building that disturbs me when decades and decades of result driven numbers are clear. Someone who would do well in life chooses not to go because of a mistaken belief that it is overrated, or the growing anti intellectual movement tears down the world class higher level educational infrastructure we have. Those are my fears.
For real, I don't think anyone on this board is an elitist, because none of us are in whatever passes as "the ruling class" in America. Presumably on a UF board, we all attended state school and not Ivys lol. Though who knows, maybe there are federal judges and fortune 500 CEOs posting here, just like there are apparently retired multimillionaires working in toll booths or as Walmart greeters.
Me, I used my history degree to start a history factory. We are now the largest history manufacturer in the Southeast. Shipping 5,000 units of history a week across the country.
I mean, if you are arguing that their high salary is because they found a job in another field, it must make them more attractive for doing something else. Either they found a high paying job in their field or the fact that they make so much more money is either due to the education making them more attractive or that they can signal that they are the right type of person for a particular job with the degree.
The goal of a university is to graduate well-rounded people. Not just those who can do a vocation. If said Doctor was required to take a communications course as an undergrad and it improved his/her bedside manner, and made him/her a better Doctor, would you say the Comm course should be required to work as a doctor? No. You don't need to be a great communicator to be a doctor, and many certainly are not. But the point of a university degree is hopefully to add skills that help not only in chosen profession, but in life in general. If these skills weren't important, then we wouldn't need universities. We would just need vocational schools. Thankfully, our system isn't set up that way. Especially for those who graduate, like me, with what people consider a degree that isn't worth the cost (History). Because without my degree, I would not have been anywhere near successful as I am. And thankfully, there are universities out there who allow for students who are a bit lost to at least pick a major and graduate, even with white tassels. Certainly there are those who higher education should not be an option. Not everyone is cut out to be a college student. But again, the numbers clearly show that the higher up the education ladder you go, the chance for success climbs along with you. A PhD doesn't guarantee squat, but a group of 1,000 PhD holders will have a higher income than 1,000 people who are high school grads only. Doesn't mean there won't be a HS grad who makes more than the PhD holder, but we are talking averages. Our society should be pushing for a more educated populace. And we need to stop with the nonsense that there are degrees that aren't worth the money. It just isn't true. All skills should be valued, whether that be the ability to heal (doctor), fix HVAC, or do market research. In my case, I could never be a doctor, you don't want me anywhere near an HVAC system, but my market research skills? I'm not one to usually brag, but I'm very good at what I do, and my career backs that up. And my History degree, even though it's not business related at all, has certainly helped me.
anti-intellectualism stymies the greatness of a country. OT. My kid got a Masters there (philosophy). Could buy and sell his old man on any given Tuesday. YES. YES. YES. Part of the strength of a nation is innovation and the speed of that innovation. That, most often, occurs when educated people apply themselves to a problem. A College education is patriotism in that sense. Count me among those who appreciate the elites. People who through dint of their own character, personal industry, intellect, self-sacrifice, and achievement have risen to the top of their profession or industry. If I need brain surgery, I absolutely want an elite neurosurgeon. These things used to be recognized as good in America.
I don’t know that it has to be a tinfoil conspiracy but simply people thinking its a zero sum game. The stark change in the last decade likely means there is a different dynamic though.
I’ve never considered History as a worthless degree. You must keep company with a group of elitist liberal snobs! But honestly, I have not personally heard anyone make that claim. History is knowledge, and to know history has to give one wisdom. As Emil Fabre famously said; “Knowledge is Good”. It’s on his statue.
That's the much simpler and more likely scenario. The rest of the link I posted earlier leaned more towards showing that professors in general have fallen victim to the same polarization politics that everyone else has over the last decade. Much simpler explanation than some gaslight conspiracy.
Here’s a thought. I don’t care what you decide to do with your life. Be a professor or plumber, doctor or DJ….just don’t ask me to pay for it and I won’t ask you to pay for my choices.
Sorry, but I don't subscribe to this at all. I find investments in education to often have a very high ROI, and if some of my taxpayer money helps you become a doctor and become a high earner/tax payer, that's worth it. Especially if you can't afford the education otherwise, which is often the case. Wealthy kids are significantly more likely to graduate college. Makes you wonder, how many low income kids can't afford to finish their degree and get stuck at low paying jobs? How much more could they have made had they finished? How much more tax income is lost because these kids can't go to college? How many more loan defaults does this cause?
Do you understand the low income worker from my kids generation is going to be asked to work longer for less based on most suggestions on how to fix SS? Do you understand that is who is getting screwed the most by the redistribution program as it is enacted? Let me guess. Your answer is to raise the age before the low income worker can start receiving benefits and raise the max taxable on younger generations? The younger generations high and low income need to pay the older generations?
I to want the best of the best. And I can tell you I use many who do not have a college degree to provide things I am not as good at…
I can’t readily find it now, but the state of Florida claims something like a 6-1 ROi on their investment in UF. So it’s not as simple as “go pay your own way”:
Again, only you are assuming that what I said was conspiratorial (i.e., that there was some sort of meeting or agreement struck on this) or even a conscious vs. an unconscious thought. If you want to characterize my arguments, please do so based in reality.
