Generation no skillz
by Anna
I have always had trouble listening to my instincts. When I was in high school, I wasn’t particularly interested in going to college, and certainly was not prepared. I never wanted the dorm or the sorority or any other cliche aspects of college appeal. So why did I end up a degreed young lady? All I remember are the mandatory PSATs and college applications and scare tactics coming from all directions, and I didn’t know any other options…and, well, I didn’t listen to my instincts enough to attempt to explore other options (my baaaaaaaad).
I casually ask my friends and acquaintances the same question: “why did you go to college?”. People have similar reasoning, exceptions being the sorostitutes and those who enjoy academics as a competitive sport. I find that for most of my generation, college was an impulse buy. Buy? Say whaaaat? Gushing education advocates fail to emphasize the serious financial burden of college. Well, I know I am not the only one who would like to return my degree for a refund.
“Why are you such a raging bitch on this subject, Anna?”
I did the four-year degree thing and came out with a Bachelor of Science in biology, abbreviated conveniently, “BS”. I had the complementary part-time job, which I enjoyed far more than any class. If it wasn’t for that job, I would have absolutely no applicable skills after four years and thousands of dollars worth of post-secondary education.
Going back to a figure from the Wall Street Journal I shared in my last entry: 150% increase in U.S. federal student loans since 2002. According to Collegeboard.org, almost 70% of Stafford Loan Funds went to public four-year schools and private non-profit schools, 20% to for-profit schools, and only 10% to public 2-year schools in 2012. THIS IS NOT OKAY considering there are so many obscure curricula offered in colleges/public universities like biology, not to mention psychology, philosophy, and gender studies (Lord, help us all).
What is wrong with this picture? There is a culture and a government that support learning nothing that can pay the rent and keep the lights on. If I could get that refund, I would buy a Chanel bag and then go to trade school to become a plumber. Yes, I would rather fix your turdy pipes than apply for anymore jobs. Above all, I would live my new life as a more intuitive person.
…what I thought could happen if I went to college.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS!! (except maybe the gender studies part. But do I think that should be taught at college…not necessarily). I was literally JUST having this exact discussion with someone on Friday!
everyone should be having this conversation, then burn bras…i mean textbooks.
What was your part-time job in college?
As someone who has studied higher education, I think you make a lot of good points. The student loan situation is really bad, although I think the media sensationalizes it a lot. I also think more people should consider 2-year schools (especially as an alternative to for-profit), and students should be MUCH more strategic and realistic in choosing their majors. There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning a trade. Business is the most popular major (and what I studied in college), but what do we actually learn? I also think that while college is extremely important and almost a must have (look at the data for how much more college-educated people earn over a lifetime vs no-college), both high-school teachers/admin/counselors, and colleges should be more realistic about what you get. Going to college isn’t going to make you a 24year old CEO, you’re not gonna immediately change the world or land a dream job- and maybe we should stop treating our students like they are ALL the “future leaders” of the world, and help them learn something that will either a) help them get a good job b) help them help others, or c) help them learn something that they are really passionate about.
Preach it! I was a pharmacy tech for about 4 years. It was a customer service job, and there was a little math and insurance filing involved, too. it was a fast-pace environment most of the time, and the people there taught me a lot. I think that our parents’ generation and our generation have gotten carried away with the idea that everyone should try to become a professional this-or-that while skilled trade people can do pretty well and the rest of us end up in cubicles.
Yeah, our generation seems to think that skilled tradespeople are lower class, almost like pariahs. Until we need them to put their skills to use to help us! Skilled plumbers can make 6 figures a year (not all of them, of course). Another job that can make that much? Long-haul truck drivers. Electricians and electrical engineers do really well too. If I could do it over again, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t study business. Part of me thinks I’d go to NCSU and study engineering, the other part couldn’t stand the thought of going anywhere but WFU and would have maybe studied something else.
Ever thought about Pharmacy school? (i know the point of this post was less school, not more, but hey…)
Totally with you on doing things differently the second time around! Yes, pharmacy school was the plan for a couple of years and I didn’t get in. I’m glad it didn’t work out because while I liked that job at that time, by the time I quit, I was sick of it and couldn’t imagine being happy doing that until retirement. Baby boomers tend to be unaware of the competition and what the requirements are now to be come a professional “whatever”. New pharmacists have to have doctorates to dispense pills now. There are people who come to America and take up space in doctorate programs, then go back to their countries and practice! There’s always a trend, though; in the 80s everyone thought law school was a good idea.
Wait, so you’re saying Law School isn’t a good idea? That was my next recommendation…
Haha. I hear they’re even more miserable, and by default, in even more debt.