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Two Letters Re: The Best College Degrees for the Next Depression?
Sir,
College is alarmingly pricey. As a child of the 1970s, I grew up understanding
that you either got a useful degree or paid your own way.
I contend that the most useful education currently is learning a trade.
Welding, auto repair or electrician's certification will pay the bills through
the rough
times
as people
choose to repair instead of purchase. As times get better, some of those trade
school credits may transfer to a college and you are on your way. What is that
architecture degree, but about a year of drafting plus three tortuous years
of art...the discovery of use of light and space...with a dash of engineering.
One of the
coolest people I know, was a blacksmith who got his doctorate in physical chemistry.
You never know where your trade may take you.
Art comes in many mediums that must be learned such as welding for those grand
sculptures that grace the lawns of universities and corporations. Get the "practicals"
under your belt first, while you make a few bucks or barter for your dinner.
Don't forget that the library is free. You should know your reference librarian
as she hold the key to all knowledge or can borrow it from another library
for you. Read. Read everything you can get your hands on.
As you head off to college: Find out all the required courses for your degree.
Does your college allow "testing
out" of any subjects? The last I checked it cost about $75 average to
test completely out of 3 or 4 credit courses. Testing out may not be an option
for "required for major" courses.
If you are still in high school, go for every advanced placement (AP) for college
credit course you dare.
So as you plod away learning your trade that is only vaguely related to you dream
degree, remember: we do what we have to do so that eventually we can
do what
we
want to do.
Now, who is gonna come fabricate some new tines for my tiller? - The Accidental
Survivalist
Sir:
For
more than 20 years I have volunteered my time with unemployed US scientists,
engineers, and computer professionals. Based upon my experiences, I suggest
that young people 1) attempt to have a trade under their belt
before they get a four year college degree; 2) preferably pick a college major
that will allow
one to work for oneself and not as a mere employee; 3) consider mixing two
majors such as getting a teaching certificate and forensic accounting as this
might give one two options for a career. If the student is not committed to
college or unsure what to major in, consider attending a community college
first as it is less expensive. Learning something either in college or via
the trade pre-college that is hands-on work such as plumbing, construction,
roofing, carpentry, welding, aquaculture (fish farming) , farm management,
get commercial driver's license, learn to drive farm equipment, learn to repair
things -- electronics, washers/dryers, etc. Some high schools have working
relationships with community colleges where a high school student can take
college courses while still in high school thus saving lots of money while
living at home. Some schools will allow students to attend high school part
time and learn a trade at the local community college at the same time. Many
high tech professionals in the USA have been told by college career counselors after the
student graduated with his degree in chemistry, physics, engineering, or computer
science that he should consider that degree as nothing
more than
a 'hobby'. Kind of a fun mental exercise but it was foolish of the student
to expect to have dreamed of a career in that field. What you are looking for
is a skill (or skills) that allow you to be self-employed. If the young person
is in college, they should focus on skills that will make them more marketable
--
oral communication
skills, writing, bookkeeping (useful for one's own business), marketing, solid
basic math and computer skills. Having a degree in the medical profession may
or may not make one employable -- I have read of dentists and physicians who
were unemployed during the Great Depression. It is possible that cosmetic surgeons
might be in high demand if there are wars as the victims (military/civilian)
may need reconstructive surgery. Health care professions are still probably
a good bet but it doesn't guarantee a career or stable income. Case in point:
I have a friend whose brother-in-law in California is an allergist and is now
closing his practice because he can't making a living in this specialty. He
is dropping
down to become a Physician's Assistant (PA) and will work for his wife who
is also a physician. He, however, cannot afford to maintain the cost of his
license
as an allergist with fewer people willing to see an allergist in an economic
recession.
Princeton University economist, Alan Blinder (do an Internet search to read
his international presentations) has stated that young Americans should not
waste their time and money (paraphrasing) on a four year college degree. Instead,
American youth should be learning trades that cannot be off-shored. (Unfortunately,
he doesn't raise concerns about the importation of cheap labor.)
One should strive to have a college education that is debt free. No one knows
what the future holds and graduating with an educational debt for a degree
that may or may not provide a job (no longer a career) is a tremendous burden
for a young person to enter the adult world with. When looking for a summer
job or working during college -- try to pass on the burger flipping jobs and
look for work in something where one can enhance a skill such a learning how
to pump out septic systems, car parts shop, working on a dairy farm, landscaping,
etc. I do think that having a college degree is valuable to one's personal
understanding of the world but it is not necessarily essential these days to
earn a living.
I would urge young people, if possible, to complete a four year degree but
not having one is not a sign of failure.
Finally, I also urge parents to help their children to learn basic life skills
-- how to manage the home budget, cooking skills, gardening, car repairs; as
well as learning to be happy and enjoy life. Learn to sing, dance, play some
musical instrument, juggle, something to bring happiness to oneself and to
others. This might sound like it is off topic, but when one is unemployed if
you have these inner resources to pull upon it can literally be life saving.-
Cynthia W. (An informed American on jobs and education)
