I have a history degree. It's useless, unless you want to teach or work at a museum. You can learn history online. Watch a documentary. No need to pay any money for that information.
I have a history degree. It's useless, unless you want to teach or work at a museum. You can learn history online. Watch a documentary. No need to pay any money for that information.
work hard and wrote:
Here's a simple solution for you... I know it's going to be mind blowing, but here it is.
Go to your state school! It's as simple as that. If you weren't smart enough or did enough activities to stand out to get scholarships, just go to your state school where your schooling will be fraction of the cost. If that's too expensive, you can go to community college for two years, then transfer to a state school for your 4 year degree.
It's ridiculous to hear about these student loans horror stories where they owe couple hundred grand. You are the idiot for taking on that much debt where you could've just gone to your state school to get the education.
the OP sucks in general. thanks for the common sense that everyone with student loans has considered...
what kind of person does it take to think they are so high and mighty that they are adding any value with this post?
Dah Doh doh doh wrote:
Here's what I learned with my kid now in college. Both good students, good test scores (one a Merit Scholar Commended Student), good extra curriculars, divorced parents so only counting the lower income (about $60K).
- State U = poorer kids, aid goes to those who need it. Offered almost no financial aid outside loans. Net cost after grants and scholarships: $15K
- Nice private school = wealthy kids, lots of need and merit aid available. Only kid on his dorm floor who worked. Net cost after grants, work study and many more scholarships: $13K
yea, of course your kids are fine as they got scholarships making it a much better option. Why did you even bring this up as it's an obvious choice.
As well as if you're smart and driven to get into Ivy League or other schools in that caliber, then yes, you should of course go to those schools as the upside is huge and you have a highly likelihood to land a great paying jobs. But if you're not smart enough or driven enough to get into those schools, but have to settle for mediocre private schools, that's the problem.
way to miss the point wrote:
I have a history degree. It's useless, unless you want to teach or work at a museum. You can learn history online. Watch a documentary. No need to pay any money for that information.
____________
What makes a degree useful?
If having a degree is the ticket to your dream job, then that degree will be useful. If your goal is to impress shallow people view advanced degrees as a sign of status, a degree is useful. A degree is what you make of it. If the goal is simply to learn about a subject, you can find way more information online. If you prefer structure, dozens of universities have full courses online.
GD wrote:
GhostofTedKennedy wrote:What's really stupid is my nephew who didn't go to the state U one hours drive from his home ($22k: tuition, books, fees) and instead paid out of state tuition at the U of Vermont at about $55k per year all in, to get a useless degree in history , because UVM was cool, hip, and more his style. (They gave him a degree even though he never finished his senior thesis). Works construction part time, lives with parents, in late 20s trying to pay off that loan. In the words of the philosopher Ron White: "ya can't fix stupid."
And yes, he wants his loan debt forgiven: Bernie Sanders was his hero.
_________________
Why is a history degree useless? Let me guess, you're one of those people who think that the primary function of a university is job training/matching graduates to the labor market. If we had more history majors, maybe more people would have the sense to get really flipping scared when a major political candidate starts fanning the flames of ethno-nationalism.
Do you read the post, dummy? He is putting 5 years of college to use as a part-time construction worker, assistant drone mason, building walls and chimneys (pushing a wheelbarrow all day), which gives him plenty of time to contemplate ancient history and how in his role in society he will change it. Do I think he spent $200k and wasted 5 years, yeah I sure do.
You really have no clue how getting a job out of college works, do you?
Precious Roy wrote:
If you are in a state with an excellent state university, it is pretty silly to go out of state to a private school for 2 to 3 times the cost. California, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, etc. are all states that have great public universities. The problem is with the east coast meritocracy. If you have a degree from U Mass, Rutgers, one of the SUNYs or Penn State, big east coast employers will not give you the time of day because they have stacks of resumes from graduates of more competitive schools. So, people in the east will do anything to keep from ending up at their state school.
brickrunnin wrote:
2015 grad wrote:Yep. That guy saying colleges are stopping people from transferring and not accepting Community College credits is FOS.
Yeah you're right, the policy on my institution's website that clearly states what transfer credits they will and will not take is complete BS. Made the whole thing up. If there was only some massive search engine that people could use to check facts out...
I never once said that every school that ever existed does the same exact thing, I just said there are schools, manly private schools, that are limiting transfer credits. State schools also limit transfer credits. Connecticut, for example, limits transfer credits from the state schools to UCONN. For example a student going Central Connecticut State University wants to transfer to UCONN, they will not let them transfer over many similar courses.
This is going to be more prominent as budgets tighten and public funding remains the same or decreases.
Student loans are a larger issue than just simply "go to a state school"
Keep moving the goalposts. Perhaps you'll get it right soon. Lol
Until then, you are still FOS and have no clue what you are talking about.
MyPeersSuck wrote:
Sorry (actually I'm not sorry) but I have zero sympathy for ppl complaining about student loans. Zero. It is the definition of a first world problem. You agreed to take money now and pay it back in the future. That's how the real world works. I dgaf if you were led to believe some dream job that will make you feel perfectly fulfilled and "make the word a better place" lay on the other side, and now you're sad to find out that isn't true. Fking deal with it.
And don't try to tell me that "the kids were just doing what they were told." How about the parents stepping in and explaining how debt works?
Now I'm going to toot my own horn here: I graduated college in 09, in the heart of the recession, with 80k in loans. I worked at my local running store making slightly better than minimum wage because I couldnt find anything else. I worked extra shifts, and I mowed lawns/landscaping in my neighborhood on the side. Finally a year and a half later I got an entry level IT job making 40k/year and busted my butt in that crappy job, still doing yard work on the side. I poured every dollar left after living expenses into those loans.
By sep 2015, about 6 years after I graduated, I had completely paid off 100% of that debt.
How? I lived at home for 5 years (still paying my parents rent) and drove a crappy used car. I didn't go on any awesome dream vacations, and most weekends (when I want working) involved drinking a couple cheap beers at a friend's house. I didn't "live life to the fullest." I made sacrifices. That's how the real world works. Now I'm in a much better job (tho not by LRC standards) making 80k/year. And I'm 100% debt free, planning to buy a house next year.
If you don't like your situation, even if it's not your fault you're there, it's on you to change it. So grow the fk up, stop blaming other people, and do the work.
Good for you, but a couple observations. You do realize many people would not want to put that burden on their parents. Once my siblings and I were adults, we acted like it. Being an adult meant moving out at 18 and paying for our own housing, not paying some "rent" to live with mommy and daddy. By the way, how much was the "rent"? Did you also pay your share of the electricity, gas, groceries, and other household expenses?
Your parents spent years making sacrifices while they raised you. Once you are an adult, you should respect that and let them enjoy their "empty nest" years. The fact that you are bragging about paying off your student loan debt while living in your childhood home is hilarious.
no doubt wrote:
Good for you, but a couple observations. You do realize many people would not want to put that burden on their parents. Once my siblings and I were adults, we acted like it. Being an adult meant moving out at 18 and paying for our own housing, not paying some "rent" to live with mommy and daddy. By the way, how much was the "rent"? Did you also pay your share of the electricity, gas, groceries, and other household expenses?
Your parents spent years making sacrifices while they raised you. Once you are an adult, you should respect that and let them enjoy their "empty nest" years. The fact that you are bragging about paying off your student loan debt while living in your childhood home is hilarious.
Pretty sure he already posted that his rent to parents was $500.
I'm not convinced that living with his parents negates his experience but if you do, what about roomates? Thats how my son did it. He owed 20K and now down to 5K. Had 2 roomates, plus him. Had, and has, a low paying job. Did not buy a car, used a bike instead. I get that a sample of one doesnt prove a point, but I do think there are ways to do it.
MyPeersSuck wrote:
Sorry (actually I'm not sorry) but I have zero sympathy for ppl complaining about student loans. Zero. It is the definition of a first world problem. You agreed to take money now and pay it back in the future. That's how the real world works. I dgaf if you were led to believe some dream job that will make you feel perfectly fulfilled and "make the word a better place" lay on the other side, and now you're sad to find out that isn't true. Fking deal with it.
And don't try to tell me that "the kids were just doing what they were told." How about the parents stepping in and explaining how debt works?
Now I'm going to toot my own horn here: I graduated college in 09, in the heart of the recession, with 80k in loans. I worked at my local running store making slightly better than minimum wage because I couldnt find anything else. I worked extra shifts, and I mowed lawns/landscaping in my neighborhood on the side. Finally a year and a half later I got an entry level IT job making 40k/year and busted my butt in that crappy job, still doing yard work on the side. I poured every dollar left after living expenses into those loans.
By sep 2015, about 6 years after I graduated, I had completely paid off 100% of that debt.
How? I lived at home for 5 years (still paying my parents rent) and drove a crappy used car. I didn't go on any awesome dream vacations, and most weekends (when I want working) involved drinking a couple cheap beers at a friend's house. I didn't "live life to the fullest." I made sacrifices. That's how the real world works. Now I'm in a much better job (tho not by LRC standards) making 80k/year. And I'm 100% debt free, planning to buy a house next year.
If you don't like your situation, even if it's not your fault you're there, it's on you to change it. So grow the fk up, stop blaming other people, and do the work.
Wow. You're pretty special!
plog wrote:
Here's some advice for when the car insurance company is screwing you over when making a claim: Don't get in accidents.
Here's some advice for people in hospitals with gunshot wounds: Don't get shot.
Here's some advice for a broken heart: Don't get dumped.
Here's some advice for people with ice cream headaches: Don't eat cold things so fast.
Here's some advice for dead people: Live longer.
Well said.
2015 grad wrote:
brickrunnin wrote:Yeah you're right, the policy on my institution's website that clearly states what transfer credits they will and will not take is complete BS. Made the whole thing up. If there was only some massive search engine that people could use to check facts out...
I never once said that every school that ever existed does the same exact thing, I just said there are schools, manly private schools, that are limiting transfer credits. State schools also limit transfer credits. Connecticut, for example, limits transfer credits from the state schools to UCONN. For example a student going Central Connecticut State University wants to transfer to UCONN, they will not let them transfer over many similar courses.
This is going to be more prominent as budgets tighten and public funding remains the same or decreases.
Student loans are a larger issue than just simply "go to a state school"
Keep moving the goalposts. Perhaps you'll get it right soon. Lol
Until then, you are still FOS and have no clue what you are talking about.
All varying levels of restrictions on transfer credits. Took me 60 seconds to find this. Do some research, clearly I know what I'm talking about. These pages also have some purposeful vagueness to them to allow for credits transfers to be declined.
My goal posts have remained unchanged and none of my statements are inaccurate. I've said multiple times no one statement will fit every situation but it's not as clear cut as OP's or others posts.
way to miss the point wrote:
If the goal is simply to learn about a subject, you can find way more information online. If you prefer structure, dozens of universities have full courses online.
College isn't just about learning or job training.
It is a life experience.
The social aspect of college has much value and you can't get that online.
People that went to colleges have memories and built relationships.
Again, can't get that online.
brickrunnin wrote:
2015 grad wrote:https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/transferring-harvard-college/transfer-creditshttp://admissions.uconn.edu/apply/transfer/transfer-credithttps://www.framingham.edu/admissions-and-aid/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/transfer-standards-credit-policyhttps://www.butler.edu/registrar/transfer-creditsKeep moving the goalposts. Perhaps you'll get it right soon. Lol
Until then, you are still FOS and have no clue what you are talking about.
All varying levels of restrictions on transfer credits. Took me 60 seconds to find this. Do some research, clearly I know what I'm talking about. These pages also have some purposeful vagueness to them to allow for credits transfers to be declined.
My goal posts have remained unchanged and none of my statements are inaccurate. I've said multiple times no one statement will fit every situation but it's not as clear cut as OP's or others posts.
You didn't provide anything by pulling up those links. You're saying that more and more schools aren't accepting tranfer credits, so how are you proving that pulling some links that some schools don't? They could've had this policy for years and years where many other schools are still accepting transfer credits especially with gen. ed. classes. As well as getting accepted for transfer credits should be focused on state schools where you pulled up two private schools with your links.
Clearly, you're not as superior as you think you are. You may think you are for working in academia and getting paid very little to do very little.
brickrunnin wrote:
work hard and wrote:Here's a simple solution for you... I know it's going to be mind blowing, but here it is.
Go to your state school! It's as simple as that. If you weren't smart enough or did enough activities to stand out to get scholarships, just go to your state school where your schooling will be fraction of the cost. If that's too expensive, you can go to community college for two years, then transfer to a state school for your 4 year degree.
It's ridiculous to hear about these student loans horror stories where they owe couple hundred grand. You are the idiot for taking on that much debt where you could've just gone to your state school to get the education.
There are people with legitimate complaints. How about the MD/PT types that have to pay a massive amount for tuition and are not making the money they used to (adjusted for inflation) to pay off that debt. I agree that a communications major who spent 180k on undergrad didn't read the market correctly but for health providers the reality is that they need a terminal degree and the money just simply isn't there. BTW state school tuition for grad programs is the same as private schools, so don't give me that BS.
Also, your idea of community college to get core classes out of the way and finish your last two years at a 4/year school is also being cracked down on. Schools rely on a student being there for 4 years so they are starting to not take as many or in some cases no transfer credits. They also make it very difficult to transfer away from your school for the same reasons. If you think admissions/administrators haven't caught on to this you're severely mistaken.
Which schools are making it hard to transfer away from your school?
For all of you who think an Ivy League college is worth the money, I graduated from an Ivy League college with straight As and then completed a Masters degree and I am unemployed. My biggest accomplishment this year was qualifying for Boston. And my student loans are off the charts.
way to miss the point wrote:
I have a history degree. It's useless, unless you want to teach or work at a museum. You can learn history online. Watch a documentary. No need to pay any money for that information.
If a degree is useless, I think general lack of rigor within the system is more to blame than the specific field of study that the student selected. There is a certain set of skills that all college graduates should have, irrespective of major. Simply being a college graduate should mean that you have communication, analytical, and mathematical skills that allow you to be generally employable.
Anyway, the purpose of a history degree isn't just to learn a bunch of facts. The purpose is to gain really strong skills in particular types of research, analysis, and communication. Sure, you learned a lot of factual stuff, but more importantly, you spent four years practicing the process of digesting large amounts of information and then forming your own arguments based on what you've read. That's what I care about if I'm an employer or a grad school admissions officer. Being able to run down, process, and respond to information is a pretty generalizable skill.
brickrunnin wrote:
2015 grad wrote:https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/transferring-harvard-college/transfer-creditshttp://admissions.uconn.edu/apply/transfer/transfer-credithttps://www.framingham.edu/admissions-and-aid/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/transfer-standards-credit-policyhttps://www.butler.edu/registrar/transfer-creditsKeep moving the goalposts. Perhaps you'll get it right soon. Lol
Until then, you are still FOS and have no clue what you are talking about.
All varying levels of restrictions on transfer credits. Took me 60 seconds to find this. Do some research, clearly I know what I'm talking about. These pages also have some purposeful vagueness to them to allow for credits transfers to be declined.
My goal posts have remained unchanged and none of my statements are inaccurate. I've said multiple times no one statement will fit every situation but it's not as clear cut as OP's or others posts.
When were those policies you cited changed to be more restrictive?
I received my undergrad in 1986 and those look the same as when I was in college 30 years ago.
That's right Homer. Junior colleges in Mass., for example, were new back in the 70s and the knock was a lot of those credits weren't being taken by state colleges and universities and good private colleges wouldn't take any. They were called "just one more year of high school," although that wasn't the case in Calif. , which had respected JCs.
Given the changes caused by that there interweb, all that has changed and most colleges want your $$$. I guess its a personal question whether going a couple of hundred grand into debt is worth those priceless interchanges with fellow students on spring break.