Is College Worth It? 20/20 ABC News
 

YouTube - John Stossel Is College Worth It? 20/20 ABC News


Interesting video..

Whaaaaaaaat? I was never fed this million dollar scam line. If I had, I would have laughed, and seriously, you have to be stupid to believe it. Most kids going to college have parents that also went to college. Are their parents all making a million+? FAT CHANCE.

This is something I've known all along, and my parents warned me about it while I was a freshman that a college degree is nothing more than a piece of paper that allows you to type a line on your resume. While I believe a college degree gives people better chances, it is a fact that more and more people get these degrees each season, and nowhere near as many people are retiring at the same time. So once you get that piece of paper, knuckle up, because now the **** gets real.

One of the ways I was told to look at the piece of paper is, it shows commitment, you can buckle down and do the work needed to reach a goal. Many professions in college can be taught by being hands on, but by spending the time (and money) you show commitment to your work.

This is just one way to look at.

i kinda agree with some points in that video.

it does seem like college loans can get you trapped in the "machine" where you go so far into debt to go to college then you spend a good part of you 20's or 30's paying it all back. your forced to work to pay for something that allowed you to work :icon14: and now with the job market like it is your even less guaranteed a job right out of college..... so yeah i get what they are sayin

but i mean it also depends on the individual. like some careers are highly specialized where you HAVE to go to learn that field...

so i think if you have a goal and you know exactly what you want to be it still makes as much sense as it ever did. if you went just so you wouldnt have to find a job for 4 more years and you have to pay your own way.. then it might be good to take a step back and see if you really want to get overyour head financially


me my parents paid for college and i just went because i guess it was the thing to do. i majored in sociology with and area of concentration in philosophy of religion but am i using that in anyway for my job..hell no. i dont regret going because i learned some cool stuff i guess. but on the other hand if i had to do it over and i could just take the $ i might be tempted..

Doctor, lawyer, yes you need college. Bill Gates did he drop out? That guy that owns Virgin Airlines, I can't find his name, drop out?

This is in reference to a lifetime of work, not an annual salary.


Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson: Richard Branson is the 236th richest person according to Forbes' 2008 list of billionaires, with an estimated net worth of approximately $4.4 billion. He dropped out of School at the age of 15. Branson has dyslexia and had poor academic performance as a student, but discovered his ability to connect with others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Branson

Thank you BanningZ!

Just use your head and you'll get prosper!

college doesn't teach you the real skills needed to succeed in life. it only prepares you. experience and will power is more important.

Graduate school truly opens your eyes to the rest of the world. The views you thought were correct are only one point of view on a subject as you meet so many other students from different parts of the world.

Well entrepreneurship is something you really can’t learn in school. Also, Bill Gates’s success is somewhat unique since he had extremely wealthy parents which allowed him to completely devote himself to computers when computers were even unheard of.

The misleading part of College is that it'll make stupid people successful.

Being smart also involves researching your field BEFORE getting educated in it. Quite often the things you like to do, or the things that sound fun will not bring you reliable employment or wealth.

I'd like to go to college to be an oil-application engineer for the swedish swim team.

^win!

the problem is that to many people study fields that have no future or use. i know a girl who has a masters in history 500bc-1500ac ... you know what she does.. nothing, my brothers wife has a degree in web design.. u know what she does.. yup.. u guessed it.. nothing, guess not nothing shes a mom.. guess that counts for something..

Oh dear Dad!

His name's Richard Branson and he left school with no qualifications! oops


:wtf2:

Dude chubbs,

College isn't for everyone. Also, the rigor and competitiveness of the school you attend does make a difference. For example, an engineer from M.I.T. is more likely to get hired at NASA versus one from an obscure state school. The rigor of the program does make a difference.

Some people don't need college because they're content with where they are in life. Also, if your social upbringing i.e. how your family and friends conditioned you in social situations is good, then you'll do just fine in life. Some people aren't book-smart, however, they're very good readers of social situations and know how to play their cards right. In other words, they know how to play politics with those from all walks of life. Some college-educated people are pathetic squares when it comes to dealing with others. In many situations, it's not "what you know, but who you know"...and if that person who can pull strings you know likes you, then you'll get ahead.

But...college hones your mind, granted you take it seriously, because it conditions you to think critically, and to not be rash.

College is important but everyone doesn't need to go. There are also a lot of worthless degrees out there.

He is an awesome guy. Isn't he planning on a first public shuttle to moon? (approx. $200K trip fare/person)?

Richard Branson is a total ******* by the way. I'd rather have my degree and my Z then be a complete douche-bag and have a yacht.

That's a short-sighted comment about someone. It's either you read stuff about him, or you live with him under the same roof.

But I agree... college is not for everyone. And I think it's highly dependent on which career you're trying to pursue, as well. I wouldn't go to a surgeon who just made himself to be. You want to be sure that he did his years of study in a medical school with proper credentials before I can trust him opening me up for a surgery.

No, I just observed him act like a tool on Colbert's show and pretty much every other clip I've watched. Now, I'm willing to admit that maybe I just happened to catch the evil Branson 100% of the time that I've seen him - but that's enough for me to make my judgment.

I work at a pretty well known establishment - and do quite technical software work... now.. with that said... I absolutely did not learn jack **** at college that I could not pick up myself / already knew... but what I DID learn from college is - networking skills, dealing with nice people and douche bags all mixed at the same place (someone say work floor?) and independence - maybe not financial but personal. You develop essential people skills and a lot of very important things are made easy to absorb. However - for a select few people college is an utter waste and they pick up their skills just living life.

College at the end - is as valuable as you make it... it can be a complete waste (as it is mostly for a lot of ppl in the states) but it can also be the best 4-5 years of your life. I would honestly stay in college if someone paid for my expenses forever :)

You actually used to be able to do that in Australia back in the 80's. The state run schools were free to attend, and they would continue to pay for you to go including giving you some living expenses (small amount) provided that each degree that you did was higher than the previous one. Now you have to pay towards tuition but it is still cheap.

And yes, Bill Gates is a Harvard drop-out, he received an honorary degree from them 2 years ago.

oh wow thats awesome!! schoolin for free... and yea... I mean some of the richest ppl in the world are also some of the luckiest.... its not like college got them their millions... all about right place at the perfect time..