I would like someone to help me figure this out…
I am in a fortunate situation, I am not one of the thousands of people who have a college degree and cannot find stable work. That being said I am still not happy about the fact that my generation is finding ourselves in one of the worst situations yet. Yes, the economy as a whole is not as bad as it’s been in the past. For the most part there probably aren’t too many recent college grads that are living on the street, or waiting in the soup line to be able to eat. However, I would like to express that when America was going through the Great Depression the college grad rate was MUCH lower. So now we are being told that in order to get a good job, you must have a degree. In order to get a degree we are having to put ourselves in MASSIVE debt (not just tuition, but credit cards to be able to buy groceries while going to class full time, because there just are not enough jobs in college towns to employ everyone who needs the help).
Am I saying not to get a degree? Absolutely not! I learned SO much in college and feel like I spent some of the best years of my life getting my education; however, it’s a known fact that up to 80% of college students leave their school with debt up to $15,000.
So basically, what it all boils down to is this: We have to go to college to get a “good job”. So we do, we go to school and take on a sizeable amount of debt. When we graduate we have a degree and no experience. When the economy is tanking the way it is employers are looking for experience (if looking at all) and not a degree. So now we are in debt, and find it almost impossible to find work. Six months later, we are having to pay back these loans.
Oh don’t worry, if you can’t afford to pay your loans back, they will let you put them in forbearance. For those who aren’t clear on what that means, it’s basically making it so you won’t have to make any payments for a short period of time.Good news right? Not necessarily because the loands do still acrew interest so when you DO start paying them back (once you’ve gotten your job, IF that happens) you will owe more.
Another issue I have with the education system is that if you go to a “good school” you get more financial assistance in the form of grants and scholarships (you don’t have to pay these back, convenient). So if you go to a more expensive school you can leave with less debt than someone who goes to an average state school. So not only do you leave with a “better” degree that will earn you more money than had you gone to a state school, but you can leave with less debt.
I think what bothers me most about that is that America doesn’t think you are responsible enough to smoke or drink while in high school, but they are basing the path for the rest of your life on high school. What I mean by that is if you work hard in high school, learning the basics, you will get into a “good” college and hense have a better developed path for getting a good job. I’m not trying to underplay those who graduate from schools that are hard to get into, you’ve earned it. I can respect that you did what it took when it counted. I just don’t see how we place so much emphasis on a period of our life that we aren’t old enough to make our own decisions (so society says).
So is it just me, or is there a flaw in this system?
Please feel free to comment on this rant of mine, I’ve just come across several articles that talk about this pool of educated post grads who can’t find good work and it is greatly upsetting that we’ve gotten to this point.
Alright…I’m pretty sure that’s a rambled version of my thoughts on THIS topic. I’d love to hear some feedback if you’ve got any.
All said and done…I’d like to thank those selfish stock brokers on wall street that helped us get where we are…It’s not easy ruining thousands of lives while also destroying yours…good work.
