I earned a double, BS chemistry and BA English, in 1981. I'm currently one of the wizards in the tower of a Fortune 500 company, IT. I do interview upon occasion, when I'm not actually working.
Before I ever sit at the table next interview, I'll be asking: "Have you ever commented at Cafemom?" That'll save me some time.
Yes, the comments are interesting. It appears there are a lot of people out there that haven't a clue yet about "worthless" degrees.
I love the ones that say these degrees aren't worthless because you learned something - never mind that what you learned doesn't get you a job.
So ok, so they aren't totally 100% worthless, they're merely virtually worthless or nearly worthless or not worth the freaking time or money you paid for them (or in case of loans, will continues to pay for).
"The one person I knew went to a vocational school. He had a degree in printing[...]He also discovered he was allergic to the chemicals in the process. He currently folds towels at bed bath and beyond."
Well there ya go - irrefutable proof that the trades are bad.
"i think people that go to school and get a degree in something that really have no interest in but do it just to get some money are short changing themselves."
She's right! The whole money concept is bad and makes people miserable. We should be using hugs and dream-catchers as currency.
"...many degrees in things deemed by some as 'worthless' can be assets really to companies when you are hired. you just have to know how to USE the degree you got."
One person said, "I don't think any degree is worthless."
It has been quite a while since economists solved the diamond-water paradox. Although water is essential for life, it is virtually free. Sure, some companies sell bottled water, but what they are really selling is the bottle and the lack of chlorine and flouride, not water itself. It's a payment for convenience and mistrust.
Water is cheap because it is plentiful. Diamonds are expensive because they are rare. Relative scarcity affects marginal utility which in turn affects price.
It isn't that a Sociology, Anthropology, Kineseology, Geography, Film Studies, Religion, or Performance Dance degree is totally worthless. It's just that we have far more of these degrees than the market desires. This creates low wages and a surplus of labor, i.e. unemployment. People choose these degrees because they are cross subsidized by other majors that have more value. These degrees aren't worth the resources used to produce them.
A person may benefit from four years of college in ANY major, but that doesn't mean anyone would find the acquired knowledge or skills useful and hence worthy of a paycheck. It also doesn't mean taxpayers should pay for it.
A person trained in cow insemination has more value to the economy than a Sociology major.
I earned a double, BS chemistry and BA English, in 1981. I'm currently one of the wizards in the tower of a Fortune 500 company, IT. I do interview upon occasion, when I'm not actually working.
ReplyDeleteBefore I ever sit at the table next interview, I'll be asking: "Have you ever commented at Cafemom?" That'll save me some time.
I stopped reading because I found a winner so quickly:
ReplyDeleteThey wouldn't be there if they were worthless.
I agree the comments on that blog are clueless.
ReplyDeleteYes, the comments are interesting. It appears there are a lot of people out there that haven't a clue yet about "worthless" degrees.
ReplyDeleteI love the ones that say these degrees aren't worthless because you learned something - never mind that what you learned doesn't get you a job.
So ok, so they aren't totally 100% worthless, they're merely virtually worthless or nearly worthless or not worth the freaking time or money you paid for them (or in case of loans, will continues to pay for).
Duh...
Seeing how much some degrees cost, I wouldn't call them worthless. A ripoff, a "Negative equity" degree maybe but far from worthless.
ReplyDeleteOh, so many dopey comments.
ReplyDelete"The one person I knew went to a vocational school. He had a degree in printing[...]He also discovered he was allergic to the chemicals in the process. He currently folds towels at bed bath and beyond."
Well there ya go - irrefutable proof that the trades are bad.
"i think people that go to school and get a degree in something that really have no interest in but do it just to get some money are short changing themselves."
She's right! The whole money concept is bad and makes people miserable. We should be using hugs and dream-catchers as currency.
"...many degrees in things deemed by some as 'worthless' can be assets really to companies when you are hired. you just have to know how to USE the degree you got."
Use as $60,000 toilet paper - ba ha ha ha ha!
One person said, "I don't think any degree is worthless."
ReplyDeleteIt has been quite a while since economists solved the diamond-water paradox. Although water is essential for life, it is virtually free. Sure, some companies sell bottled water, but what they are really selling is the bottle and the lack of chlorine and flouride, not water itself. It's a payment for convenience and mistrust.
Water is cheap because it is plentiful. Diamonds are expensive because they are rare. Relative scarcity affects marginal utility which in turn affects price.
It isn't that a Sociology, Anthropology, Kineseology, Geography, Film Studies, Religion, or Performance Dance degree is totally worthless. It's just that we have far more of these degrees than the market desires. This creates low wages and a surplus of labor, i.e. unemployment. People choose these degrees because they are cross subsidized by other majors that have more value. These degrees aren't worth the resources used to produce them.
A person may benefit from four years of college in ANY major, but that doesn't mean anyone would find the acquired knowledge or skills useful and hence worthy of a paycheck. It also doesn't mean taxpayers should pay for it.
A person trained in cow insemination has more value to the economy than a Sociology major.
"A person trained in cow insemination has more value to the economy than a Sociology major."
ReplyDeleteA person trained in cow buggery has more value to the economy that a Sociology major.