Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Also, if the Bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma, the bigger question is: Was the old high school diploma really so bad? Wasn't there a time when it was easier to get by with just a high school diploma?
More people are going to college. So a degree has less value. In the end though, anyone with drive can become rich in this country. With or without a college degree.
Yes. More and more middle class families want their children to go to college because they see it as a necessary step for maintaining or improving their economic status. If you compare rates of college attendance today to those of a decade ago, far more people are seeking a degree. With larger numbers of graduates in the job markert, employers have the option of filling their vacancies with college-educated folks, so they can afford to be choosy. Some interpret the ability to complete a degree as a sign of drive. The trend in seeking higher education has also corresponded to changes (perceived or actual) in parenting and maturation amongst late adolescents. A lot of folks would simply much rather hire a mid-twenties job applicant than a less mature teenager fresh from high school.
There are still fewer people in the U.S. with college degrees than without. I believe it's still at 31%, though it's been a while since I looked it up.
Simply put, good paying jobs that do not require additional education after high school are being jettisoned to India, China, and Mexico. A very large majority of these are manufacturing jobs. By the time our politicians finally get a clue, nothing wll be made in the U.S. anymore.
Coming out of our high schools, most students are unemployable except for the most menial jobs. You're right in stating the title of this thread except I would change it from Bachelor's degree to Post-High School education. There are many good jobs still possible with a technical degree/diploma and an Associate degree.
Generic Bachelor degrees dont mean much, now a days its an interview for a job that didnt require 4 years of college from the get go. High paying job are being outsourced and coperate americas reducing pay. We have to many 20 somethings 20k to 90k in debt with no jobs and very little skills. Also for to long americas been pushing everybody to four year universitys while not everyone needs or should go to university. America wants a bunch of paper pushers and yet we have a massive shortage of hvac techs, automotive and diesel techs plumbers, electrcians, electronic techs, elevator repairers, beauticians, etc. Kids who would have consider going vocational are told not. Americas post secondary education needs a reboot the system is honestly broken.
The answers so far have been insightful but no one has answered my other question yet. If the Bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma, was the old high school diploma really so bad?
No the old high school diploma wasnt bad. But back when it was worth something, you actually learned something in school. Today anybody can go to high school sit down and sleep, and basically pass. No child left behind laws taken away from education as well. High schools in all honesty dont teach u anything. End of course test take away from learing seeing as you can fail all year long and and the end of the semester take the test. You can guess your way to passing high school. It no longer teaches you anthing and now college babys you as well
There are still fewer people in the U.S. with college degrees than without. I believe it's still at 31%, though it's been a while since I looked it up.
This seems about right. More people are gaining four-year college degrees, but there are also more people in the US. What I have to figure out is how 30-35% equals the majority of Americans with a college degree?
Quote:
Originally Posted by city_data91
The answers so far have been insightful but no one has answered my other question yet. If the Bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma, was the old high school diploma really so bad?
It was neither bad nor good; it was just considered good enough. There was a time in the US when it was common for a high school drop out to be viewed as a misfit or a social deviant. So if you were able to hack it out through high school that would be seen as a good indicator that you would have the stamina to hack it through a career, as well. For the most part, a B.A. or B.S. is now viewed in the same way, especially since a large number of college students drop out.
But, more was expected of a high school student 'back in the day'; partially because society was different back then and also because for most high school was the last stop with their formal education. The bar was set higher. Now that bar appears to have been lowered.
Another thing to consider is that not too long ago, career 'hopping' was highly frowned upon. People stuck with the job or field for the remainder of their working life. They learned on the job and moved up the ladder accordingly, so a college degree was not required.
That's what I was trying to say. People make it sound like a bad thing that the Bachelor's degree has replaced the high school diploma. But since a high school diploma used to be sufficient, it's not such a bad thing that the 4 year degree of today is the high school diploma of 1950.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
