"going to college" In America questions

[Kuilui]

Sure it may cost you 30-60k

Times that by a factor of ten for places like Harvard. I looked into taking Medicine at Harvard and then balked when I saw that it'd set me back 600k...

On the news about two years ago their was a guy who came on and said he was able to go to harvard for like 80grand. Still a lot but he the reason he was able to go for that much as opposed to half a million was because he filled out a ton of different stuff. For free money basically that he'd never have to pay back. I forget the details since its been so long but its not impossible to go their for less is what I'm saying. The government and other orginziations give out tons of programs to help get people through school. Most people just don't know about them or don't care enough.

 

[derdeutschmachine]

I'm an american who did go to and graduate from college and I can honestly say it was the biggest mistake of my life. I wasted close to 50 grand on a sheet of paper that in todays economy is worth next to shit. I'm working as an electrician instead and making decent money. Don't let the popular beliefe that you "need" college to survive get the better of you. The trades are always needed and even if it isn't them most glamorous or well paid position, you'll never go hungry.

 

[BGH122]

Sure it may cost you 30-60k

Times that by a factor of ten for places like Harvard. I looked into taking Medicine at Harvard and then balked when I saw that it'd set me back 600k...

On the news about two years ago their was a guy who came on and said he was able to go to harvard for like 80grand. Still a lot but he the reason he was able to go for that much as opposed to half a million was because he filled out a ton of different stuff. For free money basically that he'd never have to pay back. I forget the details since its been so long but its not impossible to go their for less is what I'm saying. The government and other orginziations give out tons of programs to help get people through school. Most people just don't know about them or don't care enough.

But I presume he was open to all sorts of minority scholarship foundations? African-American trusts etc? For most people that isn't the case.

I'm an american who did go to and graduate from college and I can honestly say it was the biggest mistake of my life. I wasted close to 50 grand on a sheet of paper that in todays economy is worth next to shit. I'm working as an electrician instead and making decent money. Don't let the popular beliefe that you "need" college to survive get the better of you. The trades are always needed and even if it isn't them most glamorous or well paid position, you'll never go hungry.

I agree with this sentiment. Tradeskills have been overlooked for too long and they're practically a dirty word in the UK. For some reason it became very groovy to see the trades as a hallmark of class division in the 70s.

 

[AugustFall]

University here in the US is expensive as hell. Even for public universities you will need loans and/or scholarships or be very rich. I go to community college and it's still more than I ever paid for Uni in the UK (admittedly it was free but I looked at how much tuition actually was and it's still cheaper than Community College). Another thing is there are tiers of tuition. If you are a state resident and a citizen you get the cheapest (what I get and it's damned expensive) If you are a citizen and out of state it's double and if you are neither a citizen or a resident it's triple.

Community College gets about as bad a rap as Colleges do in the UK compared to Universities ie. it's a bunch of elitist douchebags who make fun of them. Most people spend 2 years at Community College and then transfer to a University to save money.

As far as degree needed for most jobs, yeah. Pretty much most jobs will expect at least an Associates (2 year degree). A high-school diploma will get you some places and you can work your way up but a degree is pretty necessary.


Edit: As has been said, a trade is a fantastic way to go anywhere in the world.

 

[Kuilui]

Sure it may cost you 30-60k

Times that by a factor of ten for places like Harvard. I looked into taking Medicine at Harvard and then balked when I saw that it'd set me back 600k...

On the news about two years ago their was a guy who came on and said he was able to go to harvard for like 80grand. Still a lot but he the reason he was able to go for that much as opposed to half a million was because he filled out a ton of different stuff. For free money basically that he'd never have to pay back. I forget the details since its been so long but its not impossible to go their for less is what I'm saying. The government and other orginziations give out tons of programs to help get people through school. Most people just don't know about them or don't care enough.

But I presume he was open to all sorts of minority scholarship foundations? African-American trusts etc? For most people that isn't the case.

Actually no it was just some white guy.

 

[BGH122]

Actually no it was just some white guy.

Interesting! I guess that shows it can be done if you're wily enough to find a way!

 

[Vault101]

so basically theres a stigma attatched to being a tradesmen or "blue collar" worker? thats jsut stupid

over here tradesmen are often very well paid and dont get me started about the people "working on the mines" big big money there ....well somtimes it seems a silly Idea to waste your time at university

There's a big pressure to be middle class in the U.S. Despite their earnings, trade workers are considered "working class" by default. My dad was pushing six figures before the economic collapse as a machine-tool repairman, but would have been considered "working class" and is considered a less esteemed job than middle management for about 2/3 the pay.

interesting....mabye is has somthing to do with the culture or "the american dream" If the Ideal life is to get a big white collar job in a big comapny and have a big house in the suburbs with a hot wife and two perfect children, I guess America still has a whole "class" thing going on

In Australia, we have the "haves" and the "have-nots" but we dont have this mentallity (you must go to college)and we dont really have a class there is no stigma attatched to being a tradesmen (I mean really? somones better than you because they sit at a desk?), mabye its because we have less population as well?

however I think I saw in one news thing the gap bewteen rich and poor here is groing and that its harder for peopel to break out of the "poor" thing