<p>I graduated from Vanderbilt in 2010. Reality check: my liberal arts degree means nothing. I don’t regret my decision attending Vanderbilt. I received full-cost financial aid and had a great experience. However, I feel that the disparities between how the admissions office markets the school and my own experiences are too great to ignore. The fact is that there’s not much to learn that’s directly applicable to the working world at college, and somehow Vanderbilt feels it’s appropriate to charge almost $60,000 a year to attend. People have been brainwashed into thinking that college is a great investment when the reality is that you’re paying for a piece of paper that means nothing.</p>
<p>If you wanted to train for a job, as opposed to being broadly educated, you may have made the wrong choice in your major and your college. You may be too young to judge the value of your education and what your college experience will bring you over a lifetime at this point. As my CC name implies, I have two VU graduates. The youngest graduated into the worst job market for college graduates in '09 with a major that doesn’t lead directly to many jobs and those few jobs tend to be low paying with only a BA. I know of many students with associate degrees from the cc where I teach who earn LOTS more initially after being trained in high demand fields like physical therapist assistant or certain IT degrees with accompanying certifications. I believe my child’s quality education will lead to higher earnings long term as well as higher levels of intellectual fulfillment on a personal basis. Education has many purposes and training for a job is only one of those.</p>
<p>bump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .</p>
<p>uh, no…that’s annoying. Just let it go.</p>
<p>bump . . .</p>
<p>Why are you bumping this?</p>
<p>The value of a Vanderbilt education is a lot more than “learning.” You’re paying for Vanderbilt’s resources. That’s what’s valuable. Most people who choose to pay full sticker price are very able to afford it anyway.</p>
<p>The more money Vanderbilt invests in the school/professors, the better the school’s reputation becomes, and the more powerful Vanderbilt alumni become. You can charge a lot less and NOT invest in the school’s future, but that’s a bit naive.</p>
<p>Oh, I understand that Vanderbilt would be stupid not to ride this gravy train out, but my original post was attacking the mantra that college is essential to a successful future and that it’s worth investing into. Today, I do not believe a college education is worth investing to anymore.</p>
<p>Oh. Yes I absolutely agree, and I think most people would agree. College certainly gives you a better shot at a successful future, but it is by no means essential.</p>