Obama to Nationalize Student Lending

[shortking98]

Not to get off topic too much but I always make a smartbutt comment when I see someone on the news complaining about how crappy the job market is and they just graduated with a degree in Sociology and can't get a $50k/yr job off it

[WilyWestbrook0]

I did well enough in school so that my total student loan debt is little more than $10,000 total with a few thousand paid off already (I got a B.A. in English with one year of graduate studies), but I think the education system needs a complete overhauling.

Right now, I'm working for a law firm and getting about $20k a year annualized (a little over $9/hour; I use a time clock), but I would have liked to have anticipated the whole process more regardless of pay (as a type 1 diabetic, NOT TYPE 2, I am thankful for the benefits of my job far more than the pay - but I digress a little).

For those unfamiliar, college currently caters to reflective, abstract, conceptual thinking - revered in IQ tests, but of little use in the real world (the real world is not like the mind of John Dewey in spite of the fact that he's largely responsible for the setup of our current educational system). Since I am a reflective, abstract, conceptual person, education was naturally easy for me.

However, most jobs in the real world - including that of a paralegal, my current position - are actually best suited toward extroverts who can multi-task and think in objective, concrete, impersonal terms. The borderline Asperger's "value judgment" introvert, who got her 3.75 GPA while comfortably ensconced in an environment suitable to her preferences, in fact takes a bit more time to get used to "real world" job skills.

To summarize, our educational system needs to better prepare everyone - including the 80% extroverted society, who are genetically better prepared for the world due to the dopamine enhancement of their inherent neurological makeup - for the rigors of most jobs. Let's face it - most jobs available to college graduates and under require little creativity, little reflection, and little "internalized" thought. Instead, you need to react, adapt, and think "in the moment" as much as possible. Since the English major with exceptional grammatical and spelling skills tends to be completely inept at burger flipping and other "hands-on" tasks, this is extremely problematic, as it is with other various liberal arts majors who would rather tackle theoretical constructs than the mundane matters of life. The intuitive people may enjoy their education, but then the pragmatism of the real world hits, and they are all ill-prepared.

[WantToTrade]

As I explained in another thread, I'm against making it easier for people to go to college. The more people go to college, the more watered down and more expensive education is and the less valuable a high school diploma is.

But that aside, as I'm sure everyone knows by now, I'm against any government takeover of a private industry.

Could you please let me know what it takes to make it easier to get into college? I just started my second semester and am persuing a degree as a web programmer which is only possible because of student loans and financial aid. I am truly grateful that so much has been invested in my education thus far and curious what yu think this government takeover might have in store.

On top of that I think its bogus enough that I have to pay to learn so I can work for somebody else but what can I do, thats how it works I guess. I should have just learned how to do electrical work when I had the chance.

[Aikman_TheGreat]

The more educated America is the more we can compete with other countries that are smarter than we are. So if Obama wants to help more people go to college then that's great. I'll agree with him on that. Although, I want him to help those that actually go to school and try hard (not people like me up until this semester).

Yes America was dominate for a long time, but not so much anymore. I believe it has to do with this false "entitleship" and Pop-Cutrure.

[Aikman_TheGreat]

I dont want colleges to get watered down like high school is. A high school diploma is basically worthless, beause it's so easy to get through it.

Give them a chance to get IN to college, but it's up to them to get THROUGH college. That is the best way to make it.

EDIT: Get into college as in make good enough grades to get into. So if they do get good enough grades, give them a FINANCAL chance of getting into college. That is what I meant. Dont lower the standards of getting into a college or university.

[Aikman_TheGreat]

On top of that I think its bogus enough that I have to pay to learn so I can work for somebody else but what can I do, thats how it works I guess. I should have just learned how to do electrical work when I had the chance.

I had to pay $272 dollars for my books this semester. Books. Used books. College is more money hungry than the government. Which is bad. $272 was the least I saw, the most I saw someone pay was over $500. Thats for books alone, not just tuition. And this is a DII school.

[shortking98]

I had to pay $272 dollars for my books this semester. Books. Used books. College is more money hungry than the government. Which is bad. $272 was the least I saw, the most I saw someone pay was over $500. Thats for books alone, not just tuition. And this is a DII school.

I had a semester where I had to pay over $1k and that was with shopping around for some of them used and getting a few that I could not get used at a discount. Needless to say I wasn't too pleased about that

[WantToTrade]

I had to pay $272 dollars for my books this semester. Books. Used books. College is more money hungry than the government. Which is bad. $272 was the least I saw, the most I saw someone pay was over $500. Thats for books alone, not just tuition. And this is a DII school.

I go to community college and my books alone last semester were $700 and this semester $740. Some are new but most of them are used. The worst part is I have to buy them directly from the school because If I buy the books for cheap online I would have to come out of my pocket before I get my Financial aid or loan money. This semester started last week and I dont get any money for school for another few weeks. Therefore I had to get my books for much more money from the school on credit rather than buying my own books for cheaper.

[mikesilvia]

Isn't the real problem the cost of school? If government is to act shouldn't they work with schools to bring down the costs? Everyone knows that the cost of school goes up more than anything else.

Kendra, hit the nail on the head. We will still be putting students in debt for degress that simply don't prepare our youth for the real world. Cutting tuition costs and guiding students to degrees that prepare you for the job market should be our focus. Pushing the free market out of the student loan program is not the fix!

[WantToTrade]

EDIT: Get into college as in make good enough grades to get into. So if they do get good enough grades, give them a FINANCAL chance of getting into college. That is what I meant. Dont lower the standards of getting into a college or university.

What you are saying sounds very logical but not all students high school grades reflect the ability of a person as a student. I for example dropped out of high school as a sophmore with a cumalative GPA of around 1.5. I eventually went back and got my GED and decided to go to vocational school for further education. Upon graduation of vocational school I decided to apply for financial aid and enroll in my local community college where I was accepted. Almost all of my books and credits were paid for but I still was forced to take out a stafford loan to pay for bills, transportation, etc. Last semester I passed all of my classes with a 3.0 GPA. I'm sure I am in the minority of people to turn their life around the way I have but at least I was given a chance that I am very grateful of.