There is a growing discontent among college students and families regarding the value of the education they receive from four year, liberal arts colleges and universities. As a university faculty member at two schools, I can tell you that what used to be head shaking at the price tag for college is turning into disgust. What used to be resignation at "this is what it's going to take to get a degree" is evolving into genuine fear that getting the degree might cost more in the long run than not having it; and the statistics are beginning to prove that point.
To be sure, the uncertainty over where it all ends creates the most worry. The problem, however, is that no college or university (or politicians or bankers for that matter) are investing meaningful time to create a solution that will work for student families and, at the same time, save their institutions from the financial and reputation damage that is taking place.
Four year institutions would do well to understand that the shifting tectonic plates under their feet do not move without consequences. To that end, I have encouraged students and their families to take a close look at college and make, as certain as possible, a determination that college is truly needed for a successful future. For many, the pride of going to college is clouding the view of potential outcomes that are not so rosy. The sooner families get past the "pride" issue related to college, the better off they and their kids will be.
Simply put, the paradigm has shifted for families who are looking to make responsible decisions about their children's future. Hard earned money is being wasted to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, and a new mindset is essential to protecting people from a mistake whose consequences have now resulted in the national college loan debt exceeding $1,000,000,000,000 (Trillion) - a figure higher than the nation's total credit card debt.
Colleges, banks and governments apparently will not be part of the solution, so families have to take on this challenge by themselves. The new paradigm, then, involves at least three major assumptions:
1. College no longer has a guaranteed educational value.
2. College no longer has a guaranteed or certain financial return.
3. Colleges operate the same as any large institution whose primary emphasis is survival first, customers second.
Parents, advisors and students should use these assumptions with the schools they might consider, as well as to test the options available to them that don't involve college at all. And unlike the decision to choose a school and sign the financial paperwork, there is no cost or risk in considering these assumptions while planning for future endeavors.
In most cases, people will still opt for college as is their right and privilege. However, if they make the decision to attend college with better and more complete information, including an honest assessment of the risks associated with the investment, they begin with clearer and more realistic expectations. And if colleges are more forthcoming about the risks associated with failing, their credibility is actually enhanced. If, on the other hand, the process leads some away from college for a period of time or permanently for the right reasons, they win too.
To clarify, colleges and their boards should operate basically as they wish. The problem occurs when the marketing of the schools and their political/financial partners is designed to manipulate outcomes without full disclosure and understanding of personal and financial risk. For example, today's students and families are bombarded with marketing messages that a college education is essential to be successful in today's economy. This is not a debatable issue to colleges, universities, the College Board and funders.
The irony should escape no one, though, that the very system that sells itself as essential to an individual's success is producing a drop-out rate of approximately 50% - over 100% worse than an already awful national high school drop-out rate. Therefore, the system that sells itself on its necessity for success is generating the crippling debt and instability in the lives of those it says it wants to help. Put another way, the system that pitches its success is actually ditching about half of its customers and sticking them with a no-return policy and non-dischargeable debt. In any other system, we would call those poor souls victims.
The bottom line is - college buyers beware. Billions are spent to lure them into a system that creates justifiable doubts for many. Intensely challenging the mantras and suppositions of the college marketers is the best path to straight answers and logical, unemotional decisions about the future. In other words, justify the college option before your exercise the college option.
Rick McKeel is the author of The College Decision: Get It Right The First Time and founder of the website http://www.iscollegerightforyou.com. Rick helps students and their families understand the value and risks associated with earning a college degree.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_McKeel
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8639548
To be sure, the uncertainty over where it all ends creates the most worry. The problem, however, is that no college or university (or politicians or bankers for that matter) are investing meaningful time to create a solution that will work for student families and, at the same time, save their institutions from the financial and reputation damage that is taking place.
Four year institutions would do well to understand that the shifting tectonic plates under their feet do not move without consequences. To that end, I have encouraged students and their families to take a close look at college and make, as certain as possible, a determination that college is truly needed for a successful future. For many, the pride of going to college is clouding the view of potential outcomes that are not so rosy. The sooner families get past the "pride" issue related to college, the better off they and their kids will be.
Simply put, the paradigm has shifted for families who are looking to make responsible decisions about their children's future. Hard earned money is being wasted to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, and a new mindset is essential to protecting people from a mistake whose consequences have now resulted in the national college loan debt exceeding $1,000,000,000,000 (Trillion) - a figure higher than the nation's total credit card debt.
Colleges, banks and governments apparently will not be part of the solution, so families have to take on this challenge by themselves. The new paradigm, then, involves at least three major assumptions:
1. College no longer has a guaranteed educational value.
2. College no longer has a guaranteed or certain financial return.
3. Colleges operate the same as any large institution whose primary emphasis is survival first, customers second.
Parents, advisors and students should use these assumptions with the schools they might consider, as well as to test the options available to them that don't involve college at all. And unlike the decision to choose a school and sign the financial paperwork, there is no cost or risk in considering these assumptions while planning for future endeavors.
In most cases, people will still opt for college as is their right and privilege. However, if they make the decision to attend college with better and more complete information, including an honest assessment of the risks associated with the investment, they begin with clearer and more realistic expectations. And if colleges are more forthcoming about the risks associated with failing, their credibility is actually enhanced. If, on the other hand, the process leads some away from college for a period of time or permanently for the right reasons, they win too.
To clarify, colleges and their boards should operate basically as they wish. The problem occurs when the marketing of the schools and their political/financial partners is designed to manipulate outcomes without full disclosure and understanding of personal and financial risk. For example, today's students and families are bombarded with marketing messages that a college education is essential to be successful in today's economy. This is not a debatable issue to colleges, universities, the College Board and funders.
The irony should escape no one, though, that the very system that sells itself as essential to an individual's success is producing a drop-out rate of approximately 50% - over 100% worse than an already awful national high school drop-out rate. Therefore, the system that sells itself on its necessity for success is generating the crippling debt and instability in the lives of those it says it wants to help. Put another way, the system that pitches its success is actually ditching about half of its customers and sticking them with a no-return policy and non-dischargeable debt. In any other system, we would call those poor souls victims.
The bottom line is - college buyers beware. Billions are spent to lure them into a system that creates justifiable doubts for many. Intensely challenging the mantras and suppositions of the college marketers is the best path to straight answers and logical, unemotional decisions about the future. In other words, justify the college option before your exercise the college option.
Rick McKeel is the author of The College Decision: Get It Right The First Time and founder of the website http://www.iscollegerightforyou.com. Rick helps students and their families understand the value and risks associated with earning a college degree.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_McKeel
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8639548
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