tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187887968322911940.post4116927504174795847..comments2023-10-03T04:18:47.428-07:00Comments on The Lethological Reader: Strapped - Part 1: EducationThe Lethological Gourmethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187887968322911940.post-15048575255553480442007-08-10T20:34:00.000-07:002007-08-10T20:34:00.000-07:00Gopi,That's excellent that your father had the for...Gopi,<BR/><BR/>That's excellent that your father had the foresight to build you good credit - I think that this doesn't even occur to most parents!The Lethological Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187887968322911940.post-61499917218717983032007-08-10T11:40:00.000-07:002007-08-10T11:40:00.000-07:00"kids should get credit cards and build up some ki..."kids should get credit cards and build up some kind of credit history before they graduate college, or it becomes considerably harder for credit to get extended after that point. "<BR/><BR/>Raina, my dad actually acquired credit cards in my name that he then used for purchasing, acquiring debt and then paying that debt off. I never saw/used those cards personally until I was in my mid-20s. But by then he had built my credit history for me!!Hoarse Whispererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03436043325128324311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187887968322911940.post-11767442113807026292007-08-10T08:37:00.000-07:002007-08-10T08:37:00.000-07:00Bethany,I agree, the system isn't working. Especi...Bethany,<BR/><BR/>I agree, the system isn't working. Especially for teachers. I mean, you would think the government, and in fact everyone, would want teachers to be highly educated - both in how to teach and in their subject area. But the fact that a grad degree in teaching will put you $50K in the hole, and then teachers are grossly underpaid once they graduate, that's just not right. In my book, this encourages teachers to not go back for more education, and THEY'RE the ones educating the next generation. It just doesn't make sense to me.<BR/><BR/>Regarding your comment about loving what you do - it is important to find a profession that you're passionate about, that drives you. But to think that money doesn't matter? It doesn't matter as long as you have enough of it to eat, pay you bills, and pay for the roof over your head. And if your bills include huge loans racked up in educating yourself so you can carry through with the profession you love, it's that much harder to scrape by. Difficulty making ends meet makes even the most perfect of jobs seem harder to handle.The Lethological Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187887968322911940.post-52905542190835600892007-08-10T06:45:00.000-07:002007-08-10T06:45:00.000-07:00HI, I am really glad that you reviewed this book,...HI, I am really glad that you reviewed this book, as I was thinking of buying it. I have to agree with alot of what it says, college costs are ridiculous and scary. It bothers me that most of Europe considers college essential, so therefore it is free, because a more educated population is better for everyone, but here we have to go into debt. My first time at college, I majored in Literature, not everyone is a math major. I recently have gone back to get my teaching degree and we have figured out by the time I graduate I will have over 50,000 in student loans. Can you imagine? And the state of Utah has generously offered to pay me the exorbitant sum of 24,000 a year for a teaching job on graduation. I worry because I do not know how I will ever pay it back and still make any money. In know there will be people out there who say you have to love what you do, its not the money, or you should have picked another major. But is that really the answer to the question. Something is really wrong with this system.Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17605108148458947613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187887968322911940.post-21851161502143416532007-08-09T06:23:00.000-07:002007-08-09T06:23:00.000-07:00It's kind of a catch-22 - kids should get credit c...It's kind of a catch-22 - kids should get credit cards and build up some kind of credit history before they graduate college, or it becomes considerably harder for credit to get extended after that point. But if their parents haven't taught them a good foundation of money management, they just create a bad credit history for themselves.<BR/><BR/>I think a college education is valuable, even if you're not quite sure what you want to be. Many jobs nowadays require a minimum of a college degree to even get to the interview stage (often the case in publishing and other knowledge industries). But for other students, going to college right away may not make sense financially or practically.The Lethological Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187887968322911940.post-36684578033306351422007-08-09T06:15:00.000-07:002007-08-09T06:15:00.000-07:00I would say a well-earned college degree is a requ...I would say a well-earned college degree is a requirement if you are planning on becoming a doctor or a scientist, fields that require exact knowledge and a solid technical foundation. But if you are planning on working for wages until you figure out what to do down the road, an associates degree might work better...just so its bigger than a high school diploma and gives you some breathing space while you dabble with several jobs. It is difficult to convince traditional parents as they will insist on you finishing your education...because all their friends' children have college degrees, yada, yada. Plus our school education system is archaic. Its too bad school administrators still argue about whether intelligent design should be introduced into the curriculum when more practical concerns exist. On their end of the bargain, parents should not be allowing kids to possess credit cards anyway unless their kids demonstrate a solid knowledge of money management. Ok, enough ranting for today :)Hoarse Whispererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03436043325128324311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187887968322911940.post-84564539479008790502007-08-08T12:17:00.000-07:002007-08-08T12:17:00.000-07:00Gopi, I think you're right that lots of post-high ...Gopi, I think you're right that lots of post-high school students end up partying away college. And if they are serious about their education, they don't necessarily know what they want to do with their degree, so they can't choose a degree which will help their career. I had no idea in college that I'd end up in publishing. Also, they should have some kind of class in high school that teaches kids about how to balance their budget, how to use a credit card responsibly, that kind of thing. Perhaps as a section of an economics class or something. Too many kids get to college and rack up empty debt on their cards because they don't understand how it can affect them later on.The Lethological Gourmethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728934244935813026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187887968322911940.post-27454029772837397322007-08-08T12:11:00.000-07:002007-08-08T12:11:00.000-07:00Based on my own experience, I would say that in th...Based on my own experience, I would say that in this part of the world, people can wait to get a college degree if so inclined. My first round during college was useless. I was not into my studies at all. Too many distractions. But I started making money at an internship which gradually became full-time employment. I dropped out...and now I am back in school. But I know what area I want to specialize in now and, more importantly, I am very motivated to do it. My experience in the real world all these years also allows me grasp concepts better (the same concepts that my classmates, kids just of out high school, are struggling with). People need to know how to manage money first. This has to be taught in high school. But its not. If a college education can't make money for you right away, it can wait.Hoarse Whispererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03436043325128324311noreply@blogger.com