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The inescapable weight of my student debt

theguardian.com

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Re: The inescapable weight of my student debt

#2
As soon as I read that he graduated with a degree in "English Literature" I knew what the problem was - what did he expect? Where does he think the demand for that is? How did he justify 100k$ for such a degree ( or any degree for that part )?

There are so many jobs like welding, plumbing, etc that need to be done, pay very good money and require no ( or very small ) loans, and he studied something like English Literature ( for 100k$ !! ) complaining...

Hell, even studying something "elite" as he calls it like CS in his own time, on his own, doing projects to get some starting job in any CS-related industry would be preferrable.

People who study these bullshit degrees are in a mess of their own doing.

Re: The inescapable weight of my student debt

#3

As soon as I read that he graduated with a degree in "English Literature" I knew what the problem was - what did he expect? Where does he think the demand for that is? How did he justify 100k$ for such a degree ( or any degree for that part )? There are so many jobs like welding, plumbing, etc that need to be done, pay very good money and require no ( or very small ) loans, and he studied something like English Liter…

I concur and would expect the number of people studying stuff like this to be higher in countries where student debts do not exist, since they hopefully work as a deterrent. In continental Europe there‘s a shortage of qualified workers and there are plenty of useless academics.

Re: The inescapable weight of my student debt

#4

As soon as I read that he graduated with a degree in "English Literature" I knew what the problem was - what did he expect? Where does he think the demand for that is? How did he justify 100k$ for such a degree ( or any degree for that part )? There are so many jobs like welding, plumbing, etc that need to be done, pay very good money and require no ( or very small ) loans, and he studied something like English Liter…

Seems like you're victim-blaming. Do you really think a 17-year-old has the capacity to sort through the wrong career guidance?

This problem is emphatically not of the students' own making. It's on the teachers and guidance counselors who insist on a college degree at any cost and brook no disagreement.

Re: The inescapable weight of my student debt

#5

As soon as I read that he graduated with a degree in "English Literature" I knew what the problem was - what did he expect? Where does he think the demand for that is? How did he justify 100k$ for such a degree ( or any degree for that part )? There are so many jobs like welding, plumbing, etc that need to be done, pay very good money and require no ( or very small ) loans, and he studied something like English Liter…

Seems like you're victim-blaming. Do you really think a 17-year-old has the capacity to sort through the wrong career guidance? This problem is emphatically not of the students' own making. It's on the teachers and guidance counselors who insist on a college degree at any cost and brook no disagreement.

I do actually since when I was 17 I got advice by all my teachers, parents, etc to go into something that pays. Also it's just common sense that you need money to pay your bills, therefore you need a job that is in demand.

Re: The inescapable weight of my student debt

#6

As soon as I read that he graduated with a degree in "English Literature" I knew what the problem was - what did he expect? Where does he think the demand for that is? How did he justify 100k$ for such a degree ( or any degree for that part )? There are so many jobs like welding, plumbing, etc that need to be done, pay very good money and require no ( or very small ) loans, and he studied something like English Liter…

Seems like you're victim-blaming. Do you really think a 17-year-old has the capacity to sort through the wrong career guidance? This problem is emphatically not of the students' own making. It's on the teachers and guidance counselors who insist on a college degree at any cost and brook no disagreement.

From the article, he had a BS and a MA. I guess he decided to double down on "English literature" at age ~21 and take on even more debt.

Re: The inescapable weight of my student debt

#7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like you're victim-blaming. Do you really think a 17-year-old has the capacity to sort through the wrong career guidance? This problem is emphatically not of the students' own making. It's on the teachers and guidance counselors who insist on a college degree at any cost and brook no disagreement.

I do actually since when I was 17 I got advice by all my teachers, parents, etc to go into something that pays. Also it's just common sense that you need money to pay your bills, therefore you need a job that is in demand.

The part of the brain responsible for critical reasoning about consequences isn't fully developed until 25 (see: car rental company age limits). Also, congrats on your strong support system! A lot of people don't have that, and you can't form public policy based on your sole experience.

Re: The inescapable weight of my student debt

#8

As soon as I read that he graduated with a degree in "English Literature" I knew what the problem was - what did he expect? Where does he think the demand for that is? How did he justify 100k$ for such a degree ( or any degree for that part )? There are so many jobs like welding, plumbing, etc that need to be done, pay very good money and require no ( or very small ) loans, and he studied something like English Liter…

Yet he has a job, it seems he's had steady jobs. In the same group there is Sid, the software developer, Mira, the defence attorney, and Ian, the recent debt-free Google employee. All three are in the same 'mess' and pay very good money.

Re: The inescapable weight of my student debt

#9

As soon as I read that he graduated with a degree in "English Literature" I knew what the problem was - what did he expect? Where does he think the demand for that is? How did he justify 100k$ for such a degree ( or any degree for that part )? There are so many jobs like welding, plumbing, etc that need to be done, pay very good money and require no ( or very small ) loans, and he studied something like English Liter…

Is it a bullshit degree just because it doesn't lead to a high-paying job? Or is there some other criterion at work?

Re: The inescapable weight of my student debt

#10

As soon as I read that he graduated with a degree in "English Literature" I knew what the problem was - what did he expect? Where does he think the demand for that is? How did he justify 100k$ for such a degree ( or any degree for that part )? There are so many jobs like welding, plumbing, etc that need to be done, pay very good money and require no ( or very small ) loans, and he studied something like English Liter…

Is it a bullshit degree just because it doesn't lead to a high-paying job? Or is there some other criterion at work?

It's not bullshit, but, as you said, it's not high-paying, and that's known ahead if time. He chose his direction, and now he complains about the results.

You're not entitled to high pay, just because you chose something fun instead of something in demand.

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