I think one of the biggest problems is, there are three views of college. 1) Parents and some kids who think it is sort of like white collar job training. Or, if not training, the only resume padding needed to get a "good career". 2) People who work at colleges who view it more as advanced learning. Classics. Scientific Research. They aren't interested in C++, cash flow statements, bloomberg terminals, etc. 3) And of course a lot of kids who just think it is what you do when you turn 18. A sort of slow easing from living with parents to living on your own. The problem with #1 is, if that's what you want you have to fight to get it because #2 doesn't really want to give it to you and #3 is making sure there's no way for anyone to tell the difference between kids that try and kids that don't. The other problem with #1 is, times like these when you get out of school and that "good career" isn't there. If instead of college being designed for #1 (as it more and more is, but badly), if it were more the old-time #2 college, we might find that although the typical suit-and-tie career paths aren't there, well-rounded graduates who have original ideas and something to contribute to the world were coming out and, if they can't get a job at Google etc, instead of working retail they are trying their own ventures (maybe not businesses if Romney's dad won't help, but there are many things they could do). Anyway, the point is, there should be 3 different names for each of those institutions because then each could do a better job at providing what the 3 different customers want. My guess is, as time goes on, this will happen as there will be very few of #2, the large-state schools will be #3 and the internet will become the provider of #1 (which will largely be "computer operator/programmer" or sales).
Kids now a days are better off computer programming. No need for college and there is a great need for quality programmers. Life is swinging back to more of a skilled type job market. Not just a piece of paper from a college.
I dont know about that since millions of people have gone back to college during this financial crisis to better their education and hopefully come back out with a better paying job than the one they were let go from in 2007.
=========== Good points; even though it may reinforce the 1 year house trend , 2 year housing trend- lower volume, lower prices. Not that that applies to all grads. My banker dad, believe it or not, did not borrow for college he worked his way thru, 4 years.. Mom did also. Forclosure houses are selling[in TN],in sand states...; so there are some sales & related forclosure jobs............................ Some good news in the mortgage business, BAC[buyer of CW Mortgage] is back below its 50 day downtrend/moving average. Even with the high debt debt levels ; they probably could buy a FC home cheap, but with current lending standards, that may take cash to buy a home .
"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else." - W. Churchill US work visa and outsourced IT & BPO projects must be pegged to Human rights/Caste system in CHINDIA. http://www.rediff.com/business/slid...forced-to-sign-no-suicide-pledge/20110504.htm http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/29/un-says-indias-caste-system-a-human-rights-abuse.htm
the germans and chinese have figured it out for a long time. american colleges as a place to go to find out who you are is an idea whose time has come and is now hopefully fading.