4 ms·

American kids are not doing the cost-benefit analysis and they alone are to be blamed for it. For example. For many prospective college students, the trades m

by tn13 10y ago

American kids are not doing the cost-benefit analysis and they alone are to be blamed for it. For example. For many prospective college students, the trades might be a much more lucrative option. Using the example of plumbing, the average plumber earns $53,820 per year with the employer paying the apprentice a wage and training. (This money is for expert plumber. When adjusted to experience etc. it is around $20k per year without any student loan debt.) Now consider a college degree Petroleum engineering has an average starting salary of $93,500 while animal science has an average starting salary of $32,700. This breaks down for a monthly salary for the petroleum engineer of $7,761.67 versus a person working in animal science with a monthly salary of $2,725. While Petroleum engineer can very well pay the debt without much issues I fail to see how the Animal Science girl will be able to pay her debt.

camel_Snake 10y ago
I'm not sure putting all the blame on these kids is fair. If we as a country have decided that those under 21 do not possess the appropriate reasoning skills or responsibility to have a beer, how do we accept that they have enough of the above to make such a large financial decision? If I had applied for a $50,000 loan to start my own business at 18 from most banks I'm betting I would have been rejected. Yet we're okay lending the same to invest in education as long as the student is yoked to this debt for life.
- ruste 10y ago
  You're absolutely right. The drinking age is too high. 18 is perfectly reasonable.
- tn13 10y ago
  But we as a country think that it is perfectly okay to send 19 year olds in Iraq or Syria and die fighting for someone else's mistakes.
sotojuan 10y ago
If you're raised in a suburban middle/upper middle environment you're told to go to college from day one by parents, teachers, friends, etc (especially parents). In some families there's actually little choice, but even if the student had the choice, it's a hard one to make in such a culture especially at age 17/18. That said, community college -> college is a safe and affordable option. The opposite happens too—I know a lot of working class kids who didn't bother with even applying to college because it was unheard of in their communities. They went straight to work in trades and such. PS: Petroleum Engineering is seasonal and not that good of a career choice as it depends too much on oil prices. I lived in Houston, an oil city. Many of my peers who did Petroleum Eng are out of work or with way lower salaries than advertised. Also, if you go to a state school you can graduate with little or no debt!
- tn13 10y ago
  Social pressure is common but when I look at Asian communities they seem to have very good understanding of which colleges work and which don't. I dont see why average american kid can not get the same information.

by tn13 10y ago

camel_Snake 10y ago

I'm not sure putting all the blame on these kids is fair. If we as a country have decided that those under 21 do not possess the appropriate reasoning skills or responsibility to have a beer, how do we accept that they have enough of the above to make such a large financial decision? If I had applied for a $50,000 loan to start my own business at 18 from most banks I'm betting I would have been rejected. Yet we're okay lending the same to invest in education as long as the student is yoked to this debt for life.

ruste 10y ago
You're absolutely right. The drinking age is too high. 18 is perfectly reasonable.
tn13 10y ago
But we as a country think that it is perfectly okay to send 19 year olds in Iraq or Syria and die fighting for someone else's mistakes.

sotojuan 10y ago

If you're raised in a suburban middle/upper middle environment you're told to go to college from day one by parents, teachers, friends, etc (especially parents). In some families there's actually little choice, but even if the student had the choice, it's a hard one to make in such a culture especially at age 17/18. That said, community college -> college is a safe and affordable option. The opposite happens too—I know a lot of working class kids who didn't bother with even applying to college because it was unheard of in their communities. They went straight to work in trades and such. PS: Petroleum Engineering is seasonal and not that good of a career choice as it depends too much on oil prices. I lived in Houston, an oil city. Many of my peers who did Petroleum Eng are out of work or with way lower salaries than advertised. Also, if you go to a state school you can graduate with little or no debt!

tn13 10y ago
Social pressure is common but when I look at Asian communities they seem to have very good understanding of which colleges work and which don't. I dont see why average american kid can not get the same information.