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I come from a country where my education was paid for by other people's tax money. I studied the subjects where my curiosity was greatest, and though I don't wo

I come from a country where my education was paid for by other people's tax money. I studied the subjects where my curiosity was greatest, and though I don't work in that field now, I do rely on things I learned through my college experience almost every day, and they make me better at my current job. Overall they make me a better contributor to the world around me, and I also have this feeling of gratitude that my world class education was not entangled with crushing debt, plus, you know, the playing field is at least somewhat more level at home than here in the US. You get the grades, you go to college. You don't have to evaluate the pros and cons of large amounts of unsecured loans. It's astonishing to me how things have turned out in the US. Ireland is far from perfect but we do pretty ok at affordable, accessible higher education.

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thecpphorse 10y ago
I am from the US and the government also paid for my education entirely, no strings attached. I could have studied Byzantine erotica if I had wanted. This is not a US vs world issue.
- taurath 10y ago
  The Average student loan debt post graduation in the US is $40k now, so I'd say it's a hell of a lot bigger problem in the US than the rest of the modern world.
- oddlyaromatic 10y ago
  I was not clear that I was responding in part to parent's idea about "useless" degrees not being worth money. I'm glad your education was such. ... But I also seem to have the impression that this is not the norm in the US- that you have to pay out of pocket or with loans for the most prestigious schools? In Ireland you compete with other students academically but not financially. At least in theory. Like I said, not perfect. If free higher education is available, why do 18 year olds take on large debts to pay for it?
  - thecpphorse 10y ago
    As you say, it is academic competition that leads to what American teens call the "free ride".

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thecpphorse 10y ago

I am from the US and the government also paid for my education entirely, no strings attached. I could have studied Byzantine erotica if I had wanted. This is not a US vs world issue.

taurath 10y ago
The Average student loan debt post graduation in the US is $40k now, so I'd say it's a hell of a lot bigger problem in the US than the rest of the modern world.
oddlyaromatic 10y ago
I was not clear that I was responding in part to parent's idea about "useless" degrees not being worth money. I'm glad your education was such. ... But I also seem to have the impression that this is not the norm in the US- that you have to pay out of pocket or with loans for the most prestigious schools? In Ireland you compete with other students academically but not financially. At least in theory. Like I said, not perfect. If free higher education is available, why do 18 year olds take on large debts to pay for it?
- thecpphorse 10y ago
  As you say, it is academic competition that leads to what American teens call the "free ride".