Mike Rowe's Profoundly Disconnected...challenging the notion that a 4-year degree is the only path to success

5*'s and some green

Thanks!

I've been of the opinion for a long time that the idea that every single kid in the U.S. should go to college is ridiculous. Some people aren't cut out for it and they shouldn't be made to feel like losers if they choose a trade instead.

Thanks for posting...

Good thread OP

I have over 35 people working for me and my highest paid people make $35.00 and hour. That's does not include a free cell phone, matching 401K and a good health insurance program.

I know for a fact you don't need a 4 yr degree to be successful.

Theres was a time when that may have been true..

Back in my grandparents day, you could leave high school, go to work in a factory, and support a family with that one income.

Then it came to the point where you needed a degree to make enough to single handedly provide for a family, either that, or both spouses had to work full time.

I think now a days, learning a trade is more beneficial than a degree.

You don't have student loans, and college students are not getting hired right out of school anymore.

I would choose a trade over a degree this day in age.

You're quite welcome!

Exactly. In our house, the money we're setting aside for the boys is labeled "career education fund" not "college fund." We feel strongly that they should train for a career, but it does not necessarily have to be college.

I have a girlfriend who's an electrician. She makes more than I ever did as a teacher, lol.

Awesome.

I like that!

Lol, we just want them out of the house permanently when it's that time. Too many college grads are moving back home because they're overqualified for all those jobs Obama's creating but still have massive student loan debts.

Mr. Rhombus and I have big plans for travel, golf and a home gym once the kids move out.

I agree 1000%. Some are not cut out for it, I wasn't and I one my own biz, however both of our sons went/go to college as does my wife, our oldest grad just this last May(computer science) he had a full academic scholarship & had a job waiting for him when he grad. with a signing bonus! My wife will grad next May with an Accounting degree & our youngest will grad in 2016. They are all great with math & excellent test takers

I respect what they are doing as well as the kid in a trade school learning Ac/heat, wielding etc...those jobs cannot be outsourced

What is ridiculous is the kid getting a 100k loan to study music or art appreciation and then crying because they can't get a job

Thanks for posting this. I saw Mike on GB a few weeks ago. Good stuff. I have a 19 year old son that is up against this right now. He doesn't want to go to college. He is more interested in something that a trade school would offer. We find ourselves in the position of feeling like we should apologize for the fact that he is not going to college. I think it's BS that we should be made to feel that way.

I remember years ago hearing that some high percentage of people with degrees (like 60% or more) end up in a career not related to their degree. I got a college degree but the only thing that it did was open doors where the requirement is "must have degree". That is BS too.

The cost of college has gone totally of the charts. Sure, there is definitely some professions that fit the college degree. But even medical school, your real training comes in the field, not in the class room or behind a book.

Interesting times ahead. The SSN ponzi scheme is our (baby boomer's) generations debacle. Student loans is our kids/grand kids.

Rhombi Rhombus, college education should be for all. - and it should be free.

Well put. Our sons couldn't be more different when it comes to academic interests. Our oldest is energetic, bright, creative and self-taught in many areas but structured academics make him want to scream. Our youngest, on the other hand, loves academics. He reads books on fundamentals of physics for fun (he's 7).

I have a feeling they'll take vastly different paths when they get their high school diplomas, but that's fine my me.

Your libtard is showing..

I'm a HS drop-out! There I said it.

Motivated myself when high-school became too boring. I went off the reservation, went to work as entry level machinist and soon turned that into mechanical engineer. Self taught, attended some community college, no degrees. Do I know everything, no, but I'm 59years old, earning 76k year, facilities manager of over 250k sq/ft research/office space, plus still manage research design facility, and has general construction business going too...when everyone got a high-school degree all it bought you was a fast food job. No everyone should get a four year or better degree and all many of the people can get is fast food work.

-cheers

Yep. Student loans are the next economic bubble. It's going to be a mess.

Oh, and don't let "them" make you and your kid feel embarrassed that he doesn't want to go to college. If he makes a great living in a trade he likes, he'll get the last laugh.

Last Edited by *Rhombus* on 11/12/2013 02:21 PM

Why? Seriously, why is college so necessary for everyone that it should be a right?

Good for you! Shows what self-confidence, determination and hard work can earn you.

For awareness and discussion

You would not know who Mike was if he hadn't of done a communications degree and lucked a job on QVC.

Don't you mean lucked out with the dirty jobs gig?

Perhaps not.

Still, how does that negate his message? He chose to go to college and has had a great career because of it. Should everyone feel pressure to go to college? No.

He admires the folks he met during his work on Dirty Jobs and wants kids to know there's no shame in learning a trade. That's the entire point.

Sheldon read Mike's Wiki page. He was a host for QVC before heading over to Dirty Jobs.

Our son was going to get a teaching degree, but we urged him to get a training in a trade at the same time. Eventually he decided to forget the degree, but stuck with the trade and is making great money now doing work he loves and is in high demand.

He said it was the best decision he ever made... many of his friends who finished college can't find a job.

He made a good choice. Teaching nowadays, especially in the public schools, is nearly intolerable.

He is famous and makes his money thanks to his degree. Its the same as Jesse Ventura complaining about rich corrupt politicians when he was one himself.

I don't recall him complaining. He's using his fame as a platform to educate.

I'm sure his degree helped him along the way, but do you really think it's the only thing that propelled him to fame? Really?

I can't think of anyone more justified in complaining about politicians than a former politician who saw what it's really like. Now if he was STILL a politician it would be a different story.