“Is College Worth It?” provides a thoroughgoing deconstruction of the “of course it is” delusion. It turns out that for too many, and maybe even most of our young people, the answer to this central question is, sadly, “no.”
“Whether the standard of excellence for higher education is cultivating the mind and the soul or maximizing financial return on investment, most of higher education fails most students,” the authors write.
College has simply become too expensive.
A bachelor of arts degree in political science at a price of more than $150,000 now seems like a bad life choice.
“College tuition will rise as long as the amount of money available through federal student aid continues to increase with little or no accountability.”
Awash in taxpayer-subsidized money, colleges offer their discerning-lifestyle consumers every possible amenity: wired dorms, state-of-the-art workout facilities, beautiful grounds and Zagat-worthy dining. Teachers teach less and research more. The person who is probably teaching your kid is not a tenured rock star, but a galley slave grad student who is paid so little that he or she qualifies for welfare assistance. It also bankrolls an ever-growing middle management of deans and directors. And let’s not forget the high six- and seven-figure salaries of college presidents. We have created a subprime higher-education bubble, and Mr. Bennett and Mr. Wilezol aim to let some of the air of out it.
The first thing that has to change is the belief that we are failing as a society if everyone doesn’t go to college. This snootiness is not serving our young people or our economy well.
College is only worth it for a minority of students. Most would be better served to follow a model that provides short, focused instruction and a period of apprenticeship where one learns “on the job.” Germany does this quite successfully.
“Is College Worth It?” is a book that should be read by everyone. No parent should write a check and no student should declare a major without first reading this book. For the graduating class of 2013, I fear this book has come too late. You can read it in your parents’ basement while you are looking to find a job with that degree in anthropology. But for those who have graduated high school and are heading off to college this September, there is still time. If you are more of a hands-on type, think about deferring for a year and working as an apprentice in a skilled trade.
The authors deserve the final word: “If traditional higher education wants to retain its prestige, its historical significance, and its students, it should re-establish a college education that serves the heart, the mind and the checkbook. If it doesn’t, the future of higher education may move on without it.”
Edited by Rogerdodger, 14 May 2013 - 01:17 PM.
