why today's youth are fools and why colleges across the country want them to stay that way

Long long ago, I graduated out of a medium tier college. Not that it opened many doors for me or things would have been different had I graduated from a top-tier college. Chances are, regardless, the station I am at is where I would have been had I taken the umpteen other paths. I am not speaking of Destiny (It is a she and she is a Miss). However, I hate to admit...tip of the hat, Ms Destiny.

I am guilty of a crime - of not understanding American culture. It just belies common-sense.

Why is it harder to imagine that kids CAN stay with their parents and go to a local college/university spending the LEAST amount of money that doesnt endanger the kid or the parent financially? Why? Why? Why?

Back in the day, only because it was prohibitively expensive, and reservation policies that didnt allow a meritirous student like me to pursue an electronics engineering course, I was FORCED to pick a school outside my city. I was home-sick everyday of the 4 years. All in all, I spent somewhere close to $2000 (adjusted for exchange rates in the 1990s) for a 4 year college degree. I was able to earn close to $2000 in the very first year of employment ( I was living with my parents then, no bills, no expenses...free cash flow!)

Let us apply the same to the USA - kids are independent, have other expenses that need to be supported when they do graduate. The starting salary for a fresh out of college is no more than $40-50k. In one statement, let me state emphatically - this salary is NOT SUSTAINABLE. Unless the freshly-minted graduate lives a misers existence paying off the debt before enjoying the first $ as a debt-free man!


Confession - the 4 year degree certificate DID open doors for me, not the college nor the course!

Confession - 2: I am no Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerburg, CTO ,whiz kid, genius, prodigy. But, just the above-average person any employer would love. If you are reading this, you shouldnt confuse yourself in thinking you are any better. 

See, the world is full of employees. The world is full of engineering graduates. Let us see if you make the connection!


What prompted me to write this article was this paragraph from the daily beast (How to Reinvent the college)

The hazy imprecision of this notion is a triumph of college marketing. Many colleges hope that whims and intangibles will guide student decisions. It’s simply not in their interest to encourage students to think closely about the economics of their choice.

 The economics of obtaining a college degree in the USA are far costlier than other parts of the world. It is hugely tilted in favor of the universities. It will be many times cheaper to get one in India (for example).

Online education may sound the death-knell for these greedy colleges which at this moment are acting like toll-bridges. Not for too long.