Are Too Many People Going to College?

Here’s a very interesting piece from the Huffington Post discussing the fact that too many people (according to a recent study) are going to college (and should be doing something different instead.) A summary: The current U.S. education system is failing to prepare millions of young adults for successful careers by providing a one-size-fits-all approach, and it should take a cue from its European counterparts by offering greater emphasis on occupational instruction, a Harvard University study published Wednesday concludes. The two-year study by the Pathways to Prosperity Project at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education notes that while much emphasis is placed in high school on going on to a four-year college, only 30 percent of young adults in the United States successfully complete a bachelor’s degree. While the number of jobs that require no post-secondary education have declined, the researchers note that only one-third of the jobs created in the coming years are expected to need a bachelor’s degree or higher. Roughly the same amount will need just an associate’s degree or an occupational credential. “What I fear is the continuing problem of too many kids dropping by the wayside and the other problem of kids going into debt, and going into college but not completing with a degree or certificate,” said Robert Schwartz, who heads the project and is academic dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. “Almost everybody can cite some kid who marched off to college because it was the only socially legitimate thing to do but had no real interest.” Ok, let’s summarize here. The main thoughts: 1. The U.S. educational system isn’t really helping individual students determine individual skills and abilities and directing them to and/or training them for appropriate job options. This is not really a shocker to anyone, is it? 2. Only 30% of young adults complete a bachelor’s degree? Wow, I would have guessed it to be much higher — something like 50%. What do the other 70% do for their careers? 3. “Only one-third of the jobs created in the coming years are expected to need a bachelor’s degree or higher.” Really? Very interesting again. But based on this, it looks like we’re graduating the right number of people (30%). 4. “Roughly the same amount will need just an associate’s degree or an occupational credential.” I wish they named the top 10 professions they are talking about here. Anyone have a guess of what they are? Perhaps in the medical field as some sort of assistants to doctors and nurses? 5. It appears that many more than 30% are going to college — but that only 30% graduate. So a good amount are taking college classes, potentially racking up debt to do so, then not getting their degree. Ugh. The only thing worse than big debt with a degree is big debt with no degree. The overall message in this post is an interesting one — that too many people are going to college and the current system is not helping those who don’t attend college find their initial careers. This is particularly a timely topic for me as my oldest child enters high school next year. As I look to help guide him in the proper direction, I’m wondering if my previous bias towards “you must attend college” is incorrect. We’ve discussed this issue previously , but this piece just reminded me that I need to help my son consider alternatives post high school. Thoughts?

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Are Too Many People Going to College?