Comments for On Higher Education

Comment on Our Universities: Open Letter to High School Graduates by Me

Me — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:33:17 +0000

You are so right. Thanks for this post. I graduated with almost $20K in debt and a liberal arts degree four years ago. I was blessed to find a company that offered me 30% more than everybody else, and I was able to pay off my debt in a short time. Still, the months of paying the debt opened my eyes to a realty that I did not understand when I was signing loan agreements. I was super lucky, but many of my cohort are in misery right now… And those extra two years of parties weren’t worth the current reality of life now. I am sharing this with as many as I can to try and let them know before they go.

Comment on Our Universities: Open Letter to High School Graduates by SDB

SDB — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:48:57 +0000

The wonderful, common sense type of advice that I’ve had to bite my tongue for so long so as not to espouse, that I speak with an impediment.

Comment on Our Universities: Open Letter to High School Graduates by dh

dh — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:15:36 +0000

Excellent post! You have presented this information in the best possible way. I continue to mention to potential college students that they need to carefully think about their choices in terms of higher education, field/major, costs, and debt. It is amazing that students are so thorough when purchasing a car, but are not so thorough when deciding upon a higher education. Thanks so much for you post. Please continue with your message to others.

Comment on Our Universities: Open Letter to High School Graduates by Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:04:06 +0000

I agree with Walter’s advice–for graduate school. One should indeed not accumulate much debt at the grad level (especially in a field without a good job market, including any field in the humanities–like mine). If you get into a decent graduate program that doesn’t normally lead to a high paying job (i.e., med school or law school), you need to be funded (probably by teachign). But undergraduate education, not being state financed in this country, has long involved some level of debt for the middle class on down. Expecting students to pay as they go will result in students working too many hours to give their studies adequate time, and taking too long to graduate–if ever they graduate. Naturally, stressing thrift is important: students who can afford iPhones but can’t afford to buy the books they need for their classes need to readjust their priorities. You should expect to be poor while in school, and not afford Acapulco–unless Mom and Dad are paying. Debt should be kept to a minimum; but education is something worth paying for, I think.

Keep in mind that “You Get What You Pay For” applies to community college as well as anything else. Community colleges provide an essential service, and if you are a high school student who did poorly at HS they may be ideal for you, as a bridge to college–especially if they allow you to get into a better college, or even to win merit based aid you couldn’t have won straight out of high school. But if you are a strong student, go to a decent four year school from the get go. Get professors with PhDs, not teachers with MAs. Community colleges are largely staffed by adjuncts who qualify for food stamps: they are good people, but are often underqualified and always miserably compensated and overworked. Get to a decent four year school; seek out classes taught by profs, not GAs–and if you are in a large class, make a point of getting to know the prof nonetheless.
Pay attention to the finances, by all means. But a college education ought to also be about more than finances. If you go to college, you had better get an education that goes beyond job training. If all you are interested in is job training, then Walter’s analysis may be right for you.

Comment on Our Universities: Open Letter to High School Graduates by TW

TW — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:47:47 +0000

Excellent article and very relevant to a certain institution increasing tuition fees, ecouraging student debt, and providing less for the money – unless you count the increasing higher administrative hires!

Comment on Our Universities: Open Letter to High School Graduates by KJ

KJ — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:49:41 +0000

Very good life advice! Live within your means while working hard and planning for tomorrow.

Comment on Our Universities: Open Letter to High School Graduates by Gratefully Retired SIU Professor

Gratefully Retired SIU Professor — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:30:52 +0000

WVW –

At last, I have found one.

Diogenes.

Comment on Our Universities: Open Letter to High School Graduates by Kristy

Kristy — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:21:06 +0000

great article! well written and awesome advice!!

Comment on About the Author – Walter Wendler by LCL

LCL — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:28:31 +0000

Wonderful article-eye opening and so true!

Comment on Our Universities: Passing the Buck by TW

TW — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:15:43 +0000

Better “a voice crying in the wilderness” rather than remaining silent and submissive as the majority of faculty are at SIUC. The institution is slowly being destroyed as a viable educational facility and the lack of replacements for those faculty taking retirement will soon turn it into a for-profit, online university envisaged by those now in higher administration. Somebody in today’s Southern noticed the parallel of the groundbreaking of the new, unwanted, Student Services Building, with the centenary of the Titanic!