Comments on: FauxPlomas and the watering down of college degrees http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/ Christian Personal Finance - Financial help blog, debt help and other financial resources Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:22:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pam http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-118348 Pam Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:49:19 +0000 http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/#comment-118348 And after you get that degree, make sure you know how to party, gossip, kiss up to boss as much as possible; then you can get away with coming to work at any hours you feel, be a no show without notifying your boss, take as many smoke breaks as you please, spend hours on company's time ever morning taking breakfast orders--then spend at least an hour having breakfast, or else your degree will be of no use. And after you get that degree, make sure you know how to party, gossip, kiss up to boss as much as possible; then you can get away with coming to work at any hours you feel, be a no show without notifying your boss, take as many smoke breaks as you please, spend hours on company’s time ever morning taking breakfast orders–then spend at least an hour having breakfast, or else your degree will be of no use.

]]> By: Anthony http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-104384 Anthony Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:32:25 +0000 http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/#comment-104384 College is a very good option, IF you weigh its cost versus its benefits, i.e., tuition/student loans vs. real-world demand. I have a traditional 4 year degree in a field that I don't work in. I made the naive mistake of not looking at how transferable the degree was in the business world. If I were to do it over again, I would still go through college, but in a very different field. However, currently, I was able to bargain my income based solely on the fact that I had a degree. I do believe degrees are probably going to become less meaningful in the future, but for now, they still carry weight; they just need to be thoroughly investigated before investing massive amounts of time and money into such an endeavor. Make certain that the degree will be needed in whichever field you want to pursue. Don't go to college just because it demonstrates some perceived sign of "maturity." College is a very good option, IF you weigh its cost versus its benefits, i.e., tuition/student loans vs. real-world demand. I have a traditional 4 year degree in a field that I don’t work in. I made the naive mistake of not looking at how transferable the degree was in the business world. If I were to do it over again, I would still go through college, but in a very different field. However, currently, I was able to bargain my income based solely on the fact that I had a degree.

I do believe degrees are probably going to become less meaningful in the future, but for now, they still carry weight; they just need to be thoroughly investigated before investing massive amounts of time and money into such an endeavor. Make certain that the degree will be needed in whichever field you want to pursue. Don’t go to college just because it demonstrates some perceived sign of “maturity.”

]]> By: Coleen http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-27652 Coleen Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:47:04 +0000 http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/#comment-27652 Every accredited college offers Clep testing which gives you college credit for just a few hours of testing. What's the difference in gaining college credit that way versus the life learning experience term papers credit? I attended an accredited college that offered credit for life learning experience term papers as part of the elective courses. The writing experience alone has helped me more on my job than the actual classroom college courses I had to sit through. A college degree is a huge expense that most could and should do without. Every accredited college offers Clep testing which gives you college credit for just a few hours of testing. What’s the difference in gaining college credit that way versus the life learning experience term papers credit? I attended an accredited college that offered credit for life learning experience term papers as part of the elective courses. The writing experience alone has helped me more on my job than the actual classroom college courses I had to sit through. A college degree is a huge expense that most could and should do without.

]]> By: Discontented http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-6603 Discontented Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:37:58 +0000 http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/#comment-6603 I have a real degree which I'll sell real cheap. I have a real degree which I’ll sell real cheap.

]]> By: threadbndr (karla) http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-6544 threadbndr (karla) Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:57:54 +0000 http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/#comment-6544 My co-worker just finished one of those "non-traditional" degrees and several other people in the office are going to the same place. This is one of the better ones, not a "faux", but definately not as many hours as I put in at a 'traditional' school. My college does do a lot of evening and weekend classes to accomodate students who are working full time, but the total hours and requirements are the same as for the daytime classes and the classes are taught by the same professors. Do I resent the fact that she has finished several years before me, has already been promoted over my head - yes. In the end, will my degree be better - I sure hope so. I do know that I have $0 in student loan debt, while she has several tens of thousands. That alone is enough to make it worthwhile for me. My co-worker just finished one of those “non-traditional” degrees and several other people in the office are going to the same place. This is one of the better ones, not a “faux”, but definately not as many hours as I put in at a ‘traditional’ school. My college does do a lot of evening and weekend classes to accomodate students who are working full time, but the total hours and requirements are the same as for the daytime classes and the classes are taught by the same professors.

Do I resent the fact that she has finished several years before me, has already been promoted over my head – yes. In the end, will my degree be better – I sure hope so. I do know that I have $0 in student loan debt, while she has several tens of thousands. That alone is enough to make it worthwhile for me.

]]> By: Matt http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-6396 Matt Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:48:16 +0000 http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/#comment-6396 Your post made me think of this post: http://alfin2100.blogspot.com/2008/09/is-college-biggest-waste-of-all.html I think the degrees in general are already being devalued because it has become the standard 'requirement' for a white collar job. How do you distinguish between the person who worked hard in college and graduated with a good GPA vs the person who coasted through doing the bare minimum. Both have the same degree. "Here's the reality: Everyone in every occupation starts as an apprentice. Those who are good enough become journeymen. The best become master craftsmen. This is as true of business executives and history professors as of chefs and welders. Getting rid of the BA and replacing it with evidence of competence -- treating post-secondary education as apprenticeships for everyone -- is one way to help us to recognize that common bond." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121858688764535107.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular How many white collar workers could do their jobs just as well if their 4 year degree was replaced with a few intense courses on using MS office, particularly excel? I have a 4 year degree that I probably shouldn't have gotten. The main skills I use in my job, I already had before or I taught myself above and beyond my course work. Yet the idea that I needed a degree to earn a decent living pushed me to get one. If I had continued working full time for the four years of my degree I'd probably be making more right now and would have no student loan debt... I think in the future certifications in specific skills are going to be more meaningful than college degrees. One reason will be because of these fauxplomas, but another will be because of the glut of people with real degrees that are as nearly as meaningless. Your post made me think of this post: http://alfin2100.blogspot.com/2008/09/is-college-biggest-waste-of-all.html

I think the degrees in general are already being devalued because it has become the standard ‘requirement’ for a white collar job. How do you distinguish between the person who worked hard in college and graduated with a good GPA vs the person who coasted through doing the bare minimum. Both have the same degree.

“Here’s the reality: Everyone in every occupation starts as an apprentice. Those who are good enough become journeymen. The best become master craftsmen. This is as true of business executives and history professors as of chefs and welders. Getting rid of the BA and replacing it with evidence of competence — treating post-secondary education as apprenticeships for everyone — is one way to help us to recognize that common bond.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121858688764535107.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular

How many white collar workers could do their jobs just as well if their 4 year degree was replaced with a few intense courses on using MS office, particularly excel?

I have a 4 year degree that I probably shouldn’t have gotten. The main skills I use in my job, I already had before or I taught myself above and beyond my course work. Yet the idea that I needed a degree to earn a decent living pushed me to get one. If I had continued working full time for the four years of my degree I’d probably be making more right now and would have no student loan debt…

I think in the future certifications in specific skills are going to be more meaningful than college degrees. One reason will be because of these fauxplomas, but another will be because of the glut of people with real degrees that are as nearly as meaningless.

]]> By: bob http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-6380 bob Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:04:22 +0000 http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/#comment-6380 Personally, I don't think that would be pleasing to God and even if there weren't a moral issue with it - you can bet most people engaging in that activity are going to be found out and probably very embarrassed in the process Personally,
I don’t think that would be pleasing to God and even if there weren’t a moral issue with it – you can bet most people engaging in that activity are going to be found out and probably very embarrassed in the process

]]> By: Uncommonadvice http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-6374 Uncommonadvice Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:51:29 +0000 http://christianpf.com/fauxplomas-and-the-watering-down-of-college-degrees/#comment-6374 I don't know if Degrees have been valued by British employers at all in the last ten years. The question I would therefore ask is, if you can get away with a fake diploma, then why not? I don’t know if Degrees have been valued by British employers at all in the last ten years. The question I would therefore ask is, if you can get away with a fake diploma, then why not?

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