November 2, 2008
Education is a future investment?
random asked:
I beg to differ on the above statement. Education is cost. It is an opportunity cost to start with and in many cases ends up as a sunk cost. It is perhaps the biggest chunk of cost in one’s life and I woudn’t be surprised with decrease in population with above relevation. Such cliche should not be allowed as it gives false nature of education. Today, educational institutions and schools are becoming (if not already) businesses running on students’ pockets with a label of above cliche and this should be banned. Investment comes with returns and dividends and education does not provide it today. It is perhaps a badly bubbled up sector and population should be educated of this fact.
I beg to differ on the above statement. Education is cost. It is an opportunity cost to start with and in many cases ends up as a sunk cost. It is perhaps the biggest chunk of cost in one’s life and I woudn’t be surprised with decrease in population with above relevation. Such cliche should not be allowed as it gives false nature of education. Today, educational institutions and schools are becoming (if not already) businesses running on students’ pockets with a label of above cliche and this should be banned. Investment comes with returns and dividends and education does not provide it today. It is perhaps a badly bubbled up sector and population should be educated of this fact.
Filed under Higher Education (University +) by Administrator
Comments on Education is a future investment?
Higher education is an accreditation that gives you access to more (and higher quality) jobs.
You still have to look at the economic statistics, and college graduates still have the opportunity to make more over their lifetimes than non-grads. Two things really do make a difference though.
First, college bound people need to make the best decisions regarding their education as possible. For instance, choosing a school that doesn’t drain their pockets, and picking a major that will allow them future returns on their investment (such as one that leads to an in demand career field). Too many people believe that college automatically equals success, which it does not. Choosing a liberal arts degree with very few real world applications can leave college grads jobless and working in retail or some other entry level position.
Secondly, many college students do not receive proper training in how to lead financially sound lives after they leave school. Most classes in high school that talk about check balancing, choosing a good bank, managing credit and paying bills are designated for students not in the college bound track. So more college bound people end up in debt simply because they don’t understand these principles until it’s too late. Some colleges are starting to add optional courses to their general education track, but in my opinion they should be required so that graduates are prepared for entering the real world and don’t make stupid decisions.
So yeah, education is really expensive, but I don’t think that it is a sunk cost. People simply need to make better decisions and be more educated about what they are doing.
*sigh*
My good friend, I have been in schools since the age of 6 (or was that 5?).. so I’ve been in it for well over a decade and am sorry to say it takes FOREVER to get to that point of freaking success where you are finally satisfied and not paying anymore increasing tuition fees and going to boring classes that seem to spew nothing but random garbage at your face.
You’re right about being skeptical about education being a future investment… since the egotisical nerds who created institutions and instilled “value” in them were idiots and still are.
Professors believe in the prospect of your hidden potential, and I too believe in that, but the majority of people don’t have that and are plain folks. education has been structured into a rapidly commercial and money-wise sense! It’s just so stupid - as long as you get out of high school and look for a full time job, you’re much beter off than slaving your wallet and bank account for years to “higher education.”
You are implying that education is not an investment because it is a business? That is incorrect.
Statistically speaking, even enlisting in a university - as oppose to completing your major at a community college - is more financially rewarding than it’s counterpart option.
I will agree however, the education system is intellectually ailing.