COLLEGE is NOT for EVERYONE

Huge complaints are surfacing everywhere over the decreased access of students to higher education in America. In CALIFORNIA, for example, tuition is expected to rise roughly 20 percent next year, just the latest in series of steep increases. Yearly in-state tuition at California State University will average about $5,500, while at the University of California, it is expected to be $13,200 if the increases are approved this month.

In an American Rite of Passage, students graduating from high school are expected to go to college. Many of them do matriculate at colleges and universities and graduate in 4 or more years with ....NOTHING. Unless you have something specific in mind, in the 21st century, just getting a college degree in something relatively useless like Gay and Lesbian, Women's, or Ethnic studies, is wasting your time, and a precious resource. Unless your dream is becoming Jesse jackson, Al Sharpton, Cesar Chavez, or Gloria Steinem, what the hell are you going to do with a degree like this? As an undergraduate degree in preparation for law school, sure. As a stand alone degree... just imagine going to some company for a job where they already have a diversity coordinator and applying for an entry level position in marketing or finance...whatever. You hand in your resume and there it is "Women's Studies." Other applicants applying have "Finance" or "Management" degrees. You are NOT going to get the job.

IN MY OPINION, this is especially important for ethnic and minority students. Most employers, and I used to be one, would go out of their way to hire in the interest of ethnic diversity given similar educational backgrounds in job applicants. Having a degree in some useless subject is not a ticket to getting hired, especially in these hard economic times. Think twice before you declare a major. Think three times before taking 4 or 5 years out of your life to attend college when what you really want to do is something technical. That goes double for graduate school. A masters in History? Sure, if you want to teach or write. A Masters or PhD in Psychology and you can be self employed. A Masters in Cultural diversity or some touchy feely sociology...?? Learn to say "Do you want fries with that?"