Student Debt Crisis: Social Security Confiscation, Some Consider Suicide

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. I have been arguing with young people for several decades now

that they don't need to take out loans, that they can start at a community college, that they can take some kind of vocational classes that can lead directly to decent jobs.

I also try to tell parents that same stuff.

I often feel as if I'm arguing to a wall. The nonsense that everyone needs a four year degree is overwhelming common sense. Plus, even otherwise sensible students don't bother to see if there are jobs in their chosen fields.

Every single school has some kind of office to help students do things like find jobs. They go crazy because so few students bother to seek them out.

In 1982 I had a job where a co-worker's husband had just started a barber training program. I recall being somewhat skeptical that this was a good idea, but I had just met her and we weren't friends so I didn't say anything. Surprise, surprise. When he finished the program there were no jobs to be found in that field.

So here's the basic lesson. Major or train in what field you want, but know that in the end you will need to go to work to support yourself, and find out ahead of time if there are actual jobs to be had in that field.