2016 Postmortem

Kang Colby

(1,941 posts)

158. I think it's a fair question...

Sat Feb 6, 2016, 08:43 AM

Feb 2016

if someone takes out a 50-150K dollar loan for a degree in a minimally marketable major and then can't repay it...who is to blame? Sure, I think the banks should seriously cut down the loan maximums for non engineering/computer science/reputable business programs or medicine. Even those should be limited to other factors like the quality of the program and the students performance. However, I can not overlook that there are people who will spend 100K on a third tier private education in "the humanities" and then act shocked and blame the cruel world when they aren't making more than minimum wage. Perhaps the poor state of our STEM programs in our high schools is the reason why people take out biblical sums of money for degrees that will provide little ROI.

I realize that comes across as harsh, but I hope someone reads that and thinks twice about jeopardizing their future for a 150K dollar art degree.

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I Will Die With Student Loan Debt [View all] angrychair Feb 2016 OP

Massive K&R..... daleanime Feb 2016 #1

sorry I don't understand your point hill2016 Feb 2016 #2

Sorry, you are not correct angrychair Feb 2016 #3

The research shows that students who work 10 hours a week have higher pnwmom Feb 2016 #87

Nothing wrong with working while going to school SickOfTheOnePct Feb 2016 #191

My kiddos go to college in Germany ask me anything pinebox Feb 2016 #28

I think the point was that Germany has one of the lowest college attendance rates in Europe Recursion Feb 2016 #134

But do you know why that is? pinebox Feb 2016 #166

I do know why that is, yes Recursion Feb 2016 #172

There is a chance I will die trying to escape student loan debt. VulgarPoet Feb 2016 #4

Sucks to be you NobodyHere Feb 2016 #5

Great "I got mine, don't give a crap about you" attitude. liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #8

The Third Way in action, don'tcha know. VulgarPoet Feb 2016 #9

That is it, in a nutshell. nt Live and Learn Feb 2016 #14

The third way is increasingly looking like the old Repuglican way. reformist2 Feb 2016 #39

It sounds like..... backtomn Feb 2016 #53

Typical republican attitude. TIME TO PANIC Feb 2016 #16

Deleted so not to stoop to that poster's level. nt PonyUp Feb 2016 #19

WOW that was unkind! onecent Feb 2016 #27

So is life NobodyHere Feb 2016 #29

I just love the ignore function. Good bye. liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #31

Been a rough one, eh? Sorry to hear that! onecent Feb 2016 #32

Thanks to some people. You could work to make things better instead, you know. nt Live and Learn Feb 2016 #43

Martin Shkreli, is that you? nt JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 2016 #169

Wow just wow..... pinebox Feb 2016 #33

Jury 2-5 to keep this. Unbelievable. n/t PonyUp Feb 2016 #35

The elitists are out in force today. nt Live and Learn Feb 2016 #45

Well, the poster's a ******, but the post in itself isn't hide-worthy Orrex Feb 2016 #85

I voted to keep it because I knew he would get thrashed LittleBlue Feb 2016 #112

Ah! A Hillary supporter. Katashi_itto Feb 2016 #60

Bernie supporter actually NobodyHere Feb 2016 #65

Mmmhmmm. Ed Suspicious Feb 2016 #72

Yeah right. Katashi_itto Feb 2016 #122

Tell you what ... Trajan Feb 2016 #152

Anyone with a user name like "Nobody Here" has serious issues Lorien Feb 2016 #167

Yeah! Fuck everybody else! Orrex Feb 2016 #83

So, how'd you do it? Duppers Feb 2016 #121

Kind of a shitty thing to say. redwitch Feb 2016 #125

It sucks to read your post... MrMickeysMom Feb 2016 #137

I weep for you. nt retrowire Feb 2016 #148

Sheesh ... Trajan Feb 2016 #151

When? progressoid Feb 2016 #160

Daddy and Mommy paid for it. mac56 Feb 2016 #168

Sanders also only covers state universities dsc Feb 2016 #6

True angrychair Feb 2016 #11

Pls explain to me the "work 10 hours a week for a free education" statement brush Feb 2016 #20

Seems ok to you angrychair Feb 2016 #26

What's with the smart ass response? I asked if there were other strings attached. brush Feb 2016 #133

I would argue AZ Jim Feb 2016 #179

Under Sanders program if you are expecting the government to pay for your board dsc Feb 2016 #25

Another false claim. Sanders isn't making anyone work at all. Live and Learn Feb 2016 #47

that help consists of work programs and loans dsc Feb 2016 #48

Funny, you left out GRANTS. How is it that Hillary supporters always forget the important things? Live and Learn Feb 2016 #49

As a mother during the late 90s and early 00s, I was raising Skidmore Feb 2016 #131

So??? nt Live and Learn Feb 2016 #15

over half the OP is about what a vile program Hillary has since she only covers state universites dsc Feb 2016 #23

That is simply not true. One sentence in the OP is dedicated to that. Live and Learn Feb 2016 #24

I may die with unpaid college debt TeddyR Feb 2016 #7

So corporate welfare is ok? angrychair Feb 2016 #10

Tore the words right out of my mouth. VulgarPoet Feb 2016 #17

Can't you be against both? Nt metroins Feb 2016 #84

College is overrated. Elmergantry Feb 2016 #30

Yes angrychair Feb 2016 #36

If they can't do a cost-benefit analysis NobodyHere Feb 2016 #41

Not hard. Elmergantry Feb 2016 #52

I would expect Republicans to view education that way, not Democrats. liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #37

I swear, when it comes to things like higher education SammyWinstonJack Feb 2016 #156

I agree, it is over rated! leftofcool Feb 2016 #44

I wish I was more "handy" Elmergantry Feb 2016 #50

Fantastic! leftofcool Feb 2016 #59

Follow your own advice and do research. Because you're clueless jeff47 Feb 2016 #61

Learn a trade Elmergantry Feb 2016 #86

And they're supposed to know that before going to college because.......? jeff47 Feb 2016 #103

Nothing in life is guarenteed. Elmergantry Feb 2016 #154

Then why are you arguing as if job prospects are guaranteed? jeff47 Feb 2016 #163

I am arguing they are better Elmergantry Feb 2016 #193

Hmmm... let's do that whatthehey Feb 2016 #106

I tell my college students that although it used to be possible to declare bankruptcy tblue37 Feb 2016 #127

How did you "get screwed"? TeddyR Feb 2016 #51

Sad. Just sad. No wonder only 30% of Americans consider themselves Democrats anymore. liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #54

Doesn't answer the question TeddyR Feb 2016 #58

"..massive tax increases to pay for that plan." HeartoftheMidwest Feb 2016 #76

Very well put, HM! nt Mnemosyne Feb 2016 #146

What do you think TeddyR Feb 2016 #180

Don't really want to digress from the topic of the OP.... HeartoftheMidwest Feb 2016 #184

With respect to digressing from the topic TeddyR Feb 2016 #185

Sorry if I wasn't clear. HeartoftheMidwest Feb 2016 #187

Must be nice to live in your world angrychair Feb 2016 #70

Your better off. Elmergantry Feb 2016 #89

ROFL angrychair Feb 2016 #99

So your in IT? Elmergantry Feb 2016 #155

So what is your complaint? TeddyR Feb 2016 #181

Wow. I would say I can't believe this is what the Democratic Party has turned into but liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #13

I can pinebox Feb 2016 #34

+ another RiverLover Feb 2016 #144

Seriously??? Is that what you thought about the Company Stores where Live and Learn Feb 2016 #18

What is the babble about TeddyR Feb 2016 #55

And there you have it. leftofcool Feb 2016 #22

Pink unicorns and fairy dust. We Can't Do that!! Live and Learn Feb 2016 #12

I worked my way through. leftofcool Feb 2016 #21

So did I. RiverLover Feb 2016 #40

When? progressoid Feb 2016 #159

Back when college tuition was 1500 a semester and minimum wage was 90 cents an hour. leftofcool Feb 2016 #170

So, at the far left side of that graph then. progressoid Feb 2016 #189

...and far fewer German Citizens get the benefit of the free tuition brooklynite Feb 2016 #38

It's a bit of a misleading chart Bradical79 Feb 2016 #192

What I don't understand is the mindset of having to go full time to a 4 year university Press Virginia Feb 2016 #42

There is no one size fits all model. That is the problem. I am glad you were able to work liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #46

That is what my oldest son did. Went to a commnity college for two years (made sure Waldorf Feb 2016 #115

It's a smart way to do it Press Virginia Feb 2016 #120

Maybe.... backtomn Feb 2016 #56

Have we been secretly transported to FreeRepublic? I can't handle hearing liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #57

I have a degree..... backtomn Feb 2016 #62

No, you're just a jerk. n/t Admiral Loinpresser Feb 2016 #79

This whole thread is full of the same catch phrases isn't it? laundry_queen Feb 2016 #74

ITA Dems2002 Feb 2016 #153

There is 1 STEM job opening for every 6 STEM graduates. jeff47 Feb 2016 #64

You have to take that into account treestar Feb 2016 #67

Banks don't hand out the loans anymore. jeff47 Feb 2016 #102

I never mentioned visas, but.... backtomn Feb 2016 #77

Apparently you have never heard Admiral Loinpresser Feb 2016 #80

Yep Economics cant be ignored. Elmergantry Feb 2016 #91

The thing you claimed was a smart choice isn't. jeff47 Feb 2016 #101

The government used to bankroll public colleges Arazi Feb 2016 #175

If I had to go to college now treestar Feb 2016 #63

There are a lot of hard conversations that have to be had bluestateguy Feb 2016 #66

My husband was told in high school by the principle he would never amount to anything. liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #71

Good for your husband. Beacool Feb 2016 #142

TY. Nice to hear common sense. N/T Elmergantry Feb 2016 #94

I must admit I am constantly shocked by the amount of student debt SheilaT Feb 2016 #68

The system is the problem, not the students. We keep blaming average Americans for liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #78

It's not entirely the system. SheilaT Feb 2016 #88

If we had tuition free college, we wouldn't have to limit students choices based on debt and income liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #90

Tuition free, or very low tuition is something I support. SheilaT Feb 2016 #100

"The system" and "the parents" are both problems TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2016 #110

How did they pay for junior college? liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #111

Lived at home and got jobs. TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2016 #114

I'm not saying that people shouldn't go to community college. My daughter goes to liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #116

True, but many more students go to college these days, as well. TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2016 #118

Are you seriously comparing 10 hours of work a week to slavery? taught_me_patience Feb 2016 #69

Frankly, I am shocked at the entitled attitude among some here. TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2016 #113

Public colleges and universities were free in the 1960s. senz Feb 2016 #73

+1000000. Thank you. This thread is thoroughly depressing me. I think I'm just going to liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #75

No, they weren't free. Not all of them. I believe in California they were, but not in other states SheilaT Feb 2016 #82

Sorry. In a hurry I forgot to put "in California" in the title. But they were cheaper elsewhere. senz Feb 2016 #143

In the 60's about 5 percent went to college yeoman6987 Feb 2016 #130

Wrong. Enrollment increased from 29.4% in 1950 to-- eridani Feb 2016 #157

In very few places were they free, though they were much cheaper Recursion Feb 2016 #135

Working 10 hours a week is nothing dlwickham Feb 2016 #81

The other option is to flee the country and never return, JPnoodleman Feb 2016 #92

Exactly. Short term thinking on this will only lead to more problems down the road. liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #93

Short term thinking is second nature in America unfortunately, JPnoodleman Feb 2016 #97

Poorshaming. K&R. JDPriestly Feb 2016 #95

We certainly could afford it if we weren't spending trillions on war. liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #96

We have positively useless weapons systems, JPnoodleman Feb 2016 #98

It's got to be tuition and fees. The fees are way more than tuition, at least in MA. seaglass Feb 2016 #119

Thanks. JDPriestly Feb 2016 #136

Student Loans, many of them predatory . . FairWinds Feb 2016 #104

If I had to do it over: I'd go to a trade school and learn to be a plumber or electrician. Paper Roses Feb 2016 #105

For those who want to be plumbers that is great. We also need doctors, scientists, liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #107

I understand your perspective angrychair Feb 2016 #108

I chose to fight to change it. Those who fought for the Labor Movement, the Women's liberal_at_heart Feb 2016 #109

Problem is that you need to be a family member to get into one of those corrupt unions n/t taught_me_patience Feb 2016 #117

Sorry someone had to work a whole 10 hours a week to help pay tuition. zappaman Feb 2016 #123

ditto Roy Ellefson Feb 2016 #124

I'm sorry, but if you think that Sanders will get free college tuition for all, Beacool Feb 2016 #126

exactly Roy Ellefson Feb 2016 #129

I know, I know, the revolution is coming and millions of people will take to the streets demanding workinclasszero Feb 2016 #174

Hidden in your post is the supposition that ONLY Sen. Sanders will be elected. HeartoftheMidwest Feb 2016 #188

Actually, that's not a factual argument. Beacool Feb 2016 #190

You are not alone. PowerToThePeople Feb 2016 #128

Why did YOU take out so much debt, with no hope of repaying it? Kang Colby Feb 2016 #132

Everyone who takes debt for college expects to be able to repay it. RiverLover Feb 2016 #145

I think it's a fair question... Kang Colby Feb 2016 #158

tuition is only 20% or less of total cost of college BlueStateLib Feb 2016 #138

Ya know, Bernie's plan is about State colleges, too. Orangepeel Feb 2016 #139

Hillary attended Yale and paid for it herself. Beacool Feb 2016 #140

Also bluestateguy Feb 2016 #149

True..... Beacool Feb 2016 #150

Look closer greymattermom Feb 2016 #141

so will I.... mike_c Feb 2016 #147

I don't think it's unreasonable Ms. Yertle Feb 2016 #161

Oddly, I agree with both sides here. noamnety Feb 2016 #162

Curious angrychair Feb 2016 #171

Yes and no. My college payment was a mess. noamnety Feb 2016 #173

The only solution is revolution. This is not some cheesy slogan. Zorra Feb 2016 #164

The University where I teach is $23,300 a year Lorien Feb 2016 #165

Truthfully, these are the types of schools that need to be closed -- at least taken off loan list. Hoyt Feb 2016 #177

My heart breaks for you AZ Jim Feb 2016 #176

So I scrimped and saved so my daughter could redstateblues Feb 2016 #178

I admire what you did for your daughter TeddyR Feb 2016 #182

this thread is so depressing Roy Ellefson Feb 2016 #183

What does the bank bailout TeddyR Feb 2016 #186

Post removed Post removed Sep 2016 #194