Online Education

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Why are there general education requirements for college degrees?
   I am wondering why college students must take so many general education classes. I thought that was what high school was for! This is why my GERs are so easy and I am just breezing through them. I wish that along with my degree requirements I didn't have to take math, science and language classes, just history and social sciences. I feel like I'm wasting my time taking the same classes I had in high school over again, and wish I had taken more AP tests.
   I was priveleged to have had a college-level high school education. I have taken courses like chemistry, physics, english and foreign languages at a college level already. A lot of the students at my high school who went on to college have said that their GERs are easy as well.

   • ANSWER:
     The thing about college that students rarely realize is that the university level programs are not about teaching you to become a . They are about learning, and becoming a well rounded, thinking, reasoning individual.

     If you just took history and social science classes, you would miss out on the different perspectives that the other courses can offer you. Even in social sciences, you'll need math skills, language skills, and a basic understanding of sciences.

     One thing I realized years after finishing my undergraduate degree was that not one course I took was a waste of time. Even if I thought it was at the time, I learned something valuable in each course, or it set me up to learn something in a further course.

2. QUESTION:
   I need advice on the Air Force regarding education and college degrees while enlisted?
   I didn't really understand the military until recently when I looked into it, I always wanted to join the air force for my interest in aviation but I keep hearing stories of how hard it is to get a college degree, is this true? I want to serve but I have to think about my future as well, I'm going to need a job along with a college degree after my enlistment is over....has anyone had the air force as a career, any takes on that? thanks

   • ANSWER:
     It is possible to get your degree while enlisted. It just takes determination and perseverance. You won't be able to take classes for at least your first year. Obviously, you can't while in basic and tech school, and then many times you can't begin classes until you have finished some of your skill level courses.

     After you begin classes, you'll only be able to take 1 or 2 a term, so it will take longer. Do go to the education office and take advantage of the CLEP and DANTES testing that you can do at no cost. Many folks wipe out a huge number of hours that way. Also, look into programs that will accept some of your military training. Most of the universities that have offices on base are used to the military and have conversions all ready established for different training courses.

     Use time during deployments to take classes as well. With the plethora of online universities it is easier than ever. Again, do your research and make sure you are enrolled in a QUALITY degree program. No sense in getting a degree through a program that is considered a joke in your chosen field.

     Hubby, he's been in for 24 years and has 3 classes left till he completes his degree. But, he started late and can only do 1 class at a time due to family and USAF commitments. He has loved his time in the service and wouldn't trade it for the world. We've got many friends who also were career and then managed to move their AF career straight into the gov't sector and the civilian sector.

     Good luck!!

3. QUESTION:
   Agree or disagree: People with a college education are better parents?
   I saw a question earlier posted by another user who said her journalism professor (I believe) is of the opinion that people who have formal college degrees/college education make better parents than those who do not.

   Agree or disagree?

   I personally disagree. A college education has nothing to do with a person's ability to be a good parent. Being a loving, nurturing and attentive are things that just can't be taught in a college classroom.
   *ladyscientist* My mistake. But you did say journal group or something to that effect. And I realize you will report me. I'm sorry if I threatened you by asking a similar question.
   I'm asking again because Carrie was interested in the question I believe. Why does it matter?

   • ANSWER:
     I'm quite certain there are terrible parents with phds and great parents without a high school diploma. So I of course disagree that those with a college education are necessarily better parents. I do think having gone to college does give some advantages (on average, obviously not in every case) in terms of earning power, ability to help with the child's education, modeling the importance of education and college, and so on. It can also (again, on average, not every case) affect things like what neighborhood you end up living in, which can impact your child's quality of life. For me, college was also an education in diversity, and learning to deal with different types of people, and perserverance, and broadening my horizons generally, so I think for me personally I ended up a better parent for having gone through college and law school. But that's for me personally. Everyone brings different lessons from their own lives that they can impart to their kids, and I by no means think I'm a better parent than the next person for having two degrees. I'm just perhaps a slightly better one than *I* would have been otherwise.

     glad you asked it because it was a good question and i didn't have an opportunity to answer it the first time around.

4. QUESTION:
   What would I have to do to get both teaching degrees for elementary and college education?
   I would like to become a teacher in both elementary school (full time) and a college professor (possibly in the summer months) I can't make my mind up n who I would want to teach so I would like to do both if possible.How would i go about that?

   • ANSWER:
     Get a master's and doctorate. And sometimes an Ed.S will work instead of a doctorate, depends on the college.

5. QUESTION:
   Do you need a college education/degree to be considered an intelligent person? ?

   Do you equate intelligence to college degrees/educational backgrounds? or no?

   • ANSWER:
     While you may not personally equate a college degree with genius imagine this situation.

     You are an employer with two qualified candidate applying for the same position. One candidate says he decided not to continue his education after high school because he felt he didn't need to further themselves anymore in their education. The other candidate has a college degree.

     Who do you hire?

     The degree pretty much say that I'm willing to further my education to increase my job opportunities.

     It's generally advised to get a college degree unless you plan on starting your own business or just plan on being an entrepreneur in general. In these cases your not looking for someone to hire you.

     In the end, a college degree is definently a good thing to have in your pocket. While it is possible to become rich without one, those people are very few and very far between.

6. QUESTION:
   What pathway (college degree, education) will lead me to this type of profession regarding the brain?
   If I wanted to do serious research of the human brain regarding its effects on social behaviours and afflicting mental states what degree should I seek? Would going to medical school be only beneficial if I wanted to study drug interactions? If I wanted to not work with medication would that just end up being somewhere in a Psychology degree? What about a PHD in medicine? Thanks for your all you input.

   • ANSWER:
     I'm currently in a Neuroscience PhD program and that sounds like it would be what you are looking for. It's a pretty broad field (I study the function of a single protein, but other people in my program study much broader topics like Schizophrenia or sex behavior). It would give you a lot of flexibility as far as working with human subjects, brain imaging, or using animal models of disease and it gets a lot more into the biology side of things that Psychology. The degree is also specifically targeted towards research training and most programs are run through medical schools so you can learn about drug interaction if you want. If you were to go to medical school, you would have a bit of an advantage if you wanted to do exclusively human subjects research, but you would also have to go through the full program, including clinical rotations instead of being able to focus on Neurology or Psychiatry and research.

7. QUESTION:
   Is it possibly to homeschool my college education and obtain my degree?
   I was homeschooled growing up and find that colleges move at a VERY slow pace. I want my education but want to continue to homeschool. Is it possible to do the same for my college degree and how? Would it provide me with a diploma?

   • ANSWER:
     Yes... look into 'college plus'. It is a very fast paced program that hinges on studying at home for CLEP credit for nearly all of your college degree and distance education for the rest. You can earn your degree from home in this way.

8. QUESTION:
   What are 20 online college degree/education questions that you can come up with.?
   I am writing a report and I need to answer at least 20 questions that people frequently ask about online college stuff. So what I am asking is for you to write down questions that you may want to know or people always ask about.

   • ANSWER:
     The main question seems to be "Is the school accredited?"

     Some others are:

     "Will employers accept my online degree for a job after I complete the program?"

     "What are the various types of degrees/programs offered?"

     "What are the admissions requirements: standardized test scores, minimum GPA, etc?"

     "Is financing available?"

     Not 20 questions, but those are the ones I hear asked the most.

9. QUESTION:
   Are general education courses required for all college degrees?
   My boyfriend is under the impression that after high school he won't have to take any classes like math, English, or science. He wants to go to this school that specializes in the entertainment industry. All that's required to get in is a high school diploma /GED and a letter of recommendation, yet they don't actually teach regular courses there.

   • ANSWER:
     Your boyfriend is wrong. Even the most career specific school requires some basic education classes like English 101, Speech, math, etc.

     The entertainment industry is as much a business as retail, or any other "mundane" business.

     You need a solid background in accounting, management, math, writing skills, speech, etc.

     Show business is BUSINESS and one needs basic business skills in addition to career specific skills!

10. QUESTION:
    What is a good college in TN that offers photography classes and education degrees?
    I want to get a bachelor's or/and master's degree in elementary education, but minor in photography. Is there any good state colleges that offer both in TN?

    • ANSWER:
      There are no more than a sack full of colleges in Tennesse that will serve your purposes. You can start by looking up the catalogs online. I know Memphis does, I would certainly think UT does, I know ETSU does because my nephew just got his BA in fine arts, photography, there, I would suspect that Tn Tech would, I would think tht Austin Peay, Chattanooga, MTSU and even Tractor Tech, UT Martin. There are a plethora of community colleges/junior colleges that will offer you enough for a minor, so you can almost stay at home and do half of your degrees.

      Let me see now, I went to UC, now UTC, I went to APSU and finished at Memphis and while in Memphis I worked in the photo department.

11. QUESTION:
    In the US Census, when they ask about college education..do they specifically ask for US degrees?
    What I am asking is..

    In the census do they ask for any college degree from any country

    or do they specifically mean a US college degree

    such as when they ask, "Do you have a college degree?"

    Sources would be great

    Thanks!!

    • ANSWER:
      No, college degrees are not limited to US degrees in the US. Many, many people are educated outside the US and move here. As long as they get accredidation in their field, there degree counts and they can work in their field.

12. QUESTION:
    What is a really well-rounded college degree/education?
    Something that merges Math, English, critical thinking, communication skills, and writing. I was thinking a Communications major (communications) with a minor in Technical Communications (writing and English) and Mathematics (math and critical thinking) would be the way to go.

    What are other possibilities?

    • ANSWER:
      You should pick a major your are interested in, not something that appears well rounded. Most universities these days have a "core curriculum" they require, which is classes everyone is required to take regardless of their major. This gives students a "well-rounded" education. My advice would be to pick something that interests you and then add a minor or two in something like a language or business that would be beneficial in many professions.

13. QUESTION:
    What are the Job requiremnts and education requirements(college needed or degrees required)to be an architect?
    I wanna be an architect and I want to know all about it Also it would be helpful to know of any possible off shoot careers that come from being an architect! Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Some states will let you become a licensed architect with a bachelors degree, others require a masters degree.

14. QUESTION:
    Reasons why an artist with a college education/degree is better off than one without?
    A website with statistics and good evidence backing this up would be awesome.

    (Also, I have nothing against artists without a college ed, but this is for a class and I have to make my argument believable)

    • ANSWER:
      Many artists pursue their field as an avocation while supporting their art through a full time position. Your earning potential with a college degree is roughly double what it would be without.

15. QUESTION:
    NY college that offers education and science degrees?
    I'm looking for a college to dorm at with my girlfriend. I want to take Biology and Chemistry and she wants to be an elementary school teacher. Any suggestions?

    • ANSWER:
      The annual "Best 357 Colleges" survey, conducted since 1992, is based on responses from more than 110,000 students at campuses around the country. The review has no affiliation with Princeton University. The Princeton Review's report ranked Albany seventh in the use of hard liquor and marijuana, ninth in beer drinking and first in "students (almost) never study."

16. QUESTION:
    In these tough times are people finally realizing that a college education means zero? How many with degrees?
    are unemployed? It is entrepreneurs and small businessmen who make it tough times like these..I feel so bad for so many that are my age and have decades of schooling and nothing to show for it except 6 figure debt....

    • ANSWER:
      That is an absurd statement. Aside from the value of a more advanced education, which btw has value in and of itself, individuals with college educations are more highly valued by employers than those with just high school education, according to the statistics.

      Individuals need to assess their own interests and abilities. There is no doubt that times are difficult for people at all educational levels but trying to downgrade the value of higher education seems rather silly. In addition, one has to have a college education in order to attend law school, medical school, obtain an MBA or pursue advanced degrees in areas that interest them.

      Many individuals, however, don't necessarily need to go to college and should perhaps pursue technical training that would be of more interest to them and in which they could find fulfilling careers. Others, as you suggest, might pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. Your general statement however is downright silly.

17. QUESTION:
    What are the best colleges for education degrees in Michigan?
    Does anyone have an "official" website that will give me information on what the best colleges for an education degree would be in michigan? I am changing my major and would like information and am having a hard time finding it myself. I would like to stay relitively close to the lansing area and something that works with a busy schedule but is a school that is recognized. Asking too much? Sorry!

    • ANSWER:
      Nope, don't know of any websites. Good schools for Education degrees include:
      Central Michigan University
      Western Michigan University
      Oakland University

      Those are the top ones, from what I've heard.

18. QUESTION:
    What jobs on cruise ships require college degrees?
    I have a strong desire to work on a cruise ship and I am going to be attending college next year (still haven't decided what I am going to study.) I would like to be able to use my degree on a cruise ship. Please list all of the jobs on cruise ships that require a college education. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      For jobs on cruise ships you need more of practical work experience in the department you want to go for on a ship, than a college degree.
      So even if you have a college degree in Hospitality and not worked in a Hotel - there will not be much of a chance that you get a job there.

      There are 3 main departments on a ship: Deck, Engine and Hotel.
      e.g. in the Deck Department you find AB's (Able bodies Seaman) and you need no college degree for that. Carpenters - you need to be a Carpenter. Deck Officers (you need to be a certified Officer, after attending nautical school and have worked before on cargo ships, before you get to be on a cruise ship)

      Since there are plenty of different jobs onboard a cruise ship, what you have in mind ? Which department ? Reception, Kitchen, Restaurant, Housekeeping, Spa, Shops, Casino, Purser's Department ?

19. QUESTION:
    What are some well paying jobs that don't require a college education/degree?
    Jobs where there is some training available.
    I know of some but like working for the:
    Post Office
    Flight attendant
    Import Specialist with the U. S Customs

    • ANSWER:
      It depends what well paying is to you. If K/yr is a lot, then you have options. If you want K/yr, then not so much. And kiss 6 figures goodbye for the rest of your life.

      The whole point of college is that, on the average, a person will make a LOT more money, every year and over the course of their lifetime. I can't understand why anyone wouldn't put a couple of years of effort for a lifetime of benefit. But it's your choice, and the world needs minimum wage earners.

20. QUESTION:
    What sort of education (degree, college courses) would be good to become a personal trainer?
    I am looking to start a career as a personal trainer. What degree would be good to get?

    ALSO what kind of courses should i take in college?

    ALSOOOOOO what certifications would i need?

    • ANSWER:
      Depending on where you go to college, you would probably be either a Human Kinetics major or a Physical Education Major. You might also look at Sports and Leisure Studies. If you want to get into personal training, gym and recreational classes are your best bet, just don't forget about your Gen Eds: you can't graduate without them. As to what certs. you may need, only your future advisor can tell you that. I hope this was beneficial to you.

21. QUESTION:
    College degrees: business, education?
    I am having a hard time figuring out what I want to do with my life.

    I've narrowed it down to three options:

    Business
    Education
    Social Work

    I'd really like to know which degree would be better for me. I've always wanted to teach, but I live in an area where finding a teaching job may be difficult.

    I've also considered something that would allow me to do research, as I love researching.

    I'm very lost, and I don't know which option I should choose. I really love to help people, I can't stand seeing people suffer... which is why I'm also considering social work. I did attempt health care, but it just wasn't for me. I don't like seeing people die.

    Which one of these career paths would have the best opportunities?

    • ANSWER:
      Why not do a Bachelor's degree in Education, with a minor in Business. . . During the summer between Junior and Senior year, do a business related internship... Then you leave your options open for the next 4 years.

22. QUESTION:
    What is the best website for online education college degree?

    • ANSWER:
      I have heard from some of their Alumni that AIU online is a good school.

23. QUESTION:
    Are there any guides out there on best colleges for education degrees?
    I am a high school junior and have just started the college search. I would like to be either an early childhood or elementary teacher and am looking for a college with strong programs in these areas. So far I have been checking out all the colleges I am interested in from mail I've gotten or things I've heard, but I would really like a resource that could narrow down the amount of colleges out there to ones with strong teaching programs so I could make my decision from there.

    • ANSWER:
      US News ranks education programs. The rankings are for graduate programs -- but the quality of undergraduate programs and graduate programs is highly correlated.

      Columbia University is the top rated program.

      The link is below

24. QUESTION:
    Do employers look at college education more so than work experience?
    I have a son who went to college for two degrees and worked through college. He did not do any internships but is now in the job market. He graduated 3 years ago and remained with the same employer since college. At his previous employer there was no need to apply his degrees. He now wants to work with an employer applying his degrees. Do employers look at education more so than work experience? What do employers look for? I want to help my son. Please, any information would be helpful.

    • ANSWER:
      Employers basically look to see that a person has what is needed for the job. Very often these days, "new grad" jobs want both a degree and some work experience - which your son has, even if it's not in his field.

      Employers almost always want the education. The only time this isn't true is when a person is very experienced at something, has years of proven on-the-job skills - and even then, they want the education.

      So your son should be fine - except that the job market is so tight right now. Have you been following the news? Unemployment is very high.

25. QUESTION:
    Which college degrees are a waste of time?
    In terms of making oneself marketable to get a job and make a decent living?

    I am asking b/c lately i have met several people who have bachelor degrees who claim they are 'useless.' And on the flip side I know people who have got good jobs just based on 'job experience' with no college education.

    • ANSWER:
      I have a bachelors in history I got 3 years ago from the university I went to and have not used it once. The jobs I have received since graduating college have been low paying jobs, paying about 9 dollars as hour, that only require a high school diploma.

      Most jobs now a days require experience but you can't gain experience without getting hired at the place you want to work for with the degree you have.

      And personally, I'm sure a lot of people think that if they go to college and work hard and graduate, they'll find a job that pays well. I mean who's going to pay 40,000 dollars for a piece of paper saying you learned something only to be doing a job after graduating making 10 dollars an hour? Where's the logic in that? That's 40,000 dollars of your money or someone else's money down the drain.

26. QUESTION:
    Question about a college degree in secondary education?
    I was wondering if anyone knew...to get a degree in the subject or Spanish or English secondary education do you have to take any college math courses?

    • ANSWER:
      Math is usually considered a "core" class - meaning that every major has to take at least one math class in order to graduate. You may be able to transfer AP or IB math credits if you have taken/passed one.

      It really depends on the school though. The best way to find out is a "check sheet" which you can usually get from any departmental office on campus, or you may be able to find one on the school's website.

27. QUESTION:
    What is your level of education/college degree and religious affiliation?

    • ANSWER:
      I'm about to start my last year of my Undergraduate degree.
      Atheist/Humanist.

      EDIT= I'm assuming you're looking for a positive correlation between level of education and lack of religious belief/affiliation. Only a very few "believers" answered with a degree. Maybe those who were Christian and didn't answer didn't have an education level worth mentioning?
      ..

28. QUESTION:
    Do you have a college education and a crap job?
    When I was a kid, my parents told me if I didn't get an education I would get a crap job. I've met lots of people who have a college degree and have a crap job. Do you have both and describe it?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes I have a collage education and I will admit that some times I get tired of arguing this with people. So I will just come out with it.

      The mantra of go to school, get an education and get a good secure job with benefits is badly out dated. The socio/economic landscape has changed so much that the working middle class is fast becoming the new poor. It's not just eduction but our educational system in terms of the type of business model that it trains us for.

      I realize I am going beyond the scope of your question but there are some financial realities that people are just now starting to accept.One fact is that middle class America is living at 100% plus of it's disposiable income going towards paying debt.
      Another fact is that when a young person today gets to retirement
      they will need about 1-1.5 million dollars invested to even maintain the life style that they have today in their golden years.I believe the median income is about k a year. With living expenses and the devalueation of the dollar, how is working a job even going to get us a fraction of the way there. I draw a question as to the type of business model we are being trained for.

      I have a very different perspective because I don't have a job. For the last 5 years I have been building a business within a financial services company that has an aspect of multi level marketing, this is not a bad thing because this business vehicle lets my efforts compound and duplicate as opposed to trading dollars for hours and chasing a paycheck. I help many, many people out of debt and these families are the ones that have the education and the "good" jobs, yet they are drowning

      The problem is that our education system trains us for being employees. This also puts most Americans in a position of being abusivly taxed and being forced to borrow our lives from the lending industry and millions will retire broke because we are trained to work jobs and not trained to be business builders and leaders. I know what I write is not going to be the popular answer
      because I'm not just parroting " Go to school and get a good job"
      The reason is because most people have embrased spending tens of thousands of dollars on education and making 30 to 40k a year only to retire broke or near broke, that is the norm...

29. QUESTION:
    what's the point of college degrees if experience is a big emphasis?
    Most employer seek out on-the-job experience from their candidates than simply a piece of paper. After dumping so much money into a college education it just seems like a huge waste if it isn't as valued when you could have gotten tons of experience in the field you looked forward to entering. There are companies who hire people solely on experience doing small jobs and working their way up to a certain expertise level. So, what's really the value in college anyway? I know a few people who work in IT and have no college education.

    • ANSWER:
      Well, for many students part of your college experience is stuff you would experience at a job. Undergrad research, internships, volunteering. Because you're a student affiliated with a college or a professor that you will be aware of more stuff like the things mentioned above and you'll be chosen to do stuff like that before someone who isn't enrolled in college because you have a record and a background for people to go on. Most people think that your college experience consists of lectures in a classroom, but a good education shouldn't. Every college I visit I make it a point to ask what stuff do we do outside the classroom and what sort of field experience do students get.

      This is an example of a program where students get experience in stuff they're interested in: http://hendrix.odyssey.collegetrends.org/

30. QUESTION:
    what type of education/degree college would you need to apply for the united states embassy?
    would you need refrences? what is the easiest way to apply?
    if I were to go to college for language for translating and also administration work would there be a jobs available? and also how to go about applying for the positions? thank you.

    • ANSWER:
      I'm answering as if you're asking about applying while in a foreign country, as it seems that you are.

      There are a wide variety of jobs available in a U.S. Embassy. There are some only given to Americans, some only given to Embassy officers' spouses/family members, and some that only local/foreign employees could effectively fill.

      Of all of these jobs, the minimum usual qualification is a high school diploma, and some will require bachelors or masters degrees. It all depends on the job.

      Yes, you generally need references.

      Usually the hardest thing about applying is knowing what jobs are available. Sometimes open jobs are advertised on the Embassy's website, other times in the newspaper (or both, of course). And, most of the jobs have scores of applicants, so you often have an uphill battle just getting a callback.

      I don't mean to be discouraging, this is just the reality.

      Re: the security check -- actually, for most people this is not the hardest part. It may be time-consuming, but unless you have a criminal record, or have some egregious personal problems, it generally goes fine.

31. QUESTION:
    Why is a college education now so useless?
    Why is it that all a college degree is good for these days is a job working retail or more education? What's the point?

    • ANSWER:
      I personally don't think that a college education is useless. I just think that the world we live in today has changed the way a college education is used.

      You can't go to college now and think that you are going to get a job right out of college in that field. You are going to have to work for what you want.

      Personally, I have a Computer Programming College degree and I don't work directly in the Computer Industry. I work in the Financial industry, however, I find that the computer training that I received at college has made my job easier for me in the financial industry.

32. QUESTION:
    What is the easiest job you can get at a school district without any college education?
    Anyone out there knows of a job that you can get at a school district without any college degrees or credits? I only a HS diploma along with a clean background and willing to take random drug tests. Any job besides being a bus driver, janitor or lunch lady. Something like filing paper work, data entry, office assistant, etc.

    • ANSWER:
      There are plenty jobs in the school district, that you can do.

      Office clerk, filing clerk, admin clerk, receptionist. they usually classify the openings as: office clerk I, office clerk II, Office clerk III. You once you get your foot in it. You can probably applied for the next level up.

33. QUESTION:
    What is the cheapest, fastest, regionally accredited college that offers Graduate degrees in Education?

    • ANSWER:
      Emporia State University in Emporia Kansas has a very reasonable graduate program in Education. They all so offer discounted programs for residents of other states near by, for example Missouri. THe program is nationally accredited.

34. QUESTION:
    Colleges that offer culinary degrees and education degrees?
    I'm looking for a college in Southern California that offers culinary and education, I want to get my degrees in cooking and education because I want to be a chef and a teacher. I know mission college offers that but I'd like to know what other colleges offer that too.

    • ANSWER:
      Still the best fully accredited culinary college is Los Angeles Trade Tech which offers a 2-year course for around 5.00 total. Check out their culinary website:

      http://college.lattc.edu/culinaryarts/

      Good luck!

35. QUESTION:
    Do you agree with Obama's latest initiative to retrain the unemployed and those without college degrees?
    Today he announced the Federal government will provide subsidies to train the recently unemployed and those who do not have college education for employment when jobs open up again.
    He wants, by 2020, a more educated work force.
    Do you think the government should help or spend any money in this area?
    The difference with Obama's program is unemployment will not be stopped when they are enrolled in school.

    • ANSWER:
      I would much rather the fed spend money on advanced education than welfare checks.

36. QUESTION:
    Do you think there is a problem with men getting a college education?
    Men got half of all college degrees in the 70's
    Today is it is less than 40%.
    For black men it is less than one out of ten.

    • ANSWER:
      Of course. My response is more of a quick drive by reponse to you and others here that I felt to say something about.

      Isley320 your first poster, said it well. Puzzling that he received many thumbs down. What else could be the answer to this? That boys in the past few decades have magically and genetically become dumb and lazy? That makes no sense.

      And it's sad to see society as a whole claiming that all physically active boys have mental problems as so they need med's. Insaaaaaaaane. My wife works with kids of different families all the time, and its like a broken record. All the sons are on med's for "ADD". I train boys in basketball sometimes and as we play, they're magical disorder seems to disappear. They're focused and ready for competitive play, and listen. That shows me that clearly, society isn't nurturing boys as they're suppose to at all anymore.

      For those who say when black guys become successful, black girls treat them like kings.......not really. I'm a black guy, successful, and black girls have always ignored me regardless. They usually would rather date a hardcore thug over an educated black guy from my experience. All other girls from other races talk to me all the time. I've heard way too many other black guys with the exact same problem for me to think thats just a coincidence or an ignorant comment.

      To those who think that because far more men become carpenters and plumbers proves men are doing well in college.....that really doesn't prove anything since women can get those jobs as well. Only, most women don't apply for them because they don't want to do that trade. And only certain kinds of men choose those jobs as well. I'm a guy and I don't want that job occupation. Women usually choose other career paths.

      Ohooo sh*t, I can hear maaad thumbs downs tumbling towards me like a pack of apes. Watchout now!

37. QUESTION:
    Why are fewer men pursuing college degrees (now outnumbered by women) just as the economy is undergoing shifts?
    ... that will mean fewer and fewer available jobs that do not require a college education? The jobs that do remain will be unlikely to support even an individual, let alone a family. What are young men thinking and what will be the ramifications?

    • ANSWER:
      Due to the shift in how boys are being treated in early education they are becoming poorly prepared for college. They know this so decide to not go.

      The shift in early education that I'm talking about is that they are not allowed to be boys. More and more boys are not only expected to sit quietly and be more like well behaved girls but they are being forced to be like this.

      http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisingboys/school.html
      Don't skip the side bar on the right titled "Is It the Boy — Or is It the School?"

      "Boys are four to five times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)"
      There was a time when it was not called ADHD, it was simply a boy being a boy. Somewhere along the line it became violent for a boy to throw dirt or a worm on a girl or a teacher. While this may be unacceptable behaviour we have to accept that this is how boys learn. But the system tells us that this is wrong and the way a girl learns is right.

      How many of us older guys 30-40 and above would be considered dangerous if we were growing up today?

38. QUESTION:
    What type of college education or Degrees do Liberals get and What do Conservatives get?
    When I was a graduate student in Finance, most people didn't like progressive ideas they thought it was very Keynesian and counter productive to economic growth, most preferred the neo Keynesian ways of doing things.

    My sister a Doctor is a Libertarian, a friend of mine a lawyer is a progressive, another one an Accountant is a conservative.

    Makes me wonder what degree did most progressives and Conservatives graduate with.

    I am thinking the liberal arts are mostly progressives, and business are mostly conservatives. Could I be wrong?

    BTW - I am a Libertarian.

    • ANSWER:
      I have liberal views and a B.S. degree in Mathematics.

      Liberals and conservatives earn all kinds of degrees, but I do see people leaning one way or the other. For instance, business tends to be dominated by conservatives, who tend to want to maximize their personal earning potential. Education, on the other hand, tends to be dominated by liberals, who are more willing to pursue careers that will likely never make them wealthy.

39. QUESTION:
    I want to donate my eggs but have no college education. Am I likely to be turned down?
    I graduated high school with a 4.0 gpa but did not attend college because I could not afford to pay for it (I received no help from my family)--- so it was for financial reasons, not academic. I'm looking into egg donation and know that they prefer women with college degrees, however I'm not sure if not having one is going to harm my chances of being chosen.

    • ANSWER:
      They will be looking for intelligence not experience....of course it always looks good if you have a college education, but.....that does not always mean intelligence.

40. QUESTION:
    Are there some people that despite their college education and experience, they just can't get a job?
    Such as some guy I meant on the streets in San Diego, had a college degree, lots of experience by seems like no one wants to hire him. His money ran-out and he became homeless.
    He is not the first person I met, I have met other people that had BA/BS and advanced degrees and they are working minimum wage jobs.

    • ANSWER:
      Yup, we have a few bachelors degree people stocking shelves for an hour where I work.. Makes me glad I didn't waste 0,000 on a degree..

41. QUESTION:
    How far up the airplane pilot career ladder can one go without having a college degree or tertiary education?
    I know that becoming an airline pilot is impossible without a degree, but what about regional and local airliners? Most pilots never wind up working for an airliner anyway. But is it an acceptable (wise) decision to become a professional pilot having only taken general courses in college for several semesters? Thanks to all members in advance.

    • ANSWER:
      Given two equally qualified candidates, even the regional / commuter airlines will usually hire the candidate who has a college degree. An Associate degree is pretty much considered the minimum these days. The only way to get around that is to have a LOT more flying experience than the other candidates. If the regional airlines happen to be hiring pilots with an average of 1,500 hours total and 300 hours multi, you'll probably need 3,000 hours total and 1000 hours multi engine to compensate for not having a degree. It's even possible to get into the major airlines without a degree, but plan on flying 10,000 or more hours (10 to 15 years) with significant amount of time in turbine powered aircraft (such as at a regional airline) to have a shot at it.

42. QUESTION:
    Accredited College Degree, Are they approved from education Ministry?
    i am willing to have Accredited College Degree, from Almeda University America, just want to know about, if these degrees are approved from Education Ministry, and Cud i attest them from any American embassy?

    • ANSWER:
      yes, it is

43. QUESTION:
    What's a good career that requires no college education?
    What's a good career that requires no college education?
    I'm stuck in a customer service job, working at a museum, where I literally do nothing all day. I want something challenging, but have no college degree.

    I live in an area where the job market is slow. I don't know if I should move, or would even be able to/want to.

    Please don't say sales unless you say what I should sell.

    Is there a short time certificate out there that will get me a good job? Possibly one I can get my attending courses online?

    • ANSWER:
      Try multi-level marketing, specifically Herbalife. It's the best one out there, bar none. Plod away at what you are doing now, but try what I suggest. You can get started for very little and the rewards can be great if you put the effort into it. Just do a search for it...

44. QUESTION:
    Why do we put so much emphasis on a bachelor's degree or college education in this country?
    Don't you think there are people who never went to college or had any formal education that are smart as hell. I have a friend who hasn't gone to college, but is super smart. How can I make him feel better about not going? He can't afford to go, so please don't tell me to tell him that. What is the best way to get ahead in this world without a degree?

    • ANSWER:
      Absolutely you can be smart and have no formal education. But what can you buy with smart? It doesn't put a roof over your head.

      College education is highly correlated with increased income. It's absolutely a fact. You can be super smart and that's wonderful, but you will be unable to apply for most high-paying jobs as they all require college degrees.

      Your friend doesn't have to pay for college up front. The military, student loans and grants, work-study programs---all of these are great ways to get through school with a minimum of cash.

      I was the first person in my family to go to college. My father had a great job in the oil field. But sadly, that era of graduating from high school and expecting a family wage is over. Manufacturing is overseas. Tell your super smart friend that he needs to be realistic or face a life of working two jobs, probably without health insurance, just to get by.

      If he doesn't want a four year degree, there's some great jobs in healthcare that require a 2-year degree or less: nursing, radiology tech, ultrasound tech, respiratory therapist...these are all growth jobs that make over K annually.

      Hope this helps.

45. QUESTION:
    Finding a college with elementary education degree in California.?
    Since I am getting married in April I have to move to California because my fiance is based there. He is based in camp pendelton and I need to find a college there. I am wanting to major in elementary education and was wondering what the good colleges are there that have that degree. Please help!

    • ANSWER:
      the only four year, public colleges that offer an elementary education major are...

      California State University: Long Beach
      Long Beach, CA

      and

      Humboldt State University
      Arcata, CA

46. QUESTION:
    Can you continue your education after college?
    I want to know can you continue your education after getting a college degree by using public library resources, for personal research. In addition, do you think that getting education stops after college?

    • ANSWER:

47. QUESTION:
    Question for heterosexual women with College degrees or who are pursuing one?
    The gender gap in universities got me thinking -

    Have you found/are you looking for a man with a College(university) Education or Do you mind marrying/being in a relationship with a man who doesn't have a college degree?

    Be Honest

    • ANSWER:
      I have a degree, am applying for grad degree programs for next fall, and am in love with a guy who has a GED and has taken a few college-level courses--and is smarter than me in a lot of ways. He knows a lot more than me, for example, about American presidents, Greek poets, Roman emperors, and Beat writers. He reads all the time and is a fantastic writer and conversationalist.

      I tend to like smart guys, and I've got nothing against a good education, but I gotta say: college-educated is not really the same as smart. And "kind" is a whole 'nother ballpark entirely.

48. QUESTION:
    Are technical/vocational degrees more valuable than college degrees these days?
    How important is a college education (BA) in today's job market?

    Do you think time is better spent learning a trade vs. going to college?
    thx
    Also, which generally pays better? I know that's vague, but is the ROI for college worth it vs. vocational?

    • ANSWER:
      Absolutely not. A four year degree from a fully accredited university or college is the ONLY degree with a track record of earning the average holder a greater lifetime income.

      This is particularly true for those who borrow money for school. The track record for 2 year and non-accredited programs is horrible. Borrow money for more than a year or two for such a degree and the lifetime income difference is wiped out.

      (I know...it isn't what you read or hear in the news...just keep in mind that information is mostly from people with something to sell to you)

      "Better" is really something only you can decide. If you want my wisdom (for what it worth!), I would take a day off and do something you really love to do. At the end of the day, write down everything you really enjoyed about it and then write a short note to yourself about what you would really like to do when you "grow up." (Just like you would as a young child)

      Use that note as your guide for your career. Research, ask, question, and explore.

      If you aren't "on fire" for something right now, try the real world for a year or two. Work for a string of companies doing things that you are interested in and/or show some talent for doing well.

      If you are "on fire" for something, look at the top 25 schools for that area and use that for your guide. It it is vocational rather than collegiate, do not borrow money. Pay as you go. Or save up first.

49. QUESTION:
    What are the pros and cons of obtaining a college education online?
    I'm going to be attending college soon, but i really want to know if it's worth it to leave state or even my house to gain my education.

    As of right now, I'm still in high school, I'm a good student, an honors student, but one who may be limited by money. I have only heard of people obtaining an online degree or education in order to farther their education, not actually obtain one. I was told to find information about attending or learning college online.

    Can anyone help me out?

    • ANSWER:
      SOME--NOT ALL-- of the "on-line" or "at home" colleges or degrees are NOT accredited, recognized or accepted at other schools and colleges. So you may learn something and even be able to get a job using these methods. But if you ever plan on going father er with your education they would do you no good. You would have to start all over again. Also since SOME of these colleges have no standards to meet their level is below the normal academic standards.

      So be sure if you use this method you check out the history, academic standard, and transfer of credit availability. And don't take that schools word on it, check them out with other schools and see if their credits transfer. I went to a college who told me their credits would transfer to any regular college, only to find out later that they won't. So check it out well, and carefully. There are some very good trade and on-line schools. Just be very sure to do your homework first.

      Good luck.

50. QUESTION:
    What degrees would be needed/should I attain in college to be a Special Education Elementary School Teacher?
    I am a sophmore in highschool and special education and elementary school, expecially special ed elementary school are my passion. I would love to make a job out of it. What degrees should I attain for this goal/what schools can help me to that occupation?

    • ANSWER:
      Any college/university with a teacher education program will probably offer a specialty in special education.

      If you want to teach in special education in the elementary school then you're going to need a bachelor's degree (4-years) in special education leading to elementary or K-12 teacher certification from your state.

      Many teachers find that they have better job prospects and higher earnings if they get a master's degree. It would most likely be a Master of Education (MEd) in Special Education and take about 1.5 years after the bachelor's degree.

      Some get their master's degree in specialty areas of special education or in related educational fields such as counseling or ed psych.

      If you take the route of a bachelor's degree only then consider getting additionally certified in some area other than special ed. This will leave you with options in case you find you need a break from the special ed classroom later. Math and/or science are really good additional certification areas to have that will make it easy to find a teaching job just about anywhere in the country.