Interesting graphs and charts department

[xoxoxoBruce]

It's like we both know the stop sign is red, but I've no idea what you're seeing. I don't know what's going on in your head either, how you process input, or form your thoughts.

Of course what goes on in my head is normal, the standard...



just like everyone else.

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Oh, and that graph? I hate its disingenuousness. disingenuous-ness? The relationship between the length of the line (years) is on a different scale from the height (dollars). Although there are 10 years and 10 ten thousand dollar increments, the ratios are different. The way the graph is drawn makes the cost increase seem more dramatic than it is.

And it takes one cost and doesn't compare it to other economic factors, like inflation. It's meaningless.

The vertical axis is not in $10,000 increments, it's in percentage change from the 2000 figure.

And I think the comparison is very meaningful. The reason for paying that tuition is the return in salary. Tuition is going up - faster than CPI - and salary for graduates is falling. Soon, if not already, it will be a financial mistake to go to college (for *many* degrees, says the philosophy gradaute, coughing nervously... engineering and medicine are probably still worthwhile).

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

The vertical axis is not in $10,000 increments, it's in percentage change from the 2000 figure.

And I think the comparison is very meaningful. The reason for paying that tuition is the return in salary. Tuition is going up - faster than CPI - and salary for graduates is falling. Soon, if not already, it will be a financial mistake to go to college (for *many* degrees, says the philosophy gradaute, coughing nervously... engineering and medicine are probably still worthwhile).

Oops. Never mind. In that case, it does make sense. I need to follow links and read.
I agree with you about it being a financial mistake to go to college with the idea that college will somehow increase your earning potential. (With the exception of subjects like engineering and medicine and so forth.) As for liberal arts, *cough*fine arts*cough*, and what's that thinking cure called? Philosomething? College should be regarded as the very expensive 4 year vacation that it is.

[xoxoxoBruce]

At big companies I've seen a ton of jobs that require a degree, but they don't care what in, or where from, because they're going to tell you what to do, and exactly how they want it done.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

At big companies I've seen a ton of jobs that require a degree, but they don't care what in, or where from, because they're going to tell you what to do, and exactly how they want it done.

That's what we do. It's crazy, but you have to do something to weed out the absolute slackers from people who put in a minimum amount of effort in life.

[ZenGum]

To be fair, I benefited a lot from my ejumacation. E.g. I recognised Footsie's little error back there in a moment.

And for employers, a degree is evidence that a person can jump through specified hoops and produce documents of the length, style and topic required, more or less on time, and can stick at a project for three or four years. That says something.

[orthodoc]

Yes. Sigh. May I forward your post to my daughter?

[ZenGum]

Forward this.

Yo, gurl, your folks have dropped a hundred large on your college fees. You've spent YEARS so far. You're so near finished, that to not finish now, is the equivalent of getting "loser" tattooed on your forehead. Except the tattoo would cost about $100 and take an hour.
Finish it, or Imma come over there and slap you up the back of the head some.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Forward this.

Yo, gurl, your folks have dropped a hundred large on your college fees. You've spent YEARS so far. You're so near finished, that to not finish now, is the equivalent of getting "loser" tattooed on your forehead. Except the tattoo would cost about $100 and take an hour.
Finish it, or Imma come over there and slap you up the back of the head some.

And I'll hold his coat.

[orthodoc]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I keep agonizing over this, which is stupid. There's nothing I can do about it.

I can only buckle down to my own grad courses and take care of what's on my plate. But it makes me ill that she's throwing away the chance to get a degree and have a skill (her degree would let her work in different aspects of the equine industry), be able to support herself and never be dependent, and start out with no debt. I would have given anything to have had that kind of support when I was in university.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Forward this.

Originally Posted by orthodoc

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I keep agonizing over this, which is stupid. There's nothing I can do about it.

I can only buckle down to my own grad courses and take care of what's on my plate. But it makes me ill that she's throwing away the chance to get a degree and have a skill (her degree would let her work in different aspects of the equine industry), be able to support herself and never be dependent, and start out with no debt. I would have given anything to have had that kind of support when I was in university.

No, you can tell her since she's all into re-negotiating (i.e. dropping out) that you'er going to renegotiate as well and give her a bill for the 100 large. You can even make an excel spread sheet showing her that it will take 9 million years working at WalMart to pay you back. Then you can indenture her.

[Pete Zicato]

Originally Posted by orthodoc

I keep agonizing over this, which is stupid. There's nothing I can do about it.

This is patently untrue. You can advise. This is where you go when your kids are too old to order.

How would you talk to her if she were a friend from one of your classes? You would explain to her in detail all the negative repercussions of her decision - all the while validating that it is her decision to make. But at least you can make it clear what she is getting into.

But you are right to the extent that you can't at this point in her life make her make the decision as you would.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Pete Zicato

This is patently untrue. You can advise. This is where you go when your kids are too old to order.<snip>

Amen...

It takes great patience, but maintain your connection,
and support whatever positive aspects of her decisions you can.

Over the years you planted many seeds, it just takes a while for them to sprout and flourish.

[footfootfoot]

The first three are cautionary photos of what happens to girls who don't finish school. The last one is how spoiled she is acting.

[orthodoc]

The pics are perfect. Perfect. I have somehow raised a Ukrainian princess. Somewhere along the way, as I was trying to keep things together despite all of our family problems, I failed to notice that she was gaining a sense of entitlement rather than a work ethic.

She flies in this weekend for a discussion with her father and me. It will not be a happy time.