Picture the college graduate trudging off to work at minimum wage to McDonald's, toting a lunch box containing his useless master's degree certificate along with his $200,000 high interest rate loan with payments due.
Why do so many students study in a career field with no job openings after squandering thousands for a useless diploma never to be used? Sure, everyone needs to learn the basics to function in America: math, history, science and English. But only a select outstanding few need advanced mathematics for research.
How about specializing in a practical career that makes money so that you can make a living and train for a job that is in demand? The horse and buggy days are over. The newly created jobs are now concentrated in areas such as ag mechanics, auto mechanics, junior ROTC, computer skills, wildlife and fisheries, entrepreneurship skills, welding and building trades, horticulture and life skills including financial planning, budgeting for a secure future, saving money and investing wisely.
Each student should be required to take an aptitude test to ensure his/her chosen field is compatible with interests. The evaluation should expose him to related fields that also can contribute to his happiness, satisfaction and usefulness in making a living. To expose him to ideas/ goals that he can then decide to pursue.
Every student should have zero debt upon graduation. There are many ways to help pay for an education while learning that don't involve going in debt and borrowing money. An education shouldn't cost a fortune. Many companies will pay for part-time work or an internship while attending school.
As an alternative, students may work and assist home builders with your unskilled labor while learning building skills valuable for a lifetime. This also would apply to real estate, insurance and medical fields. Also, students could learn how to draft a grant application, learn what courses are needed for grant approval and take those courses.
Student could engage in part-time summer jobs and/or physical labor (mow lawns, babysitting) to save money for school tuition. Finally, one could sign up for military service obligations for a totally free education coverage including tuition, supplies, lodging and food.
Students must be diligent in searching for jobs that are available in the market and pursuing those jobs that must be filled. Consider yourself to be a failure if you graduate from school with any debt whatsoever, have a degree and skill that is not needed in the marketplace, or does not pay a living wage.