“Mike – This latest college scandal has me sick to my stomach. I’m assuming you’re likewise nauseated?” Mark Kline
Hi Mark,
So far, I am vomit free, but this is only day two. I’ll keep you posted.
As to your question yes, I’m disgusted. The cheating is galling, as is the scope of the scandal. But every time I try to articulate my contempt, I wind up sounding like a scold, and there’s no upside in piling on. I will say this though – I wish we were as outraged by the cost of college, as we are by the wealth of the cheaters.
You don’t have to be rich or famous to believe your kid is doomed to fail without a four-year degree. Millions of otherwise sensible parents in every tax-bracket share this misguided belief, and many will do whatever it takes to get their kids enrolled in a “good school.” Obviously, those who resort to bribery are in a class by themselves, but what about parents who allow their kids to borrow vast sums of money to attend universities they can’t possibly afford? What about the guidance counselors and teachers who pressure kids to apply for college regardless of the cost? What about the politicians and lobbyists who so transparently favor one form of education at the expense of all the others? What about the employers who won’t even interview a candidate who doesn’t have a degree? Where’s the outrage?
The cost of college today has almost nothing to do with the cost of an education, and everything to do with the cost of buying a credential. That’s all a diploma is. Some are more expensive than others, but none of them reflect the character of the recipient, none are necessary to live a happy and prosperous life, and none of them come with any guarantees. And yet, the pressure we put on kids to borrow whatever it takes is constant, and precisely why tuition is so costly. It’s also why we have $1.6 trillion of student loans on the books along with a widening skills gap. That’s a bigger scandal, in my opinion.
Anyway, it seems a fortuitous time to re-share the video below, and remind you that mikeroweWORKS is currently offering another round of Work Ethic Scholarships. If you’re willing to learn a skill that’s in demand, but doesn’t require a four-year degree, apply today through March 28th at mikeroweWORKS.org/scholarship. Then, sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge. Better yet, buy a copy, and hang it in a place where people can read it. They only cost $12, and all the proceeds go to our scholarship fund.