Comments on: Episode 22: BS Degree … 6 college myths and how to save 90% on tuition http://thehopkinsonreport.com/2008/09/17/episode-22-bs-degree-6-college-myths-and-how-to-save-90-on-tuition/ Wired.com's Marketing Guy Jim Hopkinson takes a fresh and funny look at marketing trends in the Wired world. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:27:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Hopkinson Report » Episode 39: Social media shoves guidebooks aside – Unigo.com tells you what your college is really like http://thehopkinsonreport.com/2008/09/17/episode-22-bs-degree-6-college-myths-and-how-to-save-90-on-tuition/comment-page-1/#comment-2766 The Hopkinson Report » Episode 39: Social media shoves guidebooks aside – Unigo.com tells you what your college is really like Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:56:59 +0000 http://thehopkinsonreport.com/?p=105#comment-2766 [...] Other article you might enjoy: Episode 22: BS Degree … 6 college myths and how to save 90% on tuition [...] [...] Other article you might enjoy: Episode 22: BS Degree … 6 college myths and how to save 90% on tuition [...]

]]> By: admin http://thehopkinsonreport.com/2008/09/17/episode-22-bs-degree-6-college-myths-and-how-to-save-90-on-tuition/comment-page-1/#comment-1889 admin Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:43:33 +0000 http://thehopkinsonreport.com/?p=105#comment-1889 Thanks for the feedback C Cleary! I wish I had more users responding with such enthusiasm. Let me reply to a few of your points. First, I do this podcast for fun and information, and much of it is done with a fun spin to keep it entertaining. The facts are clear when looking at the value of a college education. I just thought it would be interesting to look at it from another angle financially since the stakes were so high (hundreds of thousands of dollars). I'm probably NOT going to hire the drummer from Twisted Sister to teach my kids some day (no, I don't have kids right now). Also note that I did not make up the part about rising costs or "bling"... I got the data from MONEY Magazine, a well-respected publication which I gave credit to and am sure did lots of research. You dig into me saying your degree matters for med school or law school. I completely agree, and plainly say that on two occasions: "If you’re going on to grad school or competing in a highly competitive field, yes, your grades matter" and "Of course for some specialized fields, your degree matters." And I wouldn't mention Bryant in the same breath as Stanford or Harvard or BC. As far as your last point, I never suggested pulling your kid out of school to practice his putting 8 hours a day on the golf course, rather that instead of a *summer* job such as lifeguard, you could put that to better use, so please don't question my morality. But thank you SO MUCH for your passionate discourse. I hope you continue to read and listen. - Jim Thanks for the feedback C Cleary! I wish I had more users responding with such enthusiasm. Let me reply to a few of your points. First, I do this podcast for fun and information, and much of it is done with a fun spin to keep it entertaining. The facts are clear when looking at the value of a college education. I just thought it would be interesting to look at it from another angle financially since the stakes were so high (hundreds of thousands of dollars). I’m probably NOT going to hire the drummer from Twisted Sister to teach my kids some day (no, I don’t have kids right now).

Also note that I did not make up the part about rising costs or “bling”… I got the data from MONEY Magazine, a well-respected publication which I gave credit to and am sure did lots of research.

You dig into me saying your degree matters for med school or law school. I completely agree, and plainly say that on two occasions: “If you’re going on to grad school or competing in a highly competitive field, yes, your grades matter” and “Of course for some specialized fields, your degree matters.” And I wouldn’t mention Bryant in the same breath as Stanford or Harvard or BC.

As far as your last point, I never suggested pulling your kid out of school to practice his putting 8 hours a day on the golf course, rather that instead of a *summer* job such as lifeguard, you could put that to better use, so please don’t question my morality.

But thank you SO MUCH for your passionate discourse. I hope you continue to read and listen.

- Jim

]]> By: C Cleary http://thehopkinsonreport.com/2008/09/17/episode-22-bs-degree-6-college-myths-and-how-to-save-90-on-tuition/comment-page-1/#comment-1628 C Cleary Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:56:18 +0000 http://thehopkinsonreport.com/?p=105#comment-1628 Before you start pontificating about the "myths of college" and questioning its merits, try getting your facts straight! You note the enormous increase in the cost of higher education. You'd have to have been living in a cave for the past 20 years to miss that fact. What's driving the cost increases? Half to two thirds of typical college budgets go to paying instructional salaries. The median salary for a full-time college educator is ~$46k. My guess is your salary has increased significantly since 1991 (which is when your article suggests you would have graduated from Bryant if you managed to do that in 4 years?). As you did note, inflation plays a role but isn't the "bling" you so aptly criticize really just "marketing"....the same marketing that puts money in your pocket? Colleges and universities are a business and are in competition with each other. In order to be profitable and survive, businesses need to appeal to their customers and separate themselves from the competition. Colleges don't sell "widgets" in the private sector so the goal is to appeal to their customer base by offering the best facilities, faculty, sports teams, etc. So yes, cost increases are also related to marketing which is really driven by what attracts the consumer. Maybe you should be less concerned with the "sticker" price of higher education and research what the average student actually pays "out-of-pocket". If you looked into this you'd find that grants and financial aid make college a pretty good deal for the majority. If you honestly don't think your degree, college you attend or grades matter, you are truly disillusioned. I highly doubt your going on to med-school without a science background, or to law school without a political science background or become a CPA or accountant without a background in business and proven proficiency. That's not to say you can't be successful in a career that you don't identify later in life but don't be moronic in thinking schools/employers don't look at your past decisions/grades a measure of what you bring to the table and some indication of how successful you may be going forward. I do also agree that people can achieve success via hard work and determination but don't trivialize the education that one can get at a top-rated institution. Let's face it Bryant isn't really on the same level as Stanford or Harvard or Boston College. I love your "novel" idea of finding some obscure talent that brings a scholarship tied to it. I like to refer to this as the "Tiger Woods" theory......find a skill set that offers a big upside and focus your child's efforts in becoming the next prodigy. You might consider fencing, girl's hockey or becoming a concert harpist. If you're a parent (which I highly doubt) maybe you should focus your time and energy in getting the best primary education for your children and raising them with some morality (which it sounds like you lack). Before you start pontificating about the “myths of college” and questioning its merits, try getting your facts straight!
You note the enormous increase in the cost of higher education. You’d have to have been living in a cave for the past 20 years to miss that fact. What’s driving the cost increases? Half to two thirds of typical college budgets go to paying instructional salaries. The median salary for a full-time college educator is ~$46k. My guess is your salary has increased significantly since 1991 (which is when your article suggests you would have graduated from Bryant if you managed to do that in 4 years?). As you did note, inflation plays a role but isn’t the “bling” you so aptly criticize really just “marketing”….the same marketing that puts money in your pocket? Colleges and universities are a business and are in competition with each other. In order to be profitable and survive, businesses need to appeal to their customers and separate themselves from the competition. Colleges don’t sell “widgets” in the private sector so the goal is to appeal to their customer base by offering the best facilities, faculty, sports teams, etc. So yes, cost increases are also related to marketing which is really driven by what attracts the consumer.
Maybe you should be less concerned with the “sticker” price of higher education and research what the average student actually pays “out-of-pocket”. If you looked into this you’d find that grants and financial aid make college a pretty good deal for the majority.
If you honestly don’t think your degree, college you attend or grades matter, you are truly disillusioned. I highly doubt your going on to med-school without a science background, or to law school without a political science background or become a CPA or accountant without a background in business and proven proficiency. That’s not to say you can’t be successful in a career that you don’t identify later in life but don’t be moronic in thinking schools/employers don’t look at your past decisions/grades a measure of what you bring to the table and some indication of how successful you may be going forward. I do also agree that people can achieve success via hard work and determination but don’t trivialize the education that one can get at a top-rated institution. Let’s face it Bryant isn’t really on the same level as Stanford or Harvard or Boston College.
I love your “novel” idea of finding some obscure talent that brings a scholarship tied to it. I like to refer to this as the “Tiger Woods” theory……find a skill set that offers a big upside and focus your child’s efforts in becoming the next prodigy. You might consider fencing, girl’s hockey or becoming a concert harpist.
If you’re a parent (which I highly doubt) maybe you should focus your time and energy in getting the best primary education for your children and raising them with some morality (which it sounds like you lack).

]]> By: admin http://thehopkinsonreport.com/2008/09/17/episode-22-bs-degree-6-college-myths-and-how-to-save-90-on-tuition/comment-page-1/#comment-250 admin Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:29:19 +0000 http://thehopkinsonreport.com/?p=105#comment-250 Canada or International is a great option. While it might be lonely being so far removed from friends, the experience of another culture and language (if abroad) could make a huge impression. Canada or International is a great option. While it might be lonely being so far removed from friends, the experience of another culture and language (if abroad) could make a huge impression.

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