Oh I’ve got I’ve got a BS alright 
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My biggest frustration was when my daughter went to college, I found out that 1/3 of her classes were only offered online. What is the point of paying all that money for students to “go to” college, when so many classes aren’t even offered in person anymore?! When I went to college in the 90s, all classes were in person. Sure, we had some classes we could watch on TV or a replay at the computer lab, but we weren’t denied the option of actually going to a live class. And of course, these online classes now aren’t any cheaper than the ones taught in person… very frustrating. 
It is not necessarily cheaper for the college than if they had the course taught by an adjunct. I spent a few semesters teaching at a university and was paid $1,500/course/semester. Non-tenured lecturers still get crap pay, and teach more than tenured faculty do.
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Non-tenured professors get all the classes that tenured faculty don’t want to teach — the 101 courses in giant auditoriums with only a small percentage of students who actually want to be there. Whozzit had part-time evening gigs for ~10 years at several local universities (he had a full-time research day job) and his biggest complaint was that only 10% of the students were majors and 90% were grudgingly fulfilling requirements.
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I graduated 30 years ago from the same college as my daughter. She and her friends lived in the exact same dorms, had the same courses, taught in the same buildings. My cost at that time was $80/credit hour and now it costs $212/credit hour (well above the rate of inflation). I don’t know about teacher pay, but it seems to me a lot of state universities just want to push more kids through so they make more money for sports & research, and by making a large chunk of their classes online only allows them to enroll more students. As a parent, it is just frustrating to pay this much money for my children to live on/near campus just to take classes they could easily do from home. 
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Ok, I’ve only managed to read the first 13 posts but don’t have time to spend reading this morning so gonna answer instead.
I don’t know how useful the actual “education” from going to college or university is in many cases. At least for the kids who have to “leave home” and go to college or university, I believe it is a good 1/2 way training to get them to start learning about living on their own and organizing their own life/education. At least that is what I thought 20-30 years ago. I’m sure much has changed since then.
My degree. Bachelor of Science from the college of arts and sciences at Western Michigan University. It was actually a student planned curriculum in Audio Engineering and Threatre Technology. Much of my learning/experience came from “extra curricular” activities being the assistant for the Recording Studio, Being an assist for the theathre department, and running audio for one of the vocal Jazz groups. I actually worked in the field of entertainment technology in various ways for over 20 years (from before even getting out of high school until 2014) and I suppose I still handle book keeping for my Husband who is still in the business.
Became addicted to gardening in 2006. Started my “business” in 2010 after teaching myself how to create a web site by hand. Then I went nuts about 12 years ago and bought a farm. Couldn’t stand the traveling anymore so had a kid. Now days I talk about my “past life” in entertainment being on the road etc. Now I’m a farmer that also sells garden stuff online.
So I count myself rare that I actually worked in my “field of study” for a considerable amount of time. Of course, most people working in that same field, didn’t actually need any degree. The time at University was really more of an opportunity to gain experience without needing to “land the job.”
Now days kids who actually want the academic classes can often start taking college courses while in High school if they are driven and advanced enough for the work. Those that are not so interested can and should look to the technical training. And anyone who wants to learn something, heck, use the internet, you can learn just about anything if you decide to focus on it.
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I feel your pain, 2018 was my last dive, I actually was working on my dive master, then I had a kid and haven’t had the time. I hope to get her into it.
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I resemble that remark.
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An additional fun fact – genetics indicates that kids get their intelligence from the mothers NOT the fathers as I have been continually reminded of over the past 55+ years.
Since I got married when I was only 20 and married the smartest girl/woman I had met (at the time) it’s been a long education and molding process by her and only partly successful!
Three smart, successful kids would seem to indicate the theory is correct.
“Well, I majored in physics.”
I started out in physics but 18 year old beer bars and 7:15AM calculus classes took a toll. Well, that and I found out we didn’t learn how to build a bomb until our senior year. Now it’s on the freaking internet…
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My dad told my brother not to marry a woman who is too smart. My husband said, “Then they are going to have dumb kids.”
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The intelligence from mom bit seems to be overtly simplistic. There are posts debunking it. 
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Yep, drinking age (for beer) was 18 when I was in school as well. The rules for closing time was that a bar could not be open more than 23 hours out of 24; so the most popular one closed at 4:00.
My calc class was at 8:00, but I can’t say my attendance was very good (didn’t help that it was taught by a TA whose accent was so heavy that I could barely understand him even when fully rested).
My epiphany came after I started bartending part time, and when I told someone I was a physics major, they asked “What’s a physics major doing working in a bar?” My wit was working that night, and I replied “Getting practical experience for what I can do with a physics degree!” Only later did I realize the truth of what I said.
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After physics my choice was Political Science which has about equal viability in the ‘real world.’
I knew that going in but I am a life long political junky – the first campaign I worked on was Nixon/Kennedy folding mailers at my parents table.
Decided a ‘minor’ in Econ was a good backup and that got me my first post-graduation job. After that and working a couple years an MBA when almost no one was getting them – 1975 – was the key to ending up in the securities business for about 35 years.
The Poly Sci is still more interesting!
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ahhh, my youngest shares the same addiction. He’s the youngest elected official in our county (at the age of 21) in it’s history. Poly Sci/prelaw major History minor. Helped run a few campaigns last election. Brilliant kid if I don’t say so myself. Recent graduate from a “Big 5” Philadelphia University.
Law Student now says he never wants to practice law.
Prefers to be a political analyst . Was just tapped for a State Rep run…
I told him just sell online and enjoy life.
He didn’t find that funny. at all.
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When I was in the Compliance Department of one fairly well known brokerage firm I was surrounded by law school grads that had no interest in grinding out 60 and 80 hour (or more) weeks working their way up the ladder at any law firms.
My daughter started working for one firm and quickly found out two things –
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She was doing all the work for both her cases and those of the manager
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She knew what she was doing better than this 20 year small town attorney that was only interested in cases if they could settle since he was lousy in court!
It took about 6 or 7 years of grinding for her own firm (sole practice) to get going.
Practicing law and commission sales are NOT for sissies…
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oh so true.
Did commission sales right out of undergrad school, was the top salesperson in that company for several years, I left to work for big pharma , rinse and repeat.
Went into mental health then medicine, not sure which was the bigger form of torture.
Different sides of the same coin.
It’s all what you make it IMO.
Started college with a pre-med major, dropped out, resumed two years later. Finished with a dual-major degree: part philosophy and part math.
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My stepson got a MA or MS in archeology and found an interesting and well paying career…where people want to build, at least in California, the sites are sometimes over questionable sacred sites , burial grounds, etc…and archaeologists are busy assessing these sites before construction can happen. Quite interesting work. FYI
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My working journey started with a BS in nursing; first half of my career in hospital and ER; second half got a MA and became a psych nurse specialist…worked in County jails for several years, with often raunchy , hilarious workdays rivaling “Shameless” episodes …then managed a County psych emergency unit, then a managed a County mental health clinic. Retired early at age 50; ( wouldn’t you?) Now 73, a “wife, " grandma” and “mother-in-law” and slave to a cat and a bird. And, of course, the past 23 years selling books via Amazon has been a very small business/hobby and is now a growing headache. Happy to join this erudite group for some tips and some fun.
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This sounds like good preparation for selling on Amazon.
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