Monday, October 25, 2010

Brilliant

There is a man, right now, offering to leave law school at Boston College without a degree -- if the school will refund his tuition. He says he was convinced to go to law school by promises of a good career and high salary, but really, all he is going to end up with is mountains of student loans. So, he doesn't want the degree, or the debt, and will trade one for the other.

God, I wish I had thought of that.

I have not one, but two degrees. I use neither. One I don't use because it's a BFA in theater, which is about as useful in real life as a BFA in theater. The other is an Masters in Education, which I don't use because half way through my program I realized I don't know if children are the future, and have no desire to teach them well and let them lead the way. Yet, despite the fact I don't use either of these degrees on a daily basis, that they have never directly helped me get, or advance in, jobs, I still have to pay for them every year. And because I was raised by a former Catholic who couldn't give up the guilt, I pay promptly and without question.

If this guy gets his money back though, I might have to rethink that. I bet I have even better arguments than he does. When I decided to go into theater I was only 17. They took advantage of a minor! They took my money, well aware the best job I would ever get from said degree was a singing waiter. Sounds like child abuse to me. The education people are even worse. Don't they have a responsibility to tell people trying to leave lucrative careers not to be idiots? Or is their tuition shell game more important than educating the poor hapless souls who wander into their webs? I would appreciate the irony if I weren't paying for it.

Oh, and if I get my money back, I am totally encouraging all of my co-workers to sue their schools as well. After all, they paid to get journalism and communication degrees to work in an industry where someone with degrees in theater and education can not only get a job, but have a rather mediocre career. I think they could get class action status.

Actually, I think we should all sue! Education never! Litigation now!

I'm going to start looking for a lawyer right now. One with good credentials. You know, like a degree from Boston College.

Damn.

13 comments:

Riot Kitty said...

LOL! Mr. RK read the other day that there are TONS of people graduating from law school right about now. And this country already has half of the world's lawyers. I kid you not.

Elizabeth said...

That would be brilliant--I want my money back. My dad keeps trying to push me into law school. Um, no.

LL Cool Joe said...

I'm actually a BA (hons) PGCE, and look how useful those qualifications have been as a dj.

Anonymous said...

Even though I use mine, I'm asking for my money back too. Because I HAVE realized that children ARE NOT the future. Watch out Peeps!

Granny Annie said...

Regardless of my education and history in banking and finance, no one told me that I would be passed over for promotions in favor of a young man with a Spanish degree and a father-in-law well known in the banking industry. This was even after I trained the young man. Shouldn't my educators have informed me how painful my climb up the ladder of success would be? I'm just glad I'm not bitter about it:)

Anonymous said...

I'm on your train. Elementary Education my ass. Dear Purdue, you owe me $***.*** I'll take that any way you care to pay it accept this degree which I do not care to ever look at again. Sincerely, the girl who shouldn't have.

Jen said...

Fascinating perspective! I have been passed over and told, "if only you had a degree" more times than I care to admit.

Anonymous said...

Hey, we have the same degree!

I have actually gotten slight advances in my career by mere merit of having a Bachelors. Although what I'm doing right now does nothing with it.

But, I'm the first person in my family to get a college degree. So, while I pay a lot for a degree I don't really use..........I'm still glad I got one.

Amanda said...

There is a running joke in my office about no one working in his/her field of study. We have a mechanical engineer, a Russian economist, a marine biologist - and we cannot leave out my useful degree, Art History!
Hell, I think our IT guy has a degree from Pizza Hut University.

Kelly said...

It would seem that most people do not get a career in the field that they study and graduate from. I keep hoping and praying that my Mack actually does something with this Studio Arts degree that she is persuing...

MJenks said...

"One with good credentials. You know, like a degree from Boston College."

Aren't those two things mutually exclusive? Degree from Boston College and good credentials?

Zing, Fredo!!!

*ahem*

I would demand the same of Notre Dame, but, you know, I didn't pay tuition. Hmmm. Can I get back all the time I wasted there pursuing a degree in a field that I despise?

Three Cats and a Baby said...

I will still owe money on my student loans when I die.

I try not to think about how it was all for nothing.

Well, I went to school for elementary education and child psychology...so I am technically using my education...but it sure is a lot of education for someone who is doing child care in her home.

I'm going to go back to not thinking about it.

Ms. Karlyn said...

Were you ATP at the U or Theatre Studies, Theatre Education...or what? Just wondering.