Why College Is A Waste Of Money

[brushhoggin]

geez don't get me started. i'm all about getting a degree but they should definitely re-vamp the whole college system. i agree it's turned into way more of a business than an educational system. i don't fully understand the dynamics of it all but i do know that 50 grand in debt your first day on the job in the new real world makes it pretty much impossible to achieve the "american dream", which also needs to be redefined.

[Stasher1]

geez don't get me started. i'm all about getting a degree but they should definitely re-vamp the whole college system. i agree it's turned into way more of a business than an educational system. i don't fully understand the dynamics of it all but i do know that 50 grand in debt your first day on the job in the new real world makes it pretty much impossible to achieve the "american dream", which also needs to be redefined.

They call it "The American Dream" for a reason.

[Bankbeater]

Root Beer, If others in your class feel the same way then get together and complain to the Dean.

When I was in college we had an instructor that gave tests out of the book, but refused to go over anything in the book during the regular class time. We complained and he was gone the next semester.

Nothing scares these educators more than thinking they will lose tuition because of unhappy students.

[jeb2]

I hear you. Quality of education on almost all levels is suffering badly.

I retired last year at 52 from programming. Decided to take a programming class for fun at the local community college as I really enjoy the field. Instructor was a complete disaster. Knew his subject, but would just not show up for our once a week, 3 hour class. And no announcement on the class forum. After that happened 3 or so times, some of the students were ripping him a bit on the class forum. So he walks into class the next week and tells the 4 of us that are left from the original 20 to "get the F out of my class". I kid you not. Said it twice. He got in trouble for it, but kept his job. When I went to college, something like that was just unimaginable.

An instructor like you have that won't teach the subject would be very annoying. Like you said, why bother paying the money if the guy doesn't teach?

[South FLA]

I know of no reputable accountant without a college degree, so stick to it. When you are done with your degree and have a real job hand your teacher a note that reads

"Those who can, do; those who can't, teach"

"How's that for hard knocks?"

[Captain Obvious]

I know of no reputable accountant without a college degree

Really cause I know of no reputable future accountant in college

[Root beer]

Really cause I know of no reputable future accountant in college

Reminds me of what happened to me when I was at Taco Bell the other week. I was gnawing on a taco while looking over business combinations and inter-company transactions and this old guy next to me said "are you an accounting major?", and I said "Yes, I am.". He replied "do they teach you guys ethics and laws?" I said "when you took your driver's test, you had to know all of the rules of the road, right?" He nod in approval and I then said "so, how many of the rules of the road have you broken?" He just scoff at me and minded his own business from then. Frankly I find it a little offensive they think we don't know ethics and laws. It not that we don't know it, it just there a few bad apples that don't want to follow it. And every professions and people have broken laws and ethics in their lives, so next time someone thinks accountants are only one, stick your foot in your mouth. I wonder if that guy knows that all accounting procedures and ethics are set by a private organization, the government just adopt whatever they say. Except the IRS sometimes modify a few things to get them a bigger tax return.

Victory is mine.

[J Francho]

Victory is mine.

Savor the moment, because they will be few if you don't change that attitude.

Prove it. Do it. Don't whine about it! Seriously man, I would not worry about winning some intellectual debate with a senior citizen in Taco Bell, LOL. That stuff is a waste of time.

[Root beer]

Savor the moment, because they will be few if you don't change that attitude.

Prove it. Do it. Don't whine about it! Seriously man, I would not worry about winning some intellectual debate with a senior citizen in Taco Bell, LOL. That stuff is a waste of time.

I hate when people tell me stupid stuff. Generally speaking, I will let it go, but if it's directly at me like that guy made it sound, then yeah I'm going to roast them with some intelluctual sense.

By the way, back on topic.. I got my most recent test result back for this class that inspired me to start this topic. One of the question was "If a computer programmer is revamping the software used to keep up with payroll is it a potential problem?"

There were 4 choices, but these were two best possible answers:

1)Yes, the programmer could change his salary on the software.

2)Yes, unless the payroll manager is supervising the programmer.

Anyone want take a guess at which one was the "best" answer?

[J Francho]

I hate when people tell me stupid stuff.

My motto:

The world is full of stupid people, and I think I might be one of them.

IOW, it's easier to let him be the smartest guy.

[Captain Obvious]

Frankly I find it a little offensive they think we don't know ethics and laws.

Tell me about it, I swear if I hear about ethics in another class I am going to puke. I'm taking five classes this semester

• Business Law
  
• Marketing
  
• Finance
  
• Business Computer Information Systems
  
• Business Statistics
  

In each one of these classes I have had at least 1 whole class period on ethics. I expected it in Business Law but seriously tying Microsoft Access & Ethics together is going a bit to far in my opinion.

As to the test question I would choose answer 1 because it just asked you why it could be a problem and not when it would be or when it wouldn't be a problem.

Capt.O

[dulouz]

"Those who can, do; those who can't, teach"

There it is again... Those who say that should try teaching. It isn't as easy as people think it is, trust me. I am a teacher.

[slonezp]

There it is again... Those who say that should try teaching. It isn't as easy as people think it is, trust me. I am a teacher.

Nobody said it was easy. The teaching issue is a subject all it's own. For you to take offense to these comments shows the high reguard you have for the profession, which is commendable. It seems the problem the OP has is in his opinion he feels the teacher is not earning his pay. The frustration of paying 10's of thousands of dollars. He expects more for his money.

Now, if Root beer learns whatever "features" or whatever it was he talked about in the original post despite the instructors involvement, or lack there of, Was the money wasted?

If Root beer doesn't learn, well obiviously it was the instructors fault. Or was it?

If you go out to eat at an Italian restaurant, Do you expect an Italian chef to make your food? When you find out the delicious italian food you just ate was prepared by a mexican, does that change things? The result was the same.

My company charges the same hourly rate whether the send a journeyman or an apprentice to a jobsite to complete the work which was requested. Is that fair to the customer? If the job gets completed properly and in a timely manner, does it matter who performs it?

The assignment was titled "The school of hard knocks assignment" Sounds to me the instructor has a method to his madness. Maybe this guy is a horrible instructor. I'm not in a position to make that call.

Root beer, Remember this. Unskilled labor gets paid for what they do. Skilled labor gets paid for what tthey know. I urge you to become one of those who get paid for what they know. More knowledge= more $$$

[Root beer]

How I feel about the world:

[NoBassPro]

Honestly, I preferred classes where you had to work to get the answers to classes where teachers gave the answers. Keep in mind that software is constantly changing, companies may very well have their own programs, and, as J Franco pointed out, corporate training tends to be a bit of a joke.

IMO, the most valuable part of an education is not so much the knowledge you may receive, but the contacts.

[South FLA]

I hate when people tell me stupid stuff. Generally speaking, I will let it go, but if it's directly at me like that guy made it sound, then yeah I'm going to roast them with some intelluctual sense.

By the way, back on topic.. I got my most recent test result back for this class that inspired me to start this topic. One of the question was "If a computer programmer is revamping the software used to keep up with payroll is it a potential problem?"

There were 4 choices, but these were two best possible answers:

1)Yes, the programmer could change his salary on the software.

2)Yes, unless the payroll manager is supervising the programmer.

Anyone want take a guess at which one was the "best" answer?

I would venture to say that the 2nd choice is the better of the two, but it can easily be argued that the payroll manager doesn't have the skill set to understand what is actually being done by the programmer so would the payroll manager would be clueless as to what the programmer is doing, thus answer 1.

Problem with the question is that it assumes the programmer is unethical. "The question should have read if an unethical programmer is revamping the software...."

[Lund Explorer]

I hate when people tell me stupid stuff. Generally speaking, I will let it go, but if it's directly at me like that guy made it sound, then yeah I'm going to roast them with some intelluctual sense.

By the way, back on topic.. I got my most recent test result back for this class that inspired me to start this topic. One of the question was "If a computer programmer is revamping the software used to keep up with payroll is it a potential problem?"

There were 4 choices, but these were two best possible answers:

1)Yes, the programmer could change his salary on the software.

2)Yes, unless the payroll manager is supervising the programmer.

Anyone want take a guess at which one was the "best" answer?

So what were the other two choices? #1 shouldn't matter because if the manager in #2 is doing his/her job, the program will be tested with real data prior to it's use. In all of the payroll programs I've used, the payroll for each employee is processed through data entry and isn't part of the program, which should be working toward tax calculation and reports only.

[J Francho]

Some psuedo code for you, Lund:

If emp_name = [Programmer's Name] then emp_compensation = emp_compensation + 10%

[Root beer]

I pick choice number 2 and I was wrong... My logic was if payroll manager is supervising there is no problem. Even if you pick choice number one and the payroll clerk(s) or manager don't catch the change in salary without official approval, then they aren't real accountants..We're suppose to be attentive to details. Unless you work for the SEC then you can don't have to be attentive to details. If you make a mistake or fail to uncover a ponzi scheme after being tipped off 14 times then you just get a slap on the wrist and remain employed. (Remember Bernie Madoff?)

[Lund Explorer]

Some psuedo code for you, Lund:

If emp_name = [Programmer's Name] then emp_compensation = emp_compensation + 10%

What's the name of that program?

Not that it would work for long. Mainly due to the fact that any company large enough to have a programmer writing their very own payroll program, would almost always have several levels of management preparing payroll data for entry and then reviewing periodic reports for the employees in their departments, sections, or company wide. Assuming that the manager of the IT section was careless enough to miss the problem, his supervisor or the company's own budget manager would eventually notice the increased costs in that department.

Of course like many classes in college, some of these "what if" problems don't mirror what happens in real life. Once a company gets large enough for it to become cost effective to have computerized payroll preparation, management either opts to purchase complete software to do the work in house, or hires an outside payroll firm to perform the task. Using an outside preparation firm reduces costs to the company and provides for less of chance that this sort of thing could happen along with other additional protections. Perhaps why ADT is one of the largest payroll services in the world!

[South FLA]

There it is again... Those who say that should try teaching. It isn't as easy as people think it is, trust me. I am a teacher.

That was targeted at that particular teacher.