A Generation of American Men Give Up on College: ‘I Just Feel Lost’

[astuffedshirt_perv]

A big article in the WSJ (paywalled) about how more and more men are deciding not to go to college.
"At the close of the 2020-21 academic year, women made up 59.5% of college students, an all-time high, and men 40.5%, "
Which means 3 girls for every 2 boys on average. The article goes on to say how college are at loss on how to address this, since you obviously can't help abet the patriarchy.

 

[Dribble]

I have a PhD. Biggest waste of money ever. What I need i learned working.

 

[ll74]

In IT, certification is typically treated as more relevant, since it's usually more up to date and more relevant to trending tech.

 

[pecksniff]

A decline in interest in higher education would probably be attributable to either 1) a decline in intellectual curiosity or 2) a decline in the perceived economic value of a degree. But I don't see how there would be a gender differential in either.

 

[jaF0]

Dummies do sheepskins.

Real people do tech/trade schools or apprenticeships

 

[WillJ8787]

I have a PhD. Biggest waste of money ever. What I need i learned working.

I think pathways exist without much higher education....I learned everything job specific in the field....I did learn to show up as an undergrad. It's a critical skill.

 

[WillJ8787]

A decline in interest in higher education would probably be attributable to either 1) a decline in intellectual curiosity or 2) a decline in the perceived economic value of a degree. But I don't see how there would be a gender differential in either.

The University Educated.already have a decline in intellectual curiosity...and a fair bit of Master and PhD folks do it solely for the money....not sure where that leaves us?

 

[Bud_Spencer]

Universities have become inhospitable places for men, not to mention that their business model is essentially a dead end.

 

[jomar]

…

Which means 3 girls for every 2 boys on average. …

I’m down with that ratio

I have a PhD. Biggest waste of money ever. What I need i learned working.

What is your PhD in?

 

[Dribble]

I think pathways exist without much higher education....I.kearned everything job specific in the field....I did learn to show up as an undergrad. It's a critical skill.

This is true. And juggling 15 things at once.

 

[Dribble]

I’m down with that ratio



What is your PhD in?

MS in Animal Science PhD in Fisheries Science. Both in Quantitative, Population and Molecular Genetics

 

[WillJ8787]

MS in Animal Science PhD in Fisheries Science. Both in Quantitative, Population and Molecular Genetics

Nice...very envious! I'm more than an avid saltwater fisherman...used to write for a sport fishing mag back in the day. Spent alot of hours out at night learning fish predatory behavior chasing them around. I learned a lot about a lot of things and the Striped Bass was high on my list. Population declines in the late 70's, fecundity, where they spawn(distance upstream in fresh water, to brackish, to saltwater and the importance of water flow(Spring melt/rain) and how it impact breeding. The importance of regulation to make sure they don't get overfished. I just love the tagging studies going on at Rutgers and elsewhere. Recently, the tagging of West Atlantic Great Whites....we just had one this Spring make its way up Delaware Bay and swim aweful close to some of my favorite surfing spots. Yikes....glad I'm not really on their menu!

 

[Cubantripod]

I have a PhD. Biggest waste of money ever. What I need i learned working.

Most degrees don't tech you what you need for the real world.

 

[Cubantripod]

A decline in interest in higher education would probably be attributable to either 1) a decline in intellectual curiosity or 2) a decline in the perceived economic value of a degree. But I don't see how there would be a gender differential in either.

Men are more likely to attend vocational school. The trades have traditionally been dominated by men.

 

[Bud_Spencer]

Most degrees don't tech you what you need for the real world.

Not only that, but the deeper you go into a particular field, the more pigeon-hold you are. That's why I, rather than getting my Master's in Electrical Engineering, got it in International Affairs. I broadened rather than narrowed myself.

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

A decline in interest in higher education would probably be attributable to either 1) a decline in intellectual curiosity or 2) a decline in the perceived economic value of a degree. But I don't see how there would be a gender differential in either.

Which is really what this article is all about. The boys are lost, not going into trades or really anything useful, instead they are stacking boxes, delivering booze, landscaping, sitting at home.

 

[ll74]

Which is really what this article is all about. The boys are lost, not going into trades or really anything useful, instead they are stacking boxes, delivering booze, landscaping, sitting at home.

And this is supposed to say something?

 

[pecksniff]

Universities have become inhospitable places for men, not to mention that their business model is essentially a dead end.

Their business model is based on tuition, donations and public subsidies.

 

[pecksniff]

Which is really what this article is all about. The boys are lost, not going into trades or really anything useful, instead they are stacking boxes, delivering booze, landscaping, sitting at home.

What would be useful?

 

[ishtat]

When I went to Uni in the 70's 80's only about 5% of HS kids in UK got good enough grades to get in. I was actually paid to go, scholarship/grant whatever you want to call it. Most other HS kids went for some sort of career training through Apprenticeships and at CAT's (Colleges of advanced technology which did not award degrees but gave excellent technical training and certification.

Then the Government worked it out that if they could classify the young people as 'students' they would not show up in the Unemployment stats. And when they told Unis that they could charge fees, they the Uni's took about 5 seconds to work out that the most profit was in awarding cheap degrees in arts, basket weaving, law etc.

The number of UK Unis has increased from 35 to 136 and the number of students has quadrupled. The greatest crime was the effective destruction most of the old CAT's.

I don't think that these guys give up because they are 'lost'. They give up because the courses, institutions and qualifications are third rate and do not help a career.

 

[pecksniff]

The real reason is, Every Major's Terrible.

 

[coati]

I’m down with that ratio

Yeah, that ratio is pretty much what the Beach Boys used to dream about.

 

[coati]

Most degrees don't tech you what you need for the real world.

Both of my degrees did, because learning and applying the scientific method helped me progress in my work career and avoid becoming a Deplorable.

 

[pecksniff]

Most degrees don't tech you what you need for the real world.

The life of the mind is as much a part of the real world as digging ditches.

 

[coati]

Universities have become inhospitable places for men,

Poor, persecuted incels