Princeton University is now free...

Hello all! Long time member here, but don’t really post.

I joined this group awhile back because I was fascinated by how much this forum has accomplished. If anyone is curious and trying to find free or low cost educational opportunities, this is a gold mine. I was shocked it took me so long to find it.

I’ve noticed that the forum regulars usually have several degrees, most obtained through the shared information on this forum and I’m assuming passion or need was the motivation. So my question, if people on this forum are willing to do what it takes to meet their goals or if they are passionate enough to figure out a way to get there and do the work, why would this same level of commitment not be expected from other “passionate” people?

I think most can figure out what someone is passionate about or what’s important to them; usually, it’s by what they decide to devote their time to. I’m not convinced that someone is passionate when they quit so easily because they aren’t getting exactly what they want, when they want it. Furthermore, I believe we don’t need the permission of anyone else if other people don’t share our same passions...

If a high school kid wants to go to school for a degree other than STEM, what is stopping them from applying for scholarships and writing essays to get their education funded? They don’t want to write essays, but want to someone to fund their college education? Hmmm

These are just my opinions.

 

I don't against my kids go with passion, but as long as they are in the STEM majors. Sure, they can major in whatever they want, but if they expect me to pay for their undergraduate degree. Then they have to stick with STEM majors. I used to know someone who passions about being an English teacher. He majored in English and Literature, he made $35,000.00 per year, could not afford his own place, and paid student loans back. Now, he is in his early 30s and regrets his decision that he has to stay with his parents to save money.

 

Welcome to the forum! I would say nothing is stopping students from writing essays and applying to scholarships - many students have to complete admissions essays as a condition of getting in among other hoops. At the same time, most kids getting ready for college already face some barriers whether they're financial, academic, psychological, etc., so adding artificial ones seems unfair.

The actual unemployment rate for people with humanities degrees is fairly low. If you're willing to pay for their undergrad, that investment will almost certainly pay off regardless of their major. If you only agree to pay if they study the field you want they can end up either not graduating, graduating but with a bad grade that harms their immediate post-college employment prospects, or resenting you.

 

I totally agree with this sentiment. If someone really wants to pursue an education, they need to go out and strive for those scholarships, grants, etc. I personally feel that they shouldn't expect or rely on their parents or anyone else to fund their education just because the parents or others are able to. If they have those connections and privileges then that is great. However, students need to be proactive to go out and strive for those funds themselves. There is a mixed bag here of experiences from those who earned scholarships and grants like I did, those who just took out student loans or paid out of pocket, and those who had assistance from their parents. In any case for me personally, anyone in my household rather it be my partner, a relative, or a child who wants to attend college would have to get support from other sources although I may assist with a class or a book. I'll tell anyone to re-frame from student loans and find other ways to learn a skill and make money if college was not an affordable option.

 

Oh my response is meant to say that I agree with you.

My job as a parent/leader is to see things that my children are not able to see and lead them in that direction. I introduced my kids to coding in Intermediate school, not because I was forcing them to be coders, it was because I understand I know what transferable skills they are taught.

We don’t have to agree with the digitization of almost everything you can think of, but it’s coming. As a parent, I want to help my children figure out what they are passionate about and acknowledge what skill sets are necessary to be able have a profession in a fast pace digitized world. Plus, even researchers, scientists, business analysts, non-profit leaders, educators are expected to know more math and at least knowledgeable about the technical offerings and the basics of what they do.

There will always be unicorns, but it’s rare. How do we teach our kids about ROI if we don’t acknowledge the cost of certain degrees and compare that to the average salary? Knowing that information can actually help us figure out ways to get a better return while still pursuing the original passion.

 

Someone should send this thread to David Solomon, the President and CEO of Goldman Sachs. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government...certainly not STEM. I think that is just one example of how soft skills are just as, if not more, important than hard skills.

 

Thank you Dustin!

I understand what you are saying and I know the struggle teenagers go through is real for them.

My opinion is based on my own experience, my observations when mentoring high school and college kids, and just paying attention to the way the newer gen kids talk about.

I was a pre-med student, I took dual credits in high school, graduated high school a year early with almost 60 credits. I was excited to go to Uni and excited to learn more about medicine. I reached out to colleges with well known programs, figured out what I needed to do to gain residency (cheaper tuition) etc. I was a little worried about the cost because I know it was a lot and we didn’t grow up with money. When I learned that I needed my mothers information to finish my FAFSA so I can at least get loans, I didn’t expect her response. She refused to fill out the Portion for parents. I was not able to get any money at all. I had to change my plans.

This led me to going to school locally and working fulltime at corporate job. Near the end of my undergrad, I had a change of heart and decided not to be a doctor b/c the practice was not in alignment with what I was hoping to do.

My mother did not help me and I was offered a soccer scholarship- which I declined b/c I was more interested in my studies. Somehow, the passion I had at the time helped me figure out how to get to where I was trying to go.

I grew up in a toxic environment, first generation, struggled with depression.. the only thing I had going for me was that I refused to quit. I think we are more resilient than what we realize. My style of leadership is to teach people how to fish rather than make them rely on me to give them fish.

 

Yes. It does. You know how I get...

 

I don’t know anything about David Solomon, his background, or his network. But I’ve found there seems to be a pattern often seen with one’s network and how far they get. I’m not saying this is the case with everyone, but I’ve seen it more times than not. I don’t think we (common people) should compare ourselves with people who have strong networks built on family old networks, unless we have similar networks.

What is one of the reasons you decided to go to Duke?

 

I always wanted to go to Duke but was not a good high school student, so that was never an option. Once I found out they were offering distance learning opportunities, I knew I had to go for it. I also feel I have a very large network. The President and CEO of US Polo Global Licensing Inc. wrote a letter for me and I feel that helped some too as he sits on the Board of Visitors at Fuqua.

Through networking, I was also able to land a Consultant role with the Duke Advanced-degree Consulting Club. I think I may be one of less than 5 that are not physically on campus.

I find networking to be vastly important which is why I say soft skills are just as important as ones technical skills. With the right network, the sky is the limit.

 

@JoshD and I certainly value soft skills, EQ.

What will we do when robots take over? Do you think they will do a better job in the soft skills area? I think so because we have seemed to have lowered our expectations in this area.

48 laws of power and The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli are great books to read because it shows how “soft skills” can also used to accomplish goals, with no interests in other people. These soft skills ninjas tend to be phenomenal listeners too.

FYI I work in Cybersecurity, studying criminals, tactics, motivation, etc.

 

I’m happy that you figured out a way to go to Duke. From your posts, I can tell how happy you are to be there and it seems genuine. I’m about to put in applications for MBA programs and your Duke posts made me check to see if they offered online MBAs.

 

He was rejected by Goldman Sachs after graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government.
URL: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/09/goldman-sachs-david-solomon-ceo-interview

 

Who cares? The dude is the CEO of Goldman Sachs now and makes more in 1 years time that most people on earth will make in a lifetime...the FACT remains, he earned a non-STEM degree and landed a position that is highly coveted by many who earned STEM or business degrees from Ivy Leagues.

 

Of course nobody cares, but if he majored in Finance, Accounting, or Business from top notch school. He had his chanced to work at Goldman Sachs at the beginning. Sure, his career did not really rely on what he studied, but not many people turn our that way...properly 1 in a million.

 

I know folks who did STEM majors and grad degrees working as flight attendants. The degree is nothing but a stepping stone. If you do not have the ability network and "talk the talk" followed by "walking the walk" then no one will care what your major was...unless you get some back office position where you have zero people interaction.

 

Strange that they translated "il principe" to "the prince"
"Il principe" actually means "the foremost". Machiavelli used it to refer to the king, not to a prince.
Anyway, back to the topic now, just wanted to clarify that

 

Hi @TeacherBelgium thanks for pointing that out. When you mentioned that, the first thing that came to mind is the book Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes. “Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil,[...].”