A bit lengthy, but here goes. (Sorry bout that.)
I think my experience, and thousands others like me, is different from most graduates in the US, in that I chose to attend a for-profit private college. I was young, stupid, and naive when I went to check out the school. I, like many others who attended the Art Institutes and Corinthian Colleges, were duped into accepting at face value the job placement ratings the recruiters presented. Essentially, I did not expect to be lied to to my face. I also accepted that they actively help students obtain a job in their field upon graduation. They have a job fair just before graduation, and their occupation placement department was supposed to keep in contact with you regarding job oppurtunities.
Little did I know, the job placement ratings were inflated (they were claiming kids who already had jobs before going to school, and holding onto the exact same job after graduation.) They did not actively help us find jobs. And the so-called "job fair" was a complete joke. Only 5 employers showed up, and three of those were just looking for some quick, temporary free-lance work to be done. And the people who were supposed to have contacts for you, and to keep in contact with you? Well, they never once returned a single phone call. The one time I did get a call from the school, was to remind me to repay my student loans!
I then later found out that my degree was all but worthless to the most serious of employers. Art Institute? It's a joke in the professional world of web development. Now, I am 80 grand in debt, have a decent job that has nothing to do with my field, and on the verge of having to declare bankruptcy. (Except, bankruptcy laws do not cover student loans!)
That's my experience.
Those who attend a public university, I think, have a fighting chance to get a job to help pay off their loans. Most state universities and their subsidiaries are not too bad. Mansfield University, about an hour drive north of where I live, for instance, "only" costs about $20,000 in total.
Then, too, it depends on the state. The state of California has a much better education system than any other state. College grads owe almost nothing upon graduation. Residents of the state can go to school practically for free. And their state universities are hailed as some of the best universities in the country. (Remember, the US is strange. We have 50 different school systems, where most countries only have 1. And the 50 different school systems can vary drastically.)
lol. I see.
