America hits peak anti-intellectualism: Majority of Republicans now think college is bad

[yuiyoshida]

Republicans say no to college: It's the only institution viewed in more sharply partisan terms than the media.

Has America hit peak anti-intellectualism?

Aside from the election of Donald Trump, a businessman born into wealth whose only notable expertise is in reality television, there is now more evidence that the right-wing’s long game of denigrating U.S. institutions to reshape political discourse is succeeding. A new Pew Research Center poll released on Monday revealed that there is one U.S. institution perceived through a larger partisan divide than even the media: It’s college.

For the first time, a majority of Republicans think that colleges and universities have a negative impact on the country. Fifty-eight percent say that colleges “are having a negative effect on the way things are going in the country,” according to Pew. In other words, the Wall Street banks are more popular with Republican voters than Stanford, Harvard or the University of Akron.

Just two years ago, a majority of Republicans, 54 percent, rated universities’ effect as positive. As Pew noted, “this shift in opinion has occurred across most demographic and ideological groups within the GOP,” but in particular the poll found that positive views of colleges among Republicans under the age of 50 sunk by 21 percentage points from 2015 to 2017. While Republican views of colleges and universities remained largely the same throughout much of the Obama administration, 65 percent of self-identified conservatives now say that colleges and universities have a negative impact on the country. Positive views of colleges dropped even among Republicans who hold a college or graduate degree, declining by 11 percentage points during the last two years.

http://www.salon.com/2017/07/11/america-hits-peak-anti-intellectualism-majority-of-republicans-now-think-college-is-bad/

[Turbineguy]

1. Maybe the change means

that smart people are leaving the GOP.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. I would like to see the demographics on t his one.

How many respondents graduated from or attended college for instance. Socioeconomic status is another one.

[dalton99a]

3. Fox News and Infowars give everything you need

Burn the rest

[suffragette]

4. Reflects the constant drum beat of Fox News against college students being active

And the Republican elite are only too glad to press this meme to try to defund public colleges and repress education for most people, even as they will continue to send their heirs to private colleges so they can advance into their future positions.

Important post, yuiyoshida. Glad to K&R.

[BASE]

5. I wouldn't say that but it's about to have a negative impact on my finances

I have 4 kids headed that way and I can't believe how much it costs compared to when I was there 20yrs ago. It's nuts. I'm starting to understand why people get so worked up over student loans. There's no way a kid can work and pay for college anymore.

[exboyfil]

7. You have to work five times longer

at a minimum wage job today than in 1976 to pay tuition and fees to a public university.

A big part of it is the reduction in state support, but the universities themselves have to answer for some of it as well. Part of it is that inflation will go up faster for professional labor than the CPI basket, and there is really only so many efficiencies that can be had from the conventional model for education.

A poor decision on college and major selection can have a life changing impact. My recommendation is that, if you have to borrow to go to college, then pick a major that has an immediate vocational possibility (like Nursing, Engineering, Accounting, Computer Science). Unless you are already exceptional most traditional liberal arts majors are going to be a problem for securing a job (and this includes life sciences and to some degree physical sciences).

Every student should carefully kick the tires on a decision about a major and a school. Look at placement rates (good schools publish them), starting salaries, and number of students that complete their degree. I would propose doing an ROI on any major pursued and a post-graduation budget simulation.

I would personally recommend doing absolutely as much of the degree as you can while still living at home. At least in Iowa you have a solid articulation agreement between the community colleges and the universities. The community colleges also have a large number of classes available online. Public universities are very specific on what can transfer and how it can satisfy a particular degree. Make sure you follow that guidance. Also see how CLEP and AP credit is applied. In general Iowa does not do a very good job in accepting AP credit at the state universities (at least for engineering and some other technical majors). You are better served taking the community college equivalent in a lot of cases.

Every major should have a plan of study including a critical path chart. Study that before you go on campus, and determine which courses will help you the most in shortening your stay. Many majors have a six or seven course sequence. If you get off sequence you lose an entire semester. Don't get into this trap.

Universities accept credit from a variety of different institutions. Do no hesitate to take classes from another college that will transfer (again see the rules on transfer). Also remember that there is usually a residency requirement on graduation which means you cannot, without a waiver, transfer classes your final two semesters. You can take a CLEP test at any time, and this is an economic approach for reducing the number of classes you take as well.

Remember the first rule - get your minimum "credential" that allows you to get a professional position as soon as possible. There is always time afterwards to pursue minors, second majors, etc.

You don't have to be in college for four years on campus. In many cases you can trim at least one year off of that. My oldest daughter completed her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering two years after high school, and my younger daughter is on track to complete her B.S. in Nursing 15 months after high school graduation. Both of them employed the strategy I am suggesting, but they started in 10th grade with some college classes. Their last two years were mostly college classes.

Finally, you don't have to go to college. Don't go to "find" yourself (unless your family is independently wealthy). Get a CNA certification and work (or a variety of other occupations that require a minimum level of certification). Trade schools are also an option. Again kick the tires and independently verify the value of the degree. I would suggest staying away from for profits, but even public and non profits do deceptive marketing on the value of some of their degrees.

[struggle4progress]

6. IIRC Pew also found no change in Americans' attitudes towards college overall

That would suggest the apparent hardening of GOP attitudes actually results from an exodus of non-wingnuts from the party

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. The GOP has become the stupid party