Volume 2 Issue 10
by Michael Wagner
Knowledge Pilot, Launch Global Education
Certain topics continue to make the cycle in the area of post-secondary education. This week there is yet another article about the cost of college and the return on investment (ROI). Said another way, is college worth it?
And right on the tail of that subject, stackable credentialing has resurfaced on the news charts, covering the advantages of having them to increase learning, relatable skill development, and potential earnings.
The fact that these issues keep coming up should tell you how important they are. I hope you find additional valuable information within them.
Discoveries
Cost of college vs. the earning potential
It is a topic that continues to be the focus of young adults when deciding if the time and money invested in college are worth it when looking at their earning potential after graduation. NPR journalist A. Martinez has a conversation with Professor Jeff Strohl, Director of Research at the Georgetown University Center on Education, regarding the issue.
Comparing college costs to the amount a student expects to earn after graduation
I will make it perfectly clear; I am not a college rankings fan. Period. I find the entire selection process to be riddled with flaws. The California Student Journalism Corps of EdSource addresses the issue of the validity of college rankings, asking a group of students to share their opinions on the subject.
I continue to champion the message that credentialing matters. I advise the students to explore credentialing (certification) options as a way to further their learning and provide themselves with viable options for career and income growth. Sara Weissman of Inside Higher Ed outlines recent findings from a current study by the Rand Corporation.
Low-income students stand to benefit from stackable credentials
And here is the study from The Rand Corporation:
Stackable credential pipelines and equity for low-income individuals
Tip of the Week
In only a few short weeks schools will be letting out and students will find they have some additional time on their hands. I tease young adults all the time that the number one response to “How are you doing?” is “I’m tired.” Often, their summer plan is just to double down on sleep. Instead, I challenge them to double down on learning. This is when they have the time to add to their resumes with credentialing/certification courses related to subjects that they are interested in and that may correspond to what they want to pursue in the future.
I will say it again, I am a large proponent of students gaining credentialing certificates while in high school. While I realize that the focus of credentialing is for people in the workforce to obtain additional education or training in a particular field, high school students can benefit as well. There are thousands of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) out there for young adults to take advantage of.
You can research courses at https://www.mooc.org/ or https://www.edx.org/. Find something you like and give it a try this summer.
Before you go...
I live just outside Baltimore, Maryland. After relocating here from Los Angeles, I better understood that the annual blossoming of the cherry trees in Washington, D.C. is a big deal. For those that have not seen them, please enjoy viewing the scene by videographer Victor Ulloa of CBS.
It is hard to believe that the 2022-2023 school year is ending. In only a few weeks schools will be letting out and once again summer break will be upon us. For me, it feels like I just arrived in Maryland. I can remember the first meeting with my rising seniors to help guide them through the college application process. And now this week we arrived at the national signing (commitment) day when they needed to finalize their college choice. Just like that, another college application cycle concludes. I cannot stress enough that young adults need to take advantage of their time in school because it goes by so fast and then BAM, before you know it they are back in school again. Meanwhile the seniors are off on a whole new journey.
Enjoy the week.
Michael Wagner, MAED is a founder and the Knowledge Pilot for Launch Education. Mr. Mike has assisted hundreds of students around the world on their college pathways.