New Jersey colleges need to focus on your goal, not theirs

The “powers that be” in New Jersey are trying to find ways to reduce student loan debt. Some of the ideas they've come up with include three year degrees, more community college (why you would want to pay so much more for your first two years when you can get the same credits there is beyond me), and even letting you start your journey while still in high school.

Here's what I think they should include: Focus on the goal. When I chose radio as my profession I wanted to learn everything about it. In order to do that, I went to a broadcasting school that gave me 222 hours of everything radio complete with a job placement service so that when I finished in six months I was able to start working. College offered much less in the field and would take four years, which would have not only kept me from working but going deeper into student loan debt as well. As it turned out, by the time my class would have graduated, I spent those four years working morning drive in New Jersey then Philadelphia.

If colleges focused totally on the goal of training you for your chosen profession instead of making you take classes you don't need like electives that make them money, you would be paying less and making more since you'll get out earlier.

Ask any apprentice tradesmen what electives they were forced to take and how much they are making now? If colleges trimmed the fat and focused on your goal, not theirs, you would be out quicker and paying back less.

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