5.0 out of 5 stars
this book wasn't necessarily written for a person like me, but as someone who has advised others ...
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 16, 2017
As a college graduate, this book wasn't necessarily written for a person like me, but as someone who has advised others to go get their secondary education, I was curious about other opinions on the matter and I was eager to read this book once I'd heard the author (Patrick Bet-David aka PBD) was on the verge of releasing it.
It did not disappoint.
Being very much in debt from my own experience (a soul crushing debt mind you), I was curious about PBD's take on schooling, the necessity of it, the price, and anything else that maybe he had considered that I had not. I found myself in agreement with just about every point he'd made, especially when I compared it to my experience. What I got from it was all of that and quite a bit more.
This book is a fantastic education tool, something that should be required reading for high school seniors at the very least. The book goes through the paces of who should probably go to college, who should look at community college first, those that probably shouldn't go to college, and even touches on the value of trade schools. It isn't meant to disparage schooling, in fact, it encourages it, specifically for those that need it to do their future careers (think STEM). What it does offer are questions to help you clarify why you're going, why you may want to choose another path to get there, or why you may want to look elsewhere. It also covers a variety of miscellanea such as the cost to produce the average textbook, the rising price of tuition, even the lagging average income compared to the tuition rates. Give you a freebie here, it's not a pretty picture, and as someone who is buried under soul crushing debt, I can attest to accuracy of the numbers.
I'll spare you the details of my story, but I'll happily tell you that had I had this book, I wouldn't be a statistic, burdened by what has thus far been an unbearable, nearly un-repayable debt load. The system as it is, has failed me.
My biggest criticism of the book is probably the cover. Sure the book catches the eye with the red, the trash can, and the title Drop Out and Get Schooled. Where I think it missies the mark is the small print for the rest of the title. The Case for Thinking Twice About College. I feel it should be more prominent, as it's is what the book is all about, but thats just my opinion.
Take a look, you won't be disappointed. Expect to walk away with quite a bit more clarity about what you, or someone you're concerned for should do in regards to college. Please take the time to read these words of PBD, Tom Ellsworth, and a few other "guest" writers, they might just spare you from being a debt laden statistic like myself.
Cheers.
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