One thing Democrats could do, given how strong educational polarization is, would be pushing for 3-year College degree options Would lower the opportunity cost, time, and tuition expense of College; it's not obvious the UK really suffers from them; and thereby increase # of College grads - ThreadSky

arpitrage.bsky.social • 111 days ago

One thing Democrats could do, given how strong educational polarization is, would be pushing for 3-year College degree options

Would lower the opportunity cost, time, and tuition expense of College; it's not obvious the UK really suffers from them; and thereby increase # of College grads

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stevenlandgraf.com•111 days ago

Would this increase college grads on the margin? It seems like those most suited to complete a 3-yr degree are more likely to complete a 4-yr degree anyway. Especially if we make 3-year degrees easier by streamlining and expanding AP credit. Few people taking lots of APs are marginal students.

arpitrage.bsky.social•111 days ago

I mean, a third of high schoolers take AP tests now

stevenlandgraf.com•111 days ago

2/3 go on to college, and the 1/3 stat doesn't say anything about how many actually earn AP credit nor how many have substantial enough credit that they can reasonably accelerate a degree to 3 years. (Sorry, reposting to fix typos)

arpitrage.bsky.social•111 days ago

You could also make it even easier to go to community college and transfer

jocelynsquires.bsky.social•110 days ago

I'd be curious to see comparisons to Canada. My sense is, two or three year degree programs are more common/accepted in Canada, but in the US it's easier to transfer your credits to a four year program should you later decide to get a Bachelor.

bobbyfijan.bsky.social•110 days ago

A great idea. The cost of switching majors is much higher too. Forces ppl to choose, and stick with it

marcellograz.bsky.social•111 days ago

Nah: Dems are hell-bent to terminate public HE, especially in Ivy states, and have servants’ school.

sjbeconobot.bsky.social•110 days ago

UK universities manage 3-year degrees by streamlining the courses, i.e. being very prescriptive about what you take and in which year. There is much to recommend it but it’s not consistent with the kind of flexibility you’re suggesting.

danielread.bsky.social•111 days ago

A levels in the UK are like a year of US college, so there might be other changes to make.

annagoeddeke.bsky.social•111 days ago

My thoughts are similar, I think we just come more in schools, which are free.
Maybe introducing something like a high school degree+ that allows you to stay at home, is free and covers your first college year?

themountaingoat.bsky.social•111 days ago

It is not clear that education is causal though.

arpitrage.bsky.social•111 days ago

One way of getting there would be to make it even easier for AP credits to further translate as College credits, especially at state schools

Could also streamline non-major requirements, offer more summer courses, and make sure people take major courses 1st year

acannon.bsky.social•110 days ago

Why settle for AP when you can sing up for concurrent enrollment at a local community college during Junior and Senior year of HS?

opinionhaver7.bsky.social•111 days ago

Do you really think this would be positive for the additional people going to college considering the rising blue collar wages and declining college wage premium? Or are you just proposing it as a very expensive way to get Dem votes?

arpitrage.bsky.social•111 days ago

Lower college spending is also explicitly a way to address declining college premiums

opinionhaver7.bsky.social•111 days ago

Sure, assuming people switch from 4 year to 3 year programs. But expanding 3 year programs as a way to address edu polarization, implies expanding the total size of college population, which might not be the most economically sensible thing to do for the new college attendees.

arpitrage.bsky.social•110 days ago

Yes, but I have in mind the total cost for them will be lower for marginal students

opinionhaver7.bsky.social•110 days ago

For sure, although even politically it could well backfire: more college grads with expectations for white collar work the market isn’t asking for, who could be doing better becoming good at a blue collar trade.

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