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Updated almost 6 years ago on . Most recent reply
![Ben Leybovich's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/115170/1621417601-avatar-justaskbenwhy.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/cover=128x128&v=2)
Is Trump University a Scam...?!
So, this is in the news now-days. Here are a few thoughts - feel free to jump in:
I've often said that I think it's kinda naughty when people charge $30,000 for real estate education. My rationale is as follows:
Real estate is as old as dirt. Nothing new has been discovered in a few hundred years, and everything that can be done, has been done...
That said, in my view, educational products are simply well-organized, easy to use manuals. In a world where information is readily available, the thing of most value is TIME, and people spending money on educational products are simply buying something which will shorten the learning curve by presenting the material in a well-organized manner.
Well, how much is fair to charge for that? Is it $3,000 - is it $30,000. I charge $295 for CFFU, and I am glad to help.
The other side of the argument
I attended college at one of the best music schools in the nation, the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. It is, and always has been, one of the best in its' space...
While I went for free, since I am so damn talented and good-looking, most kids paid $7,000/year for 4 years. They went in under the pretense that being there, at one of the best schools in the nation, will somehow result in a successful career...
Most of them are, 20 years later, still bouncing on ****!!!
Why - because it takes more than desire + training. It takes talent, which most lack; commitment, which most do not have, and luck!
How is this different from Trump University?
People paid the money, thinking that hanging out with Trump will cause them to become RE success stories. It didn't happen for them any more than for the kids I went to college with - is anyone on BP really surprised by that?
Did the UC Conservatory of Music scam people by taking their tuition money, yet forgetting to tell them that vast majority has absolutely no chance in hell? Nope - the college tells itself that this "experience will be good for us and will teach us about ourselves..."
Conclusion
Now - am I about to start selling RE education for $30,000? Hell no! It's just not what I am about. But, I also advise everyone to not pursue liberal arts education...
Understand - I hold in much contempt parents and kids pursuing liberal arts education, going tens of thousands of dollars into debt, and then being surprised they can't make a living. I believe it's the fault of our misleading educational system, which exists to feed itself. But, nonetheless, I hold in contempt people who give into that falsehood. To study the violin, get an orchestra gig, and then go on strike because rich donors stop writing checks for your salary - asinine in my view.
More asinine than spending $30,000 on Trump University? no - about the same level of stupid...lol
So - while many are outraged with Trump University, as a representative of that which we call GURU, why are we not outraged with how worthless (and very expensive) college education has become? Not always, of course. Not all degrees and all colleges, but most are a complete waste - just like a $30,000 guru course...
Thoughts?
Most Popular Reply
![Steve B.'s profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/186939/1621431858-avatar-brightlite.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/cover=128x128&v=2)
I believe most people who are attending university shouldn't be. Historically most Americans didn't go to college, and college was never intrinsic to their success. After the great society we foisted this proletarian notion of "college for everyone" and the system sold them on the idea that a the college benefit was worth the expense, this idea became popular in a time when the cost of university was lower than the putative benefit, now the opposite is true College used to be for the smart and the motivated, and now we have people pursuing unmarketable softball degrees in English, history, and communications that are neither smart nor especially motivated. Meanwhile we have a dearth of vocationally trained technicians and skilled workers, which is really the subject matter these "students" should be focusing on. As a result, we have dumbed down the university experience to make it more accessible to average people; when I look at any engineering textbook from fifty years ago, it's obvious, how much more difficult the curriculum was back then.
I'm pretty pro-USA but in this regard Asia and Europe are way ahead of us, generally only smart and motivated students attend university's and pursue real degrees. You can see that our immigrates from these countries have it mostly correct, they send their kids for practical degrees in medicine, engineering, and accounting. Meanwhile the native born kids are casually studying subjects of questionable value and enjoying a very expensive "college experience."
I love it when Bernie Sanders is preaching that hes going to make college "free" for even more people that have no real business being there.