Of 55 students in my class at Columbia’s Film program, 4 made a career out of it
I saw some sensible commentary that basically.. these types of degree programs have always existed for the bored children of the rich.  It just seems some didn&#x27;t get the memo and took on huge debts to join them.  This could be said of a lot of elite, expensive, liberal art degree programs..<p>The scale of these degree programs and the irresponsibility of upscale universities marketing them to those that clearly cannot afford them is evil.  Just absolutely ruining peoples lives.<p>An interesting idea I saw was the idea of making schools have skin in the game on these degree programs by requiring them to back some percent of the debt of these federal loans.  I&#x27;d imagine admissions criteria, prices and career outcomes would adjust accordingly.<p>Also a question of when personal responsibility comes into play, I mean sure we can side with the 18 year olds making bad financial decisions taking on debt for a BA degree. 
But by the time you are 22.. 24...26 and going for these six-figure MA&#x2F;PHD tracks .. cmon.<p>Lastly - the idea that the professors in these programs were basically failed in making themselves careers in the fields themselves is not entirely shocking.  Even in many STEM universities&#x2F;programs, teaching is not very career outcome focus.<p>My personal experience was that professors cared about research first, PHD track students second, and career track BS degree students.. somewhere a few more notches down.<p>We all coach&#x2F;develop people into molds of ourselves, and professors have a hard time looking beyond turning students into more professors.  Obviously this does not scale..