Please listen to the following podcast (at least the first two debaters) and engage in the discussion. Try to acknowledge that we are conditioned to believe that college is important and try to understand why is so important to us and so necessary to our lives.
It is a fascinating discussion that requires you to consider your own life experience and the experiences of others. Be sure to read your fellow classmates' responses before commenting yourself. I like to promote inter-student discussion, just remember to be polite and respectful. Feel free to insert a question into your response for later to students to answer!
Enjoy! I'll chime in from time to time.
While watching this debate between four very intelligent and successful men, I couldn't help but feel the need to join into their fierce and highly controversial discussion though I doubt any one of them heard me shouting at them through the computer screen. Such a delicate topic comes with a wide valley of ground to cover. In the beginning, I was coming in as a baised person, agreeing with the side for the motion that too many kids go to college. Yet at the end of the debate, I felt torn. I feel as if, at that moment, we were going about this all the wrong way? Did it really matter which side was right? Is it more important to determine which side the majority of the populace will agree with, or to focus on the negativities of our current educational system with its many apparent flaws? As one of the debaters said (I apologize for not keeping track), it's amazing to step back from the debate for a second and realize all the common ground both sides have. Both are looking for a brighter future. Both sides want the United States to get out of the rut it's in and continue its growth as a worldpower. it's just that these 4 men have opposing views of how to get there. Shouldn't we instead try to focus on each of the positive aspects of each side and combine them to form a well-rounded result which will have a more positive effect on society? Just as a final question to those out there: should we, instead of relying so much on the idea of college, switch our focus on and strengthen our K-12 program?
ReplyDeleteYOur idea of improving anything related to the education system of NYC is fantastic, because frankly i believe that it sucks. I've had teachers that don't give a crap about their students, some who after a year of "teaching" them don't even know their names!, some who talk about their adventures instead of following the circulum.
DeleteBut is the problem our K-12 program? Or does the problem start when the kids are raised? Maybe we should focus on changing the meaning of school, education and being learned. Because right now, the meaning of school is getting good GRADES, not the actual content of the class.
Maybe we should focus on how the country picks teachers, because if teachers don't care about the students, and what they are supposed to be teaching, the students will have the same exact attitude.
I agree with Amy, that we should focus on our K-12 program because that is what leads up to college. In the podcast Henry Bienen stated that sometimes students do not continue on to college or are not prepared for college because of their previous environment, like middle or high school. However, I think it would be very hard to decide what we need to change and what we need to fix considering there are so many opinions.
DeleteI agree with Annique as well. If we were to fix the problems in the K-12 program you have to start off with teachers. You cannot expect amazing students if they have teachers that do not teach them. I, along with Annique, have been in that situation. I think that in order to ensure better education, the schooling system should get rid of tenure for teachers. Once bad teachers have tenure it is hard to fire them on the account that they do not teach properly. If teachers were under the constant impression that they could be fired at any time and be replaced, they would be forced to do their job. And all those good teachers with tenure would continue doing their job properly and there would be no reason to fire them. Also I think that the observations that assistant principals and principals make in classrooms to check on teachers is not reliable, because teachers can and some do act differently while being observed as opposed to when they are not. Ways of checking on teachers should be improved to guarantee better education for students.
College, it's the thing that most students strive to get torwards. I use the word "thing" because that's what it is, college is this vague goal.
ReplyDeleteMy parents say that college is not really about learning, according to them, most of their professors were pretty bad and they learned mostly by reading their textbooks. College is about immersing yourself with other students of different nationalities, morals, and opinions. College is about establishing your name so that when you graduate and get into the real world, you'll have connections. These connections will help you get the job, the internship. These connection will be what seperates you from the next guy trying to get the job that you want. Lastly, you go to college for its reputation and credentials. Like it or not, the higher ranked college you go to, the better chance you'll have of getting the job.
Personally, I don't believe that it's necessary to go to college. You can start a business and be a multi- millionare business owner and not have a degree. Several of my parents' friends who have immigrated from other countries have done that. In their eyes they are successful. And that begs the question, what does it mean to be successful? And more importantly why is it important to be successful?
As for the need to go to college..
I've asked several people this question. Those who believe in education and the idea that people go to college to simply learn say that the need is to LEARN to think for themselves. But i say, why would they go to college to learn from a professor to learn to think for themselves? And what does it mean to think for oneself?
I've looked this quesion up online and found some very half-assed reasons: (hope, pressure.. etc) None of this explains why we want to go to college! And i think that's because we don't know why we want to go to college. In fact college isn't even the issue here, its the fact that so many people have been led to believe that college is important when most of us can't explain why.
And the scariest part is, even after I've realized that college is essentially worthless if we can't explain its importance, even after I don't know why I want to go to college, I can say that when i graduate in 2015, I want to go to college.
I didn't reference the debate because this hotel's browser isn't being funky. I will post again with comments about the debate later..
I agree with Annique's opinion of how going to a big-name college is key to getting a well-paying job. I believe that it was Vivek Wadhwa who stated that it didn't really matter what college you went to, as long as you went to one. I thought that wasn't a great point to extend during the debate. Most people (or maybe it's just me) don't neccessarily strive to go to a college, but to the best college there is. That's why the moderator of the debate, Jon Donvan, kept on pushing this idea of maybe it isn't solely the fact of going to college, but getting into the best colleges in the world. I think that is the essential heart of this issue at hand. The jump from high school to college is intimidating.
DeleteWhy wouldn't it be, though, for a quality education we lack? It's like trying to bake a souffle without a proper oven. Souffle is a temperamental beauty, luscious and light, yet troublesome to bake. The souffle represents our chances of going to college. The oven symbolizes our education. One assumes the higher quality the oven, the better the souffle. It can be true though. Souffle is best known for its fluffy, cloud-like texture. It is achieved through a good batter, control of humidity, and control of environment. Souffles, like our college dreams, deflate quite easily. The slightest shake or loud sound can ruin the whole effort, from gently nurturing the batter to lovingly baking it at the optimal temperature. Students work hard for their extracurriculars and grades, yet one bad egg/grade can destroy the whole thing. We put most of our trust into the oven, for without its use we wouldn't have the basic means to bake the souffle. A dysfunctional oven would make it not impossible, just extremely difficult, to make a quality souffle. Our education is thus. An education can lay the foundation for a good college. The durability of the foundation is questionable.
So we need a good eduacation if we ever dream of the Ivies. I made this point earlier, but I feel it is often overlooked. Get a good teacher, get a good school, get a great future. Although it cannot fill all of the hole we are in, making sure that a student's education before college is stable will result in better results overall.
Does a sleeker, newer model oven result in a better souffle? Can an old-fashioned oven still churn out delightful goods?
(Sorry for the weird analogies, but I often find it useful to relate vauge, abstract ideas/thoughts to common life situations. It can give one a better sense of direction and foucs.)
Both sides in this debate bring up great points to support their opinions. Peter Thiel comments on how the cost of going to college has increased a great amount, as has the debts students have because of college. How can it be okay to send students to get "higher education" and have them stress about not being able to afford it or have them deal with paying that debt later on in life? He also brings up that the amount of students that specialize in a field are too many compared to the amount of jobs available for that field once the students graduate college. It is not fair to have students put all their time and effort into something, and then be told to find something else because they can't do it. Charles Murray brings up that in 1960 the majority of Americans had not gone to college but that was not a problem.
ReplyDeleteHenry Bienen said that more people who did not go to college are unemployed and people come out of college feeling better. Vivek Wadhwa supported that education leads to growth of industry. I do think that college allows us to specialize in certain fields.
Today we do live in a society that believes that those who will be better off later on in life are those that go to college and especially finish college. Charles Murray said something I believe to be true which is that we look down on people who did not go to college.
I do not understand why college was not that important in the 60s but now it is, but I'm still going to think that college is important. I don't know what I want to do with my life yet. That's something that usually people expect you to know. I'm planning on using college to figure that out. The U.S. college system seems to have one benefit in that you can just take classes and you don't have to specialize in something. I will probably just take a bunch of classes until I find what interests me. If I don't go to college I might have a difficult time finding what I want to do.
And even if you don't believe that college will help you, it is safer to go to college to guarantee yourself a good job and a better life later on. When society decides something, like it is good to go to college, it is hard to change society's opinion, unless all students decide not to go to college. If that opinion does not change it might be better to just go along with it.
Annique brought up the point that sometimes it is not the content of education that you learn in college but it is more of a social aspect that you learn. That can be true. I've heard from people that in college they teach themselves out of books and teachers give grades without reading the work. But maybe that helps us later on in life by teaching us to do things on our own. People that have graduated from Stuyvesant have told me that college is easy, because in Stuyvesant we deal with a great work load and teachers that do not always teach. We are more prepared for college. That brings up the point that, sure college may not be necessary but if you are in Stuyvesant I think it is pretty evident that you want to go to college and you will.
One thing that I agreed with that Charles Murray said was that we should get rid of the SAT. I don't really understand what the SAT measures. It is only English and Math, which not everyone is good at. I found the math pretty simple, but I don't understand what the fancy vocabulary that we will never use besides on the test is for. In a sense it just grades us on how much we are willing to study for this test, but that is also what the SHSAT does. So if we get rid of the SAT and just base acceptance into college on grades does that mean you get rid of specialized high schools that only accept based on the ability to take a test?
Sorry for the disorganization in this comment.
It's difficult though to find such a way in which everyone has a fair, unbiased chance of getting into college. Many of us can acknowledge the mis-steps of the educational system now, but what specifically should be done in order to achieve our goals? I just wanted to put out these questions for anyone to answer:
DeleteHow much would you be willing to pay for an excellent, well-rounded education?
In your opinion, how much money would you think our education is worth now?
I'm just curious as to what others think. Please try to defend your arguments and explain your thoughts.
Commenting on Maria's post, she writes: "And even if you don't believe that college will help you, it is safer to go to college to guarantee yourself a good job and a better life later on."
DeleteThe problem with this statement is the word guarantee.Just because you go to a good college does not mean that you will get a job. It takes more than a college degree in some cases to get a job. In my 1st comment, when I mentioned my parent's friends, their kids ended up goint to Princeton, Yale and UPenn. It's been an average of 8 years since graduating, and they are all still unemployed.
Of course, this is just 1 case. But it takes more than a college degree to get a job. It takes determination, drive, connections, and a bit of luck. So nothing is guaranteed when/ if you attend college.
After listening to the podcast and hearing both sides of the argument, i read the comments and ultimately sided with "it is necessary to go college" side of this debate.
ReplyDeleteGoing to college is very pricey, and might put a heavy debt on families like Peter Thiel mentioned "the median wage for lawyers is $62,000" after already spending "$250,000 in law school debt".
Although college might be a huge cost and burden to your family, receiving a college degree can open many doors to possible jobs that wouldn't be possible with only a high school diploma.
I also agree with Annique's opinion about being a guaranteed a job. Even after going to an ivy league school and other top colleges in the country, you might have trouble finding a job. Going to college does not guarantee a job, but it does guarantee a better chance of finding one!
-Demos Sfakianakis (Period 5)
Wow, I'm really enjoying the evolution of these comments. We've suggested that perhaps our k-12 education needs improvement, perhaps even making some modification in parenting strategies. We have discussed the inherent "value" of college education as some kind psychological and social benefit, but also while weighing the economics of school (cost and yield). I think some of the more interesting discussion lies in the the perceived value of education versus the reality of our educational experience. We understand the necessity for good teachers and good experiences, but are our schools providing this? And to make matters even more interesting, I love how we're digging even deeper, attempting to understand why these factors are so important. What happens when one attends college? Do we simply memorize more material and take a succession of exams? Are our minds opened somehow? What exactly is the purpose of a college education if it's so necessary?
ReplyDeleteContinue to engage one another, this is a truly fascinating debate. I was listening to the following podcast (http://www.freakonomics.com/2012/12/06/the-things-they-taught-me-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/) today in which one of the writers of Freakonomics, Stephen Dubner, interviews three of his undergraduate professors and discussed the inherent importance of the college classroom. It's worth a listen and certainly contributes to the discussion.
And Amy, your souffle metaphor made me hungry.
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ReplyDeleteMany people here have stated that going to college may be questionable to the individual, and I agree with that. But, I also believe that a better education is essential for a society or nation to progress. What do you think?
DeletePlease define "better education" and why is it essential for a society to progress?
DeleteAnd i don't think its a question of getting an education or not, but a question of going to college to get this so called education.
I think too many people associate going to college (and getting a degree) with success.
ReplyDeleteSimple questions with typical answers.
Why do you try to do well in school? So I can get good grades.
What do good grades do? Are they not just numbers? Good grades will get me into a good college
Why do you want to go to a good college? So I can get a good job.
Why do you want a good job? So I can make a lot of money and be successful.
Now what does money and success do? It allows me to live comfortably.
Too many people see college as a gateway to endless possibilities which is why too many try to cram through and get out with a sheet of paper. It has gotten to a pathetic point where some schools just give out degrees. (Compare degrees from ivy leagues to the ones online colleges give). I don’t think college is necessary and I don’t think it’s for everyone. If more people shared the same view as me, I feel that productivity would increase. We dedicate a lot of time to education but it honestly isn't always worth it. College is said to be where people find out what they want to be. However, people tend to neglect the fact that it is a “stick with something or pay even more” kind of deal.
I have an older sister who graduated college just a few years ago. Her best friend (who is the same age) is still in school because she decided that she wanted to be an interior designer. She transferred out of NYU and into an art school.
Would you be willing to throw away an extra couple thousands for something you love to do?
My sister also went to school with a guy who now works in his family’s restaurant. Four years at a good business school just for a job he could have gotten if he had gone to a regular business school (which would have been a lot cheaper).
And I can’t even imagine how many law and medical students drop out each year.
All the time, effort and resources people waste on college is pitiful. We have universities that give out diplomas that mean absolutely nothing in the employment world. High paying jobs now require people to have higher degrees because graduating college is no longer a big deal. But nonetheless, we have thousands of people today who sit in classrooms hoping to eventually receive a sheet of paper that basically says “yep, s/he did it. S/he passed classes for 4 years”.
I agree with you Shuxing, in many ways, a BA is completely worthless. However, it was Charles Murray, I believe, that mentioned how it has become a label given to us by society, that without the degree we are deemed as lazy and stupid. Today, a BA has turned into a ticket for a job interview. In fact, the degree is so worthless, it can be thought of as a lotto. One gets a degree, fills it with their name, turns it in to a possible employer, and waits until their name is drawn from a hat, and then he/she comes for an interview. Unless one has that Ivy badge, one's chances of being employed are almost the same as with everyone else within that BA pool. One doesn't even need to fill their diploma credentials with all the "required" (for their possible future job) courses. He/She can fly through college while taking the easiest classes. But, because they have had the determination to stick through their classes and attain their diplomas, employers use their degrees as a mechanism for filtering out the "educated" from the "stupid" masses. From this perspective, the education system seems flawed. However, instead of targeting our K-12 system, like Annique suggested, I think we should focus on offices and corporations and find a new way to sort between potential job candidates and the regular masses. After all, our ultimate goal with all this education is a job. And if we target the employment mechanism for sorting between candidates, we could potentially eliminate the need for a bachelor's degree in our system. Candidates would no longer be required to sit through four years of classes just to get a chance at employment.
DeleteShuxing, I think that you did a really nice job of having a debate with yourself by not answering any questions, but bringing up more questions.
DeleteYou bring up the interesting question of "Would you be willing to throw away an extra couple thousands for something you love to do?" and i think that's the ultimate question.
If we all thought about this question and truly answered it, then we probably wouldn't have an issue of too many people going to college, and maybe that isn't even an issue at all. (I'm playing the devil's advocate here.)
Why is it a problem that people are going to college? Is it because people aren't going for the "right" reasons? But what is the right reason to go?
Why bother even trying to change the reasons people want to do things? Because this is more than going to college. Look at the bigger picture. Question the thins that you do. You'll realize that most of them you do because you see other people around you doing that, or because society tells you that that's the "normal" or "right" thing to do.
College. Whew. College is something that certain people may love and never leave while college can also be something that ruins people's lives. Nonetheless, in both cases, college is an experience that teaches everyone at least something. Whether that thing is small or big, it counts. College is necessary for everyone for college shows the true self and brings out the positives and the negatives of a person. However, after college, people must learn to take the experience of college and use it to succeed in life. College is basically a bridge across the ocean to get from the side where everything is foggy to the other side where everything is sunny and clear with a slight breeze.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the misconception is that graduating college is no longer a big deal, it actually is a challenge for many people. Whether it regards personal or educational reasons, college is like taking a four or more year test where the questions are never ending. People are going through many hardships in college and they may drop out before graduating and receiving the piece of paper that may not mean anything to someone who wants to stay in college for more than four years. If the piece of paper does not mean anything, what's the point of the first four years of college? They are just a waste of people's lives and they are making people suffer for nothing.
College should not exist at all. I feel that it should be grad school right after high school because for most students in high school, they feel that they are already experiencing a lot of stress. If grad school is too early for students, then they should go to school abroad and experience education in a whole new level. They will not feel stressed and will actually obtain a lot of knowledge after the school abroad. College may sound useful and easy, but it isn't.
I think that your solution of going to grad school or traveling abroad is a bit rash? How will you as a student be able to judge if you are ready or not to go to grad school. What is different about grad school than undergraduate school? Isn't the point of going to an undergraduate school to prepare yourself for graduate school? I think that undergraduate school is necessary because this is when you decide or have an understanding of what you want to do or be in the future.
DeleteYou say that the piece of paper, the diploma is useless which is why college is unnecessary. But the problem is that people look at the piece of paper and use that to decide how they will judge you.
You also say that "after college, people must learn to take the experience of college and use it to succeed in life." Again, so many assumptions. How can we know that we will learn anything worthwhile in college? And how do we know that the experience of college will allow us to succeed in life.
Again, the word succeed comes up again in most of these comments. Is the questions why is college assumed to be the key to success?
In my opinion, too many people go to college. College is a good thing, but the premium that people pay for college is excessively high. If i were to round down the amount of college debt (to $1,000,000,000,000) and round up the number of people in college (est 15-29 yr olds to 40,000,000) We get a figure of about $25,000 of debt per person. I just wonder if $25,000 is "worth it" to have a chance to survive in society. College debt is also very nasty as it clings on to you forever, and can never be removed. Secondly, a video by PBSIdeaChannel, about how Youtube is making people smarter, makes me think that YouTube is a new method of learning things, where you can learn almost anything. So, my ideology on college is that in today's society is that it is just dated, and not needed.
ReplyDeleteCollege is a great stabilizer, but in reality, I think we should get rid of it. College in my eyes is a stabilizer to get less advanced students to the level that me, or my fellow students at more advanced schools are at. Though, what we really need is a new method for us a society to get "qualified" where we use simulations to test someone's ability in such subject.
So, in my opinion, too many people go to college.
The Video I was talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qjge9U_MiA
While growing up we are fed the idea that college is necessary to become successful. We are told this by our parents, relatives and teachers. However, I don’t believe that college is really necessary for everyone. There are some people who don’t need college and can become entrepreneurs. I think in modern society a college diploma is no longer a guarantee of success because there are many people with college degrees who are unemployed. However, I won’t deny the fact that a college diploma does open more opportunities. One problem I see with college is that you spend a lot of money for a degree which does not guarantee you getting a job in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think that too many people are going to college and I don’t like the idea that a 4 year B.A. diploma is required to be considered for many jobs. I agree with the people who say that college should not exist because it costs a lot of money and is not really necessary for everyone.
But will employers comply if we choose to stand up against this notion of required college? As people who are influenced a lot by our instincts and emotions, sometimes we have to wonder why we do the things we do? Is it truly for the sole purpose of knowledge, or is it deeper than that? Life is like one big competition where one is constantly trying to gain a lead upon the rest of the competitors.
DeleteSuppose my friend who graduated college is competing for the same job that I am applying for. Now, let's pretend that it is literally, a big race and crossing the finish line first represents successfully getting the job. My friend Simon has a big, gleaming, red Ferrari and a full tank of gas. That car is his diploma. I, on the other hand, did not go to college. I have a purple bicycle, helmet, and matching knee pads. The race track is long, with many bumps and hills along the way. Who would you pick to win? Sure, I could still win if I was a really good athlete. Yet, chances are, Simon is getting the job. But here's the kicker- I could've won. If I wanted it badly enough, I could've found a way to win that job. It'd be hard, though. Extremely hard. Pedaling at the rate a Ferrari would go is not for the light-hearted. So what's the point of this slightly flawed analogy? While one could factor in outside influences/distractions, I'm trying to say that maybe college isn't as hard as it seems. The real world, the one outside your door, is brutal. People will do anything to be on the top (Wall Street anyone?), while taking the easiest way to get there. So one could skip college and go out into the world, but it is much more daunting a task. You have to work twice as hard as those who went to college. Then you have to push yourself even further and be better than those who went to college. Survival of the fittest is what it is, and that big advantage (college) at least gives you a foundation to start on.
We are being slightly hypocritical, myself included. The majority of us say too many people go to college, but we will go anyway. One more person (or the whole 2015 graduating class of Stuyvesant High School) won't hurt, right? All in all, if we want to actually change for the better, then we have to get down into the nitty-gritty and truly do something. Even if it's small, that change will bloom into something bigger. Acknowledging something is the first step. Implementing positive changes is the second step. Third and final step is accepting those changes and incorporating them into our lives. But who is going to be the one that sparks the revolution with not only words and ideas, but actions?
This was just my more radical thinking of the discussion. Please don't be offended about the hypocrite stuff in any way.
You bring up an interesting point Amy. You say, that as a prospective candidate for a job, if you were to match up against another candidate, one with a bachelor's degree, you would almost surely lose out on the employment opportunity. In reality, this is almost always true. This is why I suggest that we target the employers. I feel that they should hire those that demonstrate the skills desired for the occupation the candidates are applying for. For example, for a "simple" office job, if a candidate without the bachelor's degree demonstrates a great knowledge of office tools such as Microsoft, but the candidate with the bachelor's isn't too keen with their use, shouldn't the employer hire the candidate who is more proficient? I feel that instead of requiring a BA, like many companies and offices do nowadays, they should require field experiences. Apprenticeships, hands-on experiences, and the like should be considered above degrees. Applying this attitude to our work force would decrease the demand for BAs, and increase the need for ability and proficiency. The total impact of such a change would increase the value of a BA, making the students who stick through all four years of college get the recognition they deserve. At the same time, due to different employment requirements, good work and ability would be valued above all else.
DeleteShuxing raises some wonderful points - what happens to those on the margin who don't make the cut and end up in large amounts of debt with no viable job? To further add to her point, look at statistic in job retention, the numbers are startling. Apparently clergy love their work and don't switch occupations. But who switches the most; lawyers are likelier to switch occupation stating dissatisfaction as a main factor in such a decision.
ReplyDeleteI think Gavin's point is important and should be addressed: Isn't national education the key to a progressive society?
Vincent wants to jump straight to grad school, but I might argue that college does help the transition into grad school which is ridiculously labor intensive. But he's right when he suggests that college is a kind of "necessity". It's interesting to hear how you, a group of Stuy students discuss college as an option and not an inevitability. You're all built for college; you're natural scholars who work hard and would thrive and succeed in the collegiate environment. I wouldn't have written close to 60 college recs last year (2012) if I didn't believe it. When we ask the question "Do too many people go to college", don't forget to consider others in your generation who aren't as studious and hard-working.
Jim, great video, great point, I don't want to say more than that because I want students to see the video and expand.
Razwan, try to clarify who college isn't necessary for. It's an interesting point that I'd like to see explored deeper. Believe it or not, college degrees are so commonplace now that the MTA asks for those with college degrees when hiring taxi drivers.
Amy, very interesting point about theory and practice. I also enjoy your discussion of the "real-world" which you've all heard about and are yet to experience. It's a very competitive place where survival of the fittest certainly exists and thrives. And to add to your "hypocrisy" comment, I think that most of us go to college because we trust our parents and advisors to know what may be best for us, but we're also scared of what may happen if we don't go. We hope that with a good education comes good opportunities and it certainly helps to have an Ivy on your resume to get noticed, but we also fear being judged solely based on numbers and school names.
Keep up the debate. I love reading these comments!
I believe the biggest problem with college education is that you must pay outrageous prices to enter. Throughout the entire debate a large number of points were related to student loans. By making college necessary to getting most jobs and still allowing them to be private institutions instead of government-run we allow colleges the ability to easily jack up college admissions prices and still have people pay for them. The problem itself isn't really getting a higher education.One of debaters said that our education system is one of the reasons why every other country wants to be America. I strongly believe that higher education is right for the majority of the nation and is what will propel us forward and the only obstacle in our way is the price of college. Is government regulated colleges the answer or do we need to find another cheaper alternative?
ReplyDeleteColleges are definitely flawed institutions, and those who are aimless and don't have a specific plan for the future are wasting their time getting a higher-education degree. Those who have a specific goal and idea as to what they want to major in know that they are getting themselves in an exorbitant amount of debt, but hope that it will pay off because being successful without a college degree is almost impossible. For them taking classes meant to "enlighten" to earn the necessary credits to graduate, such as belly-dancing or underwater basket weaving, is just part of the process. On the other hand, students who aren't sure that college is right for them, this is pointless and takes away from the time they could be spending finding their life path. Event though being an adult without a college degree has a negative stigma attached, part of becoming an overall more successful and confident adult is to disregard other's insignificant opinions and do what is right for you.
ReplyDelete