What is the benefit of going to school? I know of some people that think school is the superlative, an unparalleled endeavor. They loved every minute and would die to go back. Then there are the people like me that wonder why higher education is so highly valued in our society. I believe a college degree is important (not necessary) for two reasons; first of all you need that coveted piece of paper to get hired at many firms, and secondly I think it does give people a better understanding of the world had they not gone to college. I agree with the proponents that stress the importance of receiving a degree but more individuals need to weigh their own costs and benefits before taking the plunge. When all is done and you have completed the 4+ years, are you better off? Does college have an overall positive effect on everyone? Does five years of brown-nosing negatively alter individuals, or is it people’s innate personality from the beginning to be self-interested? Either way I want you to consider this and comment.
Students are a mostly conceited bunch, wasting their time earning grades to flatter their teachers and classmates, learning little more than how to successfully pass the next test. I worry that this egotistic attitude is transferring over into the workplace. I enjoy work because I feel that I am able to contribute my talents and abilities to better serve others and participate in society, giving back the gifts I was given. Many college graduates I’m afraid are narcissistic, worrying more about their own advancements and accomplishments than the well being of their clients and customers. I know this is all kind of funny since I am going back to school but I decided that I don’t want to deal with self-interested business people, I want to deal with people selflessly and maybe by working hard in health care I will be able to make a difference.
13 comments:
but nate you learn so much in college....like when you and i got "shoooshed" for being too loud in biology or when we were in statistics and would sit somewhere differently each class and try to find each other and creatively give each other the bird for the remaining time. good stuff.
Thanks to Jenny's little sister we passed Statistics. Remember how we would go over to her apartment the night before and copy her notecard and have her teach us what we missed.
There were at least 400 people in that Biology class, I can't believe he shooshed us.
Before we seperated ourselves in Stats we would play the "who's the hottest in that section game" and see if we picked the same person.
Just compare yourself to someone who didn't go to college at all - in your same grade or something. I think it is a good experience overall. If nothing else it opens your eyes to the world. I agree that it isn't for everyone, but you have to go by statistics and see how much better of a life people have that went to college - I am speaking monetarily, but I think that it's more than that too. You just have your horizons broadened. I am pretty damn sure that if I had never gone to college I would not get really excited when I watch a documentary or watch my Tivoed Jeopardy!. But what do I know, I went to Utah State.
After being in a business program for the past few months I can see why some people would feel school to be worthless. A lot of stuff I'm learning I could have learned through experience easily. On the other hand we live in a competitive society, and one way companies narrow down the labor pool is by looking at who has a degree and who hasn't.
I am glad this turned up a little controversy. I do think I learned a lot from college but I love the work atmosphere, I get more satisfaction participating at work than I ever did at school.
If nothing else, college was a time of self-realization, bad dance parties, and learning fun and interesting ways to poison people with blue pee dye.
it is so discouraging to think back on 5 years of college because so much stuff that I was taught it seemed like I already knew. When I meet somebody that hasn't gone to college and has been making $50,000 for the past 5 years I feel cheated. I know a guy who works in Alaska, is a high school dropout, works 2 weeks a month (but pretty much the entire 2 weeks), and is making $150,000. I sure am glad I'm going to college.
With my monetary comment I meant to look at people as a whole with college degrees. They make more money on average than people without any college. Some people are bright enough to make really decent money without going to college. I don't consider myself one of those people. Also, almost all of the science stuff I studied in school I didn't already know - save what had been taught to me in high school. If you already know something, why take an entire degree of it? Why didn't you just go get the experience Ryan?
on average, a CEO makes 147 times the average worker. what did they learn in college that makes them 147 times more valuable to a company than the average worker, whom probably has a college degree too?
They probably learned to cheat better. I look at going to college as a way to separate me from the Hales family.
I think a degree is a necessary step and is important in life. It might not be the most useful experience we've ever had, but without it we would have to work a long time to get any respect, I'm mostly talking about the business world. There are a few stories about people who didn't go to college who make tons of money, but what about the millions of high school graduates and dropouts working manual labor jobs making $10 an hour for the rest of their life. The statistics have shown that college graduates make much more money over their lifetime. Plain and simple it's an investment for our future.
Not to go against my husband, but I think a college education is an invaluable experience. I gained not only school related knowledge but also knowledge of myself and the world. It is a very selfish time in our lives, but it is only for our betterment and we will in the end be giving a lot back to society once we enter the workforce. And on top of learning, it's also just a good time! Where else are you surrounded by so many people around your same age? If you entered the workplace immediatly you could miss out on all the fun of college life!
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