2011-03-20, 04:32 PM
Interesting question, and I'm surprised to see so many people hating on college because, ultimately, all they care about it whatever gets them the job they want with the salary they desire, yet I'm sure many people here posted on that thread a few months/years back that talked about enjoying universities for the educational aspect of the material presented. What I recall from that thread (which basically said that, if money and the future wasn't an issue, would you still go to college/university solely for the learning aspect) was that everyone pretty much said "yes" to question posed. Yet now everyone's saying pineapple college, go to the public library?
I love my university and find it completely worth it. Perhaps I'm biased because I came out as an openly gay male by building friendships and networking with people at school, but then again, that's a huge change in my life that wouldn't have happened had I stayed in my hometown (well, it probably would have happened eventually, but not as quickly or smoothly). My school has provided me with wonderful experiences I couldn't find elsewhere (sitting behind President Barack Obama when he came and delivered a speech, protesting these past 6 weeks at the capitol in the eyes of the world), which, I suppose, are once again biased as they're individual and unique to my university. But I suppose that's just the point - college/university is a place to utilize the resources available to do and experience great things. I've seen a lot of comments in this thread about paving one's own life without higher education, and I totally believe in those people and know they will have wonderfully, happy, successful and fulfilling lives. But when I sit down and look at what I have accomplished - and will over these next two years - and try and see how it could have happened to the same degree without being at the university, I can't imagine it would have happened. I have the ambition, drive, know-how, etc., to do everything I've done on my own, but it's that much harder when you're doing it by yourself as opposed to going through the channels provided in the setting of academia.
And that's not even discussing the learning aspect. Again, I'm sure it's possible to learn everything from public libraries and other sources on one's own time and volition. But I personally like the discipline afforded by knowing I have to go to these classes at these times on these days, have this work to do, and have these exams/projects to showcase my knowledge and therefore serve as a good goal within a reasonable time frame for me to accomplish those tasks. How many people can safely say they can personally set up - and stick to - a schedule like that if learning material from public library textbooks? I'm sure there are plenty who can, but is it more than those on a university schedule?
Who knows, and who really cares. What matters in the end is finding what works for you, and if the structure of academia is not conducive to your learning styles or will not prepare you as quickly or fully as you could prepare yourself for a job, if that's the only reason you're going to school, then do it yourself, or by whatever other means are best. All in all, academia serves as a wonderful guide for those who would like the assistance, as well as a phenomenal place of a plethora of opportunities from internships to networking to socializing and building experiences, etc.
P.s. - this is all not to say that people who go to academia are unable to "deal with real life" and "live in the real world" and "do things by themselves." There are definitely some who can't do those things, and for them higher education is a true assistant in transitioning them from high school to real life, but the majority of people I know at my university, myself included, are all capable adults who utilize our school as a way to accomplish MORE. By having the discipline of a set academic schedule, it becomes easier to not have to do that all that planning and accountability ourselves, which allows for more time to pursure extracurricular activities and opportunities, thus still building exemplary resumes, CVs, and worldly people.
I love my university and find it completely worth it. Perhaps I'm biased because I came out as an openly gay male by building friendships and networking with people at school, but then again, that's a huge change in my life that wouldn't have happened had I stayed in my hometown (well, it probably would have happened eventually, but not as quickly or smoothly). My school has provided me with wonderful experiences I couldn't find elsewhere (sitting behind President Barack Obama when he came and delivered a speech, protesting these past 6 weeks at the capitol in the eyes of the world), which, I suppose, are once again biased as they're individual and unique to my university. But I suppose that's just the point - college/university is a place to utilize the resources available to do and experience great things. I've seen a lot of comments in this thread about paving one's own life without higher education, and I totally believe in those people and know they will have wonderfully, happy, successful and fulfilling lives. But when I sit down and look at what I have accomplished - and will over these next two years - and try and see how it could have happened to the same degree without being at the university, I can't imagine it would have happened. I have the ambition, drive, know-how, etc., to do everything I've done on my own, but it's that much harder when you're doing it by yourself as opposed to going through the channels provided in the setting of academia.
And that's not even discussing the learning aspect. Again, I'm sure it's possible to learn everything from public libraries and other sources on one's own time and volition. But I personally like the discipline afforded by knowing I have to go to these classes at these times on these days, have this work to do, and have these exams/projects to showcase my knowledge and therefore serve as a good goal within a reasonable time frame for me to accomplish those tasks. How many people can safely say they can personally set up - and stick to - a schedule like that if learning material from public library textbooks? I'm sure there are plenty who can, but is it more than those on a university schedule?
Who knows, and who really cares. What matters in the end is finding what works for you, and if the structure of academia is not conducive to your learning styles or will not prepare you as quickly or fully as you could prepare yourself for a job, if that's the only reason you're going to school, then do it yourself, or by whatever other means are best. All in all, academia serves as a wonderful guide for those who would like the assistance, as well as a phenomenal place of a plethora of opportunities from internships to networking to socializing and building experiences, etc.
P.s. - this is all not to say that people who go to academia are unable to "deal with real life" and "live in the real world" and "do things by themselves." There are definitely some who can't do those things, and for them higher education is a true assistant in transitioning them from high school to real life, but the majority of people I know at my university, myself included, are all capable adults who utilize our school as a way to accomplish MORE. By having the discipline of a set academic schedule, it becomes easier to not have to do that all that planning and accountability ourselves, which allows for more time to pursure extracurricular activities and opportunities, thus still building exemplary resumes, CVs, and worldly people.