College. Reactions?

How do you guys feel about this image? At first it really resounded with me, but the more I thought about it, the more I questioned it.



Did you go to college? Did you regret it? Do you feel as though it is an over-blown experience? It certainly is freakin' expensive and thrust upon us as a necessity.

I'm a college graduate and really valued the learning experience and don't really find that the cartoon has a lot of merit. Getting an education isn't something I regret (and I do have them). University can certainly teach critical thinking skills--but obviously, those are available through many other life experiences.

Thoughts?

 

Well you beat me to it, this is pretty much the same as my thoughts on it

 

yeah try getting a good job without either
a.) a college degree or
b.) working your ass off.

you can't sell hippy beads and tie dye hats forever kiddos

 

I lol'ed.

 

Soeone recently posted something about regretting going to University, because you can buy or borrow books for less money, and get the same knowledge. If that's the case, the person must have had awful teachers, or has never been to a great lecture, or a seminar class.


Anyways, I definitely do not regret going to Uni.

 

Yeah , lol. The average grad is 26k in debt. Student loans. From a P&L standpoint take the money buy property you won't be 26k in debt. Money buys freedom.

 

there is no way you can get the same experience from just reading the textbooks. these people have been studying their field most of their lives to become professors. they know things a textbook doesn't.

 

26k? that's it? what about when you get a Master's Degree and you are making 100k a year?


a friend of mine is looking at 100k in debt from her doctorate in pharmacology but when she graduates she has a guaranteed career making at least 100k a year.

 

My best professor was an x cardealer , one time city mayor , a high school drop out. I think it was about that time , I decided to drop out as well.

Oh, OK, Phrmacology, out of my league. I thought that was a meth lab.

 

To me the image refers to people having regrets when they die. Going to college would not be one of the things people would regret.

My college experience was different from most people. I started in 1968, got married in 1970 and stopped going to school. Got divorced. Worked hard in the school of hard knocks. Got a job in 1990 at a university and finished my degree in 1997 (working full time and going to school part time). My mother was proud of my accomplishment. I learned a lot through my classes and about myself. I was old enough to be a parent to most of the students and so tended to be friends with some of the professors and other non-traditional students. After graduating I stayed in the same job and retired a couple years ago. I have always believed in life long learning. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to get the degree and amazed that I could do that at such an advanced age. I don't think I would feel differently about myself if I had not had the opportunity.

 

right on, spectacles!

i can't imagine the ignorant mindset of someone who would regret bettering themselves as a person

 

College is bullshit, especially once you factor in the cost. That is why every moron and his brother is in college these days. It's just more "repeat as we tell you" bullshit. Colleges are centers of indoctrination -- not learning. Unfortunately, unless you are gifted with boundless drive and creativity, it can be tough making it in the world without some lifeless job which only a college degree can afford you. I recently went back to school, albeit part-time, but I feel I have no other option at this point. It's not because my heart is with it. If I want to learn, I will do it on my own, but my opinion is that colleges are to true knowledge what McDonalds is to real food. It's a joke what people have to do to have some semblance of a normal life these days. If so many people are so fucking educated and smart, then why are we where we are as a country... as a world? I look around and all I see are a bunch of college-educated morons with their faces buried in the screens of their iPhones. It's not something I would associate with enlightenment, but then again we are taking about institutionalized education.

 

Specs does make a good point. Keeping in perspective ; the American University gives young students a tremendous opportunity. You will never be exposed to a more sexually willing and diverse group. Enjoy. Take wonderful life experiences with you. Before you know it ; reality sets in.

 

Rat - I think you're at the wrong school, if that's how you feel.

Here we have big differences between Universities and Colleges. Colleges are more focused on job training, more like what you're talking about. Universities are similar for certain programs (business, nursing, etc.) but many programs are about developing critical thinking and communication skills. Basically about teaching you how to learn and communicate what you have learned more effectively.

 

My college years were really tough. It wasnt a good path for me. Nevertheless. I got a degree and it served me well. In the long run i am grateful for what it has brought me.

The cartoon is a reminder that career and money are not the definition of a good life.

 

Im glad I did

I met some nice people there and got to teach a few things because the teacher wouldnt show up all the time

the teacher sucked so bad he got fired when the program was done

 

I am currently enrolled in a local university and am working towards a degree in History. I like the idea of higher education but am fucking fed up with how so many universities go about it. For example, the whole idea of a "well rounded" education is just an excuse for them to make you take classes that you could care less about or that are otherwise useless, thus getting more money out of you.

I am being forced to take a class in women's history, which I could give a shit less about, as part of that "well rounded" concept. I wouldn't be so fucking pissed if I didn't have to pay so damn much for it.

 

Maybe because you base a person "bettering themselves" on what has been conditioned into you by society. There are plenty of college-educated people who are not what I would consider to be good people. Just look at your average career politician or big-name CEO.

Real knowledge is attained by oneself -- not from a professor who is employed by some institution.

 

I have encouraged my daughters to go to college and they do, just to get a better job once they have finished..

As for me, I have always been to hardcore for college and have preferred life experiences over redundant learning..

 

My school has 'breadth requirements' which force me to take 2 classes in science and 2 classes in the humanities. I don't mind the humanities ones, but the science ones suck since I have absolutely no background in science and will have to take very boring intro courses. My school is actually talking about getting rid of these requirements now, based on feedback from students.