Its 230am. I should be sleeping, but instead I’m lying wide awake on my bed typing my raw and pure thoughts on my Nexus One cell phone.
As of 150 minutes ago, its now finals week. The period of the semester where there are no classes, but is the most stressful period for any student. These 2 hour blocks can make or break an entire semester for any one – and that’s a scary thought.
But as I go through my 8th finals period at WSU, I can’t help but think of the futility of the entire processes. Does ones ability to soak up facts a day or two before a test, only to spit it all out on a few pages, really determine success in life?
Many successful and recognizable individuals in this world never graduated from college. Bill Gates. Steve Jobs. Lebron James. Michael Dell. Henry Ford. Steven Spielberg. All are undeniably successful, none have a college diploma.
College used to be relevant. It was the only way most people could access information. The size of libraries and scholars on staff correlated with the ability to gain knowledge and obtain the latest publications.
But the internet and technology has eliminated this monopoly on information. Almost anything is a Google search away.
Well, you might say that a college degree demonstrates ones capacity for intelligence and social competency. But is it really wise to spend around $100,000 for a college experience?
While statistics are hard to nail down, it’s common knowledge that the majority of what’s taught at universities have nothing to do with the skills needed on the job.
While I’m appreciative of the experiences and development which occurs through the college process, I’m scared that the diploma itself will result in a low return on investment and that the educational aspect of college will mean nothing more than a flimsy piece of paper.
Regardless. Here we go with another finals week. Go big or don’t go at all.
I’ll try to keep this short: First of all, college isn’t just about accessing information. If it were, everyone would just go to libraries and that would be that. On an intellectual level, colleges provide a way to pursue interests in a deeper, more detailed fashion than is available in high schools, with the guidance and support of experts in the field.
College is also invaluable for networking. Alumni networks, career centers, and similar college-associated job-related organizations exist to help students get jobs. Sometimes even just the name of a school can open doors, and it doesn’t have to be an Ivy–employers who have had good experiences with hires from a certain school might be more inclined to hire from said school due to the positive connotations.
Certainly, as you pointed out, college is not necessary for success. But those who make it to the top without the help of a college degree did so in spite of, not because of, that fact. (I like to think of it as similar to long-distance relationships–it can be done, but not without a concerted effort to make up for the advantage physical proximity affords.) They usually possess skills, abilities, character traits, personalities, and other factors that make up for reduced formal education. Any data set will show you that on average (note the word “average”) college graduates outearn people with only a high school degree.
I agree with everything you said Helen, but I worry that college may be overvalued in society.
While its possible to harvest the knowledge and mentoring of scholars within universities, 90% of the students never have the opportunity to.
Networking is undeniably valuable as well, but it shouldn’t be so expensive. You can network by attending conferences, checking in with friends or taking part in corporate events. From a dollar and time to opportunity ratio, college is probably the most inefficient way to network. From personal experience, I can honestly say that WSU hasn’t provided the networking opportunities I have experienced from outside sources.
And while college graduates tend to succeed at a greater rate than higher than high school graduates, I argue its because intellectually competent and motivated individuals are groomed by society to attend college, and college is not what makes the successful ones successful.
Don’t get me wrong, I think college is an important path of society and life. But after all the hype and marketing on the importance of college, I’m finding the delivery of what was promised lacking.
Thanks for your input Helen, I always appreciate your feedback and input on my thoughts! (:
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