College is a Waste of Time

[thumpsky]

YouTube - College is a Waste of Time

[bostonbrian]

His main points against college seem to be:
Majoring in Beer drinking -
Taking a Break at college after HS -
Finding yourself or affirmation of who you are -
Means to an end (getting the degree to get the job)-
Cost benefit (degree not worth the paper it is printed on) -
and how people take a major and don't pursue it after college.

Seems like he went to college(s), what would he say about himself and the 15 years he spent directing a program for young men w/ court related problems here in Cambridge, MA?

"Bill earned his tuition for Boston State College while working as the Assistant Customer Service Manager at Sears. In 1969, Bill won a teaching fellowship in Special Education to Boston College. After earning a Master's Degree in Special Education from Boston College." Bill FitzPatrick

Doesn't add up to me...

I believe that higher-ed isn't necessarily a need to specialize in something but rather to develop your thinking abilities utilizing the language and tools of a certain discipline. So although I am specializing in Chemistry, it doesn't mean that I cannot or will not utilize my education in another field such as engineering, business, physics, psychology, biology, etc. I have learned how to acquire the knowledge I need to get tasks done quickly and accurately.

[thumpsky]

He said it's a waste if you don't use it as a means to an end, i.e. make it objective oriented.

[Hooman]

You need to get over it. You post about 1 "I hate college" thread a week.

Isn't there something you like about your college experience? What are you studying?

[bostonbrian]

He said it's a waste if you don't use it as a means to an end, i.e. make it objective oriented.

It shouldn't be a means to an end. It should be a Beginning or Starting Point. I agree with him that quite a few acquaintances in college were clueless about what they wanted to do, but I do NOT think that notion begins during college, it is something that parents or teachers or other mentors should discuss with students along their primary and secondary education pathway, so that when they are applying to college they have a good idea, and maybe have talked to or seen people with different professions and can make an informed decision.

For those who have not thought about a pathway, they need to think about their future before wandering into a certain subject matter.

I started college thinking I wanted to do Business Administration with a minor in Chemistry because I had done some work during high-school at an Environmental Testing firm, but after the first semester of Bus. Admin. classes, I found that they were very simple/easy and not very challenging, but the Chemistry course I took that first semester was quite amazing and that professor helped me see that I needed to get some training in a more technical field, which I could apply later in Business or whatever I liked.

Please post more than a link, you haven't even given any discussion to the topic other than a sentence.

[GuyBBY]

College is what you make of it...just like anything else in life. I walked to get my diploma along with those who were hanging on with a 2.0 and planning to take a year to "find themselves", and I also walked along side of those who knew where they wanted to be after four years and how they were going to structure their life/class schedule/and extra curricular schedules accordingly to accomplish such goals.

I was a pre-med, majoring in Bio and Chem. and taking business classes as well. I got out of college, and started a research program and learned while I loved the book work, the lifestyle was not for me. I tried hard to fight it and the thought came into my mind of "did I just waste 4years on something I will never use again?" And the answer is "No".

I am now in health care finance, as well as own my own business. Those two aspects of my life certainly did not call up on my ability to define covalent and non-covalent bonds, hypertonic, isotopic, cell structures or things of the like... however, they most certainly required me to call upon the organizational, planning, leadership, analytical, problem solving, time-management, group collaboration, independent responsibilities, and many other skills which I obtained when partaking in such a life changing experience that is college.

I think that everyone has the potential to "make it on their own" sans a college experience. However for those who attend college for the right reasons, and treat it as a place to obtain higher education, not "4-year social hour" or a place to "find yourself maaaan" on your parent's/or own dime, there is a lot to be gained that prepares you for all that you do in life, and you become a more well rounded, versatile person and professional while doing so.

Guy

[rachael24]

I graduated about 9 months ago, and every day I wish I can go back. Best four years of my life, and if I had not gone, I wouldn't be even close to where I am today! IMO

[RLorenzen]

If you know exactly what you want to do career wise and need a college degree to get there then I think college is great. Going there just to go or because it is expected of you or because you want to "find yourself" is a waste of time and money.

I very much support a college education.

[BusinessAdviser]

YouTube - College is a Waste of Time

Why such the hatred of college? Every other day I see a new thread started by you about how horrible it is.

Also, who even cares? What are you trying to convince people to do?

[thumpsky]

did i strike a nerve, jmenq2

[BusinessAdviser]

did i strike a nerve, jmenq2

No. Not at all.

Do I have an opinion as to whether college can benefit an entrepreneur? Yes. Does my opinion even matter? No. Why? College or no, the name of the game is making money. If you can do it without a college education, all the more power to you.

I'm just wondering why you keep creating threads detesting college. Going to answer this time around?

[RLorenzen]

Why such the hatred of college? Every other day I see a new thread started by you about how horrible it is.

Also, who even cares? What are you trying to convince people to do?

I noticed the same thing. Someone must of had a bad experience.

[Jerimiah]

I'm glad to see folks speaking freely and so I will share some of my perception as well

I think we all lead a unique path, and regardless of the stops we make on our road of life, they are all what we make of them (or perceive them to be). I barely graduated high school, and thus had no perceived value in college.

I did not watch the youtube vid, but I gather this man perceives college in a similar light as I do - if one doesn't perceive a value or have a specific goal that they work to attain in college, it will be quite the waste of time for them.

I am very anti public school, because I believe that it's been the critical mass of the wicked change this country (USA among others) is facing, at the same time we all sail our own ships and I have friends focused on "higher-education", to whom I pass only encouragment.

Just sharing a bit from the heart, there's a lot more, but I'll save it for the next post about college - Cheers all!

[VDA 2006 Inc]

College can be good or bad, like anything else it's what you make of it. Although the degree may not be worth it or needed, College teaches you problem-solving skills, networking, etc. These skills are invaluable in any business you'll pursue.

[capforge]

You hate college. Fine. So what positive things are you doing? Anything that relates at all to the point of this forum- entrepreneurship?