Why College is Worth It!

Sports Psychology, eh? Any familiarity with any of Don Greene’s work? I’m mostly familiar with it from a performance aspect, but wondered if maybe you had any thoughts on it. Also, what do you think of Tim Gallway’s ‘inner game’ concepts?

A lot of other people: College really is what you want it to be. I personally don’t think I would have benefitted much from working for a couple years between the two - I knew exactly what I wanted and was in school from 7am-10pm nearly every day as an undergraduate. A lot of other people might benefit from it, I’m not sure - I think that the problem is that it is not really considered ‘normal’ anymore to not go directly to college without passing ‘go’ in the game of life.

The people who go to school for the social life, or who keep saying school is worhtless,are the ones who are missing out. Like people have said, you get out of it what you put into it. The classes give you the basics, but if you want more you have to go out and find it. The school is a tremencdous source of Information. For me personally, culinary school gave me the basic tools, but it did not prepare me for the workplace. However as I gained more real world experience, I started to use more and more of the information that I learned in school. I sometimes am amazed that people with many more years of experience than me sometimes do not know basic techniques. Also because I wanted to learn, i was able to do things oustside of class (work on projects, see demos from instructors etc.) You may not need everything that you learn in school, but the intelligent person knows what to keep and what to trash. Then again, you never know when that little piece of once useless info, will turnout to be the missing piece of the puzzle.

This would be a good topic for a Guest Atomic Dog column when TC needs some time to relax. I would write it, but am too apathetic about American education to put anymore time than I already am into it. Someone else may not be, however…

-JM

Life is definitely what you make it and well college is a nice way of buying some more time to figure things out while getting a degree to show for it so no one can say ‘you don’t have a degree, and therefore we won’t move you higher in the chain.’ I have to say though, if you’re considering any sort of professional career then it is a must. Not to mention going to an Ivy league school name really makes people scared. It’s really stupid, but people assume you’re smart if you went to an Ivy. I suppose to an extent that’s true, but they also assume that you must be smarter than them if they didn’t… we all do this for the most part. It’s just about as intimidating as being huge. More so in many respects. There is a 19 year old in my med school class though, and I don’t know if she just did college really early or was just that wicked smart that she skipped it. Either way… college is opportunity socially, intellectually, and again… socially. Unless you’re a super genius, college is the way to go. And the smartest people I know btw, went to Queens College CUNY… and they also are now the most ‘successful.’ Just FYI.

I agree though. College proves one thing. You can take a prepprepped plan, learn according to others and complete the degere plan. I fight this in my business life all the time. My bosses boss makes horses ass decisions all the damn time, and I yap my trap off, only to get nowhere. Professors, by and large, are dinosaurs who earned their stripes a long time ago and despite evidence that is overwhelming, hold onto their antiquated ideas much longer than they are deemed valid. I knew you were reacting to something. your posts are usually well directed. Had I the time, I’d go back and earn a 4 year degree, in 2 1/2 years or less of course, learn to keep my yap shut, and succeed. Until then, I am the loose cannon that I am.

Everyone here have good and valid points on this post. In my opinion, sometimes I think that college doesn’t give the returns that one invested in it. For example, you have new graduates out there excepting jobs for thousands less than they spent for college. Hell, the place where i work( a corporate fitness center in a Ford Motor Co. plant)requires its employees(fitness specialists) to all have a health, exercise related degree but doesn’t pay a lot of money. Now, you have the unskilled workers on the line at the plant who makes at least $22.00 an hour without a college education(some don’t even have a high diploma). So, if immediate returns are what you’re looking for then college may not pay off in that aspect but in the long term it will open doors for you that people without degrees won’t be able to go through. So, in essence you just have to know what it is you want to do and learn in life and then decide if college is for you.

I think college is definitely worth it. I know some people who think college is overrated, but those are usually the same people who didn’t go to college. There are some things that you cannot do unless you go to college like lawers and doctors. Also I’m about to graduate in accounting and I cannot become a CPA without a undergraduate and some graduate classes. I know this sounds obvious but it’s true.

On a side note, my dad has an 8th grade education and has been very successful in the 3 businesses he has owned. So I don’t think it is necessary, but it helps now days. If you are a dumbass before you get your degree most likely you will be a dumbass after the degree.

Jason,

Since I'm also guilty of bashing college, here's my two cents:

1. You learn with some of the smartest and the best professors/experts in the world. You have to ask around and see who's the best, of course. But I loved my finance professors, and I'd never ever regret putting in 40+ hrs/week for their classes and having no social life when I took their classes.

2. You meet some of the smartest people. They'll be your colleagues, friends, and support when you're out in the real world.

3. You learn to motivate yourself, synthesize information, and think for yourself. Professors will NOT spoon feed you anything. I had a finance professor, whom I love dearly, who'd come into class and spend all of 75 minutes to ask question and probe what we've learned from doing finance cases. He never said "This is the answer." Some people may think it's stupid because he's not giving you an answer. But guess what? Your boss's not gonna give you an answer. You have to find your own answer using your knowledge and brain power. I learned more from this professor than any other spoon-feeders.

4. College lets your mind expand beyond training and diet. Some people are so obsessed, but there's more to life than training.

5. College gives you a good foundation on which to build your knowledge and experise. You can't claim to be an expert just cuz you got a college degree. You must continue to study and learn. Professors (good ones anyways) will help you learn how to study and learn on your own so you won't need them after you graduate.

I would agree the networking ties you build can be priceless to future success. And even if you’re a brain with a high IQ, great vocabulary, great general English skills and are able to speak quite intelligently about a particular subject, there are still MANY people in this world who will at least subconciously think you’re a moron if you don’t have a piece of paper saying you obtained a degree from a university. It is irrational for people to think that way, but that’s the way the modern world works. Until you get into a position of influence/power where you are able to change society, you have to play by society’s rules.

Heya Franks, I’m delayed on this answer because I menat to post one a week back however I became distracted (probably by something on pickthehottie.com) Anyhow, I am not familiar with those readings but I do plan to pick them up this weekend. Take care and thanks. Lata.

MBE: “Teacher’s pet(itioned to get him expelled) Since 1992. JADABB founder, 2002.”

-Eric