Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

I definitely agree with this article. College is not for everyone. I don't think that college prepared me in any way for working life. But I do think it prepared me for life.

The experience of being on my own was incredible. I came from a very homogenous area of LI and got to meet people of all different backgrounds. Heck, my best friend from college is a Hindu, born in India and raised in Tokyo. In addition, I enjoyed reading various books and learning about history.

However, college did not prepare me for the working world. And I don't think people with a college degree are any smarter than those without. These days, I feel like it is just a piece of paper.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

I disagree that college is a waste of time. However, i do believe it is not for everyone or can be considered a waste of time for some.

I had a rough childhood and I was am still the only one to have graduated from college in my family ( this is excluding 3rdcousin etc..)

Because of college, I got a great intership at a fortune 500 company.

Because of my Internship, I got a job in 2001 - post 9/11 when all companies were cancelling interviews.

Becuase of college, I am not a statistic and I have broken through all barriers and stereotypes that would be casted for someone who gew up like I did.

Now again, i do believe college isnt for everyone but for alot it definately isnt a waste of time. I am a firm believer it is what a person does with his/her own education.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

I don't think college has to prepare one for one's job, but I do think that graduation needs to signify an accomplishment...so all those who appear illiterate or are not reading the assigned books, but using college as an excuse for debauchery, cheating, etc. don't deserve the honor of having graduated. It's not for everyone because not everyone can handle what it's supposed to signify you've learned and done academically.
It's odd that people are fiinally curbing their extravagant spending and realizing that they need gas and food more than designer bags, but they continue to send their kids to "school", knowing that many of them do not attend class, hone any skills, or keep up with the work. It's the last bastion of useless extravagance that hasn't been curbed. It doesn't matter what your career is; college should be a privilege for those who will abide by the rules and put in the sweat to earn a degree. Social promotion is the worst! This is SUCH a big issue with me--major pet peeve.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

I actually thought before reading the article that I def needed my college education and I'm a CPA which they discuss. I will say there is no way I would have been able to study/pass the CPA exam without having my college education (they actually taught us based on the exam).

I will also say I was an average student at best in HS and had honors in college. College taught me how to learn and develop my brain and skills. It's dicipline rewarded by getting good grades and a better job.

Maybe it's not for all, but for professionals, I believe college is a must.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

I don't think anyone is saying that a post secondary education is a waste.

I think the point is that learing a TRADE and focusing on that specific TOPIC is better suited to MOST occupations.

I am all for core math/english/history classes...but I think that ELECTIVES should be exactly that...ELECTIVE.

one should not have to pay for classes above and beyond the course of learning it takes to "master" their chosen field.

I think that is the royal RIP

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

I am a teacher and I always tell my students when they ask "Why do we have to take math, English, science, etc?" that they need to experience all of these different subjects to figure out what they are good at and what they like. How many kids go to college knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives, and of those who do, how many of them actually stick with their original major? There are trade schools for kids who don't want to go to college and just want to learn a trade. College helps open kids minds to things that that have not known or experienced, and in my opinion, it is a vital part of growing up.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

As a college english professor I would say that a huge part of the problem is that college is a "given" for too many high school students. They come to college lacking the emotional and intellectual maturity to read, think and write critically.

I think the best solution would be that every high school graduate had to work or perform service work for 2 years before entering college or a trade school. In my experience more often than not the best students are the 'nontraditional students' who are returning to school after an absence, or are entering college later in life, after raising a family, working, etc. These students, whether they are 19 years old as freshman or 49 have a work ethic and level of committment that distinguishes them.

As far as whether or not you should be able to take classes only in your major - I understand the frustration (I hated taking macroeconomics when I was an English/Theatre major) but I think it's necessary. Kids make decisions about their majors with a very limited understanding about what job they want, what life they want down the road. Case in point - I had a student (at another school) who wanted to be a broadcaster - and yet had no idea that Katie Couric and Matt Lauer WRITE their news stories. She thought being a broadcaster meant you sat in front of a camera and recited text. She didnt see how courses in political science, economics, english, etc. would benefit her.

I have LOADS of business students and man - their writing needs serious help. You cannot become a better writer unless you become a better reader - and so it's crucial for them to take literature classes and history classes and philosophy classes and read dense, difficult texts.

I also had a student who came to college as a Business major and fell in love with philosophy. He is now going to be a double major - Philosophy and English, and wants to be a college professor. This is something that would not have happened if he had not been exposed to other schools of thought.

I often think that in my ideal classroom, I'd only have my majors - the kids who WANT to discuss postcolonialism and racism in Heart of Darkness, or Feminist Theory - but then again - some of my favorite students have been the engineers, or the business majors, or the bio majors, who were able to contribute to my literature or writing classes in ways that were unique and wonderful.

Message edited 8/14/2008 3:18:38 PM.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

I just find it interesting that several jobs I've had, including this one, require a college degree. But really, it's easy enough that anyone can do it - no special degree required, just SOME degree. I think it's a waste and they're missing out on good talent.

I never wanted to go to college, got guilted into it, and emerged 6 years later 60k in debt with a degree that worthless except the fact that I HAVE one. And instead of doing what I had been planning on, 14 years after high school I'm finally (hopefully!) going to do what I want to. Yeah I grew and changed, but who's to say that I couldn't do that w/o college? I know I've changed A LOT since college as well.

College isn't for everyone and we shouldn't penalize anyone because they didn't go. As long as they're trying to be a productive member of society and work, then I don't see a problem.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

Most of the really successful people that I know don't have a degree. I think college is important for the whole experience, knowing now what I know, I might have skipped it and done something else. I enjoyed going to college, but academics weren't really for me.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

i agree with this 100%. college is a waste of time, depending on what ppl want to do w/their life....jobs such as lawyers, doctors, etc, well, you NEED college....

but for a number of other jobs, u dont...def dont need one to be an admin, exec asst, etc.

i went to school for fashion design-it was an accelerated college=and i got a degree...6 years later? not doing fashion..AND i didnt even NEED to go to college FOR fashion....stupid me didnt realize that

a lot of ppl go away to college-to get that whole "experience"..but honestly, i never felt like i wnted it or needed it.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

I think that people who went to college and graduated years ago when not every single person from HS went to college are more marketable

I think the youth today that is graduating college right and will be in the coming years are all the same.
Everyone is getting a BS and their masters. There is no more competition.

College was supposed to make you more marketable but if its not something rare then its not going to be worth money..


A Diamond is expensive and worth money because its Rare.
A college degree is not rare anymore.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

Message edited 8/14/2008 6:01:40 PM.

Re: WSJ: For Most People, College a Waste of Time

I'll be honest, I'm quite surprised by these responses. So much so, that I'm going to out myself as a non-college grad.

I shied away from commenting on these things before because there are a LOT of people here who have at least a 4 year degree and many who have more than that. Of course there is pride in that accomplishment, and no one wants to think their hard-earned money is going to waste.

I've heard the surprise from people when admitting that I do not have a college degree, and I am not striving for one. As if, although people know me to be an intelligent person, I'm suddenly dumb in their eyes because I spent one year in college instead of 2 or 4 or more. Meanwhile, if you count my continuing education in the many (many ) years since I turned 18, I'd already have a 4 year degree.

It took me almost 10 years after graduating high school to figure out not only what I wanted to do - but what I was GOOD at. I agree that specific jobs are better prepared for by certification programs, trade schools, or life experience. But how many 18 year olds do you know that know who they are and are secure in their own skin, much less what they want to do for the rest of their lives?

I am all for life experience and a diversity of knowledge. But there are other ways to get it than going to college. I do think there are great rewards for certain kinds of people - the entire deal - the socializing, the classes, all of it. That just wasn't my deal.

Everyone is different. I know people who are pro-college as a cover for just not knowing what the heck they want to do. So they become professional students while they figure it out. Or maybe they never figure it out and pay that six figure loan off well into their 30's while working at a job that has nothing to do with their major.

A Computer Science degree would be a complete waste for me right now, after being in the industry for 8 years.

My husband is less than a year from paying off his 4 year Journalism degree. TEN years after graduating. And he's been a web designer/programmer for SEVEN years.

Meanwhile, I got a tech job before I even graduated trade school and paid off my loans within one year. In a year, our sole source of debt will be our home. It works for us.

Message edited 8/14/2008 6:33:35 PM.