Comments on: Is it worth going to college?

By: ZJ

ZJ — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:13:51 +0000

Hey guys, I’m writting a debate on college education is overated. Julie I can not believe this has happen to you, I believe that education system simply wants our money and give us the education we need to find the jobs that we dream about. Public school needs to cut back on general ed requirements, I mean most college students waste a good 2 years on general ed, they need to cut. If the state system loves to teach more history or basic science then they need to have better teachers at the High schools.
I wish you guys the best, good luck with finding the job tha treats you right , and pays you accordingly.
-Zohra

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:21:59 +0000

Alex: Yeah, really, that’s the only advice that can be given for such a situation: keep looking for something. Such advice can be frustrating, but it’s either keep trying or give up, and giving up won’t fix the problem.

Best of luck in your searches, Julie, and thanks for the comment Alex!

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:29:42 +0000

@Julie

You know, if you want it bad you’ll do everything it takes to achieve your goal. I know people who were high school drop-outs, now they’re churning good $50k per year doing automotive works and so on; something they love doing.

If you’re good enough to graduate from Michigan State with a degree, I’m sure you can find something you love enough and use your “earned” knowledge. Say, apply to some public relations firm; if it doesn’t work then move on, try again and again and again!

Sorry for the situation though Just keep being persistent!

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:39:58 +0000

Julie: Sorry to hear about your troubles. It seems to be all too common now for folks to get a degree and still not be able to get a job. I’m not sure as to what the causes are; job market saturation perhaps, with so many people having degrees.

At any rate, I hope things work out for you eventually. Keep your head up, and good luck.

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:48:36 +0000

I have an opinon about Michigan State that I would like to make. the statement I’m about to make can’t really be geared to someone specifically, but I need to vent my feelings out to someone. I graduated from state 4 years ago with a degree in communications. I’m going on 27 years old. I’m still living at home with my parents struggling to make my monthly credit card bills because of my student loans. Luckly I had a nice 13 dollar an hour job I held onto for 2 years that paid alot of it off until I lost my job. Still I’m atleast 25,000 dollars in dept along with my 600 minimum monthly credit card payments I have to make. I just want to say that I think that Michigan State is nothing but a SCHAM. I find it horrible that an education is 60,000 some dollars when most of us can’t even find jobs after college. When I was young I never knew that this would happened to me and I think that more future students who come from the same family backgrounds as I do finanacially should be be more informed. I know I was certainly oblivious to it. I could of gone to a trade school and gotten just as much of a good education. To me State is a college that is overly commercialized to pressure young people socially into believing that going to an expensive college is the best. Also, the advisors there were RUDE as well. I feel like my dreams have been shattered more and more. I hope eventually to find a a non 10 dollar an hour job were I’m treated right along with my sanity. Once I get this financial burden off my back, I hope to live in peace and hopefully a place of my own someday. Whatever this so called American dream is anymore. Thanks to MSU I can’t do that.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 08 May 2007 11:51:08 +0000

Thanks for all of the different point of views. They’re much appreciated. I’ve thought some more about the issue, and I think it is worth the trouble. Some fine points have been made regarding personal growth outside the sphere of actual learning. Also, because I want to work in education or academia, I don’t really see any other way. When it comes to teaching or working in the academic field, you basically have to have a college education.

By: Zeitlos

Zeitlos — Mon, 07 May 2007 17:35:55 +0000

I definitely think that university can be a great place to learn, because it is a place where you find a structured kind of knowledge, a community dedicated to learning and people who can share there knowledge with you. This is why I think three years at university to get the BA were worth it,even if I might have ended up flipping burgers. You can never be sure, that any way of education, study, internship or whatever is good for your career, but if you can get a good insight into the things you are really interested in, i think this is the best start for a career. You can only be succesfull if you do something you really like. So if you like history/media/*fil in what you like*, study it.

Besides that: German universities emphazise the independence of students. You have to organize/learn/find etc. everything by yourself. This is something that is really helpful in everyday life.

By: Phil Renaud

Phil Renaud — Sun, 06 May 2007 07:01:46 +0000

I went to university to study philosophy, and received my bachelor’s degree with honours. I can say with absolute certainty that no amount of reading philosophical treatises on my own time would’ve helped me learn a fraction of what I eventually came to know thanks to my professors and the learning atmosphere that university classes allow.

And, I can say that I make a strong income. Even with a philosophy degree.

Someone told me once that there is almost no correlation between one’s major and one’s career anymore. Unless you’re a business major.

By: peroty

peroty — Sun, 06 May 2007 04:55:55 +0000

I have to admit I had the same thoughts all 4 years I spent getting my BS.
A college degree today is like a high school degree used to be years ago. It’s a requirement, a right of passage, another thing that will get you considered for jobs. Many jobs require a degree, at least they say so and they use that as a way to filter candidates.
I’m still not sure if college helped me all that much since I’ve worked tech support contracts ever since graduating and one job at a print shop having nothing to do with my field of study in college (advertising). But all I can say is college for me was more about meeting people and making connections than the actual coursework. That’s just my story and I’m not the normal person so your mileage may vary.
Overall, I’d say go because while it may not open doors, it will keep them from getting closed on you.

By: Jorge Quinteros

Jorge Quinteros — Sun, 06 May 2007 02:33:55 +0000

That’s a very interesting question. I guess it all depends in what area someone chooses to develop in. I personally received my bachelors and certain certificates in Graphic Design, yet after 3 years in the filed, I decided to work in retail instead while still freelancing on the side.

And after 5 years in retail, I make a bit more than as a designer.