College

[Steezie]

I just had a rather...protracted discussion about college with my grandparents. Both are old school in practice and thought, and both wanted me to go to college.

I have declined to pursue a college education. I have various reasons for making such a choice, having to do with economics, psychology, sociology and the neurological make-up of the brain (Namely my own).

Ive discussed this choice with several dozen people in my life and of them, only one has been supportive of my decision. Several of them were next to angry.

Why is modern America so obsessed with college and going to college?

 

[SallyNow]

If you don't go to college now, you can always go later. Or you may never go to a degree or diploma program, and get all your training down while on the job.

Is it college you are against, or learning in general? Lifelong learning is very important... probably at some point you will need to take technology upgrading, or a community course, or something of that sort. And perhaps in your later years you will want to take courses for your own interest.

There are some careers that require a university degree... nursing, teaching, law, science, any of the social sciences, social work, accounting, medicine, dentistry, etc, etc. There are some require a college or university diploma... some that require trades programs and apprenticeships...

But there are also a lot of careers that require on-the-job training and specific short-term training classes. So there are all sorts of careers you can do that don't require university or college. As long as you are eyeing one of those careers, and not a career that requires a degree, you are firm moral and ethical ground.

However, if you are wanting to pursue a career that does require a degree, and want to try to "beat the system" and not get the required degree, well, then, there's an ethical and moral problem... (I doubt you are, I'm just saying, there's a problem there)

Also, there's nothing "old school" about wanting your child to go to college or university. It's actually quite modern. Perhaps that is why they are so insistent on you getting an post-secondary education... to learn about the past and present. Just a thought.

 

[Tenka]

Silly muffin you don't go to college for an education, you get an education from living.

You go to college to pursue alcoholism and threesomes!

So if they all want you to go, then go! Do an art degree -badly- and have the time of your young life. Figure out a serious degree after you have some fun.

 

[chaoschristian]

Why is modern America so obsessed with college and going to college?

study up on immigrant socialization and integration patterns and the history of the GI Bill. then read Locke and Humes and do a thorough review of the philosophy and praxis of the Founding Fathers. that'll be a good place to start.

 

[Adela]

So, do you plan to have any career at all?

If the career you want doesn't require a degree then there really is no reason to go to college, but many people have dreams to go further into their education and pursue careers which require them to go to college.

I can't really understand why anyone who is given the opportunity to go to college would turn it down.

 

[Steezie]

So, do you plan to have any career at all?

I have several things on the burner now including writing and a few ideas Ive been developing.

I can't really understand why anyone who is given the opportunity to go to college would turn it down.

Economics- I cant afford it and I'd be paying student loans off for the rest of my life.

Psychology- The way a modern classroom is set up makes it difficult for me to learn. I learn by doing rather than having someone talk at me.

Sociology- The various other aspects of colleges disinterests me, the elitism, fraternaties, the selectivity.

Neurology- I hated school with an absolute passion and I blame it for trying to pour water on my creativity, why would I want to go BACK for four more years?

 

[gratis]

Well it seems to me that you have decided what you need to do for the moment. I would cease to discuss this with your family any further. Just live it out.

But I do want to ask you to not throw education right out of your options. Keep that option on the back burner for a while, even if for 10 years. You may find with age that your learning styles will change and different education options will arise.

Definitely have a learning attitude in all life situations - that is one of the best ways to stay progressive in your life.

Are there any apprentice programs open to your interests?

 

[Steezie]

Well it seems to me that you have decided what you need to do for the moment. I would cease to discuss this with your family any further. Just live it out.

But I do want to ask you to not throw education right out of your options. Keep that option on the back burner for a while, even if for 10 years. You may find with age that your learning styles will change and different education options will arise.

Definitely have a learning attitude in all life situations - that is one of the best ways to stay progressive in your life.

Are there any apprentice programs open to your interests?

I was looking at getting a welding certification from a trade school. Its a good job and it pays well. Plus you get PAID for playing with fire, how cool is that

 

[gratis]

I was looking at getting a welding certification from a trade school. Its a good job and it pays well. Plus you get PAID for playing with fire, how cool is that

And from what I gather you are quite creative - perhaps you can bring some creativity into that field as well! Or learn to blacksmith on the side and make some really cool wrought iron pieces.

 

[Adela]

Well I guess college isn't for everyone and it seems like you have a plan. I wouldn't completely dismiss college.

I didn't like high school either. My school was terrible and many of the teachers were ignorant and didn't encourage real learning at all. It was more about making sure everyone followed the rules.

But college is a much different story. Sure you would have some professors who aren't interested in having their students participate in actively discussions and contribute to the class. However, for the most part most of my professors have been wonderful. I don't always like all of them, but I have taken something useful from almost every class. College helps you to open your mind and learn things that you might not have otherwise been exposed to. It doesn't teach you what to think but you are presented with so much information that you must sort through yourself.

Sure there are fraternities but it is nowhere near as cliqueish as high school and indivuality is encouraged.

Maybe college isn't the right thing for you, but don't completely dismiss going. Maybe take some classes just for fun like sociology, psychology, foreign language, history, etc. There is just so much to learn!

 

[flicka]

Education is important and going to college right after high school is usually the best time to do it because you don't have many other demands on your time. I didn't go to college until I was in my 30's and I'm still not done (I have an AA degree and want to pursue a BA). It can actually be alot of fun as an older adult! For my own kids though, I pushed my daughter(19) to go away to college immediately because I could see she needed to get away from home. Whether she actually stays there for 4 years or actually gets her degree is secondary to her taking that step toward independence. My son(16) may just live home a few years while working and attending Community College. They are two entirely different people. Think about what you want to do but also listen to your grandparents or other adults who know you well. Sometimes other people can see things in and about you that you can't see for yourself. Either way it's NOT the end of the world.

 

[Crusader05]

Have you considered enlisting in the military? You can get training and they can help you pay for further education.

 

[Crusader05]

Have you considered enlisting in the military? You can get training and they can help you pay for further education.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

study up on immigrant socialization and integration patterns and the history of the GI Bill. then read Locke and Humes and do a thorough review of the philosophy and praxis of the Founding Fathers. that'll be a good place to start.

Might need a college education to do that.

 

[Vylo]

I was looking at getting a welding certification from a trade school. Its a good job and it pays well. Plus you get PAID for playing with fire, how cool is that

Do the trade school.

While I have a college degree, all it lets me do is take a management position in my field. Seeing as how I pulled in 70+ this year as a grunt, I may stick with skilled labor rather then deal with office debacles.

My father has no degree but takes home 6 digits in the same field as myself. 30 + years of experience tends to help.

He does admit, the only thing holding him back is a degree. If he had one, he could advance even farther.

Depending on how far you want to go, you may need a degree. The reason people tell you to get it now, is because it is difficult to go back and get it later. My mother is currently trying to get a degree, but it takes a very long time when you have a full time job.

So consider it carefully. If your trade pays well without a degre, and you will be content at that level, you can put it off. If you have any doubts, I would seriously suggest getting at least an associates degree in a related field.

 

[Steezie]

Have you considered enlisting in the military?

Not even for a minnute

 

[rppearso]

Silly muffin you don't go to college for an education, you get an education from living.

You go to college to pursue alcoholism and threesomes!

So if they all want you to go, then go! Do an art degree -badly- and have the time of your young life. Figure out a serious degree after you have some fun.

This is why I hated college and I was on a plane 3 days after graduation, because we had all kinds of alcohal but not one 3some, lol. The alcohal only gets you so far and then you need a piece of a**. It probably dident help that I went to a mostly guys engineering school, but it is worth it now

 

[sister_maynard]

It can be useful depending on your career, but it doesn't sound like welding needs a four-year degree. It's your choice and some people are better off without college, but keep it in mind for later; a lot of colleges offer degrees that you get mostly online, so you can tailor the information to your attention span. The trade school and on-the-job training may be best, but you can flex college to meet your needs cheaply if you feel you need to in the future.

 

[Vylo]

I was looking at getting a welding certification from a trade school. Its a good job and it pays well. Plus you get PAID for playing with fire, how cool is that

Welder eh? Learn orbital welding and you will have a career for life. It pays very well here in NJ.

 

[SallyNow]

Silly muffin you don't go to college for an education, you get an education from living.

You go to college to pursue alcoholism and threesomes!

So if they all want you to go, then go! Do an art degree -badly- and have the time of your young life. Figure out a serious degree after you have some fun.

Call me muffin again, and you'll end up with a muffin on your head

You can also do an B.F.A. well, and have the time of your young life. Then, get a graduate degree in something that makes money so that you will be a pawn to the "man". And once you have money, you can go back to being an artist.

Seriously, at some point, everyone, no matter their career, will probably have to take upgrading classes and specialization courses, and everyone needs basic training for whatever job they get. You can't escape it.