Opinions: College is a waste?

[Rebel]

I just had my first day of college today, was pretty awesome considering I just kept to myself and only really geared towards working. I'm doing painting and decorating. Only 3 days a week, but you learn a bunch of stuff. Today was practical.

 

Honestly, I'm really glad I took the 3-4 years out of school (16) and really took the time to decide what I wanted to do. A sh*t load of things I tried to do didn't work out, I went abroad and did some things, but then I came home and really realised what I wanted to do. Go back into education. I know after I just got my GCSE's (16) I went straight into 6th form and picked classes just for the hell of it. Regret it since I dropped out after a couple weeks.

 

If you want to go to college, be it a trade one or other you should go because you want to. Forget what you read/hear about college, since half the time people are just blowing steam about things that dont happen that often. Like others have said, you get what you put in with education.

[Moonshield]

In this thread: Bitter people that didn't go to college

I went to uni and I'm bitter about it. I believe that it is very true that outside of engineering, medicine and a few other courses, university is a cakewalk and worth sweet f*ck all.

Basically. As an Architecture grad, the majority of my courses were self-inclusive to my school (studio, structures, Arch history lectures, building systems seminars, etc). This was a tough, study-intensive and work-intensive program. Sleepless nights, all nighters in the studio, whathaveyou. But when we had to venture out and take general elective courses, it's mind-boggling how cake some of these classes are, and other classmates were having trouble with them! I do feel that my program helped shape my work ethic even with the elective courses, but still, some classes were retardedly easy.

[Saggy]

I can see a lot of the complaints about how college is a waste of time. For example, if you sign up for classes in IT because you're good with computers, don't expect to learn very much for the first semester or so while they put you into rudimentary courses. A lot of people say, "Well, this is easy stuff so you should be happy," but for myself personally I couldn't get a job and was basically driving myself crazy with boredom being stuck in a dorm or going to classes where all I was doing was making "PowerPoint" presentations, so I got a little stir crazy and started slacking off basically waiting for things to get "interesting". Though for me since I was living in the dorm and having a roof over my head was contingent on doing well there was a little stress involved in, "Oh, yeah, I've got to do this stupid PowerPoint presentation," and pretty soon the whole thing became pretty unappealing. I would get the ideas of, "Well, I was supposed to be here to learn," etc.

 

I really agree with the idea that you'll only get out of it what you put into it, but part of that is realizing what your real motives for attending are. A apart of me wanted to learn new stuff about computers, but that wasn't really my main objective, and so sitting through all the rudimentary stuff between that was just about impossible. If my actual reason for being there was to finish the course I probably would have stuck through, but I just needed a cheap place to live so once it became more possible for me to move out, I started slacking off majorly, lost my financial aid, etc.

 

I also went to trade school for something I had no experience in ( machining ) and learned a lot, but part of that trade is standing on your feet for hours on end a day and I didn't particularly care for that. Pretty soon I was trying to force myself through this course for a trade that I knew I wouldn't want to get into. I spent about six months there realizing, "Holy crap, I'm going to get a certificate in this and then get a job that I can't stand doing it and I won't have any other options," and blah blah blah. Not only can that be pretty detrimental to your actual success, but it can be quite stressful if you've built it up as your only option and like there's nothing else you can do.

 

Anyway, I think it's just more important that you be true to yourself and what you're going for. Are you there to learn or are you there to get a piece of paper that will allow you to make more money than your peers without that piece of paper? Now days it doesn't even really increase job availability ( as we can see from so many college graduates delivering pizzas and waiting tables ) so realistically if you're goal here is to get a job and be all self-sufficient and "be a grown up" you'd be better off getting a sh*tty job, a sh*tty apartment, and saving yourself student loans until you actually know you want to go study something.

 

That's the way I feel about it anyway, but you should probably take my advice with a grain of salt, things haven't exactly worked out the best for me. I guess one thing I can recommend is that if you do start a trade school or community college course, don't flunk/drop out of it mid way through. Because all that does is build up debt.

[blitz]

Well, if you feel like it's going to really impact your life and help your future then yes, go for it. If you see no bright future whatsoever and would rather be doing other things and not wasting your time then don't even bother because you'll end up regretting it.

 

College is an excellent place to learn a certain skill that will apply to a certain job. I'm thinking that it'll be easier for you to get a job afterwards but that's just an assumption.

 

It's honestly, up to you.

[nightwalker83]

College is just a waist.

Not for you it ain't. I'd start off with Elementary school just to be safe.

@ Jay,

 

Well Adler's reply could be referring to a number of things.

[Adler]

Huh... thought I made it clear that I was referring to the post when I quoted it. Oh well.

[Ronmar The Only]

Personally if someone got me on the whole waist/waste thing, I would've said you learn much more at the waist during college.

 

Take that how you please.

[Graphix14]

^ Haha. I do agree to the whole "it's what you put in to it" thing. You really need to put work in to get something out of it. I chose trade school because my friends are currently going to a community college nearby and they say their classes are easy as hell. One friend is taking culinary arts for cooking. The part that sucks is that it doesn't start until next semester. I chose trade school because it begins with the main things you need to know about whatever it is you're taking. Seems like these community college classes are just easy and don't teach you much. Trade school teachers in my opinion give you more of direct education instead of professors who expect you to do everything on you're own without any help. I don't go to trade school until the end of September. I honestly don't know how it will be. I am hoping they could give you a little help if you ever need it. Instead of expecting you to do everything on your own like at college.

[YankeesPwnMets]

 

College is just a waist.

Not for you it ain't. I'd start off with Elementary school just to be safe.

Beat me to it as well.

 

College certainly isn't a "waist" for most of you people here. I can tell just by looking at all the atrocious grammar and spelling I've see on the forum. There is no need for people to try and decipher your post, which most likely does not have one single English word in it.

 

 

plz help me wit tis game i cant get working on tis game it says 'gta iv stopping working' plz help me im bagging u. i get da buy version from gamestop its not downloadezz or crackz and i have the cd wit everyting like da product key and boklet

 

I'm not directing my statements to those who have English as a second language. I'm talking about those who have English as a first language and can't even formulate a grammatically correct sentence, even if they tried. I would be embarrassed if I were in your shoes. I've also seen people who barely know English, yet they still attempt to speak in an understandable way and as far as I'm concerned, their English is easier to read then some of you guys' "slang"

 

Final thing I have to say: I'm not going to call college a waste because people need it. I can see that just from forums that I have joined. Most people on forums these days seem to have members that write like five year olds and act like five year olds. Those people I know need to be straightened up in college.

Sure, you can go and get a job or go to trade school, but like I said before, college is NOT a waste. Also, I actually enjoyed college. One of my roommates would get these hilarious pranks to pull on others, and it would turn any miserable day into one of the funniest days of your life. You can't do that at work

Edited September 6, 2011 by YankeesPwnMets

[socal000]

I'm sort of 50/50 on this subject. It can depend on what you want to do, how into it you are, and if you are willing to go to another 2/4/6 or however many years of school. It also all depends on how far up in this career track you'd like to be.

 

What you were (likely) told in high school is lies for the most part. You don't need to go to college. If you do go to college, he doesn't have be some Ivy League school like they want you to go to just to make the school look better. College helps, but you don't have to go.

 

Here's an example for me. I'm going to county college for a degree in fire science. A fire science degree will give me a better knowledge in firefighting, and will be a huge help in an interview, or if I am ever being considered to be promoted to a Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, or whatever higher position. It will help even further at my long-term goal of becoming a Fire Marshal or Arson Investigator.

 

Guess what, this degree will help me get higher and higher in my firefighting career, and this is only a 2 year school. I don't need to go to some Ivy League school just to get a good job. But as I said, it all depends on what you want to do.

 

I guess that was more of a county college/university type of argument rather than a College/Not going to college argument, but whatever. There's my two cents.

[Graphix14]

Thanks for the inputs people. I like a nice controversy.

[Raptomex]

If you do the right research on education and choose a college that is right for you then yes. If you plan to go to college for the parties or at least just end up getting sucked into that crowd then it becomes a waste. I know a guy who chose his college because at the time it was the biggest party school in the country. Retarded.

[Clem Fandango]

Uni is basically where faggy kids go to learn about languages, philosophy and history all day--while other people are out breaking their backs at work to pay for it--before using their degree to "prove" that they deserve an administrative non-job with some big company. So yes, it's bullsh*t. If you want to be paid fairly well but completely waste your life, go to college.

 

Go to trade school and you'll probably be able to support yourself doing reasonably fulfilling work, but those asshole former uni kids will be standing over you with a clip board the whole time, getting paid more, doing nothing.

 

The obvious exceptions are implied, please don't point them out.

Edited September 7, 2011 by Melchior

[sivispacem]

 

Uni is basically where faggy kids go to learn about languages, philosophy and history all day--while other people are out breaking their backs at work to pay for it--before using their degree to "prove" that they deserve an administrative non-job with some big company

Spoken like a bitter, hate-ridden college drop-out. Gone are the days when picking a doss subject and putting in f*ck-all work guarantees you a good job. Certainly around here, anyway. These days, job competition is stiffer in the graduate sector than anywhere else, so unless your a truly outstanding individual and have in some way contributed favourably to your chosen discipline you can kiss these idiotic myths of a cushy lifestyle goodbye. Hell, it's hard enough to get decent paid employment even with MEng and MSc qualifications these days, let alone a PhD or MPhil. F*ck, those who manage to get work after leaving school are lucky- five years of working their way up from the bottom of businesses puts them in a vastly more favourable position much of the time than those coming out of higher education.

Edited September 7, 2011 by sivispacem

[Clem Fandango]

My problem is with the attitude, not the results. Most people I know who go to uni don't go with a the intention of fulfilling a passion, they go with the intention of getting ahead of others.

[sivispacem]

My problem is with the attitude, not the results. Most people I know who go to uni don't go with a the intention of fulfilling a passion, they go with the intention of getting ahead of others.

That's an issue with the people you know, not with the university. You can't tar higher education as a whole with that brush just because the people you know are bell-ends. Everyone I who owns an American car is a bit of a prick, but that doesn't mean that all American car drivers are pricks. Besides, there's a thin line between being aspirational and one-upmanship.

[Clem Fandango]

My problem is with the attitude, not the results. Most people I know who go to uni don't go with a the intention of fulfilling a passion, they go with the intention of getting ahead of others.

That's an issue with the people you know, not with the university.

Hmm, not really, as the culture perpetuates it. You can't tell me that even a sizable minority of the kids at uni are there to chase a dream of their own and aren't there because of their parents, or the irrational fear of being one of the have-nots. And it becomes one-upmanship when you aren't doing it because you like it.

 

Also, I'm sure a lot of what you consider to be legitimate aspirations, I consider to be bullsh*t. Don't try to tell me people learn to be accountants or statistical data analysers (or something) for anything other than money.

[3niX]

Well...

 

You do know that there are many other subjects which are genuinely interesting and engaging?

 

And data analysis can be a real treat depending on where you end up working. Its not just about money. Plus, isnt developing yourself part of one-upmanship already? I mean, really... I wouldnt want to learn something which gives me no prospects for the future just as I wouldnt want to study something I dont enjoy.

[Twang.]

 

Uni is basically where faggy kids go to learn about languages, philosophy and history all day--while other people are out breaking their backs at work to pay for it--before using their degree to "prove" that they deserve an administrative non-job with some big company

Spoken like a bitter, hate-ridden college drop-out.

Spoken like a true brainwashed college yuppie.

 

See? I can discredit your opinion by questioning your motives too. Using vague unflattering stereotypes that can't be proven or disproven is a surefire way to win any e-argument.

 

Personally, I spent a semester and a half at a community college. Dropped out, my heart just wasn't in it. To say I'm bitter would be a stretch, but I'm gonna miss that 5g's that got me next-to-nothing. That sh*t could have gotten me a nice used car to replace my aging Crown Victoria. Definitely considering a trade school, as soon as I decide what I want to trap myself in to for the rest of my life.

 

The question at hand of course doesn't have a simple yes or no answer. It's a waste if, like me, your heart's not in it, or if what you want to do doesn't really require it, but some people can and will benefit greatly from it. /obvious

Edited September 8, 2011 by Sakuya

[anuj]

Hahaha, I have no strong opinions on the issue at hand, but that yahoo answer in the OP is the most bitter thing I've read in a long time.

[Clem Fandango]

And data analysis can be a real treat depending on where you end up working.

Um, what?

 

 

. Plus, isnt developing yourself part of one-upmanship already?

No, it's not. I don't see how you reached that at all, unless your idea of self development is determined by how "far ahead" you are.

 

Also, I don't see why bitterness comes into it. Do people think there is anyone out there in the western world who isn't good enough for university? Like, you guys all realise it's a class thing, yeah? Not a matter of how capable or smart you are.

[sivispacem]

 

Also, I don't see why bitterness comes into it. Do people think there is anyone out there in the western world who isn't good enough for university? Like, you guys all realise it's a class thing, yeah? Not a matter of how capable or smart you are.

Sorry but that's horse-sh*t. Over the last 10 years, university in the UK has been more affordable for people of low incomes than people of middle-high incomes. The sheer quantity of freebies they get- larger loans, bursaries, money off courses...they're basically given money to study, rather than having to pay it. All because of this idiotic and misguided principal that somehow a reasonable family income means that an individual of adult age is capable of affording university. Why should a student from a large family with a decent income who has never got financial support from their parents be forced to pay full whack, when an only child from a family below the line who has been lavished with money all their life get more of it, interest-free or in many cases actually completely free, to study? Your right, university should be based on intelligence, but then it really does become a class system and that's so abhorrent to the namby-pamby liberals that it must be outlawed, everyone of differing intelligence must be placed on the same level playing field- oh, except the poor, who can have a massive advantage.

 

True, it's changing a bit over the next couple of years but the principal remains the same. The higher education system rewards poverty, not intelligence.

[3niX]

Well...

 

 

Um, what?

 

You tend to generalize your thoughts quite a bit, dont you...

Data analysis is applicable in many different fields, most of which are actually quite interesting (data analysis in F1 for example). Saying that people will only do it for money is frankly stupid.

 

 

No, it's not. I don't see how you reached that at all, unless your idea of self development is determined by how "far ahead" you are.

 

All I did was take your thoughts just a bit further. You generalize that people only go to universities because they are afraid of being the 'have-nots' and that studying in a college has essentially become a form of 'one-upmanship' (your words not mine). Following your logic and generalization about those who go to universities I can just as easily claim that people only develop themselves just to get some leverage on other people (because universities ARE mainly institutions for self development).

 

 

You can't tell me that even a sizable minority of the kids at uni are there to chase a dream of their own and aren't there because of their parents, or the irrational fear of being one of the have-nots. And it becomes one-upmanship when you aren't doing it because you like it.

 

 

Such a claim has no real basis other than being your view/opinion on the matter. And thats the reason I made my claim. Its equally baseless and sounds equally ridiculous.

 

Furthermore, you previously said:

 

Don't try to tell me people learn to be accountants or statistical data analysers (or something) for anything other than money.

So Im studying mechanical and electronic engineering purely because I want the money... I mean, its just as rigorous as the examples you brought (sometimes even more) and its also fairly well paid... should I then conclude that me and my coursemates are wasting our time on 'one-upmanship'? In fact should I be concluding that over our whole institute?

 

And going even further with your statements:

 

Uni is basically where faggy kids go to learn about languages, philosophy and history all day--while other people are out breaking their backs at work to pay for it--before using their degree to "prove" that they deserve an administrative non-job with some big company. So yes, it's bullsh*t. If you want to be paid fairly well but completely waste your life, go to college.

 

Funnily enough many students I know work just to support their studies. We pay taxes like everybody else and have to worry about our lives just like everybody else. We dont need the degree to "prove" anything. And I dont consider my years in college a waste.

 

 

 

 

The obvious exceptions are implied, please don't point them out.

So we couldnt point out how invalid and ridiculous your thoughts sound?

[Andrew]

Getting into an University is based on intelligence and the results you get from school and college, if you don't get the results they want, they won't let you in. Regardless of your income.

 

All the funding issue has done, is open University up to everyone. Regardless of class and income, sure the less well off can get a few more bursaries than anyone else that they don't have to pay back. But they still have to pay back something. They don't get 15 grands worth of fees paid and just forgotten about. The less well off do not have any major advantage over anyone else. It's still very much a based on results and how well you've done.

 

I went to University, not because I didn't want to be a havenot, or to instantly get a job and be 'better' than everyone else. I went because I wanted to further my education, and to improve my chances of landing a job that I want to do. I took the student finance option, didn't get no bursaries because my parents earned that little bit too much over the limit. I've now got to pay it all back over something like 25 years.

 

I've worked since I left school, whilst at college and University, and since leaving I've managed to get a job. From leaving school, there is probably about a 3 month gap in my employment history where I had no job. I've paid taxes for the last 6 years which contribute back to towards to the money I borrowed for my education.

 

[chris]

What do they teach in US trade schools?

[Banks.]

Well I'm doing a young apprenticeship course at College every Tuesday and I'm thinking of going to College when I leave (to do Mechanics)

 

It isn't really a waste of time if you want qualifications for something like mechanics.

[Graphix14]

 

What do they teach in US trade schools?

 

Anything like Cosmetology, Automotive Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture... etc.

[Clem Fandango]

 

Sorry but that's horse-sh*t. Over the last 10 years, university in the UK has been more affordable for people of low incomes than people of middle-high incomes.

Who said anything about not being able to afford it? I'm talking about social classes, not just difference in income. I find people with a working class upbringing find it harder to physically sit in a chair for six hours a day for six years. Because if you're a chef or a brick layer or an electrician you have autonomy, complexity and connection between effort and reward in your job, where as people who work in an office don't. Hence, middle/upper class kids have no qualms about completing school, where as lots of working class kids get kicked out or leave before year 11. That's why I mean by "it's a class thing" I'm not saying we need more benefits.

 

 

Your right, university should be based on intelligence, but then it really does become a class system and that's so abhorrent to the namby-pamby liberals that it must be outlawed, everyone of differing intelligence must be placed on the same level playing field

Nobody is not capable of going to uni. There can never be a class system based on merit because there isn't enough disparity in merit between humans. Anyone who thinks a garbage man is incapable of doing their sh*tty office job, and that they're somehow "above" being a garbage man is classism incarnate.

 

 

Data analysis is applicable in many different fields, most of which are actually quite interesting (data analysis in F1 for example). Saying that people will only do it for money is frankly stupid.

 

It was rhetoric - I was using the word "data" synonymously with the word "numbers"... and you told me that analysing data could be a "real treat". Even if you're analysing the amount of bongs and naked women your company has at its disposal, you're still looking at a screen all day. Maybe we have a different idea about what constitutes a "treat"

 

 

ou generalize that people only go to universities because they are afraid of being the 'have-nots' and that studying in a college has essentially become a form of 'one-upmanship' (your words not mine). Following your logic and generalization about those who go to universities I can just as easily claim that people only develop themselves just to get some leverage on other people (because universities ARE mainly institutions for self development).

What? The motivations exist totally separately to the acts themselves, and it's the motivation I take issue with.

 

 

So Im studying mechanical and electronic engineering purely because I want the money... I mean, its just as rigorous as the examples you brought (sometimes even more) and its also fairly well paid... should I then conclude that me and my coursemates are wasting our time on 'one-upmanship'? In fact should I be concluding that over our whole institute?

If you lived in the Soviet Union and wouldn't get paid any more than someone flipping burgers, would you still do it? It's the motivation, not the mere fact that handsome pay is involved (obviously John Lennon made a fair bit of money, but that doesn't make him a sellout). You should know if you're just trying to one-up people or if you genuinely want to be an engineer.... what do you want me to tell you?

 

Oh, and you can totally study that sh*t at trade school.

Edited September 19, 2011 by Melchior

[Tchuck]

So, in your opinion, it's a sin to strive to become better than others?

[Clem Fandango]

So, in your opinion, it's a sin to strive to become better than others?

It's not a "sin", as such, because you won't actually be better than others. Ever. Status is a myth and buying into it will only make you crazy and neurotic.