How important is college?
April 30th, 2008 | Published in Thoughts, Life, Education | 8 Comments
Abraham Piper says that “deciding against college is like deciding to not graduate from high school.” Here was my comment:
College can be a waste of time and money. Steve Jobs only had a semester of college. Bill Gates dropped out after two years. And they didn’t do too bad.
If you’re going to be a doctor, engineer, academic or something similar, college is necessary. If you’re going to be an entrepreneur, it’s often not.
Self-education is very easy these days. You can even listen to professors through The Teaching Company that you’d have to go to ivy league schools to hear. Books abound. Knowledge on any topic is a couple clicks away.
I disagree that “deciding against college is like deciding to not graduate from high school.” I think a high school education (or equivalent) is necessary for most decent jobs unless you’re starting your own business or have connections. But college is often overlooked if the person has the experience and skills required. I know lots of stupid people who have attended college, and many smart people who have not. When looking at a resume, I mainly look at what they’ve accomplished, not what school they’ve attended.
Of course I’m a bit biased here, having dropped out of college myself and having no desire to go back.
What do you think?
April 30th, 2008 at 11:02 am (#)
The trouble is not college vs. no college as far as education. The trouble is when your entrepreneurial aspirations fizzle and you need to get a job elsewhere. The guy with the college degree is the more lucrative candidate than the guy without or the drop-out. Speaking from second-hand experience, I know a few intelligent, well-educated people who do not have college degrees and cannot find jobs outside heavy industry. You may look at what someone has accomplished, but many companies, at least at the small business, local level do not. Where is the space on the resume to say “I’m well read”? You want to get paid well and have job security? You’ll probably need a college degree. Not everyone needs it, but many do.
I know over-educated stupid people. Who doesn’t? They have the advantage on the resume, even if the college drop-out would make the better employee.
I’m glad dropping out has worked for you, but please, it’s not for everyone.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:23 pm (#)
I feel that humans have a natural attitude of wanting to learn, regardless of any specific lifestyle. The Teaching Company’s courses allow their viewers to rediscover their long long desire to know about things, at their own speed, without tests or intimidation.
It’s become a way of life for me, and I will never turn back. Hey, its better late then never. At 45 I’m too old to go back to school, but too young not to think I can’t learn about everything I’ve always wanted to!
April 30th, 2008 at 2:36 pm (#)
Josh, I agree with you completely, and I’m a college grad. A lifetime of paying back student loans isn’t worth what many go to college for. Unless you specialize in medicine, law, engineering, etc.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:58 pm (#)
I am a lifelong student if reluctant pupil; it looks as though I’m in agreeable company.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:12 pm (#)
After years of hard work, I found that the hardest part of college was not actually getting through it alive, or graduation, but actually getting a job. I found it really frustrating that even my own career services department at school was not really able to help me find a career after college.
Since we are all in the same boat here I figured I would Google some sites that could help (like Monster) but everything was for those with more extensive job experience. One website I found was UVisor at www.uvisor.com which seems to be a really solid resource in linking up college students with employers as well as helping us students really figure out our career path. I forget what the statistic was specifically, but I remember it being something like 80% of people do not choose career paths that are pertinent to their majors.
Anyway; definitely check out UVisor or AfterCollege or CollegeGrad (However UVisor is the only free service).
April 30th, 2008 at 4:18 pm (#)
@Mr. Van Orsow:
45 isn’t too old for anything except military service.
@all
I didn’t start college out of high school because I didn’t have a need for it at the time. Looking back, I know I would’ve waffled about, at least for a while. When, at 28, I had had enough of the urge, building for years, I started.
I have not yet finished an undergraduate degree. Still. It’s been a long road, and a variety of familial obligations and self-directed sophistry. I started with two majors, and have eventually narrowed it to one. I’m 37 this year, studying math with students half my age. I’m not stopping until I’m done.
Much of the discussion about college vs. no college seems to ignore, if implicitly, the various purposes students have for attendance. Many hail college as the sole door through which the white-collar workforce walks. Some, like me, have no answer for the question, “Well, what kind of job are you trying to get?” I’m attending college because it’s the best place, for me, to get the exposure to topics of interest to me. Who pays me and for what, while very pertinent considerations, aren’t quite heartfelt passions, and as such they don’t drive me.
If your interest in college is merely as a bullet point on your résumé, you better register now. If your interest in college is couched in the availability of cognitive challenge, it won’t be a question of whether or not, it’ll be a question of what and when.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:38 am (#)
I’m under the impression now that undergrad is good, but a little skeptical of grad school.
May 21st, 2008 at 10:53 pm (#)
I am a hiring manager. I care about two things - your ability to do the job and your ability to contribute to the bottom line. I’ve never hired anybody on the basis of their education.
There was a time when you became a lawyer by studying with other lawyers…a doctor the same way. Licensure came about and now ‘without a degree’ you can’t become those things.
Remember: College is a BUSINESS - Big business!!