I think college can be for everyone, but I think the mistake we make is in assuming that it has to take place right after high school or the opportunity is somehow forever lost or forfeited.
Last winter I had the privilege of attending the awards ceremony (separate from the much larger graduation) at the community college from which my younger son was graduating with highest honors. He had landed there as a "re-grouping effort" after his initial choice of school and major required some re-thinking, but that's not really my point.
Rather, I was struck by the fact that both the valedictorian and salutatorian of the class were middle-aged single mothers who described how they had thought that college was not in their life plans. Both had faced challenges (having to learn English, working full-time) that I daresay would have daunted most Ivy League grads! But they turned one class into two classes into a major into an A.A. degree and now they had full scholarships--one to Columbia and one to NYU. Amazing and humbling!
My niece is another example. She's 29 and has two young sons. She got married right out of high school and is now divorced and back in school studying accounting. Luckily she lives on the west coast and we have the time difference in our favor because she can put them to bed and call me for help. I dust off my ancient accounting knowledge and we puzzle through the coursework together!
Immigrants, veterans, late bloomers....THESE are the EVERYONE we need to educate! But let's stop assuming that the boat leaves the dock at age 21 because it does NOT!
Re: Status
PAW
11/30/2011 9:53:47 AM
I know several people that did not graduate college that have higher paying jobs and more opportunity than most college graduates. They were smart enough to know that college was not the only route to success. My degree has opened doors for me but it is not a golden ticket to success. That comes with constant hard work and effort
Status
BigJim
11/30/2011 9:13:26 AM
We tend to look at people who did not attend college as lazy or stupid, unless they happen to be Richard Branson, Bill Gates or Michael Dell.
Re: College is worth it if you have a plan
tokyogai
11/30/2011 9:06:07 AM
I agree completely. Not everyone belongs in College or University. We do have a need for skilled tradesmen and overall we are not doing a good job in training them. College has become the " new high school"- it really is an entry card to many higher level jobs. We need to find ways to fund education for the best and brightest if we want to remain competitive in the world. I still think it is one of the best investments for the individual as well as the society.
Re: College is worth it if you have a plan
Noreen Seebacher
11/30/2011 9:04:21 AM
I think you're absolutely correct: it makes sense for students who have identified a clear interest and have the discipline to prepare for that career at college. But I feel many students enter college unprepared -- not academically, but socially. As parents, we coddle our kids like no generation before it. When they move away from home, there is a tendency for many to act like puppies left off the leash for the first time...scattered and out of control.
My oldest daughter knew exactly what she wanted to do, finished her BS in 4 years and is working in the career of her choice. That was great.
My second attended community college for two years because she made the decision she wanted more time to focus and upgrade her skills before transferring to a 4-year school. i was impressed with not on;y the maturity of that decision, but the money she saved living at home for the first two years while spending very nominal amounts for tuition.
My third started college as a business major, realized it was not the best choice and returned home after her freshman year. She attended community college for a year to gain time to think about what she really wanted. She settled on nursing. She'll graduate a semester "late" because of her change of majors, but she'll graduate next Dec. with a nursing degree.
My fourth child started college and put the same effort into it he put in high school, which can charitably be described as none. After two years of commuting -- and lackluster grades in classes that did not represent any clear career path -- we told him to pause. Until he knows exactly what he wants to do, college is just wasting his time and money. He's now working full-time as a systems engineer for a entrepreneurial firm. He loves it. He's learning a lot, and his work is described as outstanding. In a year, he may realize a degree in one specific field or another may be useful. Or maybe he'll decide, for what he is doing, he doesn't need it right now.
The point is, forcing him to go to college now would not have been in anyone's best interest.
My youngest is still in high school. She plans to go to college.
Bottom line: Let's realize that each student is unique, and the "right" path is not always the most popular one.
College is worth it if you have a plan
ProfR
11/30/2011 8:27:30 AM
I teach at a college so I am a little biased here. However,
- I do think we should have a stronger system of trade schools for people who want to be plumbers, electricians, chefs, etc. Frankly, this should often start in high school rather than just in college.
- I do think that college is worth it for people who have a plan or develop a plan for what they want to do. We need more nurses, computer programs, web designers, marketers, etc. If a student just wants to go to college to go to college, then that makes no sense as a career plan.
- I do think that college helps students mature as they meet new people, develop critical thinking skills, learn to work together and are exposed to new things. That is very important in itself. I know people who went right into jobs rather then college and there often is a difference in how they solve problems and handle certain situations. Many wish they had gone to college.
I know myself that college opened up a lot of good paying career options that I would not have had if I did not go to college.
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