College

[upandaway84]

Currently have one year left of college. I agree with most of the folks who posted on this topic and that college is all about money. Other than the classes that benefit my major (Aviation Science & Administration) all of the "required" classes have been a waste of my time and money. No offense to those that take them, but why would an Aviation major need to take a philosophy class? Is the plane really there and how do you know it is? Stuff like that would just piss me off to no end. My guess is if everyone took only the classes they needed then colleges around the country would have to find new ways to screw kids out of more money. Just my two cents.

[Kebo]

Currently have one year left of college. I agree with most of the folks who posted on this topic and that college is all about money. Other than the classes that benefit my major (Aviation Science & Administration) all of the "required" classes have been a waste of my time and money. No offense to those that take them, but why would an Aviation major need to take a philosophy class? Is the plane really there and how do you know it is? Stuff like that would just piss me off to no end. My guess is if everyone took only the classes they needed then colleges around the country would have to find new ways to screw kids out of more money. Just my two cents.

Philosophy, even the mumbo-jumbo stuff, gets people to stop and think about life. Inner reflection. A lot of people have very weak 'inner monologues', they go on through their life without a lot of thought to their day-to-day lives or existence. Personally, I'd like to see that change. I want more thoughtful, enriched people that are versed in science, history, philosophy, literature, entertainment, and so on. People are simply more interesting when they're not one-dimensional.

Now I imagine a lot of people on this forum don't need college to push them in these directions. But there's a lot of people that would go on, living almost mindlessly through life, if they never got the chance to stop and think, debate, challenge their own ideas and perceptions. I don't know for sure, but I believe education helps push them in this direction, especially something like philosophy. If I had been given a choice, I would not have taken classes with philosophy in them. I would have never known what I missed out on.

[RadarScope1]

The reason you have to do stuff you don't always want to isn't because you're in college. It's because you live a life as a human being on the planet Earth. And yes, I know how I old I sound there. But it's the truth.

[wakeup]

I think college is ok. The purpose as I see it is as a job ticket, teaches you basic knowledge (well in accounting, yes) and a mean to network/meet people that relates to your future field of work/hopefully become close with them that will help you later on in life.

Also as someone kind of near graduating soon, the 4 years was pretty relaxing in hindsight.

[Beak]

There are two school of thoughts concerning higher education nowadays: the traditional and the au courant.

Traditionally, higher education was about the eduction itself--learning for its own sake (but conversely a privilege only enjoyed by the affluent, so no practical value for the layman).

The au courant view is often as a vocational school--a means to an end.

The modern school is obviously both, no matter what your view is; whatever your major, you're taking gen eds. So, if you're in school purely and simply for a job, not to learn anything but a skill, then it's easy to see why it's a waste: you're paying for courses that you don't want or need.

Sadly, a college degree is the last generation's highschool degree nowadays.

[Limewater]

No offense to those that take them, but why would an Aviation major need to take a philosophy class?

Do you also look at your campus gym and wonder why all of those weights need to go up and down?

[Luke]

But, on the flip side, I can see how someone would think it's a waste. Within our college of business, a marketing degree is worthless (as far as what you gain intellectually); you don't have to attend class and you basically drink your way through your 4-5 years. My roommate's a marketing major and literally has learned nothing more than some basic math as he enters his 5th year.

I know you are just playing devil's advocate here, but there are plenty of majors where you know you'll need at least a masters degree to get the job you want.

[upandaway84]

Do you also look at your campus gym and wonder why all of those weights need to go up and down?

When I'm at the gym, I'm not looking at the weights. But if I dropped a weight on my foot I know that it hurts. There isn't much thought need to determine that.

[Limewater]

Do you also look at your campus gym and wonder why all of those weights need to go up and down?

When I'm at the gym, I'm not looking at the weights. But if I dropped a weight on my foot I know that it hurts. There isn't much thought need to determine that.

http://www.randomfunnypicture.com/pictu ... ol_wut.jpg

[fastbilly1]

You will be surprised at what you will remember from those classes you think are useless. Since my major was so all over the place I took a list of classes that most people would laugh at:
Commercial Meat Management
Marriage and Family in a Global Context
Global Consumer Culture
Recreational Food Management
International Music Appreciation – most only took a standard class
There were more but that is all I could think off of the top of my head.

I know most of yall who look at those think what the hell could I use any of them for in most any field, and you would probably be right. Little in those classes is useful in my current day to day life. But those classes have helped me learn unique things that have gotten me through some tough situations.

I was good enough in the Meat lab that I ended up working in a slaughter house for six months. I recently started dating an opera singer who the only reason I know anything about Italian operas is because of that music class. And when I use to bar tend I actually helped a couple get through a rough spot – partially thanks to the class but more because of Bill Cosby. Sure you may not appreciate the classes now, I remember most of my classmates walking out of our Microbiology class since the professor taught “from the book” even though it was an excellent lecture, but down the road you will be surprised at what you can remember and how it will be useful.

I know that a lot of people think that college now is what highschool was in the past (exgirlfriend use to say “a Masters is what a BS use to be” but she is the one that doesn’t have a job), but you know what? I would not trade those four years for anything. Not only did I learn a lot of neat things, I met people who I trust with my life. However the most important thing I learned in college was how to lead. No amount of book learning can teach you leadership.

For the record, I do not work in hotels or the hospitality field as my primary income any more. I was offered a job making more than my boss use to make with full benefits (vision is expensive) in the computer world. However if I was offered similar money/benefits at a decent hotel I would jump on it (or if I somehow became weathly). My passion is for technology, but my heart is still in hospitality.