<p>“Here’s the thing: If you have the same load of work in 3 years, students have less time for extracurriculars, leadership activities which often are essential for grad school applications or post-bachelor jobs. I agree that 3 years might be an option for very gifted students with majors they can finish in 3 years, but some will not be hired because they not only did not go to grad school, but also lack valuable EC’s.”</p>
<p>Who said about having a 4 year load in 3 years? My post mentioned too much fluff in 4 year programs, especially in anything outside the engineering and hard science world. EC’s are not valuable and no one gives a crap about them just to let you know. You activity with saving Uganda program or help a tree society doesn;t mean squat.</p>
<p>“People who, besides classes, like to network for future business relations, while in college ? People who join Greek Life ? It can be worth it…”</p>
<p>So, if someone has been too socially inept to develop this in the first three years, the fourth year will all of a sudden be a magical moment? If someone wants to stay, let them do what people do now, take less credits than required to graduate in the time. Sort of like people who take 12 credits per semester now.</p>
<p>“You are misinterpreting my point. I have not said that people should be forced to learn how to make friends or forced to learn weird subjects, I have said that a 4 years curriculum is more beneficial, because it provides more time and opportunity for extracurriculars, and taking classes that might be very useful in a later career.”</p>
<p>Most EC’s are pointless in the real world. If you want more EC’s then volunteer your time after you graduate, but you are advocating a program to force people to stay. If someone wants to stay for an extra year, they have all the freedom to just as people take 6 years now to graduate.</p>
<p>“In the Netherlands, where a bachelor takes 3 years, record numbers of people drop out or flunk out of college. 35 % of undergrad students drop out. I know it’s hard to compare European and American higher education, but the fact is that many students can’t handle the pressure.”</p>
<p>Two different systems (yes, I have lived in Europe for several years), the great social net system sort of alleviates a lot of need for playing the game. Here in the US, we do not have state offered benefits like over in the EU, so college is almost a do or die, litterally. The chancs of finding a decent job in the states that gives benefits like health care is much more slim without a college degree. In the EU, the safety net does away with the tension of being thrown out in the street because of something simple like a broken leg or pregnancy.</p>
<p>"Oh, and please quit the ad hominem. "</p>
<p>None intended</p>
<p>Also, your logic then implies that anyone who takes online course or does their whole degree online are someone less able to handle the “real world” because they will not be invvolved with the things you stated. Your logic also states that if someone does finish a degree in three years, they somehow are less able to comprehend the real world as well. I can lead your logic to people who did not complete college at all, I guess they are socially inept and need those EC’s and greek life to succeed.</p>