<p>One should be mindful of the difference between education and training. The former is the aquizition of knowledge, the latter the aquizition of a skill. There is, of course, overlap. Attempting to prove that a specific education is or is not worthwhile based on the marketplace’s dollar value in annual salary is unpersuasive.</p>
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<p>Ah, but grading is nevertheless a fundamental component. After all, while certain programs such as the one you described may indeed require extensive time commitments, the fact is, as long as you do the work, you’re going to pass. Nobody who does the work actually fails. </p>
<p>Contrast that with, say, an engineering program where students also study round the clock…and some still fail anyway. What is worse is that the process is competitive and student grades are curved against each other, which means you can never relax. Any time that you’re not studying, you know that the other students are studying, which lowers your standing on the curve, possibly to failure. No more than half - and often times no more than a third - of entering students in a typical engineering program will actually finish the degree, and even many that do are the walking wounded with shattered, barely passing GPA’s. I have yet to meet a single engineering graduate who didn’t view his experience as a traumatic experience. </p>
<p>What’s ironic is that relatively few practicing engineers actually describe the actual job as being traumatic. In that sense, engineering may be one of the few careers in which the job is actually easier than the schoolwork. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, the point is that harsh grading is indeed a necessary, although certainly not sufficient, component of what comprises a demanding subject. To know that you could potentially study every single waking minute of the day, every day…and still flunk out anyway - that’s a tough major.</p>
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<p>Totally agree with sakky. </p>
<p>I think the biggest problem is college too expensive. This societal pressure to go to college forces people go to college and the colleges can charge whatever they want to the students because they know you need to be college educated just to a good job (or even a crappy one if we keep bumping out college grads).</p>
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How many have you met and what exactly do you mean by “traumatic?” Please, don’t quote me a dictionary definition, I’m asking you to clarify the word “traumatic” in the context of an engineering education. I hardly feel as though I endured trauma earning my degree, though I found it difficult. And although it was competitive, I also spent a good deal of time reviewing material and working problems with my classmates.</p>
<p>And I encountered several people who actually enjoyed it.</p>
<p>In response to the OP … uh … no.</p>
<p>Unless you like flipping burgers at Mickey D’s.</p>
<p>To respond to the OP:</p>
<p>I know why I’m not going to college but remain uncertain of why I am. In a sense, I feel that college is overrated as a means of changing the lives of those who were somewhat well-off to begin with.</p>
<p>Well, I am one of those kids who is in college to gain financial stability and employment. I went from being a Journalism/Chinese major, to possibly teaching, and now I am a Pre-Nursing student.</p>
<p>College is what you make of it. If you are only at college to party and get wasted, then college is going to be a waste, regardless of what you major in. I am in college for great internship opportunities, a study abroad program, a flexible career with decent pay, and a partner (which I have found). I also have enjoyed working for the school’s newspaper, and traveling to Los Angeles and doing volunteer work.</p>
<p>College shouldn’t be just about “learning for learning sake’s.” If colleges were cheap, I would be fine saying that. However, they are not. So unfortunately, people must look at college for what it is: a business meant to SMARTLY invest in.</p>
<p>"Unless you like flipping burgers at Mickey D’s. "</p>
<p>idiot</p>
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<p>Do they still flip burgers there, or have they moved on to more complex techniques?</p>
<p>sakky, I know that engineering is a very demanding major. You mention that you can work your butt off and still not pass. Just so you know, in many performing arts programs, you must pass “juries” to be permitted to progress to the next year of the program. Your assumption that as long as you do the work, you’ll pass, is not necessarily true in such programs at all.</p>
<p>There are also subjective fields. You can work 100 hours making some project in an architecture studio and have the professor severely critique you and give you a poor grade despite incredible effort and time that went into the project. There are no correct answers on some test.</p>
<p>I doubt many failed engineers turn to performing arts majors to improve their grades.</p>
<p>Yes, and according to some here, people who major in areas such as performing arts are in it for the paper on the wall and have an easy major. </p>
<p>Most areas of performing arts require a very demanding educational process and as far as a career, nobody cares much about your paper on the wall and it is all about the audition. Grades won’t matter in terms of success either.</p>
<p>DC…that was rude :(</p>
<p>However, I agree that college immediately after high school isn’t appropriate for everyone…and that many 18 year olds that I work with are not prepared. They (and their parents) did not take high school seriously and would have a tough time in college/technical programs. They would be better prepared by working for a year or two to mature and figure out what they want to do in life. Sadly, it’s tough to find jobs.</p>
<p>The performing arts are interesting oddities in this discussion. While they are obviously not typical fields for those focused on starting salaries and therefore are often considered along with other humanities disciplines in discussions such as this one, a strong argument can be made that they are among the most vocational majors in existence. Really, a conservatory or music school is arguably more career-focused than your typical tech school.</p>
<p>It may have been rude, but so was that genius’ assumption that anybody who doesn’t go to college is destined to a life of minimum wage work at a fast food restaurant.</p>
<p>^ thank you.</p>
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<p>I don’t think that’s true though. When people talk about the humanities and social sciences, they aren’t thinking about music or theater. I don’t get the impression that people look down on music majors.</p>
<p>I’ve only skimmed the comments, but I do think a transitional experience like going away to college is extremly beneficial to most 18-22 year olds. It provides a safe place to get used to living away from home, and explore different subject areas, etc. </p>
<p>I do think our society would benefit from more people having a strong liberal arts background. A more educated populace can only be a benefit to our society as a whole.I’m a realtor who is happy every day I had the chance to major in art history years ago. </p>
<p>I am glad that our educational system in the US doesn’t track students at an early age into those who are allowed to go to college and those who cant’ . Of course, so many students have their college dreams dashed by the very high cost of college in our country.</p>
<p>We need a strong fusion of a liberal arts education AND training in technical/trade skills. I think liberal arts majors should require some sort of technical training they can put to use in order to get the degree.</p>
<p>College is a very expensive transitional experience. If 18 to 22 year olds need to “find” themselves, they may always join the military where they can gain valuable training, get used to living away from home, and even explore the world. </p>
<p>I guarantee you that if the US had mandatory, unavoidable military service for all citizens and legal residents, we would see a significant reduction in the number of conflicts we may engage in.</p>