<p>Most of that post was drivel with a touch of truth in it. Firstly, no, you’re not going to know yourself at 18. You think you know yourself? HA! I thought I knew myself. I had a set path to take after high school because “that’s what you’re supposed to do,” as you’re advocating. Four years later, totally different path. I knew some of my passions, grew dispassionate towards them along the way, and picked up new interests. It’s hard to truly know yourself right out of high school because you’ve been coddled in an environment by parents, teachers, counselors, etc. that restrict how much you can explore. Once those restrictions are lifted, you’re perception of the world changes.</p>
<p>College isn’t merely “training.” It’s a place you go to learn how to learn, and to learn how to think. Some people just want to get training in a field (which is a good thing… not everyone likes the academic environment). It improves analysis skills, and even if you don’t work in a field related to your degree, you’ll know how to better examine and carry out the job at hand. Of course, if one does not care about analysis skills and it totally misses them, well, yes they have wasted umpteen dollars on a piece of paper. But most do learn higher analytical thinking and do better over time.</p>
<p>The only thing I can agree with is the overemphasis of 4-year college degrees, even if it doesn’t suit the student. Especially if they have NO CLUE what they want to do. IMO, if one does not know what they want to do, they should join a few clubs, get some work experience, and go to college (or vocational school) later on. Because most likely, right out of high school, a person has no idea what they want to do with their life, because they have never had to guide their own life before; that was always done by “grown-ups.” They should get the ball rolling and see what they like.</p>
<p>i think that if you know what you want in life and are able to go out and get directly after high school then good for you. i thought i was really interested in psycology and had a passion for helping others. um yeah i decided that that career is not for me. so i am getting a basic associates of arts right now. i think i have decided to go after a two year degree in acctn. you do not know yourself at 18. any older person can tell you this. i am 19 and i can tell you this and to assume that you do is silly. there is so much out there and so much of yourself that you have not discovered yet. i do not think that my college experience is a waste of time and do not agree with anybody who thinks so. you can always learn soemthing. stop shutting your mind off to the world and open up a little bit.</p>
<p>A liberal arts education will give you a better understanding of our higher education system and where it fits in the advancement (or demise?) of society. You seem to interested in education and it’s administration. You may also be interested in:</p>
<p>economics? Study how education effects economic growth and technological advancement (Technology in and economist’s definition). You could more accurately assess the usefulness of a 4 year degree.</p>
<p>Law? Education law is a growing field. Many attorneys come from a liberal arts background. Have you considered studying education policy and administration. </p>
<p>You seem to have and intellectual curiosity. The best way to satisfy that curiosity is to advance your education.</p>
<p>I think college IS a great place to find yourself, for those who haven’t found their passion yet…</p>
<p>but for people like me, who have known what they want to do since freshman year of HS, it’s a great place to explore your passion and drive you forward! It’s a win-win situation.</p>
<p>I do agree with the OP on some points though, a lot of kids DO waste their education and spend time slacking. Honestly, it’s a really big peeve of mine when kids choose a major which sounds interesting, but they have no passion in it. It’s like, “oh, I’m going into neuroscience” when they have no passion for it. Lots of kids do this with pre-med.</p>
<p>As for those people who have everything figured it out, I want to say that if you think you had figured something out when you were 17, you are going to be severely disillusioned with the prospect and the outcome of your “figuring out” several years down the road.
I, for one, thought that I had everything figured it out. But then, after freshman year, boom, changed my major and changed my career path. I’m sorry to tell you, but life is not a linear model where you go from Point A to Point Z. You get sidetracked to point B, sometimes only arrives at point C.
As for the people who go to party everyday, hey, you will be surprised that several years later some of those will be making more dough than you will ever do.</p>