After reading Louis Menand's "What are universities for?" (you'll find it on the Hofstra Portal...Library...Research Databases... Proquest), consider whether or not you concur or disagree with his premise. Then post a two-paragraph response here on this blog answering the question in your own terms: what are universities for?
Aside: Menand's essay is another example of the small object-large subject sort of writing we are considering for essay 1.
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Upon reading Louis Menand's What Are Universities For?, I can conclude that my belief in what the actual purpose of attending a University, what the University actually is for is somewhat in agreement with Menand's belief. I personally agree that the purpose for a University primarily comes down to the fact that individuals after having graduated high school, make the decision to attend a University or College, as it is necessary and or imperative for attaining a desirable or prestigious profession. The majority of students go on to pursue a higher education for the sole purpose of wanting to become something greater than what they are and look to gain that knowledge or edge by achieving the goal of graduating with a honorary degree. The want to attain the title of a lawyer, doctor, engineer or professor and so on. It would be nice to think or believe that individuals choose to go to college or to attend a University just to expand on or receive a wealth of knowledge and to simply become more educated or learned. However, I believe that the main incentive is just for the betterment of one's future and to pursue those goals of achieving a status or title for a prestigious profession; one that would provide financial stability or financial wealth and possibly one to aid in raising a family not just comfortably but well off.
ReplyDeleteIn the article by Menand, a statistic provided by a survey conducted by the American Council on Education, portrayed numbers as stating 78% of freshman said the reason for choosing to attend college was simply "to get a better job" while 73% said their reasons for choosing to attend college was "to make more money". I agree with these statements given by the polls, as I believe that these two reasons are what accounts for individuals to decide to attend college. There is most likely a small percentage of individuals who choose to attend college because of a desire to become well rounded and to have knowledge that is applicable to everyday life and to varying topics and subject matters around the world. I believe that attending college is beneficial and that having not attended myself I would not be as informed or in tune with particular subjects or issues that can potentially impact the choices and the decisions that I make in my life and in my future. I believe that the purpose of a University is to prepare and instill important values and teachings on various areas of study to implore and to expand on the knowledge that one can have. I do think that it is beneficial and that if possible, everyone should have the opportunity to receive further education, to attend college. Universities in my opinion, are also a place for individuals to grow and to mature into who they become. It allows for the individual to engage in almost every area of study, areas so small and concentrated that one might not even know there was a study for such a topic or that such an area of study existed. The education one would receive is a higher level and understanding which can change the way one views a particular issue and can determine what one will do with their lives, what professions they choice. Having not attended a University one would never have the experience to learn such fascinating or interesting things or learn to develop an structured or well formulated opinion. One would not have the ability to learn how to write in a more evolved and scholarly manner either. I think attending a University is important and that a University is meant to only help individuals better themselves and to go on to create positive and productive contributions to the world.
College is a good thing. You can get a great job and make good money, do well, and maybe then make so more money, and then again maybe not...
ReplyDeleteI was a bright eyed college freshman the year Menand's article was published. I attended New York City's Fashion Institute of Technology. I did really well there, and after completing my "education" there had job offers lined up. I got to mold my profession, tailor it to my needs. I was in sales, marketing and promotions. It was a glamorous at times world and I was compensated well. I actually loved going to work most days. But Fashion is after all a Business. I traveled, met interesting people and wound up with a 14 year career I was proud of.
Things of late have changed, companies are closing left and right, retailers are shutting their doors, and business has been bad for the past few years. The jobs just aren't out there they way they used to be- namely mine.
Furthering ones education is now a neccesity. I can stress enough the importance of getting the most out of it. Be diverse, take classes you never thought you would. It will increase your marketability as a human being, and hopefully make you a more interesting person. My college years didn't prepare me so much for the real world as life experience, but I always had the confidence to talk to Presidents and Directors of large corporations because I knew I could sound intelligent. It's part instinct, but you also gotta know what your talking about sometimes.
I am here at Hofstra going for round two at a college education. When things in the Fashion industry went south it left me with very few options. So I take the experience and move on a little wiser, and hopefully when I gradute from here a lot smarter.
I appreciate Menand's ideas and thoughts about the "Pursuit of Knowledge" and I don't mean to discourage any students who may read this, but take this time and enjoy and absorb. Get the most out of it you can.
I hope this shows that college doesn't prepare you for when things don't go as planned, but it is an opportunity we sometimes take for granted.
Ariel Gaworecki
ReplyDeleteComposition MWF
9/13/09
The purpose of universities is different for everyone. One person may go to college to become more intelligent and graduate with honors. For other people, college is something for them to do after college that goes along with the todays norm in society. Universities are a place for education and growth. depending on how much a person is willing to grow and learn, then that will determine what they got out of going to a university. At a university such as Hofstra, there are many opportunities for people with different interests and goals. College can show you how to be successful in the work place, because in the end that is the ultimate goal for most people. The majority of student want to go to college to get a degree so that they will have a fighting chance in world where good jobs are scarce, and people often have to settle for jobs that they are over qualified for. Univeristies are also a place where one can measure themselves up against people that they will be competing for jobs with. It allows you to fine tune your knowledge and skills so that you are aware of what it will take to get a good job.
Also, colleges are melting pot of different backgrounds, ethnicities, intrests, styles and more. People can find peers that they have the most in common with and create lasting relationships. I feel that it doesn't necessarily have to be about grades, and jobs all the time, universities are wonderful place for young adults to mature and grow into the person they want to be.
Eric Jodlowski (WSC 002 - 13)
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Menand’s article, “What are Universities for?” I would have to agree with the principles he mentions. I too believe most students have the mindset that you have to go to college because it’s expected of you. And because of this, society has evolved. No longer is a bachelor degree impressive, it becomes necessary for someone to have a chance at succeeding in life. And because of this constantly evolving world, most of us are almost forced to continue to a post graduate focus of study in order to “seek knowledge” we truly want as Menand mentions.
The other aspect of his article I agreed with would be about how students should not look to a professor as a mentor of how we define our culture. Rather, we should create culture for ourselves in our own way using the professor’s insight to strengthen our studies. We should remove ourselves from the panopticon we grow up in and use universities as they should be, a tool to improve ourselves.
In today's world, I feel that a college education is necessary for getting a job that can support a family. College has made it a lot easier for students to attend a university in order to earn a degree as well as getting a graduate degree. Many universities have a variety of options for students to choose what they want to do with their lives and that's very important. Universities have made it more accessible for handicapped students and also have made it possible for under-privileged students to gain an education. College prepare its students to be ready for the "real world" and to understand how responsible we have to be to survive in today's economy.
ReplyDeleteCollege also depends on the student attending. Not everyone feels that college is for them, but the people who do attend, usually have a dream to pursue a certain career. Personally, I feel that attending Hofstra has changed the person I was from high school. I've learned to take full responsibility for school and have grown a sense of independence. I picked a major that I feel I want to be more involved in and fortunately in the future, pursue a career in that field. I'm not saying that college can prepare you for any obstacle you might face, but it can help you understand the responsibility you need to have in life. Lastly, I feel that universities are for individuals that are determined to become better individuals and for students to follow their dreams.
Education is one of the most important things that someone can receive throughout their life. In regards to Louis Menand's article, "What Universities are For", I completely agree with some of the points that Menand makes about college students and their goals along with why they feel it is important to attend a university. In the article, statistics are proven that 78% of first year students at a college state that the reason they believe it is important to attend a university is so that they get a better job once they have successfully completed their four years. Along with this, 73% of students admitted that they believe it is important to go to college so that they make more money once they are done. While, of course, it is always important to be able to be successful and make enough money to support your family, there should be a plenty of more reasons as to why someone should want to to attend college. Receiving an education expands your knowledge on all different types of subjects. While attending a university like Hofstra, I have taken classes ranging from Special Education to Ethics, to Computer Science to Law. Although I am an Elementary Education major, I am required to take all of these different classes as electives which I love because it doesn't just teach me about education and what I will need to know as a teacher, but it expands my thoughts about all different types of subjects that I will need in many different situations throughout my life.
ReplyDeleteWhile attending a university is extremely important in order to receive an education and learn about different things, it is also extremely vital in forming you into the person you will be shaped into by the time you are finished. Between classes and social experiences in college, you learn a lot about yourself as a person. You become more mature and responsible which is an extremely important thing. When you graduate high school, you don't expect a lot of the things that come your way while being in college, but you learn a great deal about everything you experience throughout your journey at any university.
After reading Louis Menand's "What are universities for?" My opinion somewhat differs from Menands'. The statistics provided state that 78 percent of freshman students said they went to college to get a better job and 73 percent said to "make more money". As a freshman it is hard to come straight out of high school equipped with the ideals of the importance of higher education other than to be more financially well off. As one pursues their educational college journey they grow as an intellectual and discover deeper significance to college. Menand says "In the 1990's, though, young people in the middle class are perfectly alive to the fact that they go to college because they have to." I disagree with this statement. Plenty of students graduating from high school pursue jobs in the labor force or even join the military. I can only speak for myself but I have opted to pursue a college career then a career in the military, not because I "have" to go to college but because the desire to learn is there. Within the Menand's article he also touches base upon how university does not foster the right values to their students.
ReplyDeleteIf university is an establishment for anything besides learning, it's an establishment for free speech and individualism. I think universities is the perfect forum for learning , growth, learning new ideas whether they be against your personal ideas or ideas you share. Universities are for all economic classes. Whether it be to advance in the financial world or to educate oneself. "The university is, in fact, expressly designed to do this: It can accommodate almost any interest by creating a new course, a new program, a new studies center." The possibilities are endless with university education.
After reading Louis Menand’s article “What are Universities for?” there are many points which I agree with him on. The first point being that students think that it is expected of them to go to college to get a good job or get a high paying job. I do believe this is what you have to do to achieve those two goals to better yourself and get the higher education that everyone needs.
ReplyDeleteA second point made by Louis Menand is that students at a local college, private college are more likely go get into the topic and conversation, and take it more personally then someone one in an ivy league school. “The educational ethos is different at a selective, residential, private college. There students are likely to be better primed to become personally engaged with the course material.” I have had firsthand experience with this, in every class I go to most students get very involved in the topic and conversation that the class is having
After reading Louis Menand's essay "What are Universities for?" there are many points he makes that I agree with. For one, I believe that today the main reason many people go to college is because it is what everyone in modern society does. It has been drilled in our heads that in order to obtain a well paying job we must attend college. However, Menand makes a brilliant point that a bachelors degree isn't as impressive as it was years ago. Nearly everyone today obtains this degree therefore leveling the work field and the people with these degrees have no more of an advantage than someone without a degree.
ReplyDeleteI believe that universities are a place where an individual can learn, mature and develop their own view on society. The mixtures of different people and a wide variety of classes stimulate students to think outside the norms and have an open mind.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMenand makes some valid points in his article "What Are Universities For?” Everyone comes into college with divergent reasons for doing so. Hypothetically speaking, one reason for attending a university could be that a student wants to expand their knowledge and understanding of the world, which will simultaneously prepare them for any field they go into. However, as Menand has stated in the article, a large percentage of freshman claim they attend college in order to get a better job or to make more money. In opinion, this should not be the rational for attending college. There is more to success than to have your name printed on a degree, which is why it is essential to master all courses that are taken in a university. Wisdom is the true key to success because there is nothing like an individual who processes the ability to think and analyze substantially. Every college student should want that more than just the proof that they have attended or completed college.
ReplyDeleteMenand addresses the fact that universities have changed drastically over the last twenty years. One of the major changes is relevant to the race and gender on most college campuses. Universities were once composed of only Caucasian male students. Although it is not shocking to hear that this was the case due to other historical situations that have occurred in the past, it is a bit disturbing to accept it. Twenty years ago from not was not a relatively far time span. With that being understood, the issue brings to mind the question of why were these specific males over privileged as opposed to other races and perhaps females? Did society view them as being more intelligent or economically equipped for success? It is truly unimaginable to picture a campus full of males that were of a specific race. College would not be as it were today if it was not comprised of diversity because what better way to learn about other cultures that to be in the vicinity of many on a daily basis. Without the cultural aspects that are incorporated into a university, the experience would be nonetheless, disparate.
Following my reading of Louis Menand's "What are Universities For?", I have concluded that a college experience is essential for mental, emotional, and educational growth. Statistics show that a large majority of students go to college simply to create a better financial future for themselves. However, I feel that in addition to securing an income, college is a place of self-discovery and finding one's passions in life. Colleges today offer numerous courses in broad and sometimes obscure topics. Expanding one's mind to thoughts outside their comfort zone is becoming essential to success today, as people are expected to be knowledgeable in various aspects, even outside of their major concentration. Granted, electives are worked into the schedules of colleges students, however, most opt to take the easier courses, or ones that will undoubtedly boost their GPA. Yet, it is these electives that should be allowing one to broaden their horizons.
ReplyDeleteOur generation is one that tries to do as much, in as a little as possible. We try to be efficient in everything that we do, including our education. Gone are the days where one could join the military and be set for life. Even a bachelor's degree is losing its significance and it is becoming almost mandatory that one get at least their master's. Although to some, college may seem as chore, however, with the right classes, a college experience can be made into a culturally gratifying experience, in which you might just learn something about yourself.
This article was really interesting. I completely agree with Menand’s points. He backs them up with some very strong statistics as well. When he stated that a poll taken showed that 78% of freshmen said their reason for attending college was “to get a better job” I wasn’t surprised in the least. I personally feel like that is a main reason we attend college. It also goes along with reasons like to better ourselves, to become much more responsible, and to become a more productive member of society. But the blunt reason why we are here is so we can get a better job.
ReplyDeleteI feel the reason why most college students today feel like this is because how the economy has been throughout my generation’s lifetime. Many families prospered greatly through the mid to late 90’s. Then the Y2k scare, 9/11, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan really took a toll on the economy which opened the eyes of many of us that life isn’t always guaranteed. I also believe that many college students have taken advantage of the fact that they have a college education available to them. I come from a middle class town where EVERYONE goes to college. Not going to college isn’t really an option. In other countries or earlier in our country, college isn’t required to survive comfortably. Today, so many people have college degrees that a college degree is completely overlooked and viewed as the average thing. Now that I’m at college I feel that universities are also a place for a person to master responsibility and to mature as a person to one day become a competitive and productive member of society.
In response to Elanna-
ReplyDeleteCollege does shape not only the mind, but is also a human experience. A college degree is now so common and competition is so fierce that one must make sure to stand out in order to acheive their goals now more than ever. We are a rushed society in general, and with no signs of slowing down we must stop rushing through college, study hard, and make it count. Being introspective and finding out what matters most to an individual is the best approach. Using the time wisely will contribute to students getting the most out of the opportunities presented to them
In response to Eric-
ReplyDeleteYou are right in that the "college years" should be a time of expansion and seeing beyond what one already knows. It is as if most of us are just going through the motions. We can all learn the same things in the same courses, but it is what each of us as individuals actually gleans from it that is what matters. I am pretty sure we all take something different in the end. After all professors are lifelong students themselves and we would be wise to take the knowledge they provide and make it our own.
In response to Elanna,
ReplyDeleteThis response to Menand's article "What are Universities for?" shares many brilliant ideas about how to take full advantage of a student's life in college. College is to help individuals figure out ways to find themselves, or to transform themselves into the working citizen they aspire to become. College is meant to guide students into the direction in which is best needed for them to pursue various career oppurtunities and gives students the option to pursue their dreams.
In response to Eric,
ReplyDeleteThis response couldn't be any closer to the truth. It is expected our of teenagers to pass high school with a reasonable grade point average and extend their education onto a college career. Not only is a college education expected now a days, but it is also necessary to make a good or decent living in today society with the economy being so awful. It would be hard for one person to survive with little or no education let alone to provide for a whole family.
I think a "student" that just "goes through the motions" isn't actually a student at all. She is taking up valuable space. She's defying what it means to be a scholar, and cheating herself of a true learning experience. It doesn't as much disappoint me as it does annoy me that so many students reported that the main reason for going to college is to "get a better job" or "make more money." Why is everyone so worried about that at this point in life? We are still young and vibrant and flexible; we are ready to be shaped into the adults that we will eventually become. Now is the time to truly enjoy where we are, observe all of the brilliant (or not so brilliant, but part of the educational process is to be able to make that call) professors who have put in their time, acquired their knowledge, and have made it their objective to share it all with us. Of course it's true that the job market is nearly impossible to break into today without some form of higher education. So rather then slug through all the necessary requirements with the only motivation being a paycheck at the end of the line, why not take time to enjoy the process? College is an amazing and very necessary milestone in life, and it should not be taken for granted.
ReplyDeleteMenand also makes the point that most students who sit though the same humanities courses take relatively the same thing out of each class. Readings of Chaucer, Shakespeare, or Milton, whom Menand specifically uses, eventually fade in relevance as the student advances in the educational process. However, the point being made is that it is the PROCESS of learning about said texts that's important. Being able to analyze the works of history's most brilliant minds should absolutely be included in the process of becoming educated, whether or not the student remembers which Canterbury Tale was which or can recite a monologue from "Hamlet." Therein lies "what universities are for."
In response to Elanna's comment:
ReplyDeleteAttending college does in fact broaden an individual's capacity of knowledge. The meaning of a University and the education acquired from attending a University does not only reflect what type of job one receives post education, but it also shapes and molds the individual person. The journey through college allows for an individual to grow and mature on an emotional and mental level. There are many situations and events that take place throughout the four years in the individuals life at college, which are crucial in development and do indeed impact the individual and can potentially impact one's future.
The importance of an education is to not only attain knowledge and to apply the knowledge to a given trade but to use the knowledge of topics and subjects outside one's area of study or concentration to enrich the mind and shape opinions and beliefs around other ideas presented. It is true that college is about the experience and not only is it the experience of knowledge and preparation for the future in the work place, but the experience that is gained and the journey that is fulfilled, from making relationships with others and from learning how to interact in debate and teamwork. The individual that graduates after a four year undergraduate education is the not same individual that walks into the university as a freshman, just out of high school. The individual will leave a university with the tools and the abilities to look at various situations within life in and outside of the workplace with a wealth of knowledge and be able to create informed beliefs and opinions that can be supported by fact as one would be able to debate intelligently and not ignorantly.
College is a pre-requisite in the present time and is imperative for one to attain a reputable job for the future, that is a given fact, however, in addition to a university just being a requirement or an obstacle that needs to be tackled, it is also a place where one can better themselves and grow as human beings to do the good and to be a productive beneficial asset to life itself. College is in a sense can be compared to a testing ground, as one is faced with decisions and other such experiences that can prepare them for greater situations and obstacles in life and in one's future. In conclusion, college should not be viewed as just a place to learn or to get to just fulfill the next requirement, it should be embraced as a place for growth and enhancement of one's character.
In response to Christopher's comment:
ReplyDeleteCollege has been perceived as somewhat of a common idea. In today's generation of youth, college is a just something that is expected and there is almost no question of why one would choose to go to college. The fact is that in today's day and age kids start school before they can really read and write properly and know that it is something that is done to achieve something, a means to an end. The means to an end in this case, as Christopher has described in his blog and as Menand has concurred is the idea of a job. Simply, individuals begin the education process and follow the requirements and the steps necessary just as a way to get to the next best thing. Thus, the ideal after completion of high school is to apply to a university and then begin a four year journey of intense study of a particular subject area. However, as time has progressed and as more and more people have decided to further their pursuit of study through attending a four year university, there was no such thing as an "edge" or that one quality/characteristic that could set one individual apart from the next. College became something that was just understood, as "the next step" and thus, in 2009 and furthermore into the future, just a four year degree will not suffice in the work place, as one just falls into the category of the many who have that similar edge. Now, having nothing to set one potential candidate apart from the next, is the need for a higher degree...the result graduate school. The higher degree is absolutely necessary for one to be successful and to pursue a financially stable and rewarding profession.
Furthermore, with the addition of the current economic standing of the present day and with past events in the recent history of this country, it is that much harder for one to set themself apart from another potential candidate, and to at that rate attain a desirable and somewhat stable job for support. With the ever so visible knowledge and frightening news that is reported each passing day, one may not even see the need for college, as it sets or provides no difference...yet, what one needs to keep in mind, is that college is not just the stepping stone in life, but it is about the enrichment of the mind, and as Elanna stated "self discovery". Thus, it is one's choice to either gain something or take something away from the college experience as beneficial and or rewarding and to hopefully find the true meaning of what college provided for them... the belief really just comes down to college is what you make of it.
For Elanna:
ReplyDeleteCollege, is in fact, an amazing place to find who you are as a person. Besides going to college so that I can expand my horizons by taking a variety of different classes, I am only in my second year and it has already provided me with plentiful lessons of self discovery. As of 2009, society feels they should be going to a university in order to get their degree and make a great deal of money. It is almost positive in my mind that many do not take the time to sit back and not learn about what they were taught in the classroom, but to actually sit and think about what they learned as a person about the world and about their our personality and self. I think your points are wonderful and valid and I wish every one got to see your thoughts so that maybe they could step out of the typical shell and see the world like some of us do.
For Jennifer:
You're right. College is a good thing. Although you have gone to college already, and although you think your advice might have startled some of us younging's, if anything, it inspired me. You know what you're talking about and I am thankful that you were able to give us your own insight of how you went through college and how you even have the courage to start all over again. Since many students and adults think that all you need to do is earn your degree to get as much money as possible, they might also think that if they don't succeed to just give up and not go back and fix their mistakes. Although you made no mistakes, you took the initiative to go back to school and broaden your horizons by not only probably expanding your knowledge on fashion, but on taking new subjects to help you learn even more. I admire that you care about an education so much that you came to try Hofstra again. Education is extremely important and even if you already get your degree and make as much money as a human possibly can, you're able to learn something different, new and exciting every single day.
Ariel Gaworecki
ReplyDelete9/15/09
In response to Elanna-
This blog is very interesting. It is almost a bit cranky in how they perceive universities today. The writer seems to be a very realistic person and that definitely show in their writing. This piece is also very well written and has good use of creative verbs and adjectives to help keep the reader engaged.
In response to Cynthia-
This blog is different from the rest of the blogs because the writer wrote about her personal experiences to show her opinion. This was and awesome way to approach this writing task. They chose something different, instead of just displaying the facts. I think that this is an excellent way to keep the reader interested because they are reading about someone's experience so it seems a bit more real than aimless facts.
In response to Elanna:
ReplyDeleteIn our generation, students are more pressured to attend college and earn a degree so they are able to withstand our declining economy. Since college is almost necessary, what happens when a student is completely disinterested? If a student is not fond of the idea of college, he/she might feel that it is a hassle for them to go and learn something they do not care about. For students in this predicament, college can help broaden your horizons. One may find they are interested in an area where they’d never expect themselves to actually enjoy. If we have the opportunity to attend college, we must appreciate that because it’s a free pass to improve our lives and make ourselves better human beings on a variety of levels. Many are guilty, as so myself, for sometimes taking the “easy way out” in certain situations. The problem with this common routine is that we have to learn to struggle (whether it is in school or life in general) so that in the end, it has made us into a stronger, better individuals.
In response to Jennifer:
We’ve all come to that point when we know high school has ended and we wonder where life will take us next. Choosing a career path isn’t one of the easier decisions we’ll have to make. A student in today’s world must realize how the economy has plummeted over the years and how that has affected many jobs worldwide. Twenty years ago, college graduates were more likely to have jobs lined up for them, rather today, college students are finding themselves stranded and unsure where to take the next step. Businesses did well years ago and were able to have many employees. Since the recession, jobs are disappearing one by one. If someone loses a job, they have few options. One being surviving on unemployment for a short period of time or another example is going back to school. While going back to school, a person is able to further their knowledge and get a second chance at another profession in a different field. This time around, a person might be able to fully appreciate the learning experience and do very well. To students (ages ranging from 18-25) attending college now, they must take every experience into account and use them for lessons in the future. College might not make every human being stronger, but we have to make the most of it and enjoy every part of it although it might be challenging.
In response to Elanna:
ReplyDeleteElanna's response to Menand's piece has satirical undertones, which i find quitIe witty. She paints a compelling portrait of what today's generation is like in terms of laziness and the desire to perhaps cut corners in search of a easy route. It's a thought provoking response to Menand's piece which makes me reflect on if i possess such qualities as she writes about.
In response to Jennifer:
I found Jennifers blog to be the most real out of all of them. She reflected upon her own experience as well as compared it to Menand's piece. Sharing her personal experience really gave me some insight as to how important a college degree is.
Response to Elanna
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you said in your entire response, I love the point you made about the college experiance. It is very essential for mental, emotional and educational growth. I have experianced this myself and have seen major change not only in myself but in many of my friends. I also agree when you say that the bachelors degree is loosing its significance, everyone has to get it to do mostly any job in todays work force. Most employers are now requiring it.
In Response to Jenn
I totally agree with Jen on that you have to further your education because you never know what might happen. You might do very well as you said in your field of study but the workforce might not be looking for that at the moment. Basically what many people should do is exactly what you said keep going with your education because right now the best place to be is in school.
In response to Eleana:
ReplyDeleteIn the article "What Are Universitites For?", one of the central implications addressed is the idea that many students view college as a mandatory decision in order to stand a chance of survival in today's society. In this sense, college is treated almost like a ritualistic act. According to Elana's comment, college is a place for self discovery which is a very important point to make. When coming in to college, for many students have no sense of themselves or direction of where we intend to take their lives into. For example, may students enter colleges and universities without a clue as to what they would like to major in. However usually after taking a variety of distrubtion courses, figuring out their likes and dislikes, commincating and engaging in conversation with people of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds, or even attending different events and joining clubs, students can over a world of possibilites. They realize who they are and where they want to be in the next couple of years.
In response to Jennoconn:
Many of the points that was placed on view were indeed true. Sometimes we may have one goal in life such as playing basketball, dancing, or being a model as this author wrote. However, you never know what can happen in life and defintely need to have a backup plan just in case something does not go as planned. As this autheor stated, she graduated from FIT and endured a fourteen year career where she met many different people. However, jobs in the fashion industry became scarce and there was nothing to fall back on. The point that this writer is trying to get across is that it is essential to ehance your education no matter how good your career may be at the time. It is hard to disagree with the idea that taking education to the highest level has become a neccessity in today's society. Higher education is an opportunity that all students should take advantage of if they really want to be successful. Otherwise, they may end up coming back to school again like the author of this blog.
In response to Eric:
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting that you mentioned the professor, and the role that they should have in the student's life. It is a very valid point that students should not try to mirror the professor and their particular outlooks and ideals, but should use the knowledge pressed upon them to develop their own opinions and perspectives. Also, it is quite unfortunate that a bachelor's degree has lost its significance and that a master's is unofficially required in order to secure a more prestigious career.
In response to Kellzyeahh:
It is very true that college is a place where an individual can learn, mature and develop their own view on society. Many students only go to college because it is what is expected of them, and not what they desire. Unfortunately, bachelor degree's are indeed losing their significance. I don't quite believe that a person with a degree does not have an advantage over a person without a degree, however, the distinction between the two is definitely diminishing.
After reading Louis Menands Essay "what are universities for?" I thought and just asked myself why I am attending a university. First and foremost people go to universities to get a better education so they can obtain a better job. That’s the only reason I’m here it’s not because I enjoy school, the only class's I really enjoy are about history. Just like Menands said most students just want to get good grades and pass.
ReplyDeleteTo get a high paying job you need to go to college, that’s what many people say and there right most of the time, but it doesn’t mean you will be a vice president of a major corporation in four years. My generation believes that they are entitled to go to college get a good job and become a big shot in no time. That isn’t the way of the real world; you can't get something for nothing. To many people believe that should be able to get something for nothing and not have to work hard for it. I know many people that never went to college who are know millionaires and are heads of corporations. I also know college graduates who are unemployed. Hard work and determination are the two things that you really need in life.