Thread: Is going to a university a complete waste of time and money?

Originally Posted by slimboyfat

I hope your parents got a refund on the English language units

That's ok as it's not my native language, and I don't spend all my times writing at work.

Originally Posted by Norton

The "American" context.

I'm quite well aware of Community Colleges, but their standard is sub par on very many levels. Most colleges or university colleges are not Universities.

In Chicago I went to Northwestern, but there are also other good ones like Loyola etc . . . and they all beat 'Community Colleges' hands-down.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Originally Posted by Norton

The "American" context.

I'm quite well aware of Community Colleges, but their standard is sub par on very many levels. Most colleges or university colleges are not Universities.

True,...but sure it’s a good place to get most of your general pre-requisites done, before entering into your major in the university of your choice. Many of my friends had done 2 years there, then the last 2 years at the university.
Very cost effective, that what I’d heard.

How about these MBAs that many of my colleagues seem to be doing - at vast expense? Are they a load of old bollocks or not?

Originally Posted by panama hat

even tertiary education, in many other countries is free or very low-cost as the governments aim to educate anyone who is capable . . . not only those who can afford it.

Community colleges provide tertiary eduction. Some are good and some not so good. Of course Unis such as Northwestern are "better" but your post implies America does not have a "free" tertiary education. Just clearing up something you apparently already knew.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by panama hat

even tertiary education, in many other countries is free or very low-cost as the governments aim to educate anyone who is capable . . . not only those who can afford it.

Community colleges provide tertiary eduction. Some are good and some not so good. Of course Unis such as Northwestern are "better" but your post implies America does not have a "free" tertiary education. Just clearing up something you apparently already knew.

Are 'Community Colleges' also sometimes called 'Junior Colleges'? That's a term I've heard before (mostly in reference of someone transferring) but I've never really understood.

I also presume that Community/Junior College is analogous to what we'd call Polytechnics back home -- although that's a bit rhetorical as I suppose most people wouldn't be familiar with those?

[Edit]

Actually on further thought it wouldn't surprise me if they were no longer called 'Polytechnics'. The whole NZ school system has changed since my day, it's all about 'credits' and what 'grade' you're in now and I don't have the foggiest about it all.

The thick blokes in my final year class made the bucks. The idiots that studied live ok, but not at the top of the pile.

Originally Posted by mooncake

Originally Posted by panama hat

Originally Posted by Norton

The "American" context.

I'm quite well aware of Community Colleges, but their standard is sub par on very many levels. Most colleges or university colleges are not Universities.

True,...but sure it’s a good place to get most of your general pre-requisites done, before entering into your major in the university of your choice. Many of my friends had done 2 years there, then the last 2 years at the university.
Very cost effective, that what I’d heard.

Both of you are quite correct. My take; always do the pre-requisites before entering University rather than enter 'raw' like it was possible to do in Britain at one time (don't know about now). Just where is not so important so long as what you have is bona-fide.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Are 'Community Colleges' also sometimes called 'Junior Colleges'?

Yes. I went to one myself. They are primarily used to obtain certifications in a given field. So probably much the same as a Polytechnic or Trade school.

Originally Posted by Norton

Yes. I went to one myself. They are primarily used to obtain certifications in a given field. So probably much the same as a Polytechnic or Trade school.

Got it, cheers for clearing that up. Pretty much just a different name for the same thing then by the sounds.

Was thinking about it as I just re-watched 'Hoop Dreams' the other night (great film by the way!) and there was the part where one of the guys gets a scholarship to a 'Junior College' with the hopes of getting a X grade average so he could transfer to a 'full' college.

Originally Posted by WhiteKnight

Originally Posted by mooncake

True,...but sure it’s a good place to get most of your general pre-requisites done, before entering into your major in the university of your choice. Many of my friends had done 2 years there, then the last 2 years at the university.
Very cost effective, that what I’d heard.

Both of you are quite correct. My take; always do the pre-requisites before entering University rather than enter 'raw' like it was possible to do in Britain at one time (don't know about now). Just where is not so important so long as what you have is bona-fide.

From my experience in the US.

You can ask the university ahead of time if that class you’re taking at the community college is transferable.
If not, there is always “the placement test” you can take at the university, and if you pass then it will be given the credit(s) on it.
Sometimes a full credit of (5) usually,...but sometimes you will get between 2-3 credits, because it’s not so up to the par, in their view....very subjective and a judgement call from them.

Originally Posted by Norton

So probably much the same as a Polytechnic or Trade school.

I don't think we have Polys now in the UK. Every college seems to be a Uni now.

Originally Posted by chitown

Is going to a university a complete waste of time and money?

No.

It's an argument often advanced by those lacking proper education, though, and bragging about it.

One option certain state universities are offering is the chance to pay-in-full now for your child, no matter what their age (my cousin paid for his three toddlers in either Ohio or Michigan- he lived in both states when they were little and I can't remember which one)- when they graduate high school, they'll be able to enter the university and attend classes regardless of what the tuition cost may have risen to at that time- if for any reason your child decides not to enter the university (or isn't accepted) the money will be returned along with standard bank interest for the time period that you paid.

This is a pretty good deal if you can swing it.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

going to uni is in fact to educate you in whatever field you may be interested in

Agree but I think we are dated in our thinking. In a world where "success" is measured in the amount of money one has, most folks entering uni choose majors which will give them the best ROI hence the decline in unis offering liberal arts programs.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Actually on further thought it wouldn't surprise me if they were no longer called 'Polytechnics'. The whole NZ school system has changed since my day, it's all about 'credits' and what 'grade' you're in now and I don't have the foggiest about it all.

The polys have changed to Technology Institutes. They now offer degree level courses like Uni's as well as trade qualifications and diplomas. Degrees are no longer only available at Universitys. Any school demonstrating they can provide the level of education required by NZQA can offer diploma or degree courses.

Also in IT, industry standard certs are becomming popular. It wouldn't surprise me if some industries moved more in that direction. That way they can set the level of competence themselves, updated to what they want people to know, put emphasis on areas where there are shortfalls and push their brandnames at the same time.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by Norton

So probably much the same as a Polytechnic or Trade school.

I don't think we have Polys now in the UK. Every college seems to be a Uni now.

Correct. The term Polytechnic was disposed of several years ago. Good grief some of you have been away a long time (your not missing much,.)

Let's complete the logical argument. If a university degree is of no worth, is a high school diploma worth the effort? To continue on why even go to high school and just drop out during elementary/primary school. Why even go to school period?

it brings a certain maturity,

I wish I had continue a little further and go for a full PHD

I remember a professor of mine in grad school, about my 7th year of university, telling the class that we'd ever make up the lost income. "Your friends that went right to work are making a good income now. Multiply that by the years that you've been studying and only a few of you can make that up." And then he added that we were wasting our strongest years. The years that people spend in University are the years when they are strongest, physically and mentally. They are the years that you can contribute the most to the work-force. Lots of energy and enthusiasm.

I really think Universities should go back to what they were perhaps 80 years ago. Places where those that are so inclined can pursue their interest in mathematics or physics or whatever weird thing. And they can study with the 5 or 10 other people that have that same interest.

Now there are classes of hundreds, and they're just there because it's expected of them.

Universities should never be a training for a job. They should be academic.

That said, I'm pretty happy that I got my masters. Undergrad was high-school but I did develop something when to came to thesis.





Universities should be for those who are really interested in studying.