RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College

RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid

Message

missturbation -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 7:26:33 AM)
if you have kids, do you encourage them to go on to college? All i can say to this is i will encourage my child to follow whatever she chooses to do. If she chooses to go to college then yes i will encourage her all i can. Do you think college is a waste of time? Not if that is what she has chosen to do - if pushed into it and she doesnt want to go then yes.

LuckyAlbatross -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 7:28:13 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: juliaoceania Since this is about adult children and not the unmentionable kind I thought it would not be against the TOS to bring up this topic... Another thread got me to thinking about this, if you have kids, do you encourage them to go on to college? Do you think college is a waste of time? On another thread there seemed to be a lot of dismissiveness about those who go to college and whether or not their education has intrinsic value in their life, so I wondered whether people feel it is important to have a college education for their children. I know that when push comes to shove we want our children to have the best chance in life, so I wonder if those that think that a degree is "just a piece of paper" feel that way when it comes to their own children? Just curious. My sister and I were seriously encouraged and given all the support they could give to go to college. My mothers career has been limited due to her not having a degree and she wanted to make sure we had every opportunity. I went to college, my sister didn't. We're both pretty happy where we are right now. I expect the same to occur with her children, my nephews. They will be fostered and encouraged towards as much education and privilege as possible, but whatever works best for them we will support. We understand that not everyone has the means/temperament/drive/desire towards a structured academic career right out of high school and that it is not an automatic death sentence. But we also understand the benefits that an academic career can give in the short and long term and will make sure they are aware of them.

gypsygrl -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 8:02:19 AM)
I value education not for what it can get me (more money, a better job, or social status) but for what it is in its own right. For me, to be educated means learning about myself and the world around me and I am always trying to further my education by whatever means possible. I went to college (and stayed there lol) but never really thought to pursue a carreer, so it never was about achievement for me. Going to college isn't the only way to get an education. Its probably not even the best way. It is however, one of the only ways to become certified to work at many jobs, and a university degree is a prerequisite for many more. When its time for my son to choose whether or not to go to college, I'll make sure he's in a position to make an informed choice and that the option is open to him. This means making sure that his high school preparation is adequate so that he'll have a variety of schools to choose from, and that he won't have to worry about paying for it. Equally important, however, it means he understands the difference between getting a degree and getting an education and that he knows there's a lot of paths to education besides school.

Mercnbeth -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 8:37:00 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: juliaoceania ...Another thread got me to thinking about this, if you have kids, do you encourage them to go on to college?... this slave believes earning a college degree is overrated by society in general. this slave has always encouraged the replicants to do what they want to do with their lives, not what this slave, or society deems important or essential for them to do with their lives. going to college is but ONE option, depending on the path one walks, to success and contentment. some folks are blessed with talent and wisdom beyond the scope of the classroom without ever having to set foot in one. quote: ...Do you think college is a waste of time?... for some, yes, for others, no. neither one of this slave's parents earned a college degree, yet they were both incredibly successful, intelligent and satisfied with their lives. would their lives have been different with a college degree? perhaps, but neither one of them thought of themselves as "less than" for not having one. some folks learn more and get more from experiencing life than they do sitting in a classroom discussing life's experiences. Edited for Merc's side... Parental units should send their replicants off to college with a disclaimer; "The reason you have for going is NOT the reason you need to go. However you won't know the reason until you go. As soon as you determine the reason, get out as quickly as possible. With luck, determining your "reason" will define your goal. Go for it!" Replicants need to get out from the control and full support of their parental units. At 18 they should be "set free". College provides a non-reality based trial period for the experience. Too much 'stuff' is going through the mind of an individual when the decision to go to college must occur to apply rational reason to the decision. Hormones, dating, perspective, experience; are not conducive to determining a 'life path' for 99.9995421% (Made up statistic to illustrate an opinion) of the population who are forced into making such a decision. quote: Do you think college is a waste of time? That said - NO. As an attendee who, without pride, lists his 'major' as "Drug & Alcohol Experimentation it wasn't a "waste". It was a learning experience with the most valuable lessons learned outside the classroom. More than learning what I wanted to be when (if?) I grew up, I learned what I didn't want to be/do. As an employer, I view the degree with jaded pragmatism. It does show the job candidate had the ability to complete a self motivated task. However, keeping my background in mind, I don't rely on the candidate's ability or assume he brought a skill set with him/her. I can get college graduates cheap now. The market is saturated with 'degreed' individuals, scrambling for 'six figure' jobs. I find recent college graduates delusional regarding the realities of a capitalist based business climate. They don't realize or understand to justified being paid a salary of $50k they need to produce $300k to the company. Most have to un-learn the socialist bent of the college professors. Never more true is the axiom; "He who can-does; he who can't - teaches". UCLA's fixation on ex-presidential candidates as "professors" Dukakis, and Gore bear that out. Until a majority of businesses de-value the 'piece of paper' having a college degree will still be important. It's the 'ticket' that gets you the interview. What you want to pay for it, it up to the individual. When you don't have it, don't complain that your 'talents/abilities' aren't considered. It is, "THE WAY IT IS!" Your complaint is akin to cursing the dark, with a candle nearby. Before the $$$ aspect kicks in, or other excuses; colleges have virtually unlimited resources for people ranging from day care to loans. There aren't any good reasons not to go, but there are a virtually unlimited range and number of rationalizations. When I sent my two away, it was with this extra advice; "play the game!" That means, if you have a feminist professor, you support feminism to get a grade. If you have a socialist teaching economics, you agree that the social model would have worked. The only power these professors "experts" have is to make you life miserable if you disagree with them on their turf. Don't allow them that power. Focus on the goal, getting out with that interview 'admission ticket' or 'sheet of paper' ASAP.

philosophy -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 8:46:37 AM)
fast reply ......if i'd wanted to be rich i'd have become an electrician or similar.......however, i'd rather do the things i do (details witheld 'cos of TOS)....the pay sucks, i need a degree to get even sucky pay and the conditions are tricky....but the work is necessary and all those rich people aint doing it.............

Mercnbeth -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 9:37:10 AM)
This came in my email today. On topic because its attributed to a NON-College graduate. I'm not concerned if Bill Gates said this or not, if the 'editors' determine differently so be it; but the perspective and perceived attitude is worthy of consideration. quote: Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it! (This should be a poster in every replicant's room.) Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself. Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity. Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room. Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life. Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time. Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

adaddysgirl -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 9:50:41 AM)
That was good. Might make a copy for my 18 year old [:D] DG

seeksfemslave -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 10:29:25 AM)
Like M and B's list expecially item 8. We have an exam in the UK, "A" advanced level, where over 90% pass and from memory 40% or so get the highest possible grade. When the exam was rigorous in the 50's about 40% got through it and virtually nobody got the highest grade. Also today I think there is a grade that corresponds to " so bad it couldn't be marked" mustn't hurt the little darlings feelings by just saying FAIL.

LadyEllen -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 10:37:45 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: seeksfemslave Like M and B's list expecially item 8. We have an exam in the UK, "A" advanced level, where over 90% pass and from memory 40% or so get the highest possible grade. When the exam was rigorous in the 50's about 40% got through it and virtually nobody got the highest grade. Also today I think there is a grade that corresponds to " so bad it couldn't be marked" mustn't hurt the little darlings feelings by just saying FAIL. Whats interesting seeks, is I did A levels 20 years ago in French and German, full time, and got a D and a C respectively. What I got for the usual third subject I'm not prepared to say, apart from for some reason I ended up doing maths...... Last year, I did a psychology A level, two night a week whilst working full time, and got an A. Thats purely anecdotal stuff of course, but I wonder if that says that the exams have become easier? One things for sure, I had neither as much energy, focus or commitment for the psychology A level - it was purely an interest thing for me, and I didnt work anywhere near as hard. E

meatcleaver -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 10:47:11 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: seeksfemslave Like M and B's list expecially item 8. We have an exam in the UK, "A" advanced level, where over 90% pass and from memory 40% or so get the highest possible grade. I know a lot has been said about lowering standards but my niece has passed A level in German and French with an 'A' grade and she speaks both languages fluently and an A was easily accomplished by her. Sometimes we should give kids credit. They are certainly far more pressured than when I was at school and work a lot harder.

popeye1250 -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:06:16 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth quote: ORIGINAL: juliaoceania ...Another thread got me to thinking about this, if you have kids, do you encourage them to go on to college?... this slave believes earning a college degree is overrated by society in general. this slave has always encouraged the replicants to do what they want to do with their lives, not what this slave, or society deems important or essential for them to do with their lives. going to college is but ONE option, depending on the path one walks, to success and contentment. some folks are blessed with talent and wisdom beyond the scope of the classroom without ever having to set foot in one. quote: ...Do you think college is a waste of time?... for some, yes, for others, no. neither one of this slave's parents earned a college degree, yet they were both incredibly successful, intelligent and satisfied with their lives. would their lives have been different with a college degree? perhaps, but neither one of them thought of themselves as "less than" for not having one. some folks learn more and get more from experiencing life than they do sitting in a classroom discussing life's experiences. Edited for Merc's side... Parental units should send their replicants off to college with a disclaimer; "The reason you have for going is NOT the reason you need to go. However you won't know the reason until you go. As soon as you determine the reason, get out as quickly as possible. With luck, determining your "reason" will define your goal. Go for it!" Replicants need to get out from the control and full support of their parental units. At 18 they should be "set free". College provides a non-reality based trial period for the experience. Too much 'stuff' is going through the mind of an individual when the decision to go to college must occur to apply rational reason to the decision. Hormones, dating, perspective, experience; are not conducive to determining a 'life path' for 99.9995421% (Made up statistic to illustrate an opinion) of the population who are forced into making such a decision. quote: Do you think college is a waste of time? That said - NO. As an attendee who, without pride, lists his 'major' as "Drug & Alcohol Experimentation it wasn't a "waste". It was a learning experience with the most valuable lessons learned outside the classroom. More than learning what I wanted to be when (if?) I grew up, I learned what I didn't want to be/do. As an employer, I view the degree with jaded pragmatism. It does show the job candidate had the ability to complete a self motivated task. However, keeping my background in mind, I don't rely on the candidate's ability or assume he brought a skill set with him/her. I can get college graduates cheap now. The market is saturated with 'degreed' individuals, scrambling for 'six figure' jobs. I find recent college graduates delusional regarding the realities of a capitalist based business climate. They don't realize or understand to justified being paid a salary of $50k they need to produce $300k to the company. Most have to un-learn the socialist bent of the college professors. Never more true is the axiom; "He who can-does; he who can't - teaches". UCLA's fixation on ex-presidential candidates as "professors" Dukakis, and Gore bear that out. Until a majority of businesses de-value the 'piece of paper' having a college degree will still be important. It's the 'ticket' that gets you the interview. What you want to pay for it, it up to the individual. When you don't have it, don't complain that your 'talents/abilities' aren't considered. It is, "THE WAY IT IS!" Your complaint is akin to cursing the dark, with a candle nearby. Before the $$$ aspect kicks in, or other excuses; colleges have virtually unlimited resources for people ranging from day care to loans. There aren't any good reasons not to go, but there are a virtually unlimited range and number of rationalizations. When I sent my two away, it was with this extra advice; "play the game!" That means, if you have a feminist professor, you support feminism to get a grade. If you have a socialist teaching economics, you agree that the social model would have worked. The only power these professors "experts" have is to make you life miserable if you disagree with them on their turf. Don't allow them that power. Focus on the goal, getting out with that interview 'admission ticket' or 'sheet of paper' ASAP. Merc, God, Dukakis is out there now? I thought he was in Hawwii. One of the things he'd teach his students is to "Only tackle problems you "know" you can solve." Where the hell is the challenge in that? And yes, the market is saturated with degreed individuals these days. A lot of that has to do with all the "outsourcing" that's been going on for the last 10-15 years. The days of walking into a high-paying job with benefits right out of college are over. Even MBA's are having a tough time of it unlike the 80's & 90's due to all this outsourcing. That must be why we see so many "degreed" people working @ Starbucks. People don't realise that for every 100,000 blue collar jobs we lose that we also lose 30,000 white collar jobs that support them, managers, accountants, secretarial, all kinds of jobs.

NakedOnMyChain -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:12:05 PM)
I think it all depends on whether you actually went to college, what degree you received, and how far you pursued it. It's easy for people who have made it without college to nay-say it. Most don't, but I can see how it would be easier. Also, the ones who say their degree was just a sheet of paper most likely got their degree in something useless. I hate to have to say that. However, if you choose to major in something like history, art history, philosophy, or anything liberal arts that cannot be directly applied, and you do not intend to follow through on at least a Masters, your degree is most likely just a sheet of paper. However, those who choose to get their bachelors in a program that can be applied directly out of college are more likely to tell you how useful their education was. It's really a matter of how you view it and what you do with it. If you have made the best use of your four-year debt plan you will be very unlikely to say it was a waste of time. If you haven't, you're much more likely to opt into the "just a sheet of paper" crowd. I've seen too many of my friends graduate with useless majors and have to go back to school a couple of years later because they weren't qualified for anything.

MmakeMme -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:12:51 PM)
I think college is a wonderful place to experience new things, whether or not the degree is useful afterward. It exposes students to different ways of thinking, new ideas, different cultures, and new subjects. If money is the object, working one's way through school teaches time management, responsibility, and how to behave intelligently even when one's eyelids are nearly closed. My degrees are fairly useless - both my undergrad and grad degrees are in liberal arts - but I gained valuable perspective from forcing my way through. Did it enable me to live better or make more money? Nooooooo, but I play a hell of a game of trivial pursuit.

NakedOnMyChain -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:21:59 PM)
I can agree with that. College is a fantastic way to get outside of your comfortable sphere of influence and learn about others. However, I received the same experience from self-education and managing the artsy campus coffeehouse. I learned more there than I ever did in college, especially about diversity, literature, music, and different cultures. I also, on some level, don't think the average college student really tries to get outside their comfort bubble. Most don't really get involved in anything except hanging out with the friends they've made at bars. (And hey, there's something to be said for that, but not if it's all they're doing.) Edited to add: That had to be the most expensive Trivial Pursuit game in history. [;)] (I swear I'm not picking on you. I was a history and anthropology major with a minor in theatre. Yeah. There is nothing much more futile if you don't intend to pursue graduate school.)

popeye1250 -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:28:28 PM)
Naked, had I known then what I know now I'd have traded my degree in Bus. Admin. for a Master Plumber's lisense. People really need to start calling their senators and congressmen and reverse this "outsourcing". If the jobs leave the country what good are they to college graduates?

LuckyAlbatross -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:38:49 PM)
Trust me, people who end up majoring in those "useless" categories know LONG before they graduate college just how "useless" it will be. And can we please stop the "Would you like fries with that?" joke, it wasn't that funny the first 55897 times someone told it to me. On the other hand, my philosophy/psych combo may not have been put to any direct monetary usage since I graduated, I can say I find it useful every day of my life. As well, people who think they are "useless" have a limited perspective on usefulness IMO. I understood more than anyone just how tough and impractical to the "real world" my degree was, but that hardly makes it useless. And yeah, having the degree has helped my income.

Archer -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:40:39 PM)
Having one does not guarantee success anymore than not having one guarantees failure. But Popeye to make the point take your guy with the Master Plumbers card add in a business degree and a more firm undertanding of other aspects of business and you have a powerhouse that niether one alone would compete with. I've always found "persistance and drive" to be the factors that influences success the most. Regardless of which path they take without them they are destined for mediocrety.

MmakeMme -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:53:08 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: NakedOnMyChain Edited to add: That had to be the most expensive Trivial Pursuit game in history. [;)] (I swear I'm not picking on you. I was a history and anthropology major with a minor in theatre. Yeah. There is nothing much more futile if you don't intend to pursue graduate school.) ~grinning~ Journalism and English here, and I had NO desire to teach. I was merely placating my mother, mostly, who insisted I would be a famous writer. I did write freelance for a time ... but ugh ... I'm a submissive, not a masochist.

LuckyAlbatross -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:56:48 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Archer Regardless of which path they take without them they are destined for mediocrety. Not that mediocrity is BAD necessarily. While I want to be known as a competent and secure employee who continues to prove their worth and necessity to a company on a regular basis and deserving of more responsibilities and wages over time- I'm quite fine not being a superstar or making it into a big old high management type position. I work to live- I want to be fantabulous in my LIFE, not my career. It's how my balance has worked out. For other people, whose career is vital to their lives or identity, it makes sense for them not to want to be mediocre. For me, I'm happy being a normal worker bee- with a fabulous home life.

NakedOnMyChain -> RE: Sending Your Kids Off To College (12/4/2006 12:57:18 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross Trust me, people who end up majoring in those "useless" categories know LONG before they graduate college just how "useless" it will be. And can we please stop the "Would you like fries with that?" joke, it wasn't that funny the first 55897 times someone told it to me. On the other hand, my philosophy/psych combo may not have been put to any direct monetary usage since I graduated, I can say I find it useful every day of my life. As well, people who think they are "useless" have a limited perspective on usefulness IMO. I understood more than anyone just how tough and impractical to the "real world" my degree was, but that hardly makes it useless. And yeah, having the degree has helped my income. I don't mean useless in that sense. I mean useless in pursuing a job in the field of your degree. Yes, with any degree you will typically make a little more money, but not nearly as much as you would if you had graduated from a field that you could directly go to work in without further education. And, of course, I can only speak from my personal experience and the experiences of those I know. Speaking for the majority of them (who are mainly varied Liberal Arts majors), they had no idea their degrees would be useless. One of my best friends who received his bachelor's in history a year and a half ago was firmly convinced he could work for a CIA think tank right out of college. (He has book smarts, but no practical life application at all. He's a very sheltered boy.) Unfortunately, many of my other friends are in similar situations. The aforementioned is now back in school to receive his teaching license. He has to register as a grad student, even though he is not going for his Masters, and has to take graduate level courses. Had he possessed a little foresight he could have taken some extra classes while he was going for his Bachelors and shaved an easy year off the program. So, no, I don't think all of everyone's degrees are "useless" in the strictest definition of the word. Of course everyone learns something, and they are therefore useful. Like I said before, it really boils down to how hard you work and how you apply yourself. What you do with any experience is the key.

Page: << < prev 1 [2] 3 next > >>

Collarchat.com © 2025

Terms of Service

0.03125