Universitry & Other Post-Secondary Education

[Rare]

*University* Damned typos...

What are your views on getting a higher education? Is it really that important for a good career? If so, how many of you have experienced going through University/College/Apprenticeship? Are any of you currently attending one of these schools?

The reason I ask is because I am seriously considering my choices concerning University. I'm interested in a few things such as the Performing Arts (Film directing, I'd even like to write pilots), English, and perhaps something to do with ancient history. I wouldn't mind teaching...but I'm really worried about what University to attend, and what I should "major" (if thats even the correct term) in.

This thread is open to any discussion concerning the topic of higher education.

 

[Rye]

Go to a University you feel like you want to go to. I just gave up looking and settled for the one I am in now. If I really knew I didn't have to go to college to get a good job, I might not even have bothered. I chose my college because it was close and it was the cheapest without me going to the same college as all the kids from highschool. If I had my choice without any money restrictions, I would probably be at an art college, going for some kind of art degree. I am in English because I love to write, and I want to be in a job that encompasses that (like I love editing and looking at other peoples' stuff and helping.)

Before I ramble: In short, if you have the means, the money and the time, I would suggest going to some form of higher education, as the world has turned to a point where the GOOD jobs that aren't backbreaking seem to be always asking for college graduates rather than a highschool graduate.

As for your major, go with what you can do well and are interested in. And if you are not sure, you can probably ask a college adviser or something like that. You can probably do an internship in college as well if it offers that program to see if what you think you want to major in is really what you want to be doing.

 

[Venetia]

Spoiler: Quick Aside

Heh ... The topic title seems to suggest a lack of higher knowledge. SORRY! SORRY! Someone was gonna say it eventually, might as well be me :'O

That was a joke. Typos happen to us all. Anyway ......

It's VERY important for a good career. I hate to say that. It's probably just as pivotal in Canada as it is here in the States (if not more so, since the population is lower and the general income is higher on average).

I've been on-again, off-again with college. I get all hot-and-bothered about making so little and wanting to do something with my life, so I go. A few quarters later I realize how I have about 2 hours of free time a week and get the shakes so I quit. Rinse and repeat.

If I wasn't working full time I'd be graduated already. It's a great experience, I'm just not too fond of the absolute TONS and TONS of homework involved, and how my job keeps demanding overtime and such.

I already have a "decent" "career", but I don't think I'd like to do it for the rest of my days. Eventually I'll build up credits enough to graduate with a bachelor's ... Hopefully before I'm 30. But I got my job because of a good portfolio and I knew the right people. Everyone else I work with has a degree.

But my best friend is going to school for a BA in Performing Arts. I'd do it too if I already hadn't plugged so much money into Game Design (the credits are mostly non-transferable).

My advice? If you're choosing to go to a trade school, BE ABSOLUTELY SURE that that major is REALLY what you want. With Universities you can move around and supplement your education, but in trade schools (like art schools), you can't. The credits are mostly even nontransferable between different art schools, and it's generally more than twice as expensive.

Boon of trade schools? They help you get jobs which are otherwise nearly impossible to get without a specialized degree (such as Game Design).

But a University would be fine for those majors you listed there. However if you went to an art school for Video Production & Development you'd probably break into the "biz" faster.

 

[Rare]

Go to a University you feel like you want to go to. I just gave up looking and settled for the one I am in now. If I really knew I didn't have to go to college to get a good job, I might not even have bothered. I chose my college because it was close and it was the cheapest without me going to the same college as all the kids from highschool. If I had my choice without any money restrictions, I would probably be at an art college, going for some kind of art degree. I am in English because I love to write, and I want to be in a job that encompasses that (like I love editing and looking at other peoples' stuff and helping.)

Before I ramble: In short, if you have the means, the money and the time, I would suggest going to some form of higher education, as the world has turned to a point where the GOOD jobs that aren't backbreaking seem to be always asking for college graduates rather than a highschool graduate.

As for your major, go with what you can do well and are interested in. And if you are not sure, you can probably ask a college adviser or something like that. You can probably do an internship in college as well if it offers that program to see if what you think you want to major in is really what you want to be doing.

Thanks for the advice. I too enjoy writing, but I also love dramatic art. Thats why I think like writing scripts would be a job I would enjoy. However, I looked at some of the options in my area for that sort of thing...and there don't seem to be many. All the ones I saw want at least a 70% average too. When I see that, I think they aren't really taking the subject seriously. I don't know. It just scares me seeing all my friends doing like Engineering and Medicine while I want to write, act, or direct. How big is the industry for things such as that?

EDIT: Thanks Venetia! Glad to know I'm not the only one interested in the preforming arts. I'll take your advice into consideration.

PS. How ironic, I want to write but I cant even spell University! Haha, stupid typo.

 

[PINEDAXP]

The possibilities are different in every country.

I for one, go with College. I'm currently getting my Bachelor Degree in two careers, one because I like it, and the other one is likeable too, but it's more of a good job chances one. Computer Engineering. And I'm a teacher's assistant in philosophy (which I studied too) As you can see, I'm squeezing high education at its max. XD

In my country, people who has no hight studies or whatever, end up in a kind of "sub-jobs" still, they are highly respected as any other job does.

I agree with Rye, if you have the means, go for it

 

[JD_Slasha]

In my personal opinion, if you have the chance, I think you should go. I ended up going to a community college first because I couldn't afford the costs of a full university, but I'm really glad I did because I feel that I'm more ready for college then I would have been when I graduated high school three years ago. unless you have some other way of getting a good paying career that you're satisfied with, I'd say go for college, in the end it'll be a good experience to learn upon.

 

[Rare]

In my personal opinion, if you have the chance, I think you should go. I ended up going to a community college first because I couldn't afford the costs of a full university, but I'm really glad I did because I feel that I'm more ready for college then I would have been when I graduated high school three years ago. unless you have some other way of getting a good paying career that you're satisfied with, I'd say go for college, in the end it'll be a good experience to learn upon.

I'm not sure about the states...but here in Canada the trend seems to be universities. What I mean is, they are always pushing them on us. Thanks for the idea, I'll take colleges into consideration.

 

[rexxzecutioner]

Aren't you like 12? I wouldn't worry about it so soon.

 

[corporate @merica]

Ultimately college/university serves no purpose in this nation's economic and political system. Those born with privileges and wealth will continue to live such a way, and those without will live without.

You really don't need post-secondary education. It's a system established and enforced by the government to continue brainwashing the citizens of this nation into living lives as carbon-copies of each other.

Ultimately the meek will inherit the Earth, and although I doubt that will happen in our lifetimes, it will happen (the Bible says it will), and I believe that we should at least begin preparations.

Education doesn't matter in this system as much as people would make you think that it does- no fault of theirs, they've been brainwashed as well. Turn to God and you will find truths more evident and real than any university can give you.

I dropped out of my high school to pursue homeschooling with my Chuch Group(CG). Look how I turned out.

 

[PINEDAXP]

Ummm? Turned out? Wrong? very wrong.

You can't put God (G) like a shield like you always do.

Study, will and preparation are the keys to succeed on this life. Not some family factor or things like posted above.

Can you work in a Factory as a manager by saying "Hey, God says I can work here"

 

[corporate @merica]

Study, will and preparation are the keys to succeed on this life.

That is the problem, my friend. Your outlook on life has been tainted by "corporate america" (hence my name, it's satire you see). This life isn't important- it's not the material world. This life is short and insignificant compared to the beyond.

 

[PINEDAXP]

Oh yeah, I better lie down in a garden and not eat because I have no job, and live from the trash, because I have no studies and didn't contribuited to society.

Studies are the key to succeed on this life. This life is important, because it's the only chance you get to build anything.

Elias, do what you feel you could be good on and satisfies you, contribute to society. Don't just stay lying in the garden (I know you don't do that)

But if you have the chance to study, do take it

 

[Cruelty]

yay for people who judge the quality of their life by how much money they make. yay for people who consider having a high-paying job working for some asshole as being success.

i mean, if going to school and being mr corporate america is really your thing, then hey.. more power to you. i don't see the big appeal of it, though.

 

[Andy6000]

yay for people who judge the quality of their life by how much money they make. yay for people who consider having a high-paying job working for some asshole as being success.

i mean, if going to school and being mr corporate america is really your thing, then hey.. more power to you. i don't see the big appeal of it, though.

yay for people that somehow only respect people that 'hit it big' with some sort of musical one hit wonder, or perhaps your only respect is for the people that work for minimum wage? Admittedly yes, they deserve respect, as really, someone has to do it.

But quite honestly, I'd like to ask who you respect? What 'success' story do you judge as worth-while? Do you respect the ass that the well-off man works for? Do you respect the sports star, paid millions of dollars to perform one thing that's largely just his natural luck of biology?

 

[Rare]

Aren't you like 12? I wouldn't worry about it so soon.

Nope, I can't believe you thought we were the same age!

yay for people who judge the quality of their life by how much money they make. yay for people who consider having a high-paying job working for some asshole as being success.

i mean, if going to school and being mr corporate america is really your thing, then hey.. more power to you. i don't see the big appeal of it, though.

Hopefully me going to university is going to help me to "not work for some asshole". Sorry, but I really want to make something of myself and do the best I can do as a human being.

Why do so many people associate higher education with being "stuck up" or "better-than-you"?

 

[rexxzecutioner]

Nope, I can't believe you thought we were the same age!

Nah I didn't. I'm pretty sure you're 12 though.

 

[$t3v0]

20-30 years ago (In England) if someone had a degree they stood out in the crowd, they were seen as elite. They could quite simply walk into a job and start their lives in the subject they decided to study. Great.

Nowadays (From my own knowledge) 90% of people I went to college with are now at university doing a degree. To which I'm now approaching my 3rd year I know of 1-2 people that have dropped out before finishing.

Anyway, My point ...

My brother went to Portsmouth university where he gained his BS in European Studies, Fantastic.

He then went to Liverpool University where he pushed that BS upto a masters. Unstoppable!

8 months in the trying, He still hasn't got a job. He has tns of experience with politics from working with local campaigns and he even managed a massive campaign in Southport where he was aiding a high level MP (I forget his name).

[End of that section]

My ex boss, Chris ...

Finished high school. One month later was the manager of an office ferm in my local town earning nearly ?50,000/annum.

I know this is just one example, But how else are these governments going to get their money =]

Last time I checked, America was $ 48 Trillion in debt. Whereas England are in a measily ?1 Trillion (1,000,000,000,000 ).

When I finish my degree I'm repaying my loans and getting the FUCK away from education. The only education I'll ever touch from now on are apprentaships ... END.

 

[Calibre]

I went to university for 3 years and couldn't have really cared less what happened to my work / degree. Ultimately I went for the experience that formed apart of my life and it was the best 3 years of my life to date. I still came out with a decent enough 2/1 in BA Hons Marketing degree but that wasn't the decision of why I went there. It pisses me off when people think that I'm a twat for putting "living" above "education". I also think three years is just about right, 4 years it would have started to get pretty old. So make sure you go to a fun uni too!

 

[LordEliwood0009]

Ok...I think University and College are very good to go in to. Most of society is based apon some sort of economic system, which depends on people skilled in some area or another to keep running.
There is always a need for someone with some sort of skill. They look for people who are inexperienced with everything and try to teach them to flip burgers. We would not have fast food places if it wasn't for the people who work there to keep it running. Now for the performing arts, there is always a need for something new to be made. That is where new actors, directors, you name it, comes in. We can decide what we want to be, and if we apply ourselves then we can become it.

Here is my new word of the day: CAPITALISM

 

[Cruelty]

yay for people that somehow only respect people that 'hit it big' with some sort of musical one hit wonder, or perhaps your only respect is for the people that work for minimum wage? Admittedly yes, they deserve respect, as really, someone has to do it.

But quite honestly, I'd like to ask who you respect? What 'success' story do you judge as worth-while? Do you respect the ass that the well-off man works for? Do you respect the sports star, paid millions of dollars to perform one thing that's largely just his natural luck of biology?

this has nothing to do with who i do, and don't respect. i'm just saying it's stupid to waste your life trying to achieve some uniform level of success instead of doing what really makes you happy.