What is the point of school?

[ZsaZsa]

[QUOTE=remind me why I'm doing this, okay?[/QUOTE]
Because this is the greatest thing in the world- and you've already gotten what a lot of us are still trying to accomplish (a BA), and at this point in time you apparently have the MONEY and TIME (2 huge hurdles for most of us)to go on to something even greater.
Carrie Newcomer has a song that goes- "nothing's ever wasted, not the sweet or bitter fruit I've tasted". You're gonna make it because you've already proved to yourself that you can accomplish the miracle of self-educating without being spoon-fed.
People are constantly asking me why I'm doing this, especially at my age (yeah I'm 52)...why not get my RN, or a degree in something that will make more money? Because THIS is the missing piece in my life, and if it takes me until I'm 60 I'm going to do it- and people like you who have done so much and are still doing more inspire US to keep going. Make sense?

[studyhard]

...and people like you who have done so much and are still doing more inspire US to keep going. Make sense?

Aw...*warm fuzzies*....thanks, I hadn't looked at it that way. Okay, if I'm inspiring y'all, I'll keep going.

Seriously, thanks for the encouragement. Sometimes you just sort of lose sight of why you're doing what you're doing and it all seems pointless. I tend to hit that point when I'm low on sleep and overdosing on chocolate, which is kinda what I've been like the last two months.

[skybirds]

I'm interested in learning that's why I'm here. The formal
bricks and mortar university is expensive. I had my run of
bad professors, ruthless deadlines etc etc. I really think
that determining a persons final course grade on a 2 hour
test that can carry half of your final grade is cruel. A bad
night sleep or an off day can determine your fate in a
course. Fail a course you might have to repeat it. Lost time
and money.
College used to be a place to widen your skills. Now it is a
manditory prerequisit to jobs. It doesn't surprise me that so
many students are depressed. The random acts of violence
are symptoms of a cruel system. In short I will test out at
a price I can afford. I will learn more. If I faiI I get a second chance
or third chance. No more midterms all scheduled the same day.
no more 6 weeks of idle chat from a confused prof that drops
a killer test on three notice, a test that doesn't cover the
Material taught. I don't need some faculty member hanging
over me with a stop watch. No more paying fees and fees to
be abused. I'm proud to test out. I don't want to see my classmates
melt down, drop out or become an alcoholic.

[Mian]

Higher education degrees are mainly a racket these days. They have little value anymore because of over-saturation. Many people who have degrees are not very smart or talented. These are the hordes of mediocre C students who just barely pass their classes.

They were sold the lie that the degree automagically equals higher income. It doesn't. I'm amazed by the number of employers in my area who are demanding bachelor degrees and yet paying a poverty wage with no benefits. It doesn't seem to me that it's very smart to spend (or, more likely, get into debt) tens of thousands of $$ only to end up working a poverty wage dead end job.

The reality is, though, that one can't even get an interview without that piece of paper. And don't even get me started on the textbook racket! Yeah, I'm very cynical at this point in my life. I'm d#$@ sick of playing the higher education game.

banghead

I'm interested in learning that's why I'm here. The formal
bricks and mortar university is expensive. I had my run of
bad professors, ruthless deadlines etc etc. I really think
that determining a persons final course grade on a 2 hour
test that can carry half of your final grade is cruel. A bad
night sleep or an off day can determine your fate in a
course. Fail a course you might have to repeat it. Lost time
and money.
College used to be a place to widen your skills. Now it is a
manditory prerequisit to jobs. It doesn't surprise me that so
many students are depressed. The random acts of violence
are symptoms of a cruel system. In short I will test out at
a price I can afford. I will learn more. If I faiI I get a second chance
or third chance. No more midterms all scheduled the same day.
no more 6 weeks of idle chat from a confused prof that drops
a killer test on three notice, a test that doesn't cover the
Material taught. I don't need some faculty member hanging
over me with a stop watch. No more paying fees and fees to
be abused. I'm proud to test out. I don't want to see my classmates
melt down, drop out or become an alcoholic.

[MA2]

There are some professions where yes, college is essential.

But schools today are so watered down and so many menial jobs require BA/BS degrees now... I recently applied to a part time hourly security guard job and they "preferred" a Bachelor's degree. 4 years of school to walk around an empty construction site at night? Right.

There are some professions where yes, college is essential.

But most of the time, if someone can get the job done, they get the job done. College won't change or improve that.

I firmly believe the only reason the military requires (most) officers to have a degree is an age/maturity thing. They don't want a 19 year old being in charge of a platoon of 100 guys so they make them go to school for 4 years to grow up and get the immaturity out of their system.

I had an O-3 security officer I worked under that a degree in philosophy. That will come in real handy when the bullets come flying, he can amaze us with his views on life and death... right.

[grauwulf]

That will come in real handy when the bullets come flying, he can amaze us with his views on life and death... right.

Then again, he might be a little better equipped to make a difficult moral decision when the time comes. It would also certainly help when dealing with personnel issues.

*shrugs* ultimately I agree with you, a degree does not make you a leader. Just some food for thought.

[skybirds]

Bigger Houses, Bigger Vehicles more education wow we
Wanteth . Lookin back to the sixties the Kennedys seem
Lower middle class judging by the toys they had. It is fun
to watch madmen. They lack of luxuries is noticeable. Having
a Bachelors degree opened the door to anything.
I plan to go overseas. A degree is very helpful in this case.
The way the economic system is set up it is nearly impossible
to avoid debt. Working full time is 30 hours a week now and
renting a room. At least I can afford to test out and get some
pell grants. Academia is big business

[Zelenn]

Because I'm tired of being intelligent, well traveled, and highly perceptive while moping floors. Unfortunately, in this country, a degree=respect (Generally.) I'm getting my degree just to play by the rules of our particular social game. I study philosophy on my own to try and answer a very burning social question; why can't we be good? Why can't we be decent people? Cultures and societies the world over have rules and laws and guidance telling their citizens to 'be good.' We all know we should be good, yet when it comes to the doing part, we fail miserably.

I educate myself, my way, to learn how to be good, learn how to apply it in my life, and then I want to teach it to others. THIS, is how you be good, THIS is why it's important, and THIS is how to be good even in bad situations.

But, by the rules of our particular social game, you need power to change things. And a degree is one form of power. I don't want a 'job.' I want my thoughts and opinions to have weight.

[Ace_King]

I'll be 21 in two weeks. When I graduated highschool (I was 17 at the time), I didn't want to jump into college but my parent's told me in order for me to stay at the house I have to go to college. (Hispanic family, yeah they are tough) I went to community college did a couple of credits, and dropped out when I was 18. I honestly didn't know what I wanted to major and I was failing classes. Didn't go to school for about a year. Got kicked out the house. I was on my own. Joined a temp agency found a job for data entry and moved my way up into the medical billing/coding department which took me two years . Moved in with my girlfriend. At 20 I discovered ALEKS, SL, PF etc so I started my journey there to go back to school. However all my friends asked me why I was going this route? When all my friends we're fresh our of high school going to University of Florida or University of Miami etc. I told them I rather get experience than a degree. In my opinion you learn what you need to know on the job, a degree is simply for personal enrichment. A degree is to get your foot in the door. Like everyone says, you need to sell yourself in the interview not your degree. I did tell majority of my friends that I am in school, they just didn't understand the whole concept of testing out and ACE credits etc. I am only 20, have my own place my own car and did it without any help. Paying for school out of pocket, but it's cheap so I don't mind. If I went to a brick and motor school, forget about it. My co workers are pretty impressed that I am gaining experience and going to school. Once I finish my BA, I'll have more experience than a kid who just graduated with his/her degree. In top of that, I'll probably be half way done with my Master's, with 3-4 years experience. I think I did okay =]

[ryoder]

The sooner you realize it is a game, the better.
I am pretty good at games and am competitive. I am my own best competition. For me, school is a way to prove myself and learn something along the way.
I am already in full swing in my career so its not a foot in the door thing for me. Its more about personal enrichment and achievement.

I really like to achieve things and one day I hope to earn my blackbelt in TKD but that is another story. For now, its BSBA, MBA, then PhD.