Comments on: Redefining the Role of College http://entrylevelliving.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/redefining-the-role-of-college/ The Personal and Professional Insights of a Struggling College Grad Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:22:45 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: ajlovesya http://entrylevelliving.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/redefining-the-role-of-college/#comment-224 ajlovesya Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:39:18 +0000 http://entrylevelliving.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-224 @Daniel: Great point--there can never be too much emphasis on being able to think for yourself. At the same time, how often does this actually happen and why is developing the ability to think critically have to be at odds with being able to apply your knowledge tangibly? As I mentioned before, I have no problem with abstract theories and information in and of themselves, but when you are in a lecture hall with over 100 people and your only measure of understanding is a test, just how much of a thinker have you become? @Daniel: Great point–there can never be too much emphasis on being able to think for yourself. At the same time, how often does this actually happen and why is developing the ability to think critically have to be at odds with being able to apply your knowledge tangibly?

As I mentioned before, I have no problem with abstract theories and information in and of themselves, but when you are in a lecture hall with over 100 people and your only measure of understanding is a test, just how much of a thinker have you become?

]]> By: Daniel Hoang http://entrylevelliving.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/redefining-the-role-of-college/#comment-223 Daniel Hoang Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:09:50 +0000 http://entrylevelliving.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-223 The greatest mistake we can make to the education system is to put too much emphasis on applicable knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we then lose would be creative thought and purposeful dialogs. The college is experience, among other things, is a four to five year break in life where you spend time free from the burdens of working life to think, cultivate and express your thoughts. While most college graduates are not prepared for the workforce, those who take the time to hone their thought during college will grow up to be great leaders. Working skills can be trained, thought cannot. The greatest mistake we can make to the education system is to put too much emphasis on applicable knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we then lose would be creative thought and purposeful dialogs. The college is experience, among other things, is a four to five year break in life where you spend time free from the burdens of working life to think, cultivate and express your thoughts. While most college graduates are not prepared for the workforce, those who take the time to hone their thought during college will grow up to be great leaders. Working skills can be trained, thought cannot.

]]> By: ajlovesya http://entrylevelliving.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/redefining-the-role-of-college/#comment-222 ajlovesya Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:20:57 +0000 http://entrylevelliving.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-222 @Educator: Thank you for sharing that information. A friend of mine at a big university says that students who arent ready for regular courses have to take 24 credits before being able to matriculate. Since they are not matriculating students, they are ineligible for financial aid. My brother who went to a university down south before transferring said they did the same thing to him--paying full price for classes that dont count towards anything. Sounds like a scam. We keep forgetting that colleges are business regardless of their nonprofit status. The lack of graduation may be a result of being buried under debt without being closer to a degree. In any case, the first step should be figuring who is not graduating and why then take steps from there. I hear money being brought up a lot so perhaps increasing financial aid would be a step in the right direction. @Educator: Thank you for sharing that information.

A friend of mine at a big university says that students who arent ready for regular courses have to take 24 credits before being able to matriculate. Since they are not matriculating students, they are ineligible for financial aid. My brother who went to a university down south before transferring said they did the same thing to him–paying full price for classes that dont count towards anything. Sounds like a scam. We keep forgetting that colleges are business regardless of their nonprofit status.

The lack of graduation may be a result of being buried under debt without being closer to a degree. In any case, the first step should be figuring who is not graduating and why then take steps from there. I hear money being brought up a lot so perhaps increasing financial aid would be a step in the right direction.

]]> By: educatorblog http://entrylevelliving.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/redefining-the-role-of-college/#comment-217 educatorblog Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:59:00 +0000 http://entrylevelliving.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-217 I agree - I think that employers are looking for people with critical thinking skills and positive habits that allow them to learn quickly, work in teams, dive into a project with little or no past experience, lead on the fly, and integrate diverse sources of information. I think that for people who had good experiences in elementary and secondary school, college functions in this way - they go to elite schools that give them access to internships, travel, and other character-building experiences. There are no remedial courses and many classes are student-driven (discussion based). When you talk about retention, we need to focus on the people who are most likely to fail out of college. Yesterday I read that 30-40% of people who take remedial level reading and math courses in college fail to obtain a degree. I wonder what policies institutions can put in place to help these students - it is probably a mix of financial incentives, bridge to work programming, and counseling services. Your thoughts? (See my post on loans and community colleges) I agree – I think that employers are looking for people with critical thinking skills and positive habits that allow them to learn quickly, work in teams, dive into a project with little or no past experience, lead on the fly, and integrate diverse sources of information.

I think that for people who had good experiences in elementary and secondary school, college functions in this way – they go to elite schools that give them access to internships, travel, and other character-building experiences. There are no remedial courses and many classes are student-driven (discussion based).

When you talk about retention, we need to focus on the people who are most likely to fail out of college. Yesterday I read that 30-40% of people who take remedial level reading and math courses in college fail to obtain a degree. I wonder what policies institutions can put in place to help these students – it is probably a mix of financial incentives, bridge to work programming, and counseling services. Your thoughts?

(See my post on loans and community colleges)

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