College for all - right?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

The point of his article is that he woman he describes does not deserve to graduate from any college. She is made to feel that she can do it, that she has to do it in order to be successful, and that is just plain wrong on many levels. She is not meant for college.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

The point of his article is that he woman he describes does not deserve to graduate from any college. She is made to feel that she can do it, that she has to do it in order to be successful, and that is just plain wrong on many levels. She is not meant for college.

That's the feeling out there these days. You have to graduate college or you can't be successful. You have "colleges" like Devery and ITT Tech with advertising campaigns targeting the low end of the educational spectrum. Where vocational training in criminal justice once was fine to be a police or correctional officer, you now need a degree to do the same thing. The problem with DeVery and ITT Tech is that they are still just vocational schools where classes don't transfer and the degree really is nothing more than a vocational school certificate. But the person who graduates now has a "degree" in whatever it was that they studied.

On a basic level, I define success as making a living wage. In order to make a living wage you have to have a job that pays well. In order to get a job that pays well these days, you have to have a Bachelors degree, experience, or both. Yet, for the most part the degree is looked more favorably then experience.

I had to interview hiring managers for a recent class. Over half said that they put resumes with degrees in one pile, degrees with experience in a second pile and experience with no degree in the third pile. The remainder looked at degrees then experience. In all cases, guess which stack is at the bottom of the interview call list?

Sadly, for the most part, you have to graduate college to be successful. Experience and certifications/vocational training doesn't cut it any more.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

You have "colleges" like Devry...

A friend used to work next to a Devry. They called the people who went there "Devridiots" (with apologies to anyone here who might have gone there).

[Pirate Bill]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

The point of his article is that he woman he describes does not deserve to graduate from any college. She is made to feel that she can do it, that she has to do it in order to be successful, and that is just plain wrong on many levels. She is not meant for college.

I haven't read the rest of the thread just yet but I want to address this. I believe there is a difference between "not meant for college" and "doesn't deserve to graduate." I think people like Ms L do deserve the opportunity to go to college. Not any college though. I think entrance requirements (in all varieties) are appropriate.

College is an opportunity for continuing education. If someone fails a class I don't think it's right to graduate them, but I also don't think it's right to say they aren't meant for college. If they've met the entrance requirements then they certainly deserve to stay and work through any problems they may be having. If they have the drive to do so.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

I haven't read the rest of the thread just yet but I want to address this. I believe there is a difference between "not meant for college" and "doesn't deserve to graduate." I think people like Ms L do deserve the opportunity to go to college. Not any college though. I think entrance requirements (in all varieties) are appropriate.

Everyone deserves the opportunity, but not everyone should go. The issue is that people who would be better served by taking a different route are lead to believe that college is the "best" option and should do everything they can to attempt it. When the reality is, there are better options for some (a lot of) people and those options should get equal billing and they don't.