College students aren't learning anything

[bobjustbob]

Sure we should do our part but mandatory community service? I don't think so. We're talking about college education here. I do believe that a larger internship program would do a number of things. Practical hands on experience is the best learning tool. Make a certain amount of hours passing internships mandatory for a degree. Being in the trenches may switch a students major after getting a glimpse of what the future looks like. Teach them work ethic too.

Digging ditches and feeding hungry can be done too. Those interested in the social sciences can partner up with the state or community to get that experience. And I don't think that it would cut into the labor force. Only employers that are willing to teach and be evaluated get to benefit from the students labor. The college and the employer must come together on a plan for what is to be learned. These are not just a free pair of hands. The students also get to make contacts when job hunting.

It would also put some pressure on the professors and departments. The citizens will get to see examples of what a college is ready to graduate.

Bobjustbob.

 

[BioDefenseGrad]

Certainly if you look at the large picture in education, there needs to be some degree of salary reform, however college professors are paid very well, and you can see the results they're producing thus far. :dunno:

True that, but I wasn't exactly including them. Professors also can point to American HIGHER education being much more competitive world wide than secondary education.

I think part of the problem with college is that there are too many worthless degrees, or degrees that do not prepare a student to immediately enter the work force using their degree. But we have also overvalued a college degree. Or we have brought shame skilled blue collar work and haven't adequately developed our technical and community colleges across the board. Not everyone NEEDS a four year degree and many people with four year degrees cannot find work once they graduate with all those loans.

In many of the countries we are competing with, only a minority of graduates are accepted into colleges, and many of them have to be competitive to get the major of their choice.

America might have a "backward" health care system, but we also have a very egalitarian education system. Access to higher education is much greater, although the usefulness of that education is often overrated.

Should we cut down on "useless" majors? Should we force students with less than stellar track records to take majors deemed "useful" or critically undermanned?

I'm actually one of those people who pursued a useless undergrad degree and had to subsequently pick up another major and degree in order to work in my field.

 

[shayd]

Unfortunately some departments pay more than others. Law profs are paid much more than those in the sciences, languages, or business schools.

Certainly there is a pay scale. However, I was shocked to find the median salary nationwide for college professors to be in the mid-$60K region.

True that, but I wasn't exactly including them. Professors also can point to American HIGHER education being much more competitive world wide than secondary education.

I think part of the problem with college is that there are too many worthless degrees, or degrees that do not prepare a student to immediately enter the work force using their degree. But we have also overvalued a college degree. Or we have brought shame skilled blue collar work and haven't adequately developed our technical and community colleges across the board. Not everyone NEEDS a four year degree and many people with four year degrees cannot find work once they graduate with all those loans.

In many of the countries we are competing with, only a minority of graduates are accepted into colleges, and many of them have to be competitive to get the major of their choice.

America might have a "backward" health care system, but we also have a very egalitarian education system. Access to higher education is much greater, although the usefulness of that education is often overrated.

Should we cut down on "useless" majors? Should we force students with less than stellar track records to take majors deemed "useful" or critically undermanned?

I'm actually one of those people who pursued a useless undergrad degree and had to subsequently pick up another major and degree in order to work in my field.

My apologies, I completely misinterpreted your post.

As you were.

 

[BioDefenseGrad]

Certainly there is a pay scale. However, I was shocked to find the median salary nationwide for college professors to be in the mid-$60K region.



My apologies, I completely misinterpreted your post.

As you were.

Nah you didn't misinterpret it. Your reply got me thinking about a whole other aspect of the debate. I was thinking that it was the inferior secondary ed. causing problems in the higher ed. I hadn't really stopped to consider it a combination of both. Cheers.