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Jun
03

College vs Experience vs Creativity

I had a post completely planned out for the day, talking about twitter and techniques for the more advanced users.

Then I read Brad Marley’s post about college degree’s. I wanted to write so many things, both agreeing and disagreeing with his point. I was frustrated because I couldn’t think of how to respond, and excited because I knew exactly what I wanted to say (I know, makes no sense, right?). Problem was, my answer was not going to fit in a comment box, nor did I want to place it in one (sorry Brad). I wanted to open it up further, I wanted to get heated, I wanted to be logical, I wanted to get creative…I wanted a lot of things (can you tell this issue is a hot button for me?). So, I finally decided the only way to properly address the topic was to write my own post about college degrees.

To start, Brad’s basic point is that while college can be good for those pursuing a field that needs a degree (doctor, lawyer, etc), college may not be the right choice for everyone. His conclusion is supported by his brother, who has a ‘can’t be taught, jene se qua, that can only be acquired by working in the field’ personality that got him a well paying job in a bad market without having a college degree.

*By the way, I’d recommend reading his entire college post though before continuing to my thoughts.*

So, here are my thoughts:

Brad is 100% right and 100% wrong.

He is right in the fact that you can not succeed as a doctor, lawyer, etc, without a degree. He is wrong in thinking college is not right for everyone. While you can succeed without college (many very successful people have), I believe that the point of college is not the little piece of paper you pay wayyy to much money for with your name on it. College can benefit anyone and everyone. I firmly believe that college is for building your character and helping you to mature and grow as an individual, and that is something that everyone needs.

I attended Cal State Long Beach and received a B.A. in Communications, and while that’s what my degree says, that isn’t what’s important. The communications classes I took, while it did improve my speaking, aren’t what makes me a hard worker and a talented writer. They are what helped make me confident enough to tackle being freelance. The experiences I had out of class were what made me stronger, more empathetic and understanding (sharing a room for 4 years will do that to a person). What it didn’t do was guarantee me a job when I graduated, but if I had expected it to, I really wouldn’t have learned anything.

Basically, I believe college is completely unnecessary to get a job, unless you need a technical/scientific degree, just like Brad states. But, I believe college is completely necessary for everyone for improving you as an individual. Getting the college degree just proves that you can stick something out and that you have dedication to achieve a goal.

Finally, I want to bring to attention that I didn’t say getting a 4 year degree at a certain type of college is necessary for everyone. I said college. “College” can mean receiving everything from an automotive technical degree (like my husband did), an AA degree (like my mother did) or a master’s degree (like my father did). College is whatever you make it…just make it yours.

What do you think (about either Brad or my thoughts)? Did you attend college? I would love to hear from someone who didn’t and is glad they didn’t or who did, and regrets it!

Related posts:

  1. 10 bold moves for a more creative you – Day #6
  2. Creativity through the years – 2002
  3. Creative inspiration from Nebraska

Category: Business & Marketing Strategy, Inspired by Other Blogs, Wright Point of View
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  • http://ariwriter.com Ari Herzog

    I hold a bachelor’s in sociology and a master’s in public administration; and use aspects of both degrees every day. The connections between sociology and social media are very parallel, as you may imagine.

    While I’m a proponent society should not enforce college immediately after high school graduation, there is no denial college is crucial for one’s growth and maturity.

    Ari Herzog’s last blog post..When the Highest-Paid State Official Tossed Transparency

  • http://www.yourlocaltech.com Loren Nason

    I have an AA from OCC. I went to CSULB for Business but didn’t finish.

    I got caught up in working in the IT field early on and never looked back.

    I completely agree with your analogy that Brad is 100% right and wrong.

    College is not about the degree but about the learning process and experiences at getting that degree.

    College teaches you how to learn / solve problems / and grow.

    But that College does not have to be a traditional 4 year College.

  • http://www.lunchladytomba.blogspot.com Julianna

    I’m a 41 year old recent graduate from college. Got my BS then my MBA in the last 5 years. I’ve been on both sides of this issue.

    Without my degree I felt like I had something to prove. It made me study harder and know more than I probably would have bothered with if I weren’t out to prove I wasn’t ignorant.

    With my degree I know better how to think critically. It comes with having to do it over and over again. But what’s more I trust what I know because it’s been graded by someone accredited to grade things, to give me insights and to push me further.

    I trust myself and my knowledge more because of the “piece of paper”. However with that being said, I’m no better than someone without the paper, just differently experienced.

    And truly, while all people can benefit from being enrolled in any educational environment, some people just aren’t able to access it. Yes, there are programs, but many fall through. And having education beyond a high school degree, in the US, is a privilege. Being a person unable to attain that privilege can make a person understandably bitter and derisive about the whole college experience.

    Julianna’s last blog post..To Thy Own Self Be True

  • http://www.bradmarley.com Brad Marley

    I totally agree with your assessment that college allows you to grow and mature as an individual. That didn’t enter my line of thinking when I was writing the post, but it’s very true.

    Secondly, a lot of students (I’ll admit myself included) expect jobs to fall out of the sky when they graduate, but that isn’t always the case, especially now. It took me nearly three years to land a full-time job when I graduated in 2001. You still have to work hard, which ties in nicely with the part about growing and maturing.

    And maybe, just maybe, there’s a tiny part of me that hates it when ABC profiles a college football player who, inevitably, is majoring in communications.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I look at the idea of college vs. no college in a new light. :)

    Brad Marley’s last blog post..Is a college degree worth the price?

  • http://www.dharmabum.typepad.com Chris

    I’m currently in grad school getting an MA in Clinical Psychology. While I need the degree to get licensed as a marriage and family therapist the really benefit of college, especially grad school, is the networking opportunities and what is possible to learn outside of the classroom. As a matter of fact I will be attending avery important industry conference in a few weeks in New Orleans that is invite only, and that opportunity would never had happened if it wasn’t for the relationships I’ve developed in school.

    Chris’s last blog post..Love, Love, Love This:

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