College & its Alternatives

"a report based on the book Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses found that after two years of college, 45% of students learned little to nothing. After four years, 36% of students learned almost nothing."

Just read "8 Alternatives to College", here's my thoughts......

I like that he specifies that kids from 18 - 22 should try out new things before going to college to break out of the system that has had them stuck. I understand this completely, there's alot of lazy people just coasting through their first two years.

Quick summary of Altucher's alternatives to college:

• Start a business.
• Work for a charity.
• Travel the world.
• Create art.
• Master a sport.
• Master a game.
• Write a book.
• Make people laugh.

Remember, James Altcher is focusing on "ambitious kids". So this plan might not be for everyone. We all have certain career aspirations and dreams, but those things will never happen without some perseverance.

I can see what he means, college is getting more expensive by the semester. I'm currently working part-time, living at home, and attending college as a full-time student. It's tough sometimes but luckily student loans exist and my parents were kind enough to pay for me to go to community college for 3 years. The alternatives are good options for those dying to escape the slaughter house that is currently our education system. Yea, sorry California but your college system is fucked up still. There's times when you feel like you're just another student ID number to your administration, and getting a break can be refreshing enough to make you want to go back and start/finish that degree.

College degrees are practically mandatory now, and graduating high school is a mundane achievement. In the past all you needed was that high school education. I've seen some of my parents' grade cards and they were able to take more trade focused classes that aren't offered anymore. Metal working, motorcycle safety, home economics, Foods 101, etc! None of those were offered 2003-2007 when I was in high school. And now that I'm in my fourth year of college I can see what that does.....no real world experience. Life isn't a series of SAT style tests, it takes more thought than that.

So what I think Altucher's main point is to opt for the "alternative route" which is experience. You can't mount it on your wall in a shiny placard but its valuable. Experience complements any degree, and often times it makes the difference of whether you get the job or not. So maybe one could merge Altucher's suggestions and do a bit of both?

I'll be in school for another year and a half to finish my degree. No I don't LOVE college, but neither of my parents went and I want to give them that. To make them proud, and to prove that I have a good head on my shoulders. But I also refuse to coast through it and waste the loan money I'm going to have to pay back in the end.

The real question is: is going to college worth it to you? For me it is, but hey we're all different :)

Here's the actual article: http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/01/8-alternatives-to-college/

My tips for making it through:

• Start out with the best grade possible, the 1st test starts you off on a high note.
  
• Raise your hand during class discussions (it's not obnoxious).
  
• Do not take the elevator, taking the stairs will get your blood flowing enough to wake up.
• PAY ATTENTION and take notes.
• Going on Facebook during class = the teacher murdering you with words.
  
• Take classes that interest you if possible (sorry nobody likes GE).
• Your teacher assigns 50 pages of reading per lecture? Do at least half of it.
• See the prize at the end, you're getting a degree for a reason. Don't forget that!
  

Careers?

I keep getting asked the same question lately. It's no longer "what's your major?" or "what school do you want to go to?" It's a whole other ball field! What job do you want to have once you graduate? I guess it has been 3 years of college, even though it's going to be another year or 2 before I graduate---5 year plan for the win.

I usually answer with, "ummmm a good one" because I honestly don't know. I've never been much of a career person. On the other hand, I've always been a planner and at this point i need to start planning for a job. A real job, a grown up job.

When the subject comes up I often revert back to the mom job, but that's not going to be for quite awhile. I need a job before that! And probably a part-time dealio for while there are kids. Kids are expensive, that's a well-known fact of life. I remember back to last year when Evan's mom was encouraging him to join the Air Force (to help pay for school and etc). That's a career, but I have no interest in any form of military. Luckily he didn't really wanna do it either. I rather be a NASA girlfriend/wife, than a AF wife---no offense to those who are.

Sometimes it even comes down to, "what do you want to do when you grow up?" because I feel like a kid trying to become an adult. And my definition of adult is not the one that they teach you in biology. You aren't an "adult" because you're 18, it comes with experience and the ability to maintain responsibility. Kevin and I have decided that this is the new definition:

"The age requirement for considering someone an "adult" is officially being thrown out. It's a frame of mind, not an age. Learning to keep your shit together and being a productive member of society are key features to becoming an "adult". Turning 18 only enables you to do more things that can kill you."

Mmk, getting off that bunny trail before I lose focus on my topic. I know so many people that seem to already know exactly what they want to do. And I can't seem to pick even 5 jobs that I could possibly do. A few people said that I would be a good teacher, but what grade? Maybe I could work in a school administration, I've always thought of that as a nice organized job. But I'd need a business degree---excuse my language but fuck that! I need ideas! Thoughts! Feedback!

I have taken a career class before (my freshman year actually) and it helped me decide on a major in a way. First of all I started college off as a Film major then quickly changed after thinking about my wants in life, aka a life. Then I dropped my Business major after hating the classes and wanting to stab myself with my pen during class. If I couldn't even enjoy the classes at all, then why would I want to do that as my career! Red flag, change of major. Then I tried out Child Development for a semester. I met at least 30 people that already worked at day care or pre-k, heard alot of stories, don't wanna get into that.

So I thought hey, what subject am I good at? History and English. History is more interesting, so I went with it. Apparently because of this, everyone assumes that I'm going to (for sure) be a teacher. "That's all you can do with that degree", some said. Bullshit people, you can work in government, become a lawyer, librarian, curator, and a few other things. That's just off the top of my head. My career-personality test told me that I should work in business or do organizational work......duh, OCD. That really doesn't help me narrow it down -_-

I have options, I just need to pick one or two to narrow it down.
What do you think would be a good career/job for me?

*the top picture is a piece of vector art from deviantart.com, I do not claim to have made it.