Periodically, students tell me, “Mark, I already know what I want to do for my career. I’m bored in college. All the English, history, math, and art appreciation courses aren’t of interest to me. I’d rather go to a school that teaches only what I want to learn.”
I get it probably better than most. When I left home to attend a University, my parents, who weren’t able to go to college, stressed the value of a diploma and told me opportunities would open up with that diploma. I felt reluctant about the concept because it didn’t make sense that college students had to study
boring and
irrelevant subjects to earn a diploma.
It made even less sense that some students excelled at the arcane required subjects, Of what use could knowledge of literature, poetry, or the history of western civilization be?
Besides, I knew what I wanted for my career. So, since family’s finances dictated I work through college, I took a job at a company in my field. To my surprise, the career-focused subjects offered at my university seemed inconsistent with what I was learning on the job. How could that possibly be at, what I was told, was one of the best schools for my major?
My grades weren’t great yet I was consistently promoted at my job. That was fine with me since I wanted the diploma more than I wanted the education I was buying. As I understood it, that diploma would be a credential I’d use to open doors important to my post-graduation career—and would make my parents proud.
After College
But several years into my career I found myself periodically reinventing certain math formulas. It took hours for me to complete a simple formula. I didn’t realize at the time, but I was reinventing a subject I took in school. It was arduous to invent the math I needed and I worked late into the night to keep up with my job.
Mid-level executives at the company would casually rattle off their interpretations of books they were required to read in school and how those books related to challenges the company faced. I listened in amazement.
What you’ll learn, what you won’t learn
Nobody tells students or prospective college students why they’re required to take certain courses. They’re courses the faculty determines will provide benefit to students—from their point of view.
I have a lot of stories about what I didn’t learn in college—and others about what I did. Now that I’ve taught at major universities I understand the goal of higher education is academic rigor or brain exercise, to help students learn to think critically about their challenges and provide them with a worldview to equip them for their futures.
I learned a lot of things I didn’t expect to need or want. For example, in Marriage and the Family, I recall learning the phrase, “The party of least interest has control over the relationship.” It’s a phrase I’ve replayed in my mind since I first heard it. That wisdom helped me negotiate with clients and prospects later in my business career, yet it was provided in a class unrelated to business.
And, perhaps the single biggest benefit of my education was the contacts I made. College friends with whom I remained close for years after graduation launched unrelated careers but introduced me to sources of business within the companies they worked for. That enabled me to start my own advertising agency 15 years after graduation.
Regardless of major, college won’t prepare you
Going to college is a personal decision. Your parents can’t make it for you, your teachers can’t tell you, nor can your counselors advise you fully. Only you can make the decision to spend the money, time, and effort.
You must understand a university education isn’t intended to train you for a career no matter what your major. However, education trains you to think critically about problems. If you understand you’ll have to apply yourself in the workplace to master the skills necessary to compete in the workplace differently than you have in college, go to the head of the class.
An education will give you an edge. But not the edge you think you’ll get. Given the option, I’d go again. And I’d apply myself this time. But I still wouldn’t view the experience as training for the workplace.
I get it probably better than most. When I left home to attend a University, my parents, who weren’t able to go to college, stressed the value of a diploma and told me opportunities would open up with that diploma. I felt reluctant about the concept because it didn’t make sense that college students had to study boring and irrelevant subjects to earn a diploma.