The University Bubble! What does that mean you ask? Is it the rainbow that shines over the institution? The events that welcome you into the school? Or is it the belief that this is it! This will land me a successful career!
Working at a university during the day and going to Moorpark at night you see some clear distinctions between the two. No I am not talking about the education, or the campus. I am talking about the culture. Many big universities protect there students from the world. For example, if a student at our university injured them selves on test day, even if its just a paper cut, they can go to the disability department and get a special time to take the test later. Not so at Moorpark. The first week of school, parents are welcomed to meet with there children's professors and ask questions about the class. Mind you they cannot cross the boundaries of the FERPA laws, but they get close. Many students complain to their parents about a bad grade, and the parents in tern call the school to argue on behalf of the student, in some cases, ending in a retaking of a quiz or re-submission of a paper. Mind you no one took time to ask if the student studied in the first place. They high light there most successful students, but don't tell you the full story of how they got to where they are. One of our success stories went to school full time for his BA, MBA, and JD while working full time at the university. How is that possible you ask? Well, his parents were friends with the president. He was allowed to work to pay the bill in full and allowed to leave work to take class. Praised for his success, but no one talks about the un-usual circumstances that allowed his story to come to fruition. Many students graduate with a large bill, not working in the field they went to school for, and struggling to find a decent paying job. So is college necessary?
The truth of the matter is that networking, the circles you associate with, and having a clear plan is the most important part of the equation. That and actually picking a field you know you will enjoy, instead of hoping that the one you chose will pay you a large salary will get much further than any ideology being thrown at you about education. The name of the school may open some doors, but what you know, who you know, and how you apply that knowledge will keep you there.
Personally, I believe people should take a year of two off from school, after high school, and learn about different fields they are interested in. Maybe talk to the universities you are considering and do an internship before college in a career your interested in and make sure it will count towards your degree. That way you know before you go to school that this is what you truly want to do! This should be required. Most of the universities want you to have a world view on various subjects, how is that possible if you have no true knowledge of the world?
