Great article!!
It is sad. Often people are just going to school to get a degree to make more money. They are not very interested in the learning process... especially those areas outside their major.
It was said well in the article:
“The truth is,” she says, “students think too much about majors. But the major isn’t nearly as important as the toolbox of skills you come out with and the experiences you have.”
Students need to expand out beyond their major. Take arts, social sciences, philosophy, etc. classes, they will only help you.
Equally important, get involved outside of class. Join organizations, get involved in this or that, or even Campus Dakota!
I dont think it can be changed very easily (the way people think about college and the degree), but I think some of the methods mentioned may be a start.
Sal, you didnt post the second part of that quote:
We need to stop funding universities primarily as 'trade' schools (whether for biotech or community services) and create a parallel system that allows students to track themselves early into careers that prepare them for specific jobs. They can go back to school later if thinking becomes more attractive. This happens in Europe all the time.....
What do you, or anyone else, think about that method?
Personally I think that it shouldnt be a common thing that you will go to college. A fact of life is that some people just arent the college type... for any number of reasons. Why should they be practically forced to go?