Colleges are a joke. Really.

Silas Pradetto

Silas Pradetto

Graduate Student
Jan 11, 2011
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Land of Steady Habits
www.concertsunlimited.com
So, I'm at a state university studying Business Information Systems, and I have general education requirements I have to complete to graduate.

So I needed to meet a requirement, and the university offers the option to test out of the class. So I did.

Look here: http://continuingeducation.easternct.edu/clepexams.htm

I did the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature test, it took me an hour, and I didn't prepare. This isn't saying anything about me, it's saying something about how much of a joke college is these days. For $117 and an hour of time, I got 6 credits.

Now I'm sure not complaining about how easy this is, but I know if I'm ever in the position to hire, a college degree won't mean anything to me.
 
I guess it really depends on the major. I'm studying electrical engineering right now, I definitely have to work my ass off for a grade though. Here's what I'm doing now, (testing Tapatalk picture functionality.)

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Maps too?
54-112 Forsyth St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

At least what you're doing is fun.

I started at RPI as an Electrical/Mechanical Engineering major. Tranferred because business was booming in 2007. Wish I hadn't, because now business is slow and I'd have graduated with a degree by now, and the average starting salary from RPI back then was $85,000.

:(

RPI is where I met Bennett, back in the day.
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

Hey David,

I just had to comment as clippers / clampers are the exact same I am working on in classes right now. Had to do a double take as that sheet looks exactly like my notes!

I tend to agree with you, Silas. A college degree, in a lot of cases and industries, seems to be carrying less and less weight.
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

It might be worth noting that in most cases the classes that you are allowed to test out of are the entry level or general ed classes (which are still entry level). If you have half a brain and/or some experience in an area, you can usually pass the test out test without much work.

In general, in the area that I work in, even in stage labor and event production you can tell the difference in quality between those who have been to college (even if they haven't completed) versus those who have not. The language and communication skills, critical thinking and analytical troubleshooting skills are of those who have been to college are head and shoulders and in some cases whole torsos above those who have not. I can even tell the difference between those who have had some sort of real theatre experience in college and those who haven't.

Think of college as more or less an exercise in tempering the human mind, making it stronger and more robust. And that's why when all the n00bs come on the boards and ask if they should go to college, or go right out and start working in the industry, I always tell them to go to college, in any area that interests them, rather than just jump on the tour bus.
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

College is what you make of it. You can challenge yourself or not. No disrespect, but BIS isn't exactly rocket science, nor is it known for its rigorous course requirements. Try Electrical, Computer, or Chemical Engineering on for size, then come back and report.
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

Ryan Lantzy said:
College is what you make of it. You can challenge yourself or not. No disrespect, but BIS isn't exactly rocket science, nor is it known for its rigorous course requirements. Try Electrical, Computer, or Chemical Engineering on for size, then come back and report.
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+1 I'm just finally finishing my AAS degree i started when i was young and didn't care about school that much. Now I find out I need the degree. Granted I'm getting a degree in what I already do pretty much so its not challenging at all. there are a few. Like my Cisco courses that are indeed challenging.
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

See you're learning already... :-)

As a college dropout who never matriculated to a degree greater than my HS diploma, I have some bias, and perhaps a little baggage.

I also worked in industry managing an engineering group full of mostly degreed engineers. I found that having a degree insured some minimum common vocabulary and basic understanding, but I had weak and strong players, with and without degrees. The college degree just exposes you to and gives you some familiarity with tools that in real life you must apply and get productive results.

Having learned most of what I know and use now outside the education system, I sure wish I had a meat puppet explaining stuff to me and that I could ask questions of (yes me).

Take advantage of your opportunity to get a degree... Life is not a fair fight so it will give you an edge over other job candidates without one, for the rest of your life, even though we both know the truth.

If your course work is too easy, you have two choices, get a degree as quickly and cheaply as possible, and get on with the rest of your life, or change to more challenging major. Nobody can tell you what work will look like 40 years from now, but I can tell you it won't look like today. I can make some broad guesses, that computers will somehow be involved. :-)

Another part of college for many, is a bridge between childhood and adult life, where you learn how a washing machine works and maybe even to fend for yourself in a supermarket. You can clearly get that outside the university environment but without the kick ass keg parties.

JR
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

If your at the hospital, bleeding all over the place do you want a doctor that went to college or one that is "learning on the job"?

When you have someone flying 3000 lbs of speaker cabs above a crowds head, do you want an audio tech that went to college and learned how to do this or one that is "learning on the job"?

Yes if you you work for another company for a bit you will learn rigging from someone who has done it before. Not unlike learning from a teacher at a college who has done it before.
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

Silas Pradetto said:
So, I'm at a state university studying Business Information Systems, and I have general education requirements I have to complete to graduate.

So I needed to meet a requirement, and the university offers the option to test out of the class. So I did.

Look here: http://continuingeducation.easternct.edu/clepexams.htm

I did the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature test, it took me an hour, and I didn't prepare. This isn't saying anything about me, it's saying something about how much of a joke college is these days. For $117 and an hour of time, I got 6 credits.

Now I'm sure not complaining about how easy this is, but I know if I'm ever in the position to hire, a college degree won't mean anything to me.
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Most colleges are going to limit the number of classes you can test out of for credit. If nothing else they want your tuition.

As a college professor, I like to think my class is interesting as well as challenging. One of the things I think I do extremely well is preparing the students to use the information in real life situations. Unfortunately i have known a large number of professors who never operated in "the real world". They basically went from graduate school themselve to post grad to tenure track teaching positions.
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

Jay Barracato said:
Most colleges are going to limit the number of classes you can test out of for credit. If nothing else they want your tuition.

As a college professor, I like to think my class is interesting as well as challenging. One of the things I think I do extremely well is preparing the students to use the information in real life situations. Unfortunately i have known a large number of professors who never operated in "the real world". They basically went from graduate school themselve to post grad to tenure track teaching positions.
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CLEP exams show up as transfer credits, and Eastern allows up to 60. So literally half of my college career could be tests. I am over 30 tested-out credits right now.
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

I got a BA from the University of the State of New York by all tests while I was in the US Navy. happens they are the test bed platform for Educational Testing Services, i.e., the CLEP people. Had to hit a 50 percentile of their sampling to get credit and they do penalize for wrong answers. Navy paid for the basic CLEPs and also they credited DANTES (defense thing) testing. ETS also produces the GREs (Graduate Record Exams, the tests to prove you remembered enough after a 4 year degree to go for a masters). I had to pay to take those but they were worth a mix of 30 credits (beginner, intermediate, & graduate) each. Throw in my other non traditional credits for military rank and numerous military technical schools and I ended up with 176 credits. Only paid an enrollment fee, GRE test fees (took & passed 2), credit transfer fee, and a graduation fee. It was adaquate to allow me to go to Officer Candidate School and made me eligible for Navy Post Graduate School. My degree is Lliberal Arts with a concentration in Political Science and Sociology (the 2 GREs I took).

Mike McNany
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

An old story, but here goes:

Two ladies chatting over dinner in a restaurant. One says to the other, "My son (daughter) just finished his (her) Masters in English Literature."

Second lady says, "That's wonderful!"

First lady replies, "Yes, isn't it? Let's leave him (her) a big tip when he (she) brings the check!!!"
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

How could you forget your neighbors Professional Organization of English Majors:

If you’re graduating from college and looking for a job, you’re probably hoping to avoid the fate of so many English majors----

Welcome to Burger World ---- would you like to try our two-pounder with a pound of fries and a gallon of soda pop?
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

Tony "T" Tissot said:
How could you forget your neighbors Professional Organization of English Majors:

If you’re graduating from college and looking for a job, you’re probably hoping to avoid the fate of so many English majors----

Welcome to Burger World ---- would you like to try our two-pounder with a pound of fries and a gallon of soda pop?
Click to expand...

Eventually they become member of the Professional Organization of English Teachers.... because you can only sell so many pounds of fries. :lol:
 
Re: Colleges are a joke. Really.

I'm majoring in history and philosophy. Either of those is challenging enough as there are no easy courses in either major at my school, and doing both is just a bad idea. I do have a few courses that overlap, thankfully.
College degrees matter. What discipline the degree is in matters, as does where it's from. Business degrees are for all the jocks at my school. I'm not saying they aren't useful, just that it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to get one.

Now I've gotta get back to reading through Aristotle's Metaphysics.
 
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