When the pandemic hit and schools went online, there were hundreds of thousands of college students who simply opted out of virtual learning. Most said it was that because of the dip in quality of teaching through online platforms - people did not want to pay an arm and a leg for a second rate education. But others suggested that students did not think college was worth it without the college experience; if you can't balance out the drudgery and stress with partying on the weekends, is it really worth it? Billionaire tech giant Elon Musk was quoted in an article from the Guardian saying,
“I think college is basically for fun and to prove that you can do your chores, but they’re not for learning.”
Musk is out of touch with the reality of why many go to school: of course he doesn't think about underprivileged kids trying to get ahead in a ruthless system, or the exposure that academia gives to the breath of scholarly research, or the connections that students make that can help them forward their career. However, he may have a point about the fun part.
The "college experience" is a topic of utmost importance to many high schools students when selecting a school. Breaking free of parents for the first time, finding a tight group of friends to experiment in order to grow into a new version of oneself is the exact developmental stage that most people arrive at around the age of 18. It is an important step for self-discovery and self-actualization, and the fact is, there is no other contact for young people that offers anything similar besides college.
This has not always been the case, however. In the 1960's, Greenwich village was a hub for like-minded young people to form social bonds, stir up trouble and figure themselves out. College age kids flocked be there; they didn't care about going to school because that had a context that gave them what they needed to complete that important developmental process. If there were more places that were inexpensive to live and had high concentrations of young people, there would be less incentive to go to college right away. This would allow students to be more directed about their degree programs once they had figured out the direction they wanted to take in life.
Ultimately, social exploration and experimentation is a necessary part of growing up and should be provided for in society without necessarily needing to tie it to formal education. Not only would that be a net good for society as a whole, it would also check some of the power that universities hold. Having universities as the main way for young people to come together incentivizes kids to go to college even if that wouldn't be the best choice for them, thus falsely inflating the value of formal education. I hate to admit it, but Elon Musk is right. Maybe that's all the more reason to recognize that it's time to make a change.
I think you bring up an interesting point about the "college experience" and the necessity of it all. I agree that there have been societal pressures to attend college and follow a certain path in order to live a successful life. Everyone talks about the idea of needing to have the "college experience." I agree with your point that there may be other ways to socialize with individuals your age while also becoming more educated; the answer does not always have to be college. There also may be better ways for us to educate and learn to live in the professional world outside of college, but we do not know because we are stuck in the trend of needing to…
First off, I love your entire blog. All of these topics are so in tune with college students and problems that surround us. I couldn't help but connect to many of the claims you made in your post. I personally question why I'm even in college sometimes. The cost to attend USC is outrageous. I feel as if the only really thing I'm grasping is punctuality - turning in an assignment on time. The goal was always to get into the best school but what if you don't need it? Then you would have to face society and the norms they project towards students that don't attend college. Sometimes it feels like the only reason I'm going to college is…
I think the college experience really varies per each individual and is really what you make of it. Everyone lives life under different circumstances and needs and college is more of tool to propel yourself forward in whatever aspect you may need. For example, some uses of college could be to make it out of the poverty cycle, find yourself and discover who you want to be, make new friends/meet new people/fresh start, networking, or just literally to have fun. In my opinion college is a well rounded and diversified tool that can allow anyone to take a step closer to their goals and its up to the individual on how they decide to use it. For some, two years…
This was a great read, I personally related to many aspects of it. Growing up in a small town, I was engulfed in politics, old town money, and conservative old men that were born and raised all within the same five mile radius. It was crucial that I made my way out right after high school, it was soul crushing yet thrilling to see how different the world really was, knowing I was subjected to a bubble my whole life and I had just never known. Going to college was a must for me personally, I knew the experiences and people I'd be able to meet and interact with were priceless. This was a great article and hit some great…
I think socializing and building lifelong bonds are super beneficial in college especially for underprivileged students. Especially at a top university, college give students from lower class families the opportunity to mingle with very wealthy families and take part in very empowering events. I think intimidation is a big factor preventing people from social mobility and the inherent belief that more money and power makes people "better" than you. College is somewhere where a billionaire's son can become lifelong friends with someone who grew up in poverty. After growing up in a small apartment your whole life, being taken out to expensive dinners, sitting in box seats or courtside at games, and staying at beautiful vacation homes curtesy of your…