Okay, here's my situation.

I graduated HS, moved to my dad's, completed a semester at a local community college (working on basics i dont even think i needed), then half way through my second semester, family problems caused me to move farther away than i would want to drive for the classes. So, all in all I have one complete semester. I've been out for a year because I have yet to settle to one solid location, however I am about to do that and will be returning to class.

My problem is, the last school i went to seemed less interested in hearing what I wanted to do and what direction to point me, and more in just getting me into a class to take my money. I refuse to waste money AND TIME on things i dont even need.

I want to do Graphic Design, it has and always will be what I like. I've had many printshop jobs but never been on the pre-press side of the operation. I currently run a HP Indigo WS2000 machine and produce labels for the company I work for. I don't hope to get some awesome job where I make cool stuff and whatnot like some people think is in that industry, i would be happy making labels/logos/ads... I really just like playing around with art design. ANYWAYS back to the topic, is there really a way around the 'basics' they make you take for EVERYTHING? I mean I know some stuff has a reason, but come on.

*imagines self balancing check book*
"Okay, gas... $21.85 that sucks.... trip to game stop... $53.72 not too bad.... Grocery Store... (4x-y^3)/(4y+3)..... WHAT?!"

There are two ways I know of;

Rich Daddy
Fellatio

tech schools usually don't have as many of the stupid "gen ed" classes. but really its tough to get around all of them

Basically, you should go to school to learn.

Not only will it look more impressive, BUT YOU WILL BE SMARTER.


You should take some classes on economics..

<.<

>.>

Having a wide education not only looks good to employers but also makes you smarter in general.

Depends on the school/major. Some schools stress "general education" (humanities, math, science, even PE) for a well-rounded education, whereas others just get right to business. Trade/vocational schools are more "to the point." Specialized schools (e.g. art school) will give you some breadth in the specialty and then focus on your area. Most American college students don't have a clear path when they first start college, so giving a "basic" survey of several fields can be helpful in determining aptitudes/areas of interest.

General education is fine, but I can't see myself having need of some of this junk. I know english classes are important, because being able to comprehend the language is a good thing, and being able to write various forms of papers are great...

The only real classes I have hated in college are the math classes. I am good at math if I try, but its so boring and pointless to me. I dont CARE what the answer is because im not solving anything. Math has no personal touch. If you're writing, you can express yourself, if you are learning economics, government, health/biology, psychology, anything... they can all apply to almost anyone. Only the very basics of math do most people use in their lives. I'm not saying math is useless, i mean.. NASA would stone me for saying that, but I rarely need to find a mystery value in any math i do.

Outside of classwork, how many of you use an X or a Y (when you aren't plotting a graph) in a mathematical equation?

A graphic design school shouldn't be making you take math courses.

I haven't been going to just a technical school, I thought I'd see what real college was like but so far its wasted some of my money on stuff i dont even need. I like taking other classes too but man...

Is it even worth going to tech schools or are college/university degrees really worth more?

It depends on what educational accomplishment you are hoping for. A trade/vocational school will typically avoid those "basics" you dislike so much, but you won't earn a degree. The best you'll get is a certificate, or perhaps an A.A., which isn't much. Most companies value a degree over a certificate. There are always exceptions to the rule, and many "tech" companies highly value various certificates. In general, however, a degree (B.A., B.S.) is far more valuable, useful, and transferrable in the business world. Many companies offer income incentives based on education, and many companies will not promote someone who does not hold a degree. The only way to earn a degree is to attend a four year college or university, and endure those "basics" classes you want to avoid. You may, however, attend a local community or junior college for the first two years, take all of those "basics" classes, then transfer to a four year institution for your concentration courses, and earn your degree. This is generally considered less expensive, although students often never get around to transferring, or lose credits/units in the transfer to the new institution.

Also, stop whining about how much you have to spend. You're not allowed to whine about being broke when you go and drop $53.72 on video games. Also, I would love to only pay $21.85 for gasoline. It costs close to $50 for me to fill up my car's tank, and that's with the cheapest fuel from the cheapest station. Ive been riding my motorcycle a lot lately, despite the foul weather we've been through, simply because it's less expensive. Fuel costs an average of $3.06/gal in most of the US, yet is priced at $3.36 in California, $.30 more expensive.

if you're going to a community college, and not paying for housing, they can't be taking that much from you...

just take the classes. if you don't like the math you are in, try taking a different class, more related to your field. there are even music classes that can fulfill math requirements, so look round and ask your advisor.

Haha! I actually made those numbers up... I spend ~$30 a tank (on premium) in my car, and spend maybe $30-$60 a month on games... if that. That's besides the point.

I guess I am overall stuck... Thanks anyways guys.

If you want a degree, be it AA, AS, BA or BS, you're going to have to take the general ed classes. If you just want to get a certificate in a subject, you don't. However, the certificates don't ccary as much weight in the job market as the degrees.

If you want a BA/BS degree from a legit university instead of a diploma mill, you are going to have to suffer through the general ed. At my university (California State University Long Beach) There is even UPPER DIVISION general ed, so you're never done with it until you finally graduate.

Fortunately, I have only 3 more classes left and then I can get out of there with my BA.

School is not about learning, it's showing future employers that you have the ability to take directions, do work, and put forth the effort.

screw college.. just build a portfolio, do some freelance work and if your good, you'll have no problem getting a job. it worked for me, then I graduated.. so now I have experience and education

Your example, for the most part, doesn't apply to technical/engineering jobs.

And this is why the state of education sucks.

Says the man who completed high school, and now works at UPS and has never experienced college, which is exactly what fishstickz was talking about.

Also, good luck getting a job in the graphic design field--the market's so saturated right now I think starting pay is floating around 20 grand a year for a BA if I remember right, and that's IF you can land the job.

Try countering his statment instead of attacking his personal life. The truth of "the state of education sucks" does not rest on the shoulders of Rob's situation.

What does that have to do with anything?

People going to college are the most defensive of it. Simply because they refuse to consider that maybe they are wasting time/money. For a lot of things, your product counts more than your education. Sure, if you wanna crunch numbers in a cubicle somewhere a degree will help. But what if you want to be selfemployed? Most consumers don't give a **** what degrees you have if you have an excellent product. I'm mostly thinking of fine woodworking type stuff because thats what I know, but you'd think that'd apply pretty well to any art/graphical design job.

Thats because UPS is going to pay for my school. Uh dur.

Man UPS is a horrible company to work for, I spent a year working there and yeah, they will pay for your school, but only if you work for them the entire time you are going, they expect 40+ hours a week while you goto school... its rediculous. I used to work ~50 hours a week and then try to goto school, a couple months going with 4 hours of sleep or less a night and i had had enough.

Stop being such a pussy.

I also seriously doubt the 40 hours a week deal, unless you were a driver, or worked a combination job. Then what else would you ****ing expect.

Uhh durr, I have a full time job but uhhh duhhh I only want to work 20 hours a week.


(PS, they're going to pay for me to become an airplane mechanic)

Could you maybe find a specialized school? I don't know if having a BA is as important is learning how to do things and being able to show off your work/knowledge.

Also, aren't there ways to take really easy math classes in college anyway? For those people that aren't going to use math?

I'll ignore your derrogatory remark...

No actually I was a dock supervisor. Ever try typing for 10 hours straight while being out in 15 degree windy weather?

Also, I wasn't even a full time worker, i was still considered part time. Most of the full time workers there worked 60+ hours a week.

Math isn't about being able to solve quadratics (or integrals, or boundary value problems), it's about learning how to think in a certain way. I really don't understand the attitude that everything you learn in school must be immediately applicable to exactly the thing you know you want to do. Education (when it works) enriches your worldview, which is only a bad thing if you want to be a robot.

I, Robot.

It is for fields that use it, but I'm sure you know that.

I remember a mechanical engineering major that was in one of my calc classes, he complained because he thought he would never use it.

If he had anything to counter, like an actual argument, that might be easier.

The state of education is alright, college-wise. The only thing that sucks is the lower levels, and that's because of stupid programs like "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LOLOLOL" which are wasted money, time, and effort, and do not work at all (ask any teacher out there), and inner city schools which are underfunded, understaffed, and overfilled despite things like the "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LOLOLOL" act. But talking about college...doesn't mean anything.

And Rob--that still doesn't change the fact that you've never been to college and haven't experienced it and yet are trying to make points on it. You can say that all you want but what makes you think "The state of education sucks", and why? I've seen no evidence of our colleges "sucking" at all.

Stop being such a wussbag.

Edit: PS, seriously what did you expect when you left the union and stopped being paid by the hour? I've been offered a similiar job three times now and have turned it down because I'm not that daft.

I don't have to go to college to complain about the state of education.

Anyways, lets get back on intelligent discussion here instead of just blatantly insulting people.

Okay.


Stop being lazy and take the classes.

You don't have to go to school to complain about school.

Makes sense to me!

Has nothing to do with being lazy, I'm trying to make sure I don't waste my hard earned money on CRAP classes. Why am I even responding to you? You're wasting my time.

Has anyone here delt with clep tests? I want to know how easy/hard they are and about what they cost in comparison to the actual class.

I'm glad.

Ben Franklin would probably agree with you.

Mark Twain might even write a scathing satire on the subject.

This thread is full of much douchebaggery.

It was moderately interesting to see what various views people held on secondary education, until Rob and Yoshi started their little pissing contest.