As UWT enrollment increases this year, questions about the university’s value persist. Are students struggling to find their path or feeling lost in a system that isn’t right for everyone?
Is university a scam? Issues of self-discovery and financial burden loom large as American students pursue higher education. What role do universities really play in shaping our future?
I’ve been thinking about these questions for a while, and I even heard them before I enrolled in community college three years ago.
With the start of the new academic year, Vice-Chancellor Mensa Hines-Wilson said during a leadership orientation on September 18 that the proportion of students enrolling at UWT has increased, with a slight increase in those pursuing higher education. He said that it was shown that.
I think many students would agree that the high cost of school makes people like me unsure whether to pursue a degree. According to an article published by The Ledger in April 2024, universities across the country have increased tuition fees by 3% due to inflation and declining enrollment. Personally, I took the step forward despite the cost because I believe I can be a journalist and writer. I want to be
Shalin Jyotishi, senior advisor for education, labor, and the future of work at New America, said this when she was a panelist on the EdSurge podcast. Above all of them is the cost. ”
The question I asked myself before taking the plunge was about the cost of education. In addition to that, there is also the question of whether going to college is worth it or whether you can develop yourself without it.
As a panelist on the EdSurge podcast, Ben Wildavsky, author of The Career Arts: Making the most of College, Credentials, and Connections, said, “85% of Americans polled say community college is 65% believe it’s worth the cost.
Wildavsky continued, “Forty million Americans have some college, but not a degree, which ends up in debt and the loss of a degree. ”
The annual report for the 2021-2022 academic year published in 2023 by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center lists 2.3 million freshmen who recently dropped out, in addition to the 39 million dropouts previously identified. It is stated that there is.
I’ve often asked myself, is college a place where people find themselves, or do they already know who they are before they even enroll? I have seen that if you are not anchored in who you are, you can be carried away by the wind in all directions. I think this is what happens to most students who come to university. They don’t know what they want to do with their lives, and they don’t know what skills they have.
“When you start college, you often hear people say, “I don’t know what I want to do,”” says Bright Futures Club student Elena Mendoza. “Already after three years, you start to feel bad, feel like it’s a waste of money, and drop out. That’s when you start hearing that college is a scam.”
My philosophy about school is that you have to let the system work in your favor, not the other way around. When enrolling, choose a university and department that will give you the tools you need to advance into your desired career field. Build a system that aligns with your interests and professional development.
Mendoza adds, “Have you educated yourself well and chosen the right university for you? Did you know what talents and interests you have before joining?” Taka?”
Let’s say you know what you want to do. I know what future career I want to pursue academically, whether it’s a major or a minor. So, can the university system give me something I can’t find anywhere else, like an internship, apprenticeship, or regular job?
“Building your social network and building your social capital is very important, and it can be a very big part of what people get out of going to college,” said Jyotishi, senior advisor at New America. I mentioned this when commenting on what you can gain by doing so.
Perhaps college can feel like a scam if you’re not ready or don’t know what you want to do with your life. But is this the only thing that will lead to success in college?
Roy Spence, chairman and co-founder of global advertising agency GSD&M, another panelist on the EdSurge podcast, said: The majority say they are only surviving, while 32% say they are thriving. What helped you at university? They had professors who cared. They had a mentor and worked on a six-month project with their fellow students. ”
My own position at The Ledger was earned through my chosen career, interviewing, and pursuing my communication skills as a journalist. My articles include the voices of former classmates, faculty, and professors I have had the privilege of learning from, and others who have willingly participated in my storytelling.
Have you ever heard the expression, “It’s not what you know, but who you know”? It may sound like a cliché, but it’s the key to success in many things. is. You must find a way to use the tools you are given to create your own success.