Budget issues aside (for a moment, anyway) a struggling economy is often a boost for colleges and universities, at least in enrollment numbers. Whether or not there will be enough resources to actually support and educate those students is the subject of another post, soon to come.
Still, whether it’s additional training, a new career, or a place to “park” while waiting for things to turn around, higher education is often the catch all for people who are not sure what else to do.
On some level, I am completely ok with that because I truly believe in the benefits of an education, especially the benefits of a university education. Unfortunately, a four-year degree may not deliver what people expect, or arguably what many people really want—a clear job path. I talk with university students nearly every day and regardless of age, background, or reason for being in college, the pressure to get a degree, any degree, is intense. Time to completion, cost, and job outlook overshadow any discussion of personal growth, civic participation, and lifelong learning.
I felt the same way as I worked (and also borrowed) my way through an undergraduate degree. University tuition is not cheap and student loans can be a burden. But at its core, a four-year degree is not always meant to be job specific training. While there are some degree programs in health and science fields that do offer more specific training, the majority of degree earners leave a university with the kinds of intangible skills that can be applied broadly. The diploma works as a social and cultural stamp that shows employers the ability to think, solve problems, work on a team, and most importantly, the ability to learn new things. Yet, it does not come with a job guarantee.
Does that mean people should forgo the four-year degree and opt for some type of certification or technical training that offers a more tangible outcome? Maybe. The truth is that getting a four-year degree is one of many options for increasing employability. I would argue it offers the best long-term potential, but shorter-term, more focused training may meet a more immediate need for some people—and that is ok, too.
For those seeking a four-year degree, I would say this: Get a four-year degree because you want one, not because you think there is no alternative. Get a four-degree for what it really offers. No matter where technology takes us, the world needs thoughtful, articulate, well-rounded people. The world needs curious people with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a diverse, changing society. That is what you get with your diploma and that is what sets a university education apart from other kinds of programs.
