Comments on: Why Are Students Dropping Out? http://www.top-colleges.com/blog/2009/09/11/why-finish-college/ College Preparation Tips, Career College Advice, College Degree Programs & more! Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:45:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Steve http://www.top-colleges.com/blog/2009/09/11/why-finish-college/comment-page-1/#comment-1652101 Steve Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:19:26 +0000 http://www.top-colleges.com/blog/?p=29401#comment-1652101 Colleges and the economy are not to blame for rising college drop out rates. The societal pressure to go to college, especially to a high-ranking college, unecessarily encourages teenagers who are not ready for another 4 years of school, or may not feel that college is right for them at all to enroll in college courses. Kids are taught from a young age that education is the key to success, but that does not have mean there is only one way to achieve it. With programs like City Year, Americorps and Teach for America there are a multitude of reputable organzations offering a wide range of options to high school graduates. Taking a year off or deferring school for a year may be the most sound option for many teenagers. College is an expensive investment and if you are not sure it is the most appropriate place for you to be, there are ways you can build your resume and experience that are just as valuable as sitting in a classroom for 4 more years. Gaining hands on skills and real life experience are equally important in developing one's overall skill set and marketability in today's hyper-competitive culture. Colleges and the economy are not to blame for rising college drop out rates. The societal pressure to go to college, especially to a high-ranking college, unecessarily encourages teenagers who are not ready for another 4 years of school, or may not feel that college is right for them at all to enroll in college courses. Kids are taught from a young age that education is the key to success, but that does not have mean there is only one way to achieve it.

With programs like City Year, Americorps and Teach for America there are a multitude of reputable organzations offering a wide range of options to high school graduates. Taking a year off or deferring school for a year may be the most sound option for many teenagers. College is an expensive investment and if you are not sure it is the most appropriate place for you to be, there are ways you can build your resume and experience that are just as valuable as sitting in a classroom for 4 more years. Gaining hands on skills and real life experience are equally important in developing one’s overall skill set and marketability in today’s hyper-competitive culture.

]]> By: Nina G http://www.top-colleges.com/blog/2009/09/11/why-finish-college/comment-page-1/#comment-1511491 Nina G Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:43:53 +0000 http://www.top-colleges.com/blog/?p=29401#comment-1511491 I cannot speak for every college as I do not know their policies. However, I just graduated from SUNY Albany where we had an extensive list of general education courses that we had to complete before we could graduate. I understand that in order to have a dynamic education one needs to focus on more than their desired course. However, perhaps if there were less general education courses to be fulfilled, students could spend their first years of college pursuing their interests which would build a deeper connection between them and the institution. In my experience, time spent in some of these classes built resentment within the student population. There was an overwhelming sense of, "I worked so hard to get here because I want to study art, and here I am taking calculus...why waste my time?" The reformation of the financial aid process will no doubt encourage more students to apply, but perhaps a reform of the university curriculum would make them stay. I cannot speak for every college as I do not know their policies. However, I just graduated from SUNY Albany where we had an extensive list of general education courses that we had to complete before we could graduate. I understand that in order to have a dynamic education one needs to focus on more than their desired course. However, perhaps if there were less general education courses to be fulfilled, students could spend their first years of college pursuing their interests which would build a deeper connection between them and the institution. In my experience, time spent in some of these classes built resentment within the student population. There was an overwhelming sense of, “I worked so hard to get here because I want to study art, and here I am taking calculus…why waste my time?” The reformation of the financial aid process will no doubt encourage more students to apply, but perhaps a reform of the university curriculum would make them stay.

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