Comments on: “Book studying” versus “Real world application” http://pointlessly.org/2009/05/book-studying-versus-real-world-application/ experiencing life through an always-nuanced worldview. Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:49:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Akhila http://pointlessly.org/2009/05/book-studying-versus-real-world-application/comment-page-1/#comment-1802 Akhila Fri, 08 May 2009 06:43:46 +0000 http://pointlessly.org/?p=279#comment-1802 I hear you. I'm an undergrad studying political science and economics, and the ironic thing is that economics is considered one of the more "practical" liberal arts majors. But really, it hasn't been those skills I've learned in class that have benefited me during work or internships. I've found things I've pretty much taught myself - like webdesign, marketing, social media, etc - to be more useful than what I've learned in the classroom. How useful is a liberal arts education? But I think my education has helped me in so many other ways. My political science classes have helped me learn and read critically; it has developed my skills in critical thinking, problem solving, writing and communicating myself effectively. Participating in class has increased my oral & public speaking skills and given me confidence. I've learned an immense amount about the world and why it is the way it is. But I think there definitely needs to be a more practical component to it. I've learned a lot and love my majors, but was that really worth the money? I don't know. I hear you. I’m an undergrad studying political science and economics, and the ironic thing is that economics is considered one of the more “practical” liberal arts majors. But really, it hasn’t been those skills I’ve learned in class that have benefited me during work or internships. I’ve found things I’ve pretty much taught myself – like webdesign, marketing, social media, etc – to be more useful than what I’ve learned in the classroom. How useful is a liberal arts education?

But I think my education has helped me in so many other ways. My political science classes have helped me learn and read critically; it has developed my skills in critical thinking, problem solving, writing and communicating myself effectively. Participating in class has increased my oral & public speaking skills and given me confidence. I’ve learned an immense amount about the world and why it is the way it is.

But I think there definitely needs to be a more practical component to it. I’ve learned a lot and love my majors, but was that really worth the money? I don’t know.

]]> By: Akhila http://pointlessly.org/2009/05/book-studying-versus-real-world-application/comment-page-1/#comment-3781 Akhila Fri, 08 May 2009 06:43:00 +0000 http://pointlessly.org/?p=279#comment-3781 I hear you. I'm an undergrad studying political science and economics, and the ironic thing is that economics is considered one of the more "practical" liberal arts majors. But really, it hasn't been those skills I've learned in class that have benefited me during work or internships. I've found things I've pretty much taught myself - like webdesign, marketing, social media, etc - to be more useful than what I've learned in the classroom. How useful is a liberal arts education? But I think my education has helped me in so many other ways. My political science classes have helped me learn and read critically; it has developed my skills in critical thinking, problem solving, writing and communicating myself effectively. Participating in class has increased my oral & public speaking skills and given me confidence. I've learned an immense amount about the world and why it is the way it is. But I think there definitely needs to be a more practical component to it. I've learned a lot and love my majors, but was that really worth the money? I don't know. I hear you. I’m an undergrad studying political science and economics, and the ironic thing is that economics is considered one of the more “practical” liberal arts majors. But really, it hasn’t been those skills I’ve learned in class that have benefited me during work or internships. I’ve found things I’ve pretty much taught myself – like webdesign, marketing, social media, etc – to be more useful than what I’ve learned in the classroom. How useful is a liberal arts education?

But I think my education has helped me in so many other ways. My political science classes have helped me learn and read critically; it has developed my skills in critical thinking, problem solving, writing and communicating myself effectively. Participating in class has increased my oral & public speaking skills and given me confidence. I’ve learned an immense amount about the world and why it is the way it is.

But I think there definitely needs to be a more practical component to it. I’ve learned a lot and love my majors, but was that really worth the money? I don’t know.

]]> By: amberm http://pointlessly.org/2009/05/book-studying-versus-real-world-application/comment-page-1/#comment-1800 amberm Fri, 08 May 2009 05:28:54 +0000 http://pointlessly.org/?p=279#comment-1800 I'd have to agree, Rosalind. I contemplate my life as a student everyday (and I mean it). Not a single day goes by when I don't think about these same issues...for the most part, my teachers don't inspire me, I'm stuck doing "reading engagements" for articles I'm not interested in--in classes I hate! And it probably doesn't help that we go to Berkeley, a school that primarily focuses on theory...NOT application. Where are we to get real life skills, I ask? It gets even worse when you think that we're PAYING to be bored...to learn things that we have no interest in learning about. Yeah, it's true that some of it is probably worthwhile, but that's also subjective. I'll probably just fall in sleep in class anyway. I don't even want to break down the price per hour we pay for one of these classes. oiy vey! ...and I was wondering why you were tweeting so fervently with #SocEntChat yesterday! haha I’d have to agree, Rosalind. I contemplate my life as a student everyday (and I mean it). Not a single day goes by when I don’t think about these same issues…for the most part, my teachers don’t inspire me, I’m stuck doing “reading engagements” for articles I’m not interested in–in classes I hate! And it probably doesn’t help that we go to Berkeley, a school that primarily focuses on theory…NOT application. Where are we to get real life skills, I ask?

It gets even worse when you think that we’re PAYING to be bored…to learn things that we have no interest in learning about. Yeah, it’s true that some of it is probably worthwhile, but that’s also subjective. I’ll probably just fall in sleep in class anyway. I don’t even want to break down the price per hour we pay for one of these classes. oiy vey!

…and I was wondering why you were tweeting so fervently with #SocEntChat yesterday! haha

]]> By: amberm http://pointlessly.org/2009/05/book-studying-versus-real-world-application/comment-page-1/#comment-3780 amberm Fri, 08 May 2009 05:28:00 +0000 http://pointlessly.org/?p=279#comment-3780 I'd have to agree, Rosalind. I contemplate my life as a student everyday (and I mean it). Not a single day goes by when I don't think about these same issues...for the most part, my teachers don't inspire me, I'm stuck doing "reading engagements" for articles I'm not interested in--in classes I hate! And it probably doesn't help that we go to Berkeley, a school that primarily focuses on theory...NOT application. Where are we to get real life skills, I ask? It gets even worse when you think that we're PAYING to be bored...to learn things that we have no interest in learning about. Yeah, it's true that some of it is probably worthwhile, but that's also subjective. I'll probably just fall in sleep in class anyway. I don't even want to break down the price per hour we pay for one of these classes. oiy vey! ...and I was wondering why you were tweeting so fervently with #SocEntChat yesterday! haha I’d have to agree, Rosalind. I contemplate my life as a student everyday (and I mean it). Not a single day goes by when I don’t think about these same issues…for the most part, my teachers don’t inspire me, I’m stuck doing “reading engagements” for articles I’m not interested in–in classes I hate! And it probably doesn’t help that we go to Berkeley, a school that primarily focuses on theory…NOT application. Where are we to get real life skills, I ask?

It gets even worse when you think that we’re PAYING to be bored…to learn things that we have no interest in learning about. Yeah, it’s true that some of it is probably worthwhile, but that’s also subjective. I’ll probably just fall in sleep in class anyway. I don’t even want to break down the price per hour we pay for one of these classes. oiy vey!

…and I was wondering why you were tweeting so fervently with #SocEntChat yesterday! haha

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