What a Northwestern grad would do differently

Pea
Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:13:55 +0000

Most of us agree that connections, networking, and experience make more of a difference than the name of your diploma.



The connections and networking I used was the alumni network from my small undergraduate liberal arts college.



It is also dangerous to suggest to those same rising collegians that some “trade” based preparation is the answer. Where would one stand in 4 years if, as was - in fact - the very case with knowbefore, one’s idea of what one wants changes after pursuing a very narrow course of study/preparation?



Yes. If I would have heard anyone say that to my daughter while she was making plans to go to college I would have been livid. I didn’t want her to question the decision to go to college. She needs a college diploma, both of my kids do. She is going to a small liberal arts college and I’m not thinking that she will leave with job skills necessarily. She’s getting an education and learning how to think. If she after she graduates she still needs some job skills she can go to graduate school.

Trade schools have their own risks. What if you don’t like the trade, what if that particular line of work dries up. Then you’ve got nothing to show for your time and money. The same can’t be said for the education you receive in college, that’s something you’ll always have.