Something I don't like about college

[manythings]

Not to be strident, but are you fucking stupid? You do understand there isn't JUST medicine. Great doctors don't just read medical texts, Great doctors know an awful lot about an awful lot. Science isn't as clear cut as "This is Science, Nothing else applies". Maths are needed for statistics, calculating odds, understanding numbers HELPS. No one will trust a doctor who talks like a rapper.

You're problem here isn't that you don't need these things, it's that you don't understand why you need these things. If you stick to the medical stuff you will be a very mediocre doctor.

Not to be an ass, but are you seriously going to ask if I'm fucking stupid.

I know a great deal about what I am going into.

You do understand that I have something known as a high school degree. Most people do not even communicate above a high school level, I hate to break it to you. Also, most people do not write about a 10th grade level, even if they have a college degree.

The truth stings doesn't it?

Your problem is that you immediate lost any credibility with me once you said "fucking stupid".

You are going to be a doctor. This career path will require a whole lot of you, if you don't have what it takes you will kill people. People will always die but if you aren't smart enough to understand that you need to learn more than what a liver looks like then get out of medicine before you start destroying families.

I'm not making a farfetched point, bad doctors are a terror that should be weeded out as early as possible before they do something that can never be fixed.

 

[manythings]

Not to be strident, but are you fucking stupid? You do understand there isn't JUST medicine. Great doctors don't just read medical texts, Great doctors know an awful lot about an awful lot. Science isn't as clear cut as "This is Science, Nothing else applies". Maths are needed for statistics, calculating odds, understanding numbers HELPS. No one will trust a doctor who talks like a rapper.

You're problem here isn't that you don't need these things, it's that you don't understand why you need these things. If you stick to the medical stuff you will be a very mediocre doctor.

What this guy said, but less insulting and less reportable.

When someone is this blatantly wrong they should be treated like they are stupid until they make the effort to get smarter.

So then we should all jump on you for not knowing the difference between "your" and "you're"?

OT: A friend of mine enrolled in college for a dental assisting program. They gave her 3 math classes, a history class, and a ton of other shit that had nothing to do with dental assisting, and didn't give her a dental related class for her entire first year.

Dental assistants don't need to know anything but the procedures, the tools, how to do x-rays, and the tooth numbers and names.

She left that school, enrolled in a dental academy and was certified in 6 months. None of the extra useless shit.

Those assholes, going around making knowledge mandatory. Who do they think they are?

The reason a little knowledge is a dangerous thing is because you never know enough even if you can claim to know everything humanity knows, you don't know enough. What damage will a person do if they know less than that?

 

[VanityGirl]

Not to be strident, but are you fucking stupid? You do understand there isn't JUST medicine. Great doctors don't just read medical texts, Great doctors know an awful lot about an awful lot. Science isn't as clear cut as "This is Science, Nothing else applies". Maths are needed for statistics, calculating odds, understanding numbers HELPS. No one will trust a doctor who talks like a rapper.

You're problem here isn't that you don't need these things, it's that you don't understand why you need these things. If you stick to the medical stuff you will be a very mediocre doctor.

Not to be an ass, but are you seriously going to ask if I'm fucking stupid.

I know a great deal about what I am going into.

You do understand that I have something known as a high school degree. Most people do not even communicate above a high school level, I hate to break it to you. Also, most people do not write about a 10th grade level, even if they have a college degree.

The truth stings doesn't it?

Your problem is that you immediate lost any credibility with me once you said "fucking stupid".

You are going to be a doctor. This career path will require a whole lot of you, if you don't have what it takes you will kill people. People will always die but if you aren't smart enough to understand that you need to learn more than what a liver looks like then get out of medicine before you start destroying families.

I'm not making a farfetched point, bad doctors are a terror that should be weeded out as early as possible before they do something that can never be fixed.

True, but I never said I hated the classes that actually have something to do with my major.

I would rather take MORE classes that have something to do with my major, rather than take history classes.
History classes do not make a good doctor, biology classes do.

And no, the history classes I am taking are not "medical history", they are world history and US history. They have NOTHING to do with medicine. This is not an arguable fact.

 

[manythings]

True, but I never said I hated the classes that actually have something to do with my major.

I would rather take MORE classes that have something to do with my major, rather than take history classes.
History classes do not make a good doctor, biology classes do.

And no, the history classes I am taking are not "medical history", they are world history and US history. They have NOTHING to do with medicine. This is not an arguable fact.

A lack of Vitamin C causes scurvy, a bane to the life of sailors and merchants. By pure accident someone noticed guys who got citrus fruits didn't develop scurvy. Lemon juice abounds and people are healthy, hurrah. Over the next 200 years everyone forgets that lemon juice was why people didn't develop scurvy and blames bad meat for it. Scurvy once again runs rampant and people keep chasing the wrong problem to find a solution.

You don't get to decide what is necessary knowledge because no-one is ever really sure what they are going to need later on. Just because you only plan on using screws today doesn't mean you aren't going to need a hammer at some point.

I was an asshat about this in the beginning but that is because I am seriously dismayed by the idea of someone who could, despite the odds, end up treating someone I know and fuck them up because they didn't get the math for calculating dosage for a given person to something they can do on automatic and not end up poisoning or just plain not treating them. Math is something you are going to need to save someone.

 

[Souplex]

I despise general education requirements as well. Apparently in Ireland they let you just take your major.
I think of it as a math problem; if courses in field a help me by x, and courses in field b help me by y, if x is greater than y, shouldn't I be allowed to take nothing but courses in field A?

 

[-Samurai-]

Not to be strident, but are you fucking stupid? You do understand there isn't JUST medicine. Great doctors don't just read medical texts, Great doctors know an awful lot about an awful lot. Science isn't as clear cut as "This is Science, Nothing else applies". Maths are needed for statistics, calculating odds, understanding numbers HELPS. No one will trust a doctor who talks like a rapper.

You're problem here isn't that you don't need these things, it's that you don't understand why you need these things. If you stick to the medical stuff you will be a very mediocre doctor.

What this guy said, but less insulting and less reportable.

When someone is this blatantly wrong they should be treated like they are stupid until they make the effort to get smarter.

So then we should all jump on you for not knowing the difference between "your" and "you're"?

OT: A friend of mine enrolled in college for a dental assisting program. They gave her 3 math classes, a history class, and a ton of other shit that had nothing to do with dental assisting, and didn't give her a dental related class for her entire first year.

Dental assistants don't need to know anything but the procedures, the tools, how to do x-rays, and the tooth numbers and names.

She left that school, enrolled in a dental academy and was certified in 6 months. None of the extra useless shit.

Those assholes, going around making knowledge mandatory. Who do they think they are?

I know, right? It's not like people pay for college or anything. Everyone has unlimited time and money to waste on things they'll never use. Things that aren't required for their profession of choice and have a 0% chance of ever being needed for their profession.

 

[TheLaofKazi]

Not to be strident, but are you fucking stupid? You do understand there isn't JUST medicine. Great doctors don't just read medical texts, Great doctors know an awful lot about an awful lot. Science isn't as clear cut as "This is Science, Nothing else applies". Maths are needed for statistics, calculating odds, understanding numbers HELPS. No one will trust a doctor who talks like a rapper.

You're problem here isn't that you don't need these things, it's that you don't understand why you need these things. If you stick to the medical stuff you will be a very mediocre doctor.

I can understand English, math, biology and chemistry, but history and psychology? And even 4 English classes is pushing it. I mean, does it really take 4 English classes plus all the required English classes throughout your entire school career from grades 1-12 to be able to read, write and speak clearly and intelligently? Sure, for some people it might, but certainly not everybody.

History of medicine.

Sure, arguably, that's important to know if you are going into the field of medicine. But I highly doubt the two history classes he had to take really covered that, especially if they were general history courses. That stuff would get covered up by the more major historical events.

 

[DarkHourPrince]

Psycology, chemistry, biology, I can understand, but why do I need to spend my precious time and money doing classes that do not apply to me?


It really sucks, because I'm paying for my own school and taking out loans.


In a perfect world I would only take what I need, but sadly this is not the case.


Has anyone ever felt the same way about college as I do?

This is why I DIDN'T go to college and I still got a job doing something I love and I'm perfectly happy not having to pay extra in loans that I really can't afford right now on top of saving up for a vehicle.

 

[manythings]

I know, right? It's not like people pay for college or anything. Everyone has unlimited time and money to waste on things they'll never use. Things that aren't required for their profession of choice and have a 0% chance of ever being needed for their profession.

Since there is absolutely no chance that you will ever have to do something other than your chosen profession... never, ever, ever.

 

[TheLaofKazi]

You might want to have a basic understanding of the world?

Cool, but that can be achieved without paying huge sums of money for classes, like with Google.

And still, the annoying part is here is that it's forced. I don't think anyone here has a problem with people taking classes that don't directly contribute to their credit just for the sake of learning, but some people don't want to spend money on classes that don't contribute to their major. They want to go to college, get their degree, and get a job and get on with their life. And I highly doubt the people that run these college's are thinking "Oh! We'll show our students the world!" No, they want more money.

 

[manythings]

I despise general education requirements as well. Apparently in Ireland they let you just take your major.
I think of it as a math problem; if courses in field a help me by x, and courses in field b help me by y, if x is greater than y, shouldn't I be allowed to take nothing but courses in field A?

We don't have majors or minors here. You have a course, these are your classes and the schedule. Attend them.

 

[Mstrswrd]

I'm lucky (not to rub it in). I take Core classes AND classes for my Major starting the very first year. It's called a "Reversed class sheduale," and only a few colleges do it (the name is a misnomer, though, since it isn't reversed). What this means is that, like I said, starting from the very first semester of the first year, I take both Core and Major's classes, so that I can get a feel for my major. It also allows you time to quickyl switch out if you realize that your major isn't for you.

However, to make up for it, we take absolutely horrid Core classes that are combination theory classes, like "Concepts of the Self," which is like the most important parts of English Lit. 101, Psychology 101, Human Bio. 101, and a beginners debate club, combined into one class.

Ugh.

 

[DanDeFool]

Don't be too hard on a liberal arts education.

Learning about mathematics will help you immensely in a medical field, since it will be instrumental to your understanding of bio-chemistry.

English (ninja'd) is all about being eloquent, learning to express your ideas, and learning how to write well. You cannot become a doctor without writing papers and getting them published. That's the way academia works.

A knowledge of History will help you understand what people are like in different parts of the country, and the world. Knowledge of important events will be useful in relating to people and getting them to like and respect you.

So pay attention in those 'fluff' classes. I know it sucks to have to shell out so much money on them, but they ARE useful.

 

[IxionIndustries]

So I've been attending college for two years now. Yep two long years. I will soon begin to finally take my major classes. I went through two years of core classes, most of which had nothing to do with my major, just so I could get into my major classes.


Now, I feel as if I've wasted time and money doing all of these core classes. Of course, colleges demand that you do these classes.

I'm going into the medical field, but I've had to take 4 English classes, two history classes, a math class, chemistry, biology, psycology, and chemistry and a speech class.

Why must I take those classes that do not apply to me?

For instance, the 4 FUCKING English classes. Why do I need all of that? Also, history classes and math classes.

Psycology, chemistry, biology, I can understand, but why do I need to spend my precious time and money doing classes that do not apply to me?


It really sucks, because I'm paying for my own school and taking out loans.


In a perfect world I would only take what I need, but sadly this is not the case.


Has anyone ever felt the same way about college as I do?

They do it to get more cash out of you.

 

[MikailCaboose]

Math is just a good benchmark class to show your ability to think abstractly, besides you'll never be able to survive in the world without higher math!

I don't particularly mind GE classes, they're great for padding your GPA. You won't use most of your early major education in day-to-day practice. Organic chem is just there to be a hard class so that you can say "Yeah, I passed Orgo" to your employers.

NOOOO! How can I solve the last problem without the next page?! *Looks back at raptor behind* Gulp...

 

[-Samurai-]

I know, right? It's not like people pay for college or anything. Everyone has unlimited time and money to waste on things they'll never use. Things that aren't required for their profession of choice and have a 0% chance of ever being needed for their profession.

Since there is absolutely no chance that you will ever have to do something other than your chosen profession... never, ever, ever.

Something that requires advanced mathematics and/or an extended knowledge of obscure historical events. I highly doubt it.

Since we're on the "you never know what you might need to know" topic here. Why not just never let people graduate from school, and force them to attend school their entire life(while paying for it, of course) until they know absolutely everything about everything?

This way, they can continually throw away money for that "just in case" moment that will likely never happen, all while juggling their time with their career and personal life.

You want higher education? Fine. Not everyone wants to spend their money on shit they don't need and likely never will.

 

[child of lileth]

Yep. I still haven't gotten to my major classes after about 2 years worth (off an on semester attendance due to lack of money). I pretty much think I'm gonna just drop out for good. I'm in the same 'why do I need this?' thing though.

 

[randomsix]

You should have gone to a college with few or no core classes. They exist, so you can't bemoan your situation for not exploring other options earlier.

 

[LokiSuaveHP]

I need to take math because people should know how to do math. I guess as a History/Vocal Performance/Religious studies, that is the best I can come up with.

However, History is about creating arguments after being given evidence, and English is about expressing thought. Anytime you have to write a paper you express a thought. Also, if nobody ever found anything interesting other than the things that they study, then maybe this idea of only studying what you chose to study before you went to college would hold a bit more merit. People change, and not being exposed to other ideas and other fields is something that would be a great disservice to an "education."

Also, as a bit of a rant. Maybe you should suck it up and deal with the fact that you're going to have to do things that you don't want to do for your own good. I should know how to do math higher than college algebra, you should be able to give me a general overview of civilization from 1 AD to the present. At least the Western European civilization that you came out.

 

[manythings]

I know, right? It's not like people pay for college or anything. Everyone has unlimited time and money to waste on things they'll never use. Things that aren't required for their profession of choice and have a 0% chance of ever being needed for their profession.

Since there is absolutely no chance that you will ever have to do something other than your chosen profession... never, ever, ever.

Something that requires advanced mathematics and/or an extended knowledge of obscure historical events. I highly doubt it.

Since we're on the "you never know what you might need to know" topic here. Why not just never let people graduate from school, and force them to attend school their entire life(while paying for it, of course) until they know absolutely everything about everything?

This way, they can continually throw away money for that "just in case" moment that will likely never happen, all while juggling their time with their career and personal life.

You want higher education? Fine. Not everyone wants to spend their money on shit they don't need and likely never will.

Hey, here we didn't decide to have an insane system purpose built to force hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt onto students (though it is going that way recently). Take that issue up with congress but don't tell me that when you leave college you'll never have to learn again. A lot of jobs require on the job training, refresher courses, new training, policy change training, reattending classes you did because the state of your field has advanced. If you are going into a scientific or medical field you are never really leaving education.