College

[DrMM]

No: HPFGUIDX 5125

The college student responds to the U.S. college system questions. . . .

At the University which I attend, we have a group of requirements called 
Essential Studies.  This includes subjects such as Communication (usually 
writing), Humanities, Historical Studies, Language, Scientific Base (Math & 
Science), etc.  Unless you are in your major, you usually only have to take 
3-9 hours (3 hours is one class) in these subjects but there are quite a 
few of these requirements.

The basis for this is to get the "well-rounded" education.  Many people I 
know object to the requirements but I never have.  For example, the 
language requirement.  We're required to take 0-12 hours of a foreign 
language (depending on whether you've taken some before).  I took Spanish 
(now I wish I'd taken Japanese but that's another story).  A lot of people 
think this is pointless: "I'll never need to speak x to anyone.  They'll 
all speak English."  However, we live in an increasingly global 
world.  Spanish is becoming increasingly important in the U.S. as more 
Spanish-speaking immigrants come into the US.  I've used my Spanish to 
speak to people when I was a checker at a grocery store, so I don't 
consider learning it a waste of my time.  (I consider the *classes* a waste 
of my time because I had pathetic teachers but that's something else.)

Another example is my father.  He's an engineer.  He's told me upon 
occasion that many of his classmates became engineers so they wouldn't have 
to take many English classes.  Then he laughs and says,"But I write more as 
an engineer than I ever did when I was in school."  The point being that 
you can never know what skills you need when you get into the real world.

I was originally a pre-med major and then switched to English and 
History.  As a result I have quite a few science classes I don't need.  But 
I don't consider them wasted hours.  I still enjoy science and because I've 
taken the classes I'm able to understand a lot of concepts that I wouldn't 
be able to otherwise.  For example, all the genetic discussions that have 
occurred on the PoU list about the 'mage' gene.  I think knowing these 
concepts will make it easier for me to converse with a wider variety of 
people on a much more intellectual level than I would be otherwise.

I guess I like the concept.  I understand why people don't want to take 
classes that don't relate to their major but in the real world you'll never 
know what to expect.  The English major will use math and the math major 
will write, therefore, having taken classes in the subject will help.  Or 
so I think :)

DrMM
*~*~*~*~*~*
DrMM is found at drmm at fuuko.com
http://www.fuuko.com
Most recent anime: Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne