# Should I go to college? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2001, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-to-college/50779 "2001-01-19T00:25:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-to-college/50779/21 "2001-01-21T02:54:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slackergirl \* > \*\* > > If you want to write I think a degree in English will help you with it, it forced me to read things I really hate, and that’s a good thing because it changed my perspective on literature as a whole, I now see it as art and have a much easier time picking something apart critically and finding the good pieces of my own work. It also helps you learn how to deal with criticism well. After you’ve spent a couple of years having your work criticized by both completely thoughtful and helpful people, and absolute pricks, you develop a thicker skin and an ability to differentiate. > > \*\* That was one of the absolute, flat-out best descriptions of the process I’ve ever read. _Exactly_! It not only exposes you to things you might never find otherwise, it forces you to master 'em whether you like them or not. If I can expand on **slackergirl’s** point, the academic grind can be an invaluable lesson in itself. It doesn’t just teach content; it teaches how to learn and produce. It forces a person to read, absorb, analyse, synthesize and then report–and do it to an acceptable standard and on time. Let’s face it, most people don’t leap out of bed in the morning, all eager to tackle work. Academics can give you the tools, knowledge and self-discipline to get things done. Writing requires more self-discipline than most things, I think. Sadly, I’ve watched several friends fail in their dream of writing because they wait for inspiration. By all means enroll at the local comm college or wherever you choose. You’re at the absolute golden, perfect age! When I was a grad ass we _adored_ “older students” because they were focused and eager as hell to learn. Look at it this way, if you do this you’re giving yourself chances and resources. If it turns out it isn’t what you want, you might find what you _do_ want along the way. What’s the worst that can happen if you try, and what’s the best that can happen if you don’t? Hey, all the best, **woodstockybird** , and keep us posted, y’hear? Veb ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-to-college/50779/22 "2001-01-21T04:10:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TVeblen \* > **Let’s face it, most people don’t leap out of bed in the morning, all eager to tackle work.** I do! 😃 Embuggerances? I delegate. Pushing to the pointy end of the education curve opens up lots of opportunities to find fun jobs, whereas, in my opinion, folks back in the school bell, though often as bright and dedicated, are more likely to get ground down by virtue of the jobs which are available to them. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-to-college/50779/23 "2001-01-21T06:06:15Z")
Hey, **woodstock** , which fraternity do you think you’re going to join? That’s a very important decision. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-to-college/50779/24 "2001-01-23T04:53:57Z")
Thanks again, everyone. I e-mailed some of you, but for the rest, let me try to address you: **rackensack** , you’re right, I worded my question improperly ( and somewhat arrogantly). As I said, I love learning; I just wondered if college would offer me anything more than I could learn on my own from reading, software, etc. The overwhelming opinion seems to be that it would. Still, I do have friends with English degress who tried to get into something related to their major (publishing, editing, journalism, etc.) without much luck. That said, I guess that’s no reason to write off college altogether. I just wanted to know if everybody’s experiences were positive, and it appears they were. Thanks for the input. **Sue** , I’m not so worried about showing employers I’ve got the gumption to stick something out for 4 years - that’s the length of time I was in the Army, and I’d say it was arguably more taxing than college. Unfortunately, I ended up hating the work I did in the service (electronics and computer repair) - got a few jobs in the field once I got out, but couldn’t stand it. Anyway, yeah, maybe you and **Lissa** and I can have an old fart graduation party - you might want to give me 7 years, though. I can be pretty lazy. **Snooooopy** , I’d love to write for a small town paper (not sports, though - I know nothing about them). Oh, and there aren’t too many junior colleges around here with fraternities; however, I recently signed up with a frat here in town anyway. They’re known as the Crips. They seem like decent fellows. **TVeblen** and **Slackergirl** , thanks for the advice and words of encouragement. I will let you know how it goes. To everyone I haven’t mentioned, thanks for writing - this is a fairly big life decision, and I value yourthoughts on the subject. And sorry I took so long to respond. Like I said, I can be pretty lazy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-go-to-college/50779.md?page=1)