Higher Education

[dylan020]

ok, little bit of a rant...probably due to another all night study session so bear with me

Just a little background...Im a junior (1 class shy of senior) and I was a pre-med/Biology major for 3 years and have now switched to a double in criminal justice and psychology last spring semester. I was mostly a C student in the former major (mainly due to the difficulty of attending a primarily hospital based school and receiving instruction from Ph.d's teaching at the Ph.d level) Since the switch, I havent made less than an 88 on any assignments, tests, papers, experiments, etc. Im also in the running for an internships with the FBI, Secret Service, and US Marshals. So, Im pretty confident I've found my calling/niche. Also, I work full time for a moving company and have been there for 3 years so full time student and worker. Im almost ready to quit this job because they are calling me in on my school days after class and working me until 11-12pm knowing that I have a test online to take in a specific window (UAB is 'going green' so no more paper tests) So, now to the rant

For those of you with bachelor's/master's degrees, I have a question or two. First of all, Im having difficulty grasping the way the system is done. After seeing/working with professors in this new major, its even more apparent that there is a huge gap between theory and practical use in the field. Now, Im talking in general, not just this field. Why in the hell do we continue to preach theory throughout the undergraduates 'career' when there seems to be very little carryover to use in a real career. Im just not understanding why someone in the administration cant come up with some kind of senior level class/seminar to try and bridge the gap between the two?!?!?!?!

Secondly, Im just curious about whether the masters degree holds that much more water than the bachelors. All I need is the bachelors for the FBI, so Im good there. I know a masters would be that much higher education, insight, training, whatever you wanna call it so its not like Im not interested in it for dumb reasons like just trying to get done and get a job. Is there some kind of benefit other than a bump in pay grade?? It just seems like its more theory based courses that are just on a more critical thinking level. Just would like to get others inputs on what your opinions are on these things??

[Jason Pham]

Theory is emphasized over practice for several reasons. The most important is the assumption that practical skills can be learned quickly and cheaply on the job, the critical thinking and theoretical knowledge that is required to advance yourself in said job is not.

Secondly, being at a college or university is largely different from being at a vocational trade school. Whereas a trade school will teach you just the skills needed to do your job, colleges and universities tend to place higher value on a holistic and character developing education.

The above to assertions can be seen in law schools. The "Top 14" law schools are almost exclusively focused on teaching the theory of law. In fact, elite law firms hire graduates from these elite law schools assuming that they have few practical skills and that time must be spent teaching them these practical skills on the job. What these graduates are valued for is their ability to critically analyze and think like a lawyer. Top law schools deal primarily with refining the attributes a good lawyer ought to have. So while a graduate from a lower ranked law school may be more able to handle the job immediately after they've earned their juris doctor, graduates from top law schools tend to have a higher ceiling as to where they can go with their education.

I'm admittedly ignorant in criminal justice and psychology so I'll speak just in general terms regarding post-graduate degrees. Unless you are an academic, post-graduate degrees tend to be pursued in order to complement and help move a career forward. A graduate with a masters will enter the workforce further down the development road than a graduate with a bachelors degree and will likely enter in on the same level as an employee with just a bachelors and a bit of work experience. You may find during your career that in order to stay competitive in your field as a potential hire or promotion, you will need the next degree. If you (1) only need a bachelors to start your career, (2) do not currently have any ambition to immediately enter the workforce at the masters level, and (3) are comfortable with the bachelors paygrade, then it does not seem as if you would find much worth in immediately pursuing a post-graduate degree.

[dylan020]

Thanks man!
The way they are telling me, I could very possibly be hired after the internship, right around graduation time too. I didnt know if it would even be worth it to try and do grad school while I'm hired already, or just start climbing the proverbial ladder

[NeuteredDoomer]

Above is verbose silver spoon rhetoric.

Find the girl you want to hump and keep her and your babies.

Love the one you're with.

You might find a ladder shoved in front of you.

If you have bad intentions, the ladder might lead downhill.

You are loaded with HOPE.

Hope is contagious.

[ACamp1900]

LMAO....

I'm in the middle enough to laugh at all of you here


I would have said my degrees focused on theory b/c it helps to know why you should do something before you do it

and when you're done doing it........ enjoy beer

[dylan020]

well beer i can handle

[SoCalDomer]

Originally Posted by Jason Pham

The above to assertions can be seen in law schools. The "Top 14" law schools are almost exclusively focused on teaching the theory of law. In fact, elite law firms hire graduates from these elite law schools assuming that they have few practical skills and that time must be spent teaching them these practical skills on the job. What these graduates are valued for is their ability to critically analyze and think like a lawyer. Top law schools deal primarily with refining the attributes a good lawyer ought to have. So while a graduate from a lower ranked law school may be more able to handle the job immediately after they've earned their juris doctor, graduates from top law schools tend to have a higher ceiling as to where they can go with their education.

gobbleygook. the big law schools teach theory so those lawyers can "think" deeper and justify charging their clients astronomical fees.

i handled a defense case a few years back where defense counsel for another defendant came from UC Berkely, probably one of the top schools on the west coast, working for a firm in dowtown San Francisco.

the plaintiff was a pro per, and actually succeeded in getting discovery sanctions against this high priced stuffed shirt.

The other defense lawyer charged his client approx $75k by the end of the case, and had nothing to show for it.. I charged my client approx $30k and I filed the two motions for summary judgment that got the whole case dismissed. that other dinggleberry didn't even have the good sense to file a joinder to our motion (which is a one line paper saying "we join in the relief requested by the moving defendant.")

however, having friends who graduate from Duke Law school and are in fact much smarter than me who work in much higher high rises, i concur that it is sometimes true. however, it's less about what the law school does and more about the potential of the student.