The weather is getting colder, the days shorter and the time to actually crack open our still-in-the-packaging-textbooks and begin studying for finals is upon us once again.
College has always been criticized for myriad reasons — everyone has his or her own opinion. Some think they are completely unnecessary. After all, Microsoft mogul, Bill Gates, famously dropped out of college and then became a self-made billionaire.
However, before you throw your calculus textbook up in the air, un-enroll from all your classes and get out of town as fast as you can, take a pause: Consider, of all the bad advice out there, statistically, this seems to be among the worst. According to a 2014 Business Insider study, more than 95 percent of billionaires in the United States are college graduates — the most out of any country in the study, and about 80 percent attended graduate school.
Evidence seems to indicate that college might actually have some sort of payout. Business Insider tells us that, “College dropouts who rule the world are exceptions, not the rule.”
There is much bad advice out there when it comes to college and career success. There is not one-size-fits-all, but I doubt the Internet adage of stocking up on blueberries, avocados and leafy greens from your local Harris Teeter is a ticket to great grades and enhanced memory skills.
These exams are important, but they are not the end all, be all. Moving through your college years like a zombie and simply getting a degree most likely won’t bring you fame, fortune and success. I have an inkling that critics who claim a college degree aren’t worth much never took advantage of their time in a university. If practical experience is what the work-force values, then take advantage of the multitude of resources and experiences available at NC State. In my first-year seminars, everyone told me to “make the most of your four years here”— this didn’t resonate with me until I was an upperclassman. The individual determines the worth of his or her education and waiting until the last minute to cram for exams, and in the end, not actually learning much from the class is hardly getting any “bang for your buck.”
The best attitude to have moving into these exams is one of passion about what you are learning. If you care about what you are learning shouldn’t it be, dare I say, exciting to show off the knowledge you’ve gained this semester?
Of course, some classes are the weed-out classes or the GEP classes that are just a hurdle to get to the curriculum that actually inspires you. But if every class you take is like this, then it might be time to stop and rethink what you are doing. Certainly, taking classes that don’t excite and inspire you is indicative of your potential future career in that field. Education is not fully utilized when under-appreciated.
Take charge of these exams and exercise a good level of self-awareness — think about what you like about learning, how you study well, what your bad habits are and what honestly makes you happy. The post-collegiate world is a scary and intimidating uncertainty, and these exams really shouldn’t be.
There for sure is a lot of bad advice out there, but if your ambition is to be the next Bill Gates, statistics indicate that you should probably stop whining and contemplating dropping out and just study for your final exams.
