Is there such a thing as college for grown-ups?

[diggitydot]

Is there such a thing as college for grown-ups?

Maybe it's the era when I attended college, but I don't understand why any professor gives half a fuck who shows. It's not as if going to college is compulsory here. If they don't show up, they're paying for a class that they're choosing not to get the most from. So what? It's their grade and their education.

Although, I absolutely get why a performance-based class like orchestra would require attendance. Kind of hard to hear the entire group if they're not all there at the same time.

[SoonerTexan]

Now that I think about it, I did have a couple of upper division (history) seminar classes that really did require attendance, though I'm not sure it was a spelled out requirement. We had one paper at the end, no tests. It was all discussion based, so if you didn't come, there was nothing really to grade you on.

[DCJenn]

Isn't college partly to prepare people for the so-called real world? Isn't learning to show up for what is important part of that basic skill set?

I just posted an article on my FB page that I found that discussed this very trend of helicopter parents taking it to work...

J.

[spotty_dog]

I just posted an article on my FB page that I found that discussed this very trend of helicopter parents taking it to work...

If you can't post the article here, can you maybe summarize?

[moonlight]

Isn't college partly to prepare people for the so-called real world? Isn't learning to show up for what is important part of that basic skill set?

I just posted an article on my FB page that I found that discussed this very trend of helicopter parents taking it to work...

J.

That is a scary thought.

[Alacrity]

Oh goodness, I'd buried this memory... I had a class where we were required to participate twice during each lecture to get full participation credit. People would start saying the dumbest stuff towards the end to get their check marks. That was almost 10 years ago. I can only imagine what it's like now!

Kind of like posting to get to 100 posts. YEAH! this is my 100th post. But seriously, I find graduate level courses to be a little more mature. And for many you don't need a bachelor degree if it isn't degree seeking.

[houseelf]

Kind of like posting to get to 100 posts. YEAH! this is my 100th post.

Well played, Alacrity, well played. LOL.

[scarlett09]

Truly, I would like to know. This was not the way when I started college in 1990.

- I have to sign in to class.
- 20% of my grade is attendance and participation.
- we spent over an hour on Tues talking about resumes, cover letters, and how to act like a human being in a NUTRITION class (seeing that I started working 25 years ago, I'm pretty sure I've got all that down...but I expect to be learning about...NUTRITION!)

Today I got dinged for attendance because the instructor felt I didn't participate enough. I'm sorry, you make us play musical chairs every damn day to "shake things up" and today I had to sit in the back among kids busy texting. There are 40 people and it's a 75 minute class. Exactly how is everyone supposed to participate EVERY class?

I'm too old for this shit.

Rant over, thanks for reading.

Ugh. Yup that is a lot to deal with. And it sucks for you because you have already BTDT. Plus shouldn't the prof leave the resume/cover letter stuff for career services/other student affairs peeps? If the prof wants to address techniques for those items specific to the field of nutrition, do it over email or during office hours. Spending time talking about being a human is what I spend a lot of time doing. In fact, I'm about to go thru another 6 month cycle of it in a few weeks. It's amazing what skills college students DON'T have nowadays when they arrive on campus.

Today I got an email from my director, forwarding an email from a student saying she couldn't come to an event this week. Director wanted to know who had contacted her because she had no clue why she emailed her. I had contacted the student late last week about said program. So instead of replying directly to me, she emailed my director. In the student's defense, director and I have the same first name. But then she ended her email with saying she could not attend the program because of "other preoccupations." ::face palm::

That professor's rules go totally against adult learning theories. If you want students to attend and participate in your class, do not be a talking head behind a podium. I can see that crap on YouTube.

This.

Isn't college partly to prepare people for the so-called real world? Isn't learning to show up for what is important part of that basic skill set?

I just posted an article on my FB page that I found that discussed this very trend of helicopter parents taking it to work...

J.

YES. THIS. I coordinate something akin to a job-shadowing program. In two weeks, there will be an info session for said program, which requires advanced registration. Right now, of the 60 students signed up for the session, I predict that 25% won't show. Maybe 5% will contact me ahead of time about a conflict or emergency, and ask what they can do to get the info. About 10% will contact me after the fact, hyperventilating about getting the missed info. The remaining 10% of that 25%? I will never hear from them until interview week, when they show up with their shit all wrong. Or better yet, they miss interview week completely and want me to make special arrangements for them. Uhhhh no. I am ALL about treating this program like the real world and providing real-life consequences. You were too busy partying/instagraming/texting/rushing to read your emails/check the online posts/etc about scheduling an interview? TOO BAD. Your potential employers will move right onto the next qualified candidate. And I will do the same, because I am not here to hold your hand. I am here to help you be the best possible "you" when you go forth with that diploma.

End rant. Please post the article.

[SuzySunshine]

This is the article she posted: http://www.today.com/money/heres-car...ome-8C11147746

[scarlett09]

Trying not to imagine students bringing parents to interviews or parents emailing me about their child's placement ::shudder::

[DCJenn]

Wait until the parents start calling attendings during residency to say that "Johnny needs more time off. Suzie HAS to go to her cousin's wedding and you MUST let her off."

J.

[MrsSz]

Wait until the parents start calling attendings during residency to say that "Johnny needs more time off. Suzie HAS to go to her cousin's wedding and you MUST let her off."

J.

You're joking.... Right?!

[HouseofWool]

You're joking.... Right?!

Um, if they are calling employers asking about raises/promotions for their kids, I don't think it is that far off the mark.

And I get slammed as not being involved enough when I don't sign my kid's homework log. Dude is an above average student (not off the charts, but a solid A/B-B student) who really doesn't need a lot of prompting to get his stuff done. I figure it is better to let him figure this out in elementary school where a failure to get organized isn't going to ruin his life than to hold his hand now and have to figure it out later when it really matters.

[PrincessFiona]

Um, if they are calling employers asking about raises/promotions for their kids, I don't think it is that far off the mark.

And I get slammed as not being involved enough when I don't sign my kid's homework log. Dude is an above average student (not off the charts, but a solid A/B-B student) who really doesn't need a lot of prompting to get his stuff done. I figure it is better to let him figure this out in elementary school where a failure to get organized isn't going to ruin his life than to hold his hand now and have to figure it out later when it really matters.

So true, Kris. I think we're raising a generation of kid who doesn't know how to manage their own lives, and parents who have been made to feel personally responsible for every success and failure along the way.

I have to sign my 2nd grade daughter's spelling practice nightly, her reading minutes, and her folder. I have to sign Aidan's folder every night. It's on me to check online for missing assignments for my 9th and 12th grader. It has become a routine in my life. With this much commitment comes a real investment of my energy. I start to feel like I have skin in the game here.

I just had a big discussion with Amanda's IEP teacher that they ask me to commit to investing this time and energy and expect me to stay on top of it, but when it comes down to it, they don't want my feedback and ask that my daughter be allowed to make decisions on her own. Hell no. Make me sign, check on grades, help her make appointments to make up quizzes (and send me emails to remind me to take care of it for my kid) and then tell me to back off? No.

I admit that when Andrew was working, Thomas called him in sick the first time. Andrew was so nervous and afraid to be fired that he wouldn't call in and he was really sick. He left it to the last minute and begged us. The boss asked Thomas "why are you calling for your son. He is a legal adult." We both felt like asshats. Andrew really didn't know how to get past that initial hurdle of being his own man. He did get there though. He had to have our help asking for vacation time too. ugh. But ... he did take the bull by the horns and ultimately ask for the time off . He also gave notice by himself. Andrew is a slightly different case though. I can't imagine being that involved for Alex ... but Amanda? I don't know. I have been raised for the last 12 years by the schools to believe that I have to be in charge of everything. Letting go feels unnatural.

Kris

[diggitydot]

Andrew is an entirely different situation. Aspies don't pick up on social crap as well as neurotypical peeps. Part of the workplace stuff, like asking for time off or calling in sick, is fraught with social crap, even with written SOPs in place.