Are you going to school for the certificate or for the learning?

I don’t like schools at all, but somehow end up with doctoral degree. School is teaching people how to study, but I am self motivated, never ending student. I like to study on my own and learning new skills is the best reward from all.

I certainly had no interest in what I was studying. I studied purely for the degree and I told that candidly to my professors. Believe you not, I didn't even bother turning up for the prestigious graduation ceremony where graduates come decked in pompous looking gowns and throw their hats like a 6 years old. I just asked a friend to collect my certificate for me and I didn't even bother getting it from him till quite a while later.

the reason i go to college is because i want to learn about the job i want to enrol in and also to get a certificate to say i passed my degree. it is also nice to meet new people as i have met lots of new friends

Well Liranlgo, I think that is what most youngsters have in mind when they go to uni. My son whom we send to Australia had the same thoughts. This is what he told me later, “Dad, I went to Australia to enjoy life as I was not able to that in Singapore, with you and mm around.” But when I as there, there was not much that I could enjoy. Fortunately, I mixed with some friends; these friends that I got to know were scholars. Well, theses scholars changed my thinking and I started to pay more attention in my studies. Here I will like to highlight my son’s performance, I got a degree with distinction. Moreover he got a scholarship during his semester. Not only that, he was admitted into the “golden key club” (By invitation). I am very proud of him and my thanks to the friends that he mixed with.

Well, I study for the knowledge. If I wanted to study to get a job or a certificate, I wouln't have studied neurosceince.. it is just d@#n too hard... I know most people don't go the school for knowledge, but to get a job or have a certificate to wave in front of everybody else... I can tell you one thing - if you study only for a certificate, don't study neuroscience...

First of all, I have to admit that I graduated from high school in 1989. I started college right away... but have dropped out twice because I *had to* for personal reasons. But I have about a hundred semester hours under my belt. And I've changed programs a couple of times. I still haven't graduated. But for me, it's not so much the degree... or diploma... or finding a mate or having a great social life. It's more about learning, reading, educating myself, meeting others with like minds ~ who want to learn and to change the world in some way. People who want to make a difference, whatever that means to them. I work full-time and have a family. So I don't need to find a mate. My job is half-way decent. Not great, but okay. But I have an unquenchable (sp?) desire to learn and to meet others who do as well. I have found that here, in Indiana (U.S.A.), that most of the people who are like me in this respect are Returning Students. In other words, they're older than most of the other college students. Usually 25 +. They're usually the ones who go because they *want* to. They want to better themselves and to meet other people to chat with & make a positive effect on society, etc. The regular, college-aged students I've met usually are just there for the degree... or because "all their friends are in college" or because their parents are making them go... or because it will supposedly get them a good job. Some are focused & graduate... some aren't focused and/or don't graduate. (A lot are, in my opinion, pretty immature & don't even know what they want to study! Or *If* they want to study!!!) I think a lot of it is in the age, the upbringing, and this is funny to me. A lot of college students here in the U.S. ***Do Not Like To Read***!!! I was amazed to learn this! (What did they think they would be DOING in college for FOUR YEARS???!!!) I am soooo glad to meet someone else who really Wants To Learn!!! (And I notice that you studied something that Interested you ~ not just something that you would necessarily make a good living at.) Anyway, kudos to you!!! I am so glad & relieved that there are Others out there like me!!! Blessings, Gwen *******

I went to college for both reasons, for the learning and for the certificate. By going to college I know that I will learn a lot of things to further equipped me when it’s time for me to find work. Although now that I’m working, I think that I was not able to put to use what I learned from all my subjects in college (like geometry, calculus, chemistry, etc.). But this knowledge helped me become confident when I was already looking for a job. I also went to college for the certificate. Here in our country, there is a high number of jobless individuals. So it would really be an advantage if you have a college degree. At least, you have bigger chances of getting a better and high paying job. And this works for me, because after graduating, I was lucky enough to get the job that is related to my filed of study, a job that I love and a good paying job.

I think both are important to get education and knowledge and to get a degree. We used to go to a college not only to gain knowledge but to obtain degree also. A certificate or degree shows that how successful we were in achieving our objectives. We live in the society and we are suppose to attain certain level of education for our knowledge and occupation.

I sure would like to. I have already done Animal Science degree and like to have Art degree too.

no i do not think so. the certificate is not the everything. studying gives us a lot of knowledge about many things we must make a mind that we are going to university to learn about things, nature etc. it is a type of religious act in my religion..

i graduated from university two years ago, i think i only spent 1/3 time on studying, and the other 2/3, i was doing other things, play basketball, had date, play pc game, go shopping... i regret not spend more attention on my study, though i graduated smoothly and now having a not bad job. young people should adjust their attitude to university life, don't waste time. It pity if there only playing when you think back this period.

It is obvious that a person never finishes learning.He is always learning till the last breath of his life. Some people do not have the eagerness to study or learn something new. I went to the school only for learning and not for the certificate.

i go to university for this reason:to uplift my capabilities in order to become successful in the field of teaching(yup,im taking up education).maybe,it so happens that you're surrounded with people having different goals in life(as what you have said,some go for certificates,while some are for learning).we have different point of interests,as long as your interest/s is/are fot the common good,go for it and strive with the best that you can be.:)

If you ask me I would gladly say to you that I did go to school for the learning. What good will a certificate do to you if you haven't learned anything. Knowledge is power, it can't be bought, stolen, or anything. It will be part of you.

I am one of those people who goes to school for the certificate. The main reason I don't go for just the learning is that the school requires classes that are not all that enjoyable. Learning should be enjoyable and not forced upon a student or used as a condition.

Right now I go to the university just for degree, in a major which I dislike. At the same time there is no permission for you to change the major in China. Now I just try to learn psychology in my own way, only by reading books in the library. But it is really a hard way, still, coz these days I have to deal with IELTS and those nasty courses. Oops!

i wanted them both. without the certificate of completion or the certificate of transcript of records how can you apply for a job for it is one of the requirements needed by any company. the diploma and/or transcript of records is a material evidence you can show to anyone that you have finished a course. likewise, learning goes with it. how much you learned from school is manifested in your transcript of records.