Is "Open University" any good?

University not the best use of time? ADVICE!?

• I'm in my third year of university...I've studied mostly the sciences, a lot of psychology (I took about 8 psychology courses, they had a lot to do with me rethinking my views about university). I've also taken some religion, history, and marketing courses. I've learned a lot and I needed this time to grow up but I think university sucks. You pay so much to go and most of your classes are merely a professor reading his slides to you, which are usually based on the textbook... Which you have to read anyway. And the whole textbook industry is a scam... New editions every year so you can't sell you're old ones for more than like 1/3 of the price... Then you have to pay 200-300$ per textbook for new courses... It seems like a good majority of students are there just to party, they don't really know or care about where their studies are taking them... I could go on but I'll leave it at that... I figure, if you're not planning a career in academics, I.E: Phd... And you're not planning to be a professional, I.E: business, doctor, dentist, lawyer, engineer... Then university doesn't really lead you anywhere other than to more training or certification. Simple Bachelors degrees are totally useless... The problem is, for most students they are deep in debt by the time they are done their undergrad and usually cease schooling. They then get a job that hardly required the four years of university education... I think you've gotta really LOVE an area of study to let it lead you into such an unpredictable future, if that makes sense. Being university has me fearful for my future... My parents support my education so money is not a problem for me right now but I just do not see a purpose in these studies. I LOVE to learn and I use other resources to leran about subjects and I will continue to do so... I just feel I do not need university courses to get me to do the studies. Learning is something I feel should NEVER stop. I plan to learn till the day I die... The idea that you need university to be educated is preposterous. However, the environment I was raised in clearly idolized university?? Which makes it harder for me to swim against the tide... but this is clear evidence that I should right? My confusion stems from contemplating the TRADES. I love building stuff and I love working with my hands but the trades seem to be seriously STIGMATIZED! My upbringing and culture is responsible for my questions I'm sure. Can I make a good living in the trades? Will I be able to work my way up to higher paid positions? (Not that money is everything but I would like to be comfortable with a family obviously). I am also wondering if the skills I obtain from an apprenticeship will open the doors to different, more specialized professions... If anyone could shed some light on this topic I would be very thankful.

• Answer:

  You are obviously confusing "education" with "vocational training". If you are not interested in becoming an educated human being, go to trade school.