Education is an investment part 2
A mother wrote to me: “My son will go to college next year and I need some advices on what field to study so he can be successful in his career. Please help.”
Answer: A college education is an investment in the future - your children's future. This is a decision that parents should NOT make decision alone but a mutual decision between parents and children. As parents, you need to discuss with your children on which school to attend, what fields to study, and what career would be best for them based on some facts and data.
Together you and your children must investigate on which university that have good reputation, well organized programs, and qualified faculty. Together you and your children need to find out about the training programs to determine whether the school has the most current training programs or not. Based on these factors, you and your children need to discuss which fields of study would be suitable for them that could bring best results. These are factors that determine your children's career, their jobs, their lives, and their future. Selecting the right university, the right field of study, the right training program is NOT easy so you and your children must take time to make decision together. This is probably the most important decisions that your family will made and it requires intensive research and visit to several universities, talk to faculty, school administrators, as well as to other students to get all the facts and data before making decision.
Every university has some good programs and some average programs as no university is good on everything. It is up to you to investigate before making decision because it is your investment in your children's future. Your children may not see it today or the next few years but they will see the differences when they graduate. Though it is unusual but the best advices to select school and fields of study often come from students who are currently studying or have graduated from the school. When students tell you what they have done, what they are doing after graduate, and what kind of career they have, and then you can draw your own conclusion.
If you know students who are attending the schools that you are interested in, contact them and ask some questions. If you ask the same questions about each school that you like, you will have information that can help you to make a good decision. Following are some examples: “What is the reason that you chose this school? What are the best programs for student in this school? Is the training program meet or not meet your expectations? How do you like other students in this school? How do you like the training and the faculty? Is the training program up to date? Do they have any special programs? What are the best programs in this school? In my experience, current students will usually give it to you straight and honest answers. They have nothing to hide by sharing their experiences and their information and comments will be of tremendous value for your children to make decision.
Sometime, after making decision about the school and the training program, it would also be helpful if your children have a chance to meet with their graduates or people who already working to get advices on the fields of study. Following are some examples of questions to ask: “Has the value of your educational helpful or not helpful to you since you graduated? How does your education helped you with your career? Does the school have contacted or relationship with the industry or companies? How much contact have you had with your former classmates? Do you believe the school trainings good or bad? If you had to do it over again, would you enroll in this school or this training program? Try to talk to at least five students and three graduates before drawing any conclusion. The best advertisement for any product or service is a satisfied customer and school is no different. When you are about to invest a lot of money for your children's education, you only do it once in your lifetime, getting information from those who have previously made that investment is well worth your time.
The fact is many parents are too busy with their daily activities and do not spend enough time to investigate on the school, the field or study, or the program. It is a big mistake. They need to understand that this is an important investment that requires serious discussion and investigation. Some parents do not like to discuss with their children about their education but make decision themselves and force their children to follow regardless whether their children are capable or like their decision or not. I have seen many students failed and quit school because of that mistake. Some parents let their children make the decision themselves without any serious discussion. I have seen students jump from one field of study to another as they do not know what they like; many spent more than necessary time in college without achieve anything. These are things that we must avoid.
Education is an investment and it must be carefully discussed where parents must share their thought with children and children must share their views with parents. As an investment of time, efforts and money, both parents and children must work together to make sure that their investment will brings the best results possible.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
