Comments on: Trade school vs. university http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/trade-school-vs-university/ Notes from the classroom and observations about today's practice of journalism online Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:02:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: David Cassell http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/trade-school-vs-university/#comment-9454 David Cassell Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:45:40 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/trade-school-vs-university/#comment-9454 In many cases a "trade" degree offers practical, skills for the job market and the salaries may be higher than those with traditional degrees. However, we must bear in mind that job satisfaction is very important too, not just salary. So the student must find out, what does he really want to achieve in his career? Maybe a "trade" degree is not for him but a liberal arts education may be more suitable. This is why I favor psychometric testing prior to choosing a major. It allows students to get to the core of what they really want to do in life so that they can choose majors in accordance with those desires. In many cases a “trade” degree offers practical, skills for the job market and the salaries may be higher than those with traditional degrees.

However, we must bear in mind that job satisfaction is very important too, not just salary.

So the student must find out, what does he really want to achieve in his career?

Maybe a “trade” degree is not for him but a liberal arts education may be more suitable.

This is why I favor psychometric testing prior to choosing a major.

It allows students to get to the core of what they really want to do in life so that they can choose majors in accordance with those desires.

]]> By: cyndy green http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/trade-school-vs-university/#comment-8431 cyndy green Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:43:22 +0000 http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2008/trade-school-vs-university/#comment-8431 Universities hone the skills of curiousity and reflection. Trade schools teach skill sets. I was tossed in the pool full of sharks as a recent college graduate with a fairly well-rounded education (for 1974) and basic understanding of the skills needed - but it took me several years to hone my technical abilities (going from a desire to shoot stills for newspapers to shooting/processing/editing 16mm film for broadcasting). Today's aspiring journalist needs both the depth of knowledge that a university education provides AND the ability to understand the technical skills necessary to do the job. The "thinkers" (aka reporters) and "workers" (aka camerafolk) have become one. Universities hone the skills of curiousity and reflection. Trade schools teach skill sets. I was tossed in the pool full of sharks as a recent college graduate with a fairly well-rounded education (for 1974) and basic understanding of the skills needed - but it took me several years to hone my technical abilities (going from a desire to shoot stills for newspapers to shooting/processing/editing 16mm film for broadcasting). Today’s aspiring journalist needs both the depth of knowledge that a university education provides AND the ability to understand the technical skills necessary to do the job. The “thinkers” (aka reporters) and “workers” (aka camerafolk) have become one.

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