The Value of University

You might think, why is it that after all this time, I am suddenly posing myself all these questions. In our lives, we follow routines and behavioral patterns that incrementally as time goes on become internalized. Ultimately, it is only when we are devoid of these habits, we evaluate the decisions we make. To not end up going off on a tangent, I will simply share an anecdote. Not too long ago I came down with a case of the infamous fresher’s flu. While barely able to leave my room, my priority was figuring out how to manage my studies. Lectures? Online podcasts. Need to clarify an important concept? Online videos and forums. Books? PDFs. The rest is probably very clear. With the increasing number of online courses, even from the likes of Oxford, the refinement of search engines and the digitalization of previously physical material, the idea of an online degree becomes quite appealing. As such, can we really consider it an equivalent to the traditional idea of a university? Absolutely not.

It is not as sources of information where traditional universities outshine their online equivalents. It is in an area, which in my opinion many students neglect, that is capitalizing on the university’s social network and its inherent opportunities. It is not to say that everyone who attends a university benefits from it in this manner, but the platform is there and it is very relevant. From my experience, by treating their studies as a regular day-to-day job and not looking beyond the lectures, reading and workshops, many students deprive themselves of the wonderful opportunities that are available to them on their way towards their diploma. Personal connections are arguably the most important factor of employability and, given even a little effort, the university offers the whole package. Believe me when I say this, having the opportunity to take your professor out for a coffee and discuss academics, what is happening in the world or perhaps even personal goals, is something you won’t get from an online degree or anything else for that matter. Of course, there are many different byproducts of this initiative. It is when we discuss let’s say economics with a politics major, we start to form an idea of the grand picture, and perhaps become wiser or more mature in the process. In my opinion, the ability to interlink individual knowledge with that of the others is exactly what makes a good scholar and a competent individual. That is, I believe, the true essence of the university and exactly what makes it incomparable to the likes of online courses.

In summary, studying at a university is far more valuable than simply reading books, watching videos or taking online courses. However, the extent to which this holds true depends on the efforts of the individual. My understanding of the matter is that only when one goes out of their routine and does work beyond what is expected by the system, the fruits of the labor really start to show. So, do yourself a favor and do something you deem unthinkable; buy your professor a coffee and discuss your ambitions, create a society or join your student’s union. It might be a little daunting at first, you might be tempted to stick to your day-to-day routine, but this is exactly how you get the most out of your university degree.