For my audio package, I decided to look for pieces about “college”. There are so many aspects to discuss when it comes to higher education, I was interested to see what may turn up. Currently, we are experiencing one of the most trying times in recent memory with the outbreak of COVID-19. This pandemic has turned the college experience on its head. No longer are students and professors on campus or meeting for classes in person. Rather, we have adapted to an online method of learning that involves video call class sessions, online assignments, and syllabi being rewritten at the halfway point of the semester.
This audio piece dates back to 2016, and it specifically tackles the notion that getting into a recognized university will determine whether the student finds success. Prestige of university vs what the student does with their time in college ultimately becomes the debate of this piece. This interested me because I felt this somewhat during my college application process. I applied to schools I had never heard of before, as well as more recognized universities such as Rutgers.
One aspect that frustrated me was the notion that being admitted to a recognized university meant success, rather than what the student is able to accomplish with his or her time there. I have seen many examples of this with my classmates. There are several students who have accepted jobs with big name companies, hospitals, and other professional fields coming out of Fairleigh Dickinson University. Although FDU is a recognized university in New Jersey and the tri state area, I have personally met students from West Virginia University, Boston College, and other schools around the country who were unfamiliar with FDU. This further strengthens the argument that it is not about the status of the university, but rather what the student does with their time while in college that ultimately determines their future.
Overall, I felt this piece was ultimately satisfying. It reassured what I had already believed about college and determining one’s future. I did not know what to expect 4 years ago when I was an incoming freshman. I knew at the end of this journey, I wanted to have my job figured. Not only are my options open after I graduate, but I am also in a position to support a business I founded with my friends 3 years ago.
Cardona's Corner 