Financial rewards, increased knowledge, and social contacts may be some of the obvious benefits of getting a college education, but there are numerous benefits that are not so obvious and which may, indeed, be overlooked when students and parents make their decisions about either going to college or not. For many, it is these benefits that make the cost, time commitment, and energy worthwhile. I call these the hidden benefits of a college education.Often, students who enter college do so with a specific idea about what they want to study, and what they want to be when their education is complete. There is nothing wrong with this kind of focus, and, for many, it offers precisely the direction they need to make the most of their college education. When I said, above, “there is nothing wrong with this kind of focus,” perhaps I should add, “if you maintain an open mind and flexibility.”
There is so much more to college life than classes, subject disciplines, and majors. I will label this “so much more”: exposure. Many students think they know exactly what courses provide, instructors dispense, and experiences deliver and, yet, it is the hidden benefits that often surprise — even astonish. “I had no idea,” is a common statement made by those who have entered the ivy walls with an open mind and flexibility.
The “exposure” comes from other classes — outside of one’s major — often, the required courses themselves. The “exposure” comes from the different instructors and how they choose to present their material, explore various approaches, and challenge their students. The “exposure” comes, too, from how students interpret, assimilate, and absorb the information. It is this unique juxtaposition of subject matter, presentation, and interpretation that cannot be predicted and, yet, can yield such incredible results.
When the focus of college is on awareness and the introduction of new ideas and new insights, one cannot escape being fascinated — even captivated . That’s where the open mind and flexibility come in. Instructors do not ask that students accept — unless it is on a temporary (for class purposes) basis — but they do want them to listen, concentrate, and consider. It is not about indoctrination, although some people may see it that way — as much as it is about weighing and considering. It is the development of good thinking, reasoning, and decision-making skills. And to develop these in the best manner means giving students something worthwhile, different, and challenging to think about. It means helping them break out from their limited and personal, often traditional, stereotypical, commonplace, and rigid kinds of thinking and reacting. It means getting them out of the boxes they may not even know they are in and getting them to investigate new boxes they didn’t even know existed. This promotes tolerance and open-mindedness.
Another hidden benefit of a college education is communication, whether it be written, spoken, or nonverbal. College offers opportunities to record reactions, write papers, and prepare reports. At times, some of these “opportunities” seem to be busy work on the way to getting a degree. And yet, confirmed in many studies that have been completed, accurate, effective communication is one of the greatest weaknesses in the workplace. Every opportunity to record one’s thoughts and reactions in writing should be grasped as another chance to formulate thoughts, shape ideas, and structure impressions. To have trained, knowledgeable, authorities assisting students to better express themselves should be accepted as a rare and unique gift designed to make them more effective.
Oral communication is not totally different from written. Even though many students feel they are already talented speakers — after all, they have been talking since they were born — few are as effective as they think. Speech communication courses compel students to examine the basics of effective communication: skillful listening, adept use of words, useful methods for supporting opinions, adroit patterns for organizing thoughts, as well as powerful ways for expressing them.
There are hidden, underlying benefits of speech-communication courses as well. First, think about the breadth and depth of ideas exposed to because of the speeches of others. Second, think about the critiques, evaluations, and assessments. Imagine the opportunities students have not just for comparing their efforts with others, but for projecting (internally, of course) specific methods for self-improvement because of the work they see others present. There are an overwhelming array of possibilities for making great strides in their personal ability to grow, change, and develop.
There are nonverbal communication benefits of a college education as well. These can occur on a personal basis with friends, relationship partners, and other students as they interact on a daily and continuing basis. And it isn’t just their talking to others, but also it is the reactions they receive to what they project. They have unrestrained opportunities to test the way they communicate, make changes, and develop their repertoire of reactions and responses.
In the communication classroom, focus on nonverbal communication is a natural part of the evaluations and critiques students receive. For the shy, performance opportunities often serve to bring them out of their shells. For the more natural, it gives them a chance to perfect, hone, and polish their abilities — concentrated practice with critiques that offer suggestions for improvement and development.
Another important hidden benefit of a college education is growth in self-esteem. You could say, “But, that happens naturally outside the ivy walls,” and you are correct; however, when you are regularly challenged with new ideas, when you are often forced to think and solve problems, when your communication abilities are pressured to grow rapidly, and when you are surrounded by a compelling, nurturing, and encouraging environment precisely constructed to improve your self-esteem, you cannot escape development and maturity.
There are many other hidden benefits, of course, and the acquisition of words is certainly one of them. With increased vocabulary, it is easier to put your thoughts into words, to articulate your ideas and, even more important, to express precisely what you intend. When you hear about the benefits of college — increased financial rewards, knowledge, and social contacts — you seldom hear about the hidden benefits of exposure, communication, self-esteem, and vocabulary, but these may even be more important to your success, future life, and happiness.
“Multiplying college benefits for everybody,” is an essay written by Jay Matthews, a Washington Post Staff Writer. Matthews adds an important ingredient to those I’ve discussed in the essay and that is the effect a college education may have on other family members as well as the value of open-enrollment policies. Matthews writes an outstanding essay with important information.
Kathleen Porter has written an essay entitled “The Value of a college degree,” in which she presents the economic value first, and then discusses many of the other benefits. Porter supports her essay with 10 reputable references. This is another worthwhile essay.
Contact Richard L. Weaver II
One of the greatest benefits of college is something else that is hidden: learning how to "think". This doesn't mean learning a specific dogma or doctrine taught by the teacher - but learning how to organize and process thoughts into a an actionable plan.
ReplyDeleteHi Jimmylee. You are absolutely right. It is both thinking and things to think about as well. They work in tandem. There is likely to be no other time in a person's life when thinking and a variety of things to think about are not just at the forefront but occupy almost every waking moment of college life.
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