The great debate: Education vs. Experience

The end of summer is approaching and the most recent 2013 grads have found a job and have settled into their new lives. While others have taken the summer off and will begin the job hunt now. Like most graduates, reflecting on the last four years is a popular thing to do and coming to the realization that time goes by way too fast. With those thoughts also comes the anxious idea of starting a new journey and leaving behind the best four years of your life. A popular conversation amongst my friends has been our education the past four years versus work experience. My eclectic group of friends ranges from straight “A” students, to the internship queen, to others who have put school on hold for a few years. So when this topic is brought up, we all have a lot to say but a whole lot of nothing to say at the same time.

So the question remains... What is more important, education or work experience? We think about all the young entrepreneurs that dropped out of school to follow their dreams; Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg to name a few. Did these people have the niche? Were they in the right place at the right time? Who is to pass judgment...they are the billionaires right?

There is no doubt in my mind that a college degree is the new high school diploma, but at the same time are we wasting money on classes I will never use again toward my future career? I have always been a career oriented person and always prided myself on my past internships and travel experience. The question is, do I do this to excuse my not so scholarly grades, or the fact that my university didn't make Forbes list for top 100 colleges of 2013?

So what is the answer? Entrepreneurs, business professionals and students will continue to have their own opinion. Let’s face it, competition is tough out there! There might always be someone that is more qualified for the job, but gaining the most education and the most experience always puts you one step closer. The variables to landing “that dream job” are endless, because at the end of the day, everything seems to play a factor in the real world. The unsettling question on my mind is did I do enough these past four years?

You can never stop learning, and in the perfect world gaining that “A” grade would amount to retaining most of the information a teacher presents and then being able to recite that information in a practical way. The problem with the classroom setting is that students spend one night cramming copious amounts of information for an exam, retain little amounts of information, and then pass the test with a satisfactory grade. At a college level, that shouldn’t be the standard of learning. Receiving an education means something, and leaving college, students should have a wealth of knowledge in many different fields, but this isn’t always the case. The reason that so many students and employers focus more on real world experience versus college education is because students aren’t learning, and what they do retain they don’t use in a practical manner.

I am a believer that school and experience play an equal role and one can only help the other. Getting the experience of college helps you grow and adapt to different work environments. Everyone is going to have strengths and weaknesses. The biggest thing is what they can offer at the end of the day. It's my opinion, I truly think that all just depends on the type of person you are. What's your take on the issue?

Written by Katie Woods from Rebecca Adele PR & Events