So that, minus detailed accounts of the courses and anecdotes of my classmates, was my recent college experience. It cost, with tuition and text books, between $2500 and $3000 for those two semesters. That's what that piece of paper, now on my wall, is worth. It's not even a degree or diploma, it's a certificate for a one year business program. I had to wait six months after finishing to get it too.
The terrible thing is that I don't really feel I've earned it. It was all too easy. Yes, I'm intelligent, but I wasn't challenged. At all.
I finished with an A average and could have easily had an A+ had I simply attended more classes. I willingly sacrificed those marks for sanity.
In one of the job interviews I've had since, I was interviewed by a woman who is very highly ranked and regarded in the HR profession in London. And she teaches at the college. She was impressed that I managed to complete the program in two semesters while working. Most people apparently take three or four.
I didn't get the job (I'm not sure I really wanted it anyhow and I know that came across in the interview) but the kudos was nice.
Another nice thing was her telling me that the majority of the instructors for that program have no business being there. That much was obvious but still, interesting to hear her say it.
You see, my program was a part-time program. The instructors were not professors or even teachers. They weren't qualified to teach at a university or high school... but they could teach part time at a college.
Apparently five years work experience in your field and passing the college's instructor's exam are all you need. I'd like to think that the full time programs were different but some students in my classes said they were taking that particular course as part of their full time program.
What contributes even more to my "dissatisfied customer" status are things I've since learned about some of the instructors. I'm not getting into specifics. Suffice it to say not only were they (mostly) not good at teaching, they weren't even well regarded in their fields at their own jobs. London is a small enough city. You meet people, you hear things, sometimes from very credible sources.
Colleges and universities are in the business of making money. I honestly feel they've forgotten the noble goal of educating.
The cost of tuition and text books are always going up. Yes, in part it covers rising expenses for the schools but part of those expenses include hiring incompetents.
The checks and balances just aren't there. Nor is the accountability.
I've attended Fanshawe twice. Once as a young man, once as a working adult. Both times left me wanting.
And wondering why.