Learn Time's Info Center

Ongoing discussion of the need for college...

The four year colleges in this country continue to help perpetuate the idea that there is no real success in the working world without passing through their hallowed halls.  Is that really so?  Bill Gates and Michael Dell, they would quickly point out are rare exceptions.  Are they?  What about the many people with strange and wonderful sounding college degrees that are currently unable to find work in their field?  Who is responsible for them?  I spoke with a very nice lady in Arkansas recently whose son had a degree in sports management.  Sounds great doesn’t it?  Seen very many openings in the classifieds lately?  Now don’t get me totally wrong, this is America, and you can study anything you please...especially if I don’t have to help you pay for it.  Just don’t whine when you can’t find a job in that field.  Over 60% of the new jobs created in the US don’t require college...but they do require skills obtained after high school.  Parents, urge your kids into programs and institutions that can build their skills...yes, we are moving to a knowledge based society...but skills are the application of that knowledge.  Skills matter...and around the country many groups are realizing that and moving toward using WorkKeys from ACT to measure those skills.  KeyTrain builds foundational skills needed by an increasingly technical workforce.  Help students win with KeyTrain and WorkKeys.  We all win.