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Time English (United States) Language 2 Action
00:06
What even is college?
00:07
And an equally important question, should you go?
00:11
This probably feels like a new kind of question,
00:13
because unless it’s snowing outside, we don’t usually ask ourselves
00:16
whether or not we should go to school.
00:18
But college is a different kind of schooling,
00:20
because going to college is our choice, and it’s a choice that requires
00:23
some reflection and preparation before we take the plunge.
00:26
Through elementary, middle, and high school,
00:28
we’ve got a clear map guiding the way.
00:30
And we don’t have to think about it too much.
00:32
After third grade, we eventually go to fourth and fifth grade.
00:34
After Algebra 1 we study Algebra 2.
00:37
And we plod along, reaching each checkpoint one after the other.
00:40
But one day, we reach the edge of the map
00:42
—and here, there be dragons!
00:44
Well, sadly not literally.
00:45
But the well worn path does run out and it’s up to us to ask: what’s next?
00:49
And one great option that everyone should consider—no matter their background—is
00:53
college.
00:54
In college, we finally get to chart our own course.
00:56
We can choose what subjects to focus on and begin a journey
00:58
towards achieving our dreams—or discovering new ones.
01:00
Just thinking about college and all of the options out there
01:03
can be both really exciting and intimidating.
01:06
But don’t worry, we got you.
01:07
With a little preparation, you’ll feel empowered to step off the edge of the map,
01:10
explore new territory, and choose a path towards your very own career.
01:13
Hi, I’m Erica Brozovsky and this is Crash Course How to College -
01:17
a Study Hall series presented in partnership with Arizona State University.
01:24
Let’s discuss what we mean by “college.”
01:30
There’s a lot that can fall under the umbrella of college,
01:33
but in general a college is a type of school in the US and many other
01:37
countries that is more advanced than high school and allows students to pursue more
01:40
specialized studies.
01:41
At college students can learn from experts and gain a deeper understanding
01:44
of subjects they may or may not have studied before.
01:47
Some of this may be preparation for a job,
01:49
but some may just be about subjects that you love and want to understand more.
01:52
College is quite different than we tend to imagine.
01:54
Today in 2022, over 50% of college students are not the 18-year old,
01:59
fresh-out-of-high school student that we often see in media.
02:02
Some of us are returning to school after working for many years,
02:04
and we might even be the first ones in our family to go to college.
02:08
Others are veterans or transfer students.
02:10
People with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences arrive at college,
02:12
but what unites us is our desire to learn something new.
02:15
And the reason we choose to learn something new in college is because going to college
02:18
has always been an excellent way to gain access
02:21
to the knowledge produced by scholars and professionals.
02:24
Just as there are many types of professionals,
02:25
there are many different types of colleges out there.
02:27
Some colleges are called technical schools,
02:29
which are meant to train students in a specific skill or trade.
02:32
Students might attend one technical school to become
02:34
an electrician or another to learn culinary skills.
02:37
There are also community colleges, which typically offer 2-year programs.
02:41
Students often attend community college because they’re usually more affordable,
02:45
and community colleges can help prepare students to pursue a 4-year degree.
02:48
At technical schools and community colleges,
02:50
students can earn a 2-year degree, called an Associate’s degree,
02:53
and can sometimes also earn certificates
02:55
that show you have the necessary training for a particular job.
02:58
And then there are 4-year colleges, which come in a variety of flavors.
03:01
If a college is a liberal arts college, it's going to be focused on
03:04
offering a robust undergraduate education in, well, the liberal arts:
03:08
the social and natural sciences, the humanities, and arts.
03:11
Class sizes tend to be smaller, there aren't a lot of teaching assistants,
03:14
and the teachers themselves tend to dedicate their time to teaching,
03:17
rather than having research projects outside of the classroom.
03:19
A university, or research university, is typically a much larger place
03:23
–it might even have multiple campuses.
03:26
Universities can have different colleges inside them, like
03:28
the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering.
03:31
There may be students around who are also teachers,
03:34
and professors often have academic research projects separate from their teaching.
03:37
And that can be a great opportunity for you if you know you're interested in doing research,
03:41
because you'll have the chance to learn firsthand from the people doing it!
03:44
Regardless of the type of school, college professors can
03:46
introduce students to new topics not typically taught in high school.
03:49
They can teach classes that are highly specialized.
03:52
A film student might take “Modern Horror Cinema from 1960 to 2010.”
03:56
Or a business major might take “Financial Accounting for Nonprofits.”
03:59
Some college professors have produced original work
04:01
in order to attain their degrees,
04:03
so they can teach about super specific topics.
04:05
When they’re not teaching, professors at 4-year colleges are often working on
04:09
projects to increase human knowledge in their field.
04:12
Professors can also provide mentorship and training to help us understand
04:15
how their specialities might help us when we look for jobs
04:18
or explore solutions to the problems of our community and society.
04:21
Being a college student means gaining access to the advice and mentorship
04:25
of professionals and experts, such as professors.
04:27
Students can also pursue special opportunities to get practical experience,
04:31
like internships or other types of career training.
04:33
When we complete enough courses and gain the right experience, we’re ready to graduate!
04:36
Once you’ve completed the requirements for your chosen field,
04:39
you receive what’s called a Bachelor’s degree that’s always associated with your
04:42
major,
04:43
or the field of study you focused a lot of your time on.
04:44
For example, I have a Bachelor’s in Linguistics.
04:46
And don’t worry if you don’t know what majors are or which one you want to study,
04:49
we’ll talk more about the college major in episode 6.
04:52
Also, you can check out our Fast Guide series on the Study Hall channel.
04:55
Each episode looks at a different college major, what you’ll study,
04:58
and the possible career paths those majors can lead to.
05:01
Click the card or the link in the description!
05:03
The Bachelor’s degree demonstrates that you have sufficient knowledge
05:05
and skill in a particular field.
05:07
Earning a Bachelor’s means that you are ready to apply what you learned in practice.
05:11
And never fear, there’s always more to learn.
05:13
After earning a Bachelor’s, students can pursue graduate degrees,
05:16
sometimes offered by the same school.
05:18
Some careers require master’s degrees or special certifications.
05:21
An accounting student will often go on to earn a master’s degree,
05:24
then a Certified Public Accountant designation, or CPA.
05:26
There are also professional degrees, such as the MD (which is a medical doctor designation)
05:30
or JD (which is juris doctor, for attorneys).
05:33
No matter what career we choose, college can serve as an avenue to get there
05:37
by giving us the right preparation, connecting us to the right people,