Fifteen years to complete a bachelor’s degree is not advisable. I mean, even Van Wilder did it in seven. Long hours and a work schedule that fluctuates more than the tide is show business, so for a handful of years, this actor was unable to attend school full time.
I enrolled as an English major taking a course or two each semester at various schools in California, but after years of that, I finally decided to follow my love of science, enroll online as an environmental sciences major at Oregon State University, and go to school full time. I’ve taken classes at multiple schools with professors of all shapes and pedagogical methods, on campus and online, so I’ve accumulated some insights into the modern age of academia, as well as into the pros and cons of receiving an education.
We’ve all heard the adage that knowledge is power. This is true, but it is much more than that. Knowledge enhances the lens through which you view the world; it perpetually pummels your ego into submission by the vast amount of knowledge before which you were utterly ignorant, like an ant mistaking his hill for the universe. Knowledge reveals the interconnectedness of all systems.
Also, it’s fun.
Knowing everything is connected allows you to finally swap out your granddaddy’s dusty transistor radio for the sleek full-color TV. Everything is brighter and more beautiful when you realize everything influences each other. The whales, the helium and your Aunt Doddy’s goldfish Goldy are all connected. And when you know this, you become more mindful of your actions.
Beau Mirchoff, shown here in an episode of TV’s “Now Apocalypse,” is an Oregon State University graduate. He earned his environmental sciences bachelor’s degree online. He has starred in a variety of films and TV series over the years, including MTV’s “Awkward” and ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.” (Photo by Richard Cartwright)
But once you’ve attained the knowledge-power, there is no turning back. Gone are the days of blissful ignorance. But in its place is not dreadful knowing; bliss is on the dinner table as well. You’ll just have to excuse your reach and grab it, and maybe you’ll finally have something of substance to offer between bites of that casserole.
Many people say university is a waste of time and money because they can learn through books or YouTube. There is indeed learning to be had through those methods, but college equips you with way better ways to learn — you get much more in-depth knowledge, labs, projects, study groups, field work, and more.
Moreover, you’re in an environment conducive to learning. It is inspiring to be amongst peers striving for the same thing, even if you’re learning online. You learn how to learn. You have access to primary literature, not only secondary sources. You learn to form your own conclusions. YouTube can be great, but it can also be absolute garbage. In university, you learn how to read primary literature and how to tell if something is not properly researched or cited.
“[T]he knowledge, insights and experiences I gained were worth every second. Oregon State is a great school with the resources and amenities to optimize your learning.”
Again, this is power and something you will use repeatedly for the rest of your life. Unless you have the IQ of Richard Feynman meets Will Hunting from “Good Will Hunting,” good luck. There is just no way most people are going to learn calculus or high-level statistics while soaking in a bathtub. Attaining knowledge through higher education is the best way to learn.
I had doubts about learning science online. I thought the labs would be lame and teaching myself differential calculus would be impossible. However, OSU’s online classes are fantastic. If you’re studying science, you receive lab kits and perform your labs at home. These labs are more rudimentary, but I found them very effective in their simplicity. Admittedly, these at-home labs require more work because you are bereft of lab partners (most of the time), but this forces you to learn the concepts without relying on a smart lab partner. I was in the field for my ecology work, learning how to monitor vegetation and identify plants, all as an Ecampus student.
Furthermore, on-campus students must be on-site for their lectures and do not have the option of repeating those lessons. I took my lectures whenever I had time, and I could revisit them multiple times a week. The only thing I occasionally missed as an online student was the real-time class discussions, but the pros of online learning greatly outnumbered the cons, and the online group discussions were an adequate surrogate that forced me to write. I was able to work while going to school and I didn’t waste time commuting to a campus.
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Earning a degree is no joke. It requires an inordinate amount of time, work, and focus. However, the knowledge, insights and experiences I gained were worth every second. Oregon State is a great school with the resources and amenities to optimize your learning, and if you’re thinking about going to school, you should do it because the time it takes to complete your degree will be gone in no time.
I enrolled with Oregon State at the beginning of COVID, when many people were learning to bake banana bread. I got a degree instead. Bake banana bread after university — once you’ve learned the chemistry of baking — and you’ll enjoy it way more. You won’t regret it.
Whether you’re at the beginning of your academic journey or have years of experience like Beau Mirchoff did, now is the right time to pursue your educational goals online with Oregon State University.
