The College Fix

I’ve just finalized my schedule for next semester, and one thing has struck me during my time at the George Washington University – the amazing amount of non major related classes that are mandatory for me to take. This is a common theme among most universities across the USA, and one that does not make sense to me.

I’m a Sports Management major in the School of Business, but in my two years here, I haven’t taken a single class that is Sports Management related. I’ve taken Biology, French, English Literature and French Literature as part of my mandatory requirements for graduation. I understand the merit of these subjects by themselves, but to me, they are useless. I’m never going to need to talk about Mitochondria or discuss Victor Hugo in my career, and while they may have ‘broadened my mind’, I feel that for the effort they require, they’re not worth it.

My high school conformed to the European schooling system where the older you get, the more you specialize. At 16, I did exams in 11 different subjects, which I’d studied for 3 years. I then picked just three to study for the rest of my time at high school, which was two years. I picked Computer Science, Business, and Politics. At that point, I figured I’d be done with all the subjects I’d hated and had such problems with – Mathematics, French and Science. I have a good knowledge of these subjects, and I feel that I had learned enough in those subjects at the age of 16 in order to live the rest of my life without problems, and I still believe that to be true. I can add, subtract, multiply and divide well, and anything else I can just use a calculator. I can order a soda in French, and anything else, I can just point and shout until the French people understand! I don’t need to be an expert in every subject.

Had I been studying in England right now, I would be past the half way stage of my 3 year degree. I would have almost solely concentrated on Sports Management, and interests in other subjects would be fulfilled by societies or clubs. In my opinion the American College system is far superior than the European one, and that’s why I’m here today. American Universities are so much better funded, more extra curricular activities, and the college athletics (even at GW) is far superior. If, however, college was only about studying, I’d be in England right now. For about $11,000 a year for 3 years, I’d be a specialist in my subject by the time I graduated. I’m worried right now that I could graduate GW, only knowing more about Sports Management due to the fact I work with Club Sports so closely.

It’s got to the point where I am now taking classes at GW which don’t fit into my schedule for graduation, and yet I’m taking them because they are the most relevant course to my major I can find. Prof Kathy Solano runs a great pair of classes, the first is Principles of Coaching, and the second is Issues in Athletics. My advisor told me that I had no room for the second half of the class, and so I’m having to take it as an extra class which will not count towards graduation.

My proposal is that the only classes that should be required are those which are actually relevant to your degree. So for me, that would be Econ, Statistics, Accountancy and other business classes. If I WANT to take French, Bio or English Literature, it’s an option to me, and it will count to graduation. This added freedom in class choice will allow for more highly motivated students, and better graduates at the end, because they will be expert in the field they studied.

Hugo Scheckter blogs for the GW Patriot. He is a member of the Student Free Press Association.

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