Is China’s top university not good enough for him?

[TaiShang]

This news grabbed my attention as, as a social scientist, I have kept wondering the merits of theoretical education in comparison to practical education in terms of their impact on real world.

I feel that a nation should dedicate more of its students to vocational training while the theoretical work is left to a select few.

This news below represents such bold action on a personal level.

Via CCTV News:

Zhou Hao, a Chinese student who decided to drop out from Peking University in his junior year and transfer to a vocational school, said recently that he felt no regret about his decision, China Youth Daily reported.

Peking University, considered as one of the top universities in China, is the dream university for millions of high school students who work tirelessly throughout their adolescent years to get their feet into the door.

Nevertheless, Zhou has chosen a different path. He was accepted and enrolled into the university in 2008, but says he was unable to adapt to the theoretical study of life sciences, and eventually he chose to drop out in 2011.

After a few struggles, he ended up at Beijing Industrial Technical College, a vocational school focusing more on practical operations where he says he was able to regain his interest in mechanical operations.

"I was very fortunate to make the choice six years ago. Also, what I'm learning now is very helpful to other people," Zhou said. “Your life would be ruined if you keep changing yourself into something that you don’t like.”

Even though he has received a number of job offers before graduation, a large number of online users are still dumbfounded by his decision and think it is questionable. In terms of teaching quality, the vocational schools in China are considered far inferior to regular colleges, not to mention top universities.

Would you support his decision to drop out from the top Chinese university?

 

[jaunty]

Would you support his decision to drop out from the top Chinese university?

Yes. There is no point sticking with a field if one is not passionate about it. He will never be very good at it no matter how intelligent he is. I am glad that he has the conviction to say no and do something that he likes.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

I support his decision. You cannot be good at something you have no interest in - at best, you'd be competent.

 

[Raphael]

I know people who dropped out of Oxford, and they don't regret it. In the end, prestige is only necessary to dazzle strangers and the masses. All of your employers, or colleagues, or associates, or friends, or anyone who will have the chance to get to know you for an extended period of time, will form an impression purely by your personal character, and not by the diplomas you can pull out.

Also, the blunt reality is that Peking and Tsinghua and Oxford all have a localized prestige value, but that prestige that is not really recognized overseas. The only four universities in the world with commanding global prestige are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and MIT. The others, even close peers to these four, are simply "local champions".

 

[TejasMk3]

I know a guy who wanted to drop out really bad and just go back to farming. But he stuck with it through the end because he did not want to disappoint his parents, in the end he did manage to graduate, cleared 30 backlogs in one shot, became the first graduate in his family! He did go back to farming, modernized his dads farm and is expanding it, and is very happy.

Either ways it's their personal decision, can never be right or wrong, it's basically what that person feels is good for them.

 

[Cossack25A1]

The problem with most people regardless of nationality is that they think going to a prestigious school has its perks, only to find out later that they made a wrong decision.

 

[Aepsilons]

Its not about the "name" of the school, per se, its what you do with the diploma you received at said school. Anyways, this person's actions is commendable. Better to pick a study that you know you will enjoy and use in your life. Practicality.

 

[Aepsilons]

Personal anecdote: I had a colleague of mine who was in the same Ph.D program as I, but into the 2nd academic year of our program, my colleague was offered a very lucrative position at a big company. He was placed in an upleasant position; does he accept a 6 figure-paying HRM position , or does he stay in the Doctoral Program ? In the end, I believe he made the right choice for him. And that was leaving the program to accept the HRM position. You do what's best for you.

Different strokes for different folks, as the old adage goes.

 

[Raphael]

Personal anecdote: I had a colleague of mine who was in the same Ph.D program as I, but into the 2nd academic year of our program, my colleague was offered a very lucrative position at a big company. He was placed in an upleasant position; does he accept a 6 figure-paying HRM position , or does he stay in the Doctoral Program ? In the end, I believe he made the right choice for him. And that was leaving the program to accept the HRM position. You do what's best for you.

Different strokes for different folks, as the old adage goes.

I'm sure that wasn't a unpleasant decision at all. For most people, higher education is a means to better employment. If he was already offered the high position, there would be no point in continuing his studies, unless he intended to become an academic.

 

[HeadHunter]

Yes. There is no point sticking with a field if one is not passionate about it. He will never be very good at it no matter how intelligent he is. I am glad that he has the conviction to say no and do something that he likes.

You are right there are plenty of example's where people achieve enormous success but not because they were intelligent it,s just because they followed their passions.

 

[ito]

I know people who dropped out of Oxford, and they don't regret it. In the end, prestige is only necessary to dazzle strangers and the masses. All of your employers, or colleagues, or associates, or friends, or anyone who will have the chance to get to know you for an extended period of time, will form an impression purely by your personal character, and not by the diplomas you can pull out.

Also, the blunt reality is that Peking and Tsinghua and Oxford all have a localized prestige value, but that prestige that is not really recognized overseas. The only four universities in the world with commanding global prestige are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and MIT. The others, even close peers to these four, are simply "local champions".

Oxford and Cambridge are comparable to Harvard and Stanford in prestige, though it is much easier to get into Oxford and Cambridge than getting into Harvard and Stanford . Yale is good, but cannot be taken in the same breath as Harvard and Stanford, while MIT is more of a 'technical' University. I cannot comment on Tsinghua, as this was the first time I am hearing about it.

 

[Raphael]

Oxford and Cambridge are comparable to Harvard and Stanford in prestige, though it is much easier to get into Oxford and Cambridge than getting into Harvard and Stanford .

Maybe this is what commonwealth countries like yours think? In China, I think people place Oxbridge at around the level of Princeton, Berkeley, UChicago, Columbia, etc - good, but not in the HYSM tier.

Yale is good, but cannot be taken in the same breath as Harvard and Stanford, while MIT is more of a 'technical' University. I cannot comment on Tsinghua, as this was the first time I am hearing about it.

Yale is not as strong in the sciences as Harvard and Stanford, but it has the best law school in the world and has produced many US presidents. Tsinghua ties with Peking as the best university in China.

 

[Aepsilons]

I'm sure that wasn't a unpleasant decision at all. For most people, higher education is a means to better employment. If he was already offered the high position, there would be no point in continuing his studies, unless he intended to become an academic.

The benefits of networking I guess. I'm happy for my friend , he's in his 20's and earning a six fig salary. Who would complain? Lol.

Some of us are affixed on the "Ph.D Baby". Lol.

 

[Aepsilons]

Maybe this is what commonwealth countries like yours think? In China, I think people place Oxbridge at around the level of Princeton, Berkeley, UChicago, Columbia, etc - good, but not in the HYSM tier.



Yale is not as strong in the sciences as Harvard and Stanford, but it has the best law school in the world and has produced many US presidents. Tsinghua ties with Peking as the best university in China.

I can never understand the obsession amongst Americans and other foreigners on the "Ivy League" connection. There are other factors that employers look at.

Oy Vey!

 

[ito]

Maybe this is what commonwealth countries like yours think? In China, I think people place Oxbridge at around the level of Princeton, Berkeley, UChicago, Columbia, etc - good, but not in the HYSM tier.



Yale is not as strong in the sciences as Harvard and Stanford, but it has the best law school in the world and has produced many US presidents. Tsinghua ties with Peking as the best university in China.

Yale has the best law school in the world, but at least in India, as far as overall University prestigious is concerned, Yale would be comparable to UPenn, Princeton or UChicago...while Harvard and Stanford enjoy a higher status. Although the standards are falling, Oxbridge still have that prestige compared to Harvard or Stanford because of their history.

Yes, Columbia is still one of the best for finance, while Berkeley is good for pure sciences. Then there are Carnegie Mellon, John Hopkins and MIT good in their own respective areas. Anyway, the difference among all the Universities listed doesn't matter much. Anyone who is a graduate from any of them would do good in their life.