Bookshot #18: DIY U

I loved this book. I only wished that I would have read it before I trundled off to college with everyone else, but then again, when you think about it, 2001 was a far different place, higher ed wise than 2011 is today. Opportunities and innovation are expanding in every single direction and the reinvention of education as we know it is underway and many of them- but not all of them can be found within the pages of this compact, slim, jam-packed knowledge filled volume.

Where to begin? First of all, the author, Anya Kamenetz isn't new to the topic, having written and blogged extensively on the issue of student loan debt with her work, 'Generation Debt.' Second of all, wow, wow, wow are there so many awesome things out there that I wish I would have known about YEARS ago. From MIT's open course ware initiative, to innovative reforms and strategies being pursued by institutions ranging from the Western Governors University to the University of Maryland and beyond- there is good work being done right now to help make higher education- and education in general better.

But, there's still work to be done. Education, especially the traditional, ivy covered variety is especially resistant to change and innovation, preferring to stay trapped in an endless cost spiral which sees states cut funding and those cuts be passed onto students in the form of higher tuition rates which are becoming more and more unreachable to more and more people- college was never meant to be a luxury good and it certainly wasn't meant to cost quite as much as it's starting to cost now. We need to start thinking different about education and not be afraid to break out of traditional modes of thought of it can make education cost-efficient, open and more affordable to everyone.

Some things that peaked my interest: Ball State cut the length of time for a BA from 4 years to 3 for a cost-savings of 20-25%. BYU-Idaho is a private liberal arts university that's seeing annual costs decline, while raising total enrollment- through finding and recruiting faculty that actually want to teach- and making them teach as well as keeping campus open year round, enrolling people on a fall-spring, spring-summer, summer-fall basis. College of the Ozarks, a k a Hard Work U sees a whopping 95% of students graduate with NO DEBT WHATSOEVER. That is INSANELY cool.

But there's more than just a diverse menu of options to choose from out there, it's increasingly moved away from going from high school to college and then to a job, suburban house, kids, death, etc- it's about finding something that you're passionate about and pursuing it to the best of your ability. If you're like me, then you enjoy writing, but you also know that unless you go for journalism, writing isn't going to make you the big bucks in the way medicine does. Which is why I got a kick out of the story of the Sackett Street Writer's Workshop- whose founder went from a $10K job as an Adjunct at Hoftra to pulling down $40-50K doing what she loves. Awesomeness all round- and maybe it's an exception to the rule instead of the rule right now, but if you think creatively, I really believe that you find something amazing to pursue for yourself in life- and this book pretty much proves it. (I also think creative life design will eventually become THE rule as a posed to the exception to THE rule.)

Overall: If you're in H.S., college, or even in that weird point in your life post-college when you really have no idea what to do with yourself, getting ahold of this book, STAT. It's a compact little volume about the future of higher education, where innovation is starting throughout the higher ed system- but more important, it's a resource guide with tons of websites and resources out there for you if you want to start thinking creatively about your life and what you want to do with it. This is a must read for anyone and everyone who's trying to figure out their own personal, big picture...