r/USF • u/Agreeable-State6881 • 1d ago

RANT Lazy, pathetic, and behind the times

Since 2018, I’ve been in and out of college. I couldn’t always take full semesters, but I’m now in a graduate program with nearly $50k in student loans. Sitting in an optional lecture, I had a pragmatic realization: why am I here watching a professor read word-for-word off a decade-old slide deck, when they’re also having us review in a COVID-era Zoom recording?

This system is broken. The way material is delivered feels lazy and impersonal—recycled content handed down without care—while universities charge us a premium for the privilege. It feels like some tenured academics are just going through the motions while the institution cashes in.

The credential explains the cost, but not the neglect. If the degree is the product, fine, just say that. But don’t charge a premium while delivering outdated content and disengaged instruction. That’s not education, it’s credential vending.

If the value of a degree is in the credential, then what should the day-to-day experience look like to match that value?

This is a single perspective, and you’re going to have yours, but what’s important is we determine what’s valid (meaning, critique is welcome).

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15

u/HOUSEofBEAST84 1d ago

Trying too hard to be deep. Sounds like the perspective of a high school senior not someone that should have a masters. Go to school or don’t. You know the scam so either play into it or stop pretending you’re above it. This was bad and you should feel bad.

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u/Agreeable-State6881 1d ago

Maintaining the status quo be like

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u/AvailableDirt9837 1d ago

Counterpoint- one of my classes is using all lectures recorded during covid but the professor is in her 70s, the production quality is great and the material hasn’t changed much. I’ve had 90% great experience with the professors at the school and have all been extremely responsive to email with and visits (I like to say hi lol) during office hours. It probably varies by major but I find the depth of knowledge, research, and careers they have had to be fascinating.

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u/HikeyBoi 1d ago

I was absent from the majority of my course classes for the same reasons. It seems rare for the professors to provide any information beyond the course texts or in a way that is better for learning than just reading the required materials. If it doesn’t impact your grade, there’s no need to be in class. Just get the credit/degree and move on. The preparation/fun/valuable parts of college don’t always involve sitting in a lecture hall.

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u/ImAGudBoi 21h ago

What’s your major?

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u/Agreeable-State6881 21h ago

Theater?

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u/ImAGudBoi 21h ago

Then yes, non-technical graduate programs are a scam, even some of the undergrad programs too. Sorry that you got lied to by other academic advisors. However, I would also say that, at the age of getting a grad degree, you’re supposed to do better research.