Calling Bullshit
I read recently about a journalism course at the University of Montana with the provocative title "Calling Bullshit." The course examines why it’s so easy to spread misinformation and untruths and why it’s so hard to combat it, while exploring what citizens can do to become better producers and consumers of factual information. It's hard for me to imagine a more practical, and more timely, course for college students to take.
Political science major Lauren Van Cleaf, who is considering going to law school after graduation, says of the course, “The one big thing we learned is not to inherently trust the media, but also not to be paranoid about the media. You have to analyze what you read. Is the evidence being presented reliable? Are sources being named?”
Reflecting on the valuable skills students are learning in this course, I was reminded that an important aspect of the work I do with my clients is to help them find schools that are responsive both to their individual needs and to developments in society as a whole. This means being attentive to how the job market is evolving in a wide variety of career fields, identifying the knowledge and skills that students need to be successful in their careers and in life, and delivering that material in a way that is compelling and accessible.
This is why I dedicate a significant portion of each year to visiting colleges and universities. I visit colleges to see their fancy new residence halls and state-of-the-art engineering buildings, of course, but I also want to understand how their classes, field experiences, internship opportunities, and student projects help to prepare students to be contributing citizens and successful in their careers. I am interested in seeing how colleges activate students' innate curiosity and channel it into productive intellectual inquiry and valuable research.
If you'd like to learn more about colleges that are the right fit for your interests, needs, and future goals, use the contact form on my website to schedule your free one-hour consultation. There you can learn how I tailor consulting packages to meet each client's unique needs.
