The explosion of pre-professional studies programs catering to people who want vocational training has been a boon to colleges wanting to make a quick buck, but it’s been an educational disaster. For many students, the draw of these programs is that they “don’t have to take” liberal arts courses which are “not relevant” to their professional field.

The trouble is, liberal arts are the very essence of higher education. Those are the courses where one really learns to read, write, and think clearly and critically. It would be no wonder if someone who spends 4 years and thousands and thousands of dollars on what is, essentially, a vocational program, feels shortchanged at the end of it. These graduates are basically paying top dollar for mediocre educations and a (possibly) prestigious piece of paper.

If you’re looking to study food & beverage management, that 4-year college is not a wise investment of time or money.