The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-10-19
Making the Most of a College Education.
Engineering and Mining World)

--- ----o
 Within the last week or two three four thou sand students in mining metallurgical and geo. logical engineering have returned to the halls of learning in the United States. They have in mind, of course, to learn much they about the immediate subject they have chosen to make their life work. Some will go to schools where there few elective courses leading to the degree they wish to secure, and where the opportunity for at tending interesting lectures and doing class work in other fields is not large Others will attend large universities where mining is only of the sub ects taught, probably not considered important as mechanical or electrical engineering, or law, or medicine, ordinary Arts
 One who has been out of college for many years is inclined to suggest to these budding miners and metalurgists and geologists that, even though this is age of specialization, it is also age when profound ignorance of any important byway of cv- ilization may be found to be definite impeachment to personal progress. Mining, to a considerable extent, may be learned underground after gradua- tion; and postgraduate course in the school of experience will add much to the professional stature of other engineering graduates as we'll Additional requisites needed too the student would do well to pick up few fundamentals of the other arts and sciences on which to build after he leaves school No engineer should be without some knowl- edge of law such might be provided by a two-hour in specifications and contracts He might well at least sit in a of lectures in psychology, which should sufficiently interest him to make him want to take more. Economies and finance are most important. Some knowledge of medicine and sanitation will often be found help ful. English is too often neglected. An engineer with ambitions must be able to write proper let ter of application for job, a clear and concise report of work done or in progress, accept able article for a technical publication society. He need not take in oratory but mem befship in debating society for year two will help in the attainment of that of expression and quick thinking necessary when he stands on his feet before the boss the company directors
 Nor must social accomplishments be forgotten A young technical man showing promise will prob ably be invited to the managers home, where Knowledge of literature and the arts will be appre- clated; where incorrect of the knife and fork will be noticed; where some ability at bridge or poker is desirable. And some experience on the tennis court golf course will not come amss Early training in these things can well be extended While at college, even though they are not in the curriculum
 In other words, the mining graduate may know not too much mining perhaps, but too little else No doubt he will feel that the required college courses, plus the amount of whoopee that he finds necessary will take up all of his timey But time can always be found for doing what one wants to do badly enough, and if the importance of some of the essentials mentioned above were realized a better foundation for rapid advancement would be laid.