Interview by Natasha Safina

The subject of my interview is difficulties that students of Russian colleges have to overcome: reaction of the society to college students, problems of finances, the continuation of education and troubles in job placement and combining it with study.

 I met a girl Yana, a  senior college student, at a public garden near the Municipal- Building College.  

M:  How did you get into college?
Y:  I left school and entered the TSU, the faculty of architecture. But I’ve failed to pass an exam and didn’t have enough money to slip it to the teacher, so I was expelled. I didn’t feel eager to pass EGE again, that’s why I went to college. As I was always interested in computer science, I choose the specialty based on programming. I find it quite interesting.

M: How many people study programming with you?

Y:  We are a group of 15.  But among them there are only 3 adequate and clever people, who came to learn something new.

M: What are the rest doing?
Y: I don’t know. They skip lessons and aren’t interested inget taking knowledge of computers. They do all that only because they need a diploma. It is the kind of social stereotype, that you should have a diploma, even if you are stupid. The paper solves problems.

M: You’ve mentioned a social prejudice about diploma. But don’t you know about another one concerning Russian college students? What is your attitude to it?

Y: I’ve heard of course. I had to face up problems with my parents and some friends when I entered college. Russia is the only country, where there is such an attitude to College education. For example, in England they respect college student, as it is really hard to enter the college, and the fee should be paid. But in our country… Partly, that stereotype is the truth, as I mentioned, almost all my group is stupid, but there is always the others, who get in college not because of sudden circumstances.

M: I see what you mean. How would you solve that problem, if you could?

Y: Maybe, It will be useful to toughen the rules of entering college, so not all the people will get there. Secondly, I daresay, we should ruin the myth of folly college student. Of course it can be done only with the help of the government by means of a new social and economical policy.

M:  You told the idea on the whole. So, what will be the first thing you’ll do?

Y: I’ll raise the scholarship. 400 rubles per month sounds hilarious, doesn’t it? And it is enough neither to buy food nor to party at the club.

M:  The money rules the world. Somehow you overlived that lack of scholarship, and now you are a senior college student. The question is: What does usually happen to students after the graduation from college?The subject of my interview is difficulties that students of Russian colleges have to overcome: reaction of the society to college students, problems of finances, the continuation of education and troubles in job placement and combining it with study.

 I met a girl Yana, a college senior student, at public garden near the Municipal- Building College.
Me:  Hello! My name is Natasha and you?
Yana: I’m Yana.

Me: I’d like to ask you some questions about the College you study at.

Y: You’re welcome.

M: So the question is quite simple: How did you get into college?
Y:  I left school and entered the TSU, the faculty of architecture. But I’ve failed to pass an exam and didn’t have enough money to slip it to the teacher, so I was expelled. I didn’t feel eager to pass EGE again, that’s why I went to the college. As I was always interested in computer science, I choose the specialty based on programming. I find it quite interesting.

M: How many people study programming with you?

Y:  We are a group of 15.  But among them there are only 3 adequate and clever people, who came to know something new.

M: What are the rest doing?
Y: I don’t know. They skip lessons and aren’t interested in taking knowledge of computers. They do all that only because they need a diploma. It is the kind of social stereotype, that you should have a diploma, even if you are stupid. The paper solves problems.

M: You’ve mentioned a social prejudice about diploma. But don’t you know about another one concerning Russian college student? What is your attitude to it?

Y: I’ve heard of course. I had to face up problems with my parents and some friends when I entered college. Russia is the only country, where there is such an attitude to College education. For example, in England they respect college student, as it is really hard to enter the college, and the fee should be paid. But in our country… Partly, that stereotype is the truth, as I mentioned, almost all my group is stupid, but there is always the others, who get in college not because of sudden circumstances.

M: I see what you mean. How would you solve that problem, if you could?

Y: Maybe, It will be useful to toughen the rules of entering college, so not all the people will get there. Secondly, I daresay, we should ruin the myth of folly college student. Of course it can be done only with the help of the government by means of a new social and economical policy.

M:  You told the idea on the whole. So, what will be the first thing you’ll do?

Y: I’ll raise the scholarship. 400 rubles per month sounds hilarious, doesn’t it? And it is enough neither to buy food nor to party at the club.

M:  The money rules the world. Somehow you overlived that lack of scholarship, and now you are a senior college student. The question is: What does usually happen to students after the graduation from college?