Why education and college are a scam!

This is a good debate as well about the subject... Check it out if interested...

 

Dan, I have been through this before on another thread. As far as UnusalAttitude, if you flew with me, I could GUARANTEE you would not be able to tell if I had a degree or not. That is of course unless you are clairvoyant.

 

I can agree that having a degree doesn't prove that you're more intelligent than anyone else. I do believe that earning a college degree shows a desire to complete a task that is set before you. Dan, you mentioned that much of what's learned in college isn't practical for your everyday life (and academically that's true). As far as math goes, most individuals would do better with a true mastery of basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) than they would to learn calculus. The beauty of someone learning calculus however is that, while most people realize it doesn't make them more well rounded, and you're not going to pick up chicks with it, you can still show that you've completed something that is both challenging and not particularly enjoyable.

As far as diverse people, college helped me be introduced to individuals from all across the country and the world. Not everyone that i met during my college years was an upper middle class, twenty-one year old, alcoholic. (however i knew plenty of them as well). But many of my classes were filled with mothers, fathers, working adults, athletes, scholastic scholars, etc. People who came from the "rough" side of town, and people who came from the Beverly Hills. I can honestly say that i've seen more diversity in college than i've seen in my typical jobs.

I do agree that life experience is worth something, in fact, it's worth it's weight in gold. The problem is, that when you apply for a job, you're probably sending in a resume. If your resume states only the previous occupations you've held, but mentioned nothing of "certified mechanical technician- Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki" how do i know that you worked for a reputable company, or, if you just dabbled with fixing outboard motors on your weekend? Also, i can't expect an employer to go through a process of "weeding out" applicants based on any quantitative number of life experiences.

 

I'm not sure it shows as much as you say. If those are your requirements then someone that spent 4, 6 or 20 years in the military did the things you said times 100. Of course it would vary depending on their job. College requires money (number 1) and showing up moderately prepare and not much else IMO. I don't mean to down anyone who has a degree or doesn't have one, however college seems to be the highlight of some peoples lives. To me, that's a little sad being the only thing they showed they've accomplished. It's post high school in most cases for crying out loud.

 

Dan64456

You make some valid points, but education is never a scam. The price of tuition has become outrageous and a degree alone is not what makes one a successful person. It does, however, provide you many opportunities and options you can not find anywhere else. College was the best four years of my life and provided me numerous experiences and opportunities. I could not begin to put a price tag on the knowledge I gained both in and outside the classrooms. Going to a large University provided me a chance to interact with people of all walks of life, and learn about many different career paths. Doctors and lawyers can also argue that most of their undergraduate credits serve no direct use to their chosen fields, but you would never hear them argue the merit of a higher education. To get into law school it does not necessarily matter what your degree is in just that you have one. This provides a sort of "barrier to entry" ensuring a higher quality of applicants to their schools. Right or wrong having a degree caries a certain weight in today's society. Regardless of your negative thoughts on college without a degree you seriously limit your opportunities. There will never be a pilot shortage this industry is to cyclical. If you plan to work for a regional or small cargo outfit your entire career then by all means do not got to college, but if you ever aspire to make it to the top level of aviation just accept that a college degree will be a requirement (I know there are exceptions there always are). There is enough competition in aviation why restrict yourself to the few majors that do not require a degree.

 

No one has argued that college is the pinnacle of life. Being in the military says a lot about a person. I was never in the military and one of my big regrets in life is that I did not join after college. Maybe I am crazy but I do not understand how people can honestly argue against education. Even the military puts a high value on it with regards to promotions. I used to be a substitute teacher in a poor district and I can not imagine trying to convince students NOT to go to college. For many of these students it was their ticket out of their current situation. Tech schools serve a purpose but in noway do they provide as many opportunities for an individual.

 

The original point of college was to make information available to the student which wasn't readily available at the time. Today I can find all of the information I could ever learn in college sitting right here at home, minus the social experience to some degree. Take for instance math; I can basically download any major math textbook, or buy it online and take delivery. Furthermore, websites such as this one can provide you with a pretty good education on the subject Khan Academy

Logically the cost of college should have gone down as the flow of information picked up, it did not. Also, a large part of the money you pay to go to college is not spent on your education. It is funneled into university investments, research, and development that most students don't take part in. A lot of that money is used on projects that only benefit the university or a company that is sponsoring the university or specific project. I can cite specific examples where I went to school for engineering, in which, students would discuss ideas for improving products that would wind up being implemented by the company underwriting the program. The student saw no capital gains for perhaps a multimillion dollar idea.

 

This is completely incorrect! That was the purpose of a library.

The purpose of college was, and is, to teach analytical thinking and how to push your personal boundaries, and to establish professional relationships with others.

Unfortunately, many lower-tier schools have shifted away from that in the modern era and become more focused on printing diplomas in exchange for a fee (and providing some entertainment while you wait).



Most research funding comes from grants from government and industry, not tuition. I suspect that the spiraling costs have more to do with overhead, special programs, and professor and support staff salaries. Academia is a very liberal institution, so schools usually provide excellent (expensive) benefits to employees.

 

Try that analogy on physicians...


Beauty school drop out, go back to high school.

or in your case, Drexel University...

 

Why is this thread still alive?