I like to ask questions. I don't just accept and regurgitate what I was taught from elementary school up. Does that mean it's all untrue? No, but it's like you read the textbook and listen to the teachers but where are their sources? What are the counterpoints? Plus, as mentioned in O.P. the Internet has allowed a new flow of ideas not previously available before it became accessible to everyday people. Doesn't mean all of that is true but it used to be out of sight and thus out of mind. My rebuttal to the no answer would be that it's true we need learning centers but why can't I, for example, just take the most interesting or useful classes without "needing" to do all of them in a major just so I can get that so-called all-important degree? You can still get a high quality education without the boring/useless high schoolish core classes. You can get it without the classes that are nothing but fluff, don't really challenge you, aren't necessary for what you're trying to do and just a waste of money. As for the yes, I think it's all but confirmed that the mentality that you just HAVE to go to college to prove yourself as a person who is knowledgeable and/or hard working is just wrong. It was different when everyone didn't get degrees and schools didn't feel so much pressure to pass students for a variety of reasons (and it's worse in pre-secondary schools but that's another story) but now days it's not as important, in theory of course. Learning can be done in a variety of ways that don't necessarily involve enrolling at school. And you can attend lectures, sometimes at college though also at perhaps a museum or library, for free in some cases and just take notes. That said, I agree that not everyone can be self-taught or at least self-teaching can only take one so far. But is going to a university really worth the time and investment? For some people and some professions certainly, no argument. But there are many who could have gone without college and still done okay (in a perfect world), myself included. And I can include myself because it is now easier to communicate now days and get more exposure for my craft.
Engineers say hi. So do financial analysts, accountants, and a number of other professionals making good money. Edit: I didn't see that you added a tidbit underneath your original post.
Hundreds of other careers so "Hi!". I think what you said is a silly statement. You can not undervalue the worth of an educated society and workforce.
I'd say going to a highly regarded academic institution is about making contacts more than anything. Does a Shakespeare sonnet look any different at Harvard than it does at Houston Baptist? Granted, there may be nuances and ways it's taught at the former and it may demand you to dig more in depth and write a more in depth paper about the subject, not to mention the overall difficulty of the curriculum and level vocabulary may be the toughest in the world compared to HBU. But is it worth the time and investment? If I really had that much interest in the subject, I could dig as deep as I wanted into it FOR FREE as opposed to spending thousands for it. Or I could take that class which challenges me and pay for it as opposed to the whole college education. Let alone all the other fees that colleges charge you for facilities you may or may not use. It's the milk without the cow. The mindset we came up with about college seems outdated to me. It's definitely outdated minus a few disciplines which require years of study.
My uncle is an engineer working on the International Space Station. He has been with Boeing for years. He only recently got his degree from DeVry just so he could finally say he had one. It had little to no bearing on his chosen career path. That's a lucky s-o-b. I was a dual major in Kinesiology and Political Science (originally wanted to be a high school soccer coach that tought government). While those 2 subject areas are in no way connected and they in no way have been related to any of the work I've done, I likely wouldn't have gotten to where I am without a degree. If I could go back, I absolutely would. I would have gone into business and not wasted my time with a worthless Kinesiology degree.
That's true, not everyone is all that bright. But it gets back to my point that it's overrated and sad that in order to get a decent job you have to have a college diploma.
Yeah, to some degree, the fallacy is in the future stakeholders. My point was that, given the same skills, experience, etc., the college graduate is more likely to hold that job steadily than one without... because of what's been discussed earlier... being a good employee, perseverance, etc., coming all from being in the "larger project" of completing a college education. I see what you're saying, though.
Absolutely not. There are too many situations out there in which (1) a degree is essential for the job, (2) a degree is preferred (translation: very preferred), and (3) even in fields where a degree is not initially required, such as sales, if you wish to get into management and above for more money, then the degree suddenly becomes required. Get a degree if at all possible.
What does your friend plan to do? If they're looking at it from a coaching standpoint, it's completely worthless.
Degree is useless in itself but you can easily transfer it over to Physical Therapy which is a Masters and make a very good salary.
Physical Therapy- I think. I have the feeling his parents are making him study it though, he doesn't seem to sure about what he wants to do.
People who believe college is worth it has to also take in consideration of the "generation gap" ("generational" is, of course, exaggerated in this case.. ie: making it through college was a whole nother beast now than it was even 10 years ago) Of course everyone has to work their ass back from a monstrous loan and fees from college no matter what year it is, but it's almost a vertical uphill battle now to the point where (depending on what exactly you want to do in life) it is[/] overrated.
Do what I did. I lived in San Marcos for about 4 years.. Never even applied to go there once lol ..yet still got to enjoy every perk of a college student without classes
