[Siegmund]

I went with the necessary skills. I was surprised at how small of a minority I was in.

Thinking critically may happen to be one of those skills, yes. But the whole socialization, diversity, and rubberstamping thing explains a whole lot about what is wrong with how our universities work. Having spent most of my adult life at a university (state university with more or less open enrollment), can tell you about 2/3 of those who enroll have no business whatsoever being here, and something around 1/3 of those who get given the degrees STILL do did not get anything out of the experience but a piece of paper. These people NEED to be kicked to the curb, not babied along until they graduate, if degrees are going to mean anything at all.

Not that it'll ever happen. But yes, I'd like to see the university system shrink to half its current size, with much more severe enrollment standards imposed.