The purpose of college education

[Taraz]

I was discussing affirmative action programs recently and this issue seems extremely important when we are talking about who to admit to selective universities.

What is the primary goal when we send young students to get a university education?

[Rearden]

"College serves as a socially mandated rubber stamp for being considered intelligent enough to hold most good paying jobs"

[RoundGuy]

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"College serves as a very expensive socially mandated rubber stamp for being considered intelligent enough to hold most good paying jobs"

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And it allows our young ones to party their ass off, with little care or concern, before they get into the real world and have to work off the massive debt they've incurred over the last four years.

[knowledgeORbust]

I went with a combination.

Sure, for society a degree means you're capable and organized. But the other stuff is important too for being well-balanced, if one is missing it. Each individual can gain what he/she is lacking. Thinking critically, social skills, and learning the skills that will be employed for your profession: all good stuff. Sure, if you've got all that stuff you can dive right into work keep sharp... but college is more fun.

[GoodCallYouWin]

"What is the primary goal when we send young students to get a university education?"

D) Fool ourselves into thinking we can teach people how to learn.

[Taraz]

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"What is the primary goal when we send young students to get a university education?"

D) Fool ourselves into thinking we can teach people how to learn.

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So you want to abolish college education?

[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.

[GoodCallYouWin]

"
So you want to abolish college education? "

No, but I think the people who pay to go through it are wasting their money.

[m_the0ry]

This varies too much from degree to degree for there to be any meaningful answer without differentiating between degrees.

[Rearden]

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This varies too much from degree to degree for there to be any meaningful answer without differentiating between degrees.

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And sometimes the effort people are willing to put into degrees.... huge difference between a 2.1 business major and a 3.9 guy who has done internships, etc etc.