tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905515.post4252800664071014413..comments2024-03-14T11:09:32.759-05:00Comments on Falkenblog: Why Go to College?Eric Falkensteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07243687157322033496noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905515.post-22915810483577091292010-06-30T16:49:25.188-05:002010-06-30T16:49:25.188-05:00A college education is not totally worthless, but ...A college education is not totally worthless, but that is mostly due to the low quality and standard in the k-12 education. Most people will be ill prepare to work and compete in today’s world with only a high school diploma. Nevertheless, the 4 year liberal arts programs we have are very expensive and inefficient in what they are able to deliver. Unfortunately, much like the misguided promotion of home ownership, a lot of young people have dig themselves into a financial hole by buying into this false dream. <br />In my opinion, the core education, minus the fluff, can be delivered for less money over a shorter period of time. Of course, like the great text book scheme, there is a whole industry built around our current way of doing things and they will resist every attempt to cut off the gravy train.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905515.post-13299169965049640122010-06-30T16:12:27.249-05:002010-06-30T16:12:27.249-05:00Two words: Robin Hanson.
I learned a fair bit of ...Two words: Robin Hanson.<br /><br />I learned a fair bit of math in college that I never would have learned otherwise. Time and time again, the highest paying jobs are mathmatics related: engineering, physics, computer science, statistics, etc. The rest might be fluff, but majoring in math or hard science proves you are up to the challenge of doing mathy things.azmythhttp://azmyth.wetpaint.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905515.post-44611296819058313272010-06-30T14:09:06.997-05:002010-06-30T14:09:06.997-05:00"as no one presumes that merely being a colle..."as no one presumes that merely being a college grad entitles one to success. "<br /><br />You need to get out more! :)<br /><br />I think there are a lot of people who believe that having a college education (particularly an education from an ivy league school) entitles them to a Good Job and associated success.Michael Stackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879136691984411820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905515.post-31386203754300853772010-06-30T09:25:17.141-05:002010-06-30T09:25:17.141-05:00The best way to help young people afford college i...The best way to help young people afford college is by giving them access to tons of government-sponsored credit. I really can't see a downside here.Eddy Elfenbeinhttp://www.crossingwallstreet.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905515.post-32142467215577032582010-06-30T09:20:16.760-05:002010-06-30T09:20:16.760-05:00I learned a lot in college, but I could have learn...I learned a lot in college, but I could have learned it on my own. In fact, I've done much more learning on my own since. <br /><br />But,getting my degree (in engineering) gave me instant credibility with employers far above what I had without that degree. In fact, it probably gave me too much credibility, because my engineering education was too theoretical and not practical enough. I actually wasn't very well prepared to be useful in the workplace.<br /><br />So, will our society begin to recognize other kinds of signalling? In the future will people be able to self-educate and still gain credibility with employers? Will firms that specialize in testing and qualification, rather than education, replace colleges?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431036725490947171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905515.post-42072457215910047542010-06-30T08:54:42.344-05:002010-06-30T08:54:42.344-05:00College is a prepaid social network of people of s...College is a prepaid social network of people of similar intellectual capacity. It makes sense to pay $40,000 a year to go to a top caliber university where you are likely to meet and interact with people who will contribute to your life in the future. Those who didn't go to schools in which they developed a useful social network were sold a smoke and mirrors marketing campaign.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com