[osigurdson]

I absolutely loved my university education in computer engineering. It was so great to learn about the math (lots!) and physics underpinning how computers / transistors actually work. The first year was common engineering so even had to take a couple of unrelated classes like thermodynamics and vector mechanics (with law and philosophy as options). Comp sci classes were really good as well: compiler design, databases, algos and data structures, AI, cryptogrpahy, etc. The utility of this knowledge is probably debatable but I enjoyed it very much and I think it helps at least a little bit.

[joshstrange]

I'm sure it depends heavily on where you go to school or maybe I'm just not well suited to the style of teaching I recieved. Personally I did not enjoy math once we hit integrals in calculus and I hated physics. I understand they are both very important but they have had no bearing on my professional life. There is value in learning something not directly applicable to your day job but when I was in college I saw it primarily as a means to an end and I'm sure I'm not alone in that. If I were to go back now just to learn for the sake of learning I'd view it differently.

Then again, I currently see college as a massive scam for most people with the cost where it is right now and colleges doing a shit job of preparing people for the real world so I wouldn't set foot in one as things stand.

[osigurdson]

Integrals in calculous is pretty much the beginning!

Fair take in any case. Colleges today seem far more politicized (and expensive) than back in my day. The whole space seems ripe for disruption as a lot of people just want to learn without all of the associated baggage.

[joshstrange]

> Integrals in calculous is pretty much the beginning!

And maybe I would have found more interesting, and more importantly: applicable, concepts has I gone further. I loved math in Elementary/Middle/High School, it just got a lot more abstract for me in college and I've alway struggled with "Ok, how will I actually use this?".

> Fair take in any case. Colleges today seem far more politicized (and expensive) than back in my day. The whole space seems ripe for disruption as a lot of people just want to learn without all of the associated baggage.

Couldn't agree more. College today can still do at least 2 things decently well (if extremely overpriced) which are to expose you to different viewpoints, idea, and concepts as well as to give you a lot more freedom but with some "training wheels". You're often in a dorm and on a meal plan so you have somewhere to live and something to eat but you now set your own schedule and are able to make decisions that were often made for you (at least in my case). I'm grateful for that experience and the ability to make stupid mistakes without terrible consequences. I also learned a lot about the world outside my hometown that was critical to my development as person.

I'm close to going off on a, well worn (for me), tangent now about how we need to teach meal planning, financial planning, etc to kids but yes, I think college is ripe for disruption. I value higher learning and believe in it but what colleges have become is very gross.