[lthornberry]

Eh, I teach in a university and that experience makes me extremely skeptical of most high-school graduates' ability to get an education from online resources. If you can do that, great, it's certainly a much cheaper and convenient route. I don't think we should discriminate against people who got their education that way. But most people need more structure and expert guidance.

[carlosjobim]

You're stuck in old ways of thinking. If the purpose is education, people shouldn't go straight from high school to academia. Higher education is more suitable for adults with a little more experience from life. I did an intensive higher education course specifically for adults later in my life, most of us with a blue collar background. We could do the equivalent of 3-4 years studies in one year, because we were all more mature and motivated. And also because most university education is in a very slow tempo, to drag out the years as much as possible.

High school graduates won't be structured, because they're not supposed to sit in a school bench at that stage of life. They've been there for ten years already. Continuing studies without even tasting real life stunts your development.

Here are some purposes of academia, besides education:

– Research

– Privilege laundering for the rich

– Hiding youth unemployment

– Brain washing youths (Not in your country or university, where it's merely influencing them in the right direction)

– Continue to instill a leader-follower mindset into the population

– A nice and leisurely lifestyle without having to work

– Getting connections with rich and influential families

– Finding young people for romantic adventures

– Impressing older generations, who value degrees religiously

[n4r9]

I have to be honest, it sounds a little like you have a chip on your shoulder. Some things that I personally found very helpful about university, other than the written learning resources:

* In-person access to professors who can competently discuss topics that go beyond the syllabus.

* Fairly realistic appraisal of what it's like to continue on to graduate studies.

* Being immersed in an environment of self-driven learning.

* Building independence in a safe space away from home.

* Very wide range of sports clubs, societies, hobby groups etc... and the time to pursue several of them.

* Opportunity to demonstrate excellence. The degree class and academic prizes still count for something at many universities.

[carlosjobim]

Good points, all of them! "Safe space" is two-edged. Academia can be a very friendly environment compared to most workplaces available for youths. It can also be something alike a Maoist struggle session if you end up in the wrong university with the wrong professors.

> Opportunity to demonstrate excellence.

This is the best point, and probably the top reason why young people who are excellent workers find themselves quitting after some years and going back to school.

[n4r9]

> "Safe space" is two-edged

Fair - to be honest I'm holding in mind a fairly idealised version of university where the professors excel in both teaching and research and are open to discussing all reasonable viewpoints. Possibly because I was in the sciences I don't have much familiarity with struggles with closed-minded lecturers. Also I was thinking about the environment outside of studies - students have financial loans and grants to ease their transition, opportunities to socialise and avoid loneliness, and easy access to free advice and therapy etc... .