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by late2part
4693 days ago
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College serves three or four purposes: 1. Teaches you how to get things done in a structured environment
2. Teaches you how to think more abstractly
3. Teaches you social expectations of a professiona/intellectual environment
4. Gives you an 'achievement' with a brand that allows you to say "I did this." Some college is good. I think you can achieve most of the above without finishing college. You can achieve all of the above without going to college. |
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1- Undergrad college experience consists of homework and test, perhaps with the occassional group project or presentation thrown in. This is so far removed from what non-academics do at work that it's hilarious.
2- On what grounds do you say that college teaches you abstract thinking. In truth, studies have found that college does no such thing for most majors.[1] The problem is that most colleges and universities are more interested in graduate students and research. Almost every test I took in college was multiple choice - widely regarded as the least-effective way to teach critical thinking. There are so many people in your classes that the professors don't have time to do anything but put you through the degree mill, memorize-and-repeat style.
3- My college was basically a slightly more intense version of high school. See (1). I do agree that you learn about an intellectual environment, but many teachers have never worked in an actual professional non-academic environment in their lives. Your PhD in computer science knows computer science, but don't count on them being able to teach you how to overcome organizational obstacles.
[1] http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/01/18/study_finds_la... http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/05/20/studies-challe...