Is college worth it?

[saralinda]

A discussion of the value of the undergrad degree on Talk of the Nation, for those who are interested.

Comments

[enders_shadow]

Thank you for this. I listened to it with great interest.

Of the things I noticed:

The military is a good alternative to college? Or so Marty seems to at one point suggest. And while I'm not going to bash the military too tough, it does seem...odd to say: "College isn't for you. Here's a gun. Go kill."

Secondly, I don't recall exactly where I was in my HS graduating class, but most likely bottom 40%, almost certain I was in the bottom 50%, and I got my college degree in 5 years--not 8.

Third, the stats he threw out about college seniors who couldn't analyze arguments in newspapers or determine if they had enough gas to get to the gas station....well, to a large extent, that is on the students. Students who don't give a shit won't get shit from college--except the degree.

The students who have the 'learn for a test and forget' mentality are good at getting grades but bad at getting an education.

Also, if we only forced students to study more philosophy they would necessarily be good at critical thinking tasks--or fail the philo course. (and my bias is plain)

[enders_shadow]

good point. I forgot to mention, though I presume many (if not all) here already know that half the problem starts so much before college that it's no surprise that after college the problem continues.

I went to a state school; my freshman year a fellow student described the school as "insanely mediocre". It had it's few bright students--some very few who were very bright--then a sizeable chunk of "average" students and then, the inverse numbers and intelligence of the bright ones.

I knew many students who I wondered: "why on earth are you here at college? you don't seem to *want to know* much of anything, so wtf?"

College can't cure those who aren't curious.

I wouldn't say it was a *bad* decision

[enders_shadow]

Of course I've lived your life. I'm Buddha. :) (so are you)

I'm somewhat happy I wound up where I did.

Since I want to be a professor, it's helpful, I hope, for me to see a bit of the spectrum.

[enders_shadow]

I'm a language idiot (as any here who've read my writing know) so forgive me: how does latin teach critical thinking?

I mean, Baby Got Back in Latin (well, English to Latin to English) is hilarious, but...critical thinking? I doesn't* get it.

*on purpose

[enders_shadow]

Ah. Now I see how that can teach critical thinking. Only one thing:

"Without these skills, a student can't even begin to ponder meaningfully the meaning of life, the universe and everything."

We already have the answer to that question. Haven't you been to the movies lately? We all learned it was 42. (and yes, I HHGTTG was a book before film, but many youngins might not)

[enders_shadow]

I originally saw the TV series *as* a movie. Single VHS with the episodes being contiguous without the "last time...." or any of that.

But yes, the BBC did a much better job than the Americans.
No surprise there. I mean, Adams was British.

"We demand rigidly defined areas of uncertainty and doubt!"

[historychick49]

And, again, an awesome audiobook - read by Adams, no less!

[sensaes]

"HHGTTG was a book before film"

And a radio series before it was a book. Then a stage play before it was a...

Ken Campbell's still dead.

Of course.

[poldyb]

I am not so sure about that, but I do know that Latin and ancient Greek do teach Latin and ancient Greek better than most things. Definitely time for a return to a classical education.

[poldyb]

True, thought I have found English can do a somewhat better job (not that it does, in fact, but it CAN).