Thread: Do you think colleges are obsolete

Colleges aren't obsolete, though the cost of tuition is expensive.

Some people only learn through a classroom environment. Personally, I can teach myself on my own. It really isn't difficult. Realistically, all degrees are is that they are certificates. Thats it. You need validation that you are legitimate and qualified to receive specified pay and be taken seriously.

I could say a couple things about some upper scale Universities and how their degrees are shams, which some students know they are shams, but they won't report on it or say why. The reason they won't is because the degrees they received are also degrees others cheated to receive, so basically those who worked hard for their degrees would end up screwing themselves over royally if they reported their concerns because it would make their degree worthless. No, I won't say what Universities I'm talking about.

Originally Posted by spartiate

college = connections

100% true! Thought mostly prestigious colleges or universities.

To review some endowments: Harvard $25.6; Yale $16.3; Princeton $12.6; MIT $7.9; Columbia $5.8 (billion), unless notified otherwise, probably they don't think they are obsolete.

Both my mother and my favorite uncle attended college classes until right before they died and universities have been around for about 1,000 years before them. Cyberspace? Maybe too early to say.

Aside from various real time social aspects (interacting in classes, study groups, a beer at the rathskeller); aside from various educational aspects (public speaking, debate, interaction with professors, etc.--unsheltered by a keyboard), there's also the small issue that some careers require a university degree and not all courses are offered online. I doubt you'll ever become an online architect, or a cybersurgeon, etc. And so I doubt colleges will become obsolete in your lifetime.

I went to university after high school, then enjoyed a 10-year career in construction. Then I went back to school before starting a 20-year career in publishing. Now I'm gonna be that old guy in class as I head back to school to start my third career, just as soon as I figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I'm thinking of a helping career. Maybe teaching, nursing or social work, all requiring a degree. So not obsolete, rather, for now, still relevant, particularly when certification is required.

Certainly college is not required for all paths in life, any of which can be as or more challenging or rewarding. Having options does not by itself make for obsolescence. Nor should it be necessary to think that university is obsolete in order to make yourself feel good about not attending. All work honorable.