So do you think that a 20 year old deterministically absorbs the values of their culture? Don't be so paternalistic. College students are not children; they are

So do you think that a 20 year old deterministically absorbs the values of their culture? Don't be so paternalistic. College students are not children; they are not your students. The value of a PhD is not high because the life of a PhD is desirable. Academia provides a (flawed) society with a permanence and thoughtfulness that competes with non academic america. Leisure and camaraderie is everywhere. It provides a sense of identity which is hard to find, so supply is high and price is low. Within the cult there are bad actors who misrepresent their value, and selfishly collect rewards. Nothings perfect.