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I tend to agree with the commentators on your post. I went the college route, but technically had a "trade school" experience first via the military - it gave m

I tend to agree with the commentators on your post. I went the college route, but technically had a "trade school" experience first via the military - it gave me the befit of trying out a career field before I committed to a degree. I have family members who just went to trade school and comfortably clear 6 figures a year - they never even had a desire for college. We need to stop stigmatizing trade schools and start realizing that college IS NOT a necessity for everyone, especially with recent debt loads people are taking on for worthless degrees (e.g. a top university near me recently removed all the math courses from an IT/cyber degree because students "were not enrolling in high enough numbers" - that would NEVER happen 20 or so years ago). "An expansive view of human knowledge" is not needed for someone who just wants to work as an electrician - which many people are perfectly happy doing. If they are happy with a trade, why force them into something they will be miserable in? Even now, as an employer in a technical field, college degrees are virtually meaningless because most institutions utterly fail to equip their students for the workforce. We hire based on a combination of experience, personality, and certifications. Only if your degree is in a designated engineering field do we give it any weight at all but, even then, experience is still paramount.

ams6110 8y ago
"An expansive view of human knowledge" is not what the modern undergraduate degree provides anyway. For a huge number of undergrads, college is high school part 2, just something they need to get through to get a good job. They are not there to expand their minds, and to the extent it happens, it's a side-effect and pretty minimal for most. I say that as someone with an undergrad degree from a major state university, and even 30 years ago when I was there it was like that. I don't think my mind was opened to anything really new at university. I learned about what I was interested in (computer science) but I had that interest going in. I did not discover anything new or mind-expanding outside of that.
- mixmastamyk 8y ago
  > I did not discover anything new or mind-expanding outside of that. Which electives did you choose? Personally took several that have nothing to do with my current job that I still find interesting.
- Konnstann 8y ago
  I would agree, to the extent that Undergraduate studies don't automatically "expand your mind", but provide plenty of opportunity to do so. I finished my undergrad degree in an Engineering field that I chose based on interests and aptitudes, but I also minored in Economics, mostly due to a professor I had for Econ 101. I know, Econ 101 is pretty useless in real life, but it was a stepping stone and walked me through the thought process of the various economists of the times. My mind definitely expanded when it came to my discipline as well, and I chose to explore other research areas primarily because of opportunities which college gave me.
mixmastamyk 8y ago
> college degrees are virtually meaningless …but essential in their gate-keeping aspect for coveted positions.

ams6110 8y ago

"An expansive view of human knowledge" is not what the modern undergraduate degree provides anyway. For a huge number of undergrads, college is high school part 2, just something they need to get through to get a good job. They are not there to expand their minds, and to the extent it happens, it's a side-effect and pretty minimal for most. I say that as someone with an undergrad degree from a major state university, and even 30 years ago when I was there it was like that. I don't think my mind was opened to anything really new at university. I learned about what I was interested in (computer science) but I had that interest going in. I did not discover anything new or mind-expanding outside of that.

mixmastamyk 8y ago
> I did not discover anything new or mind-expanding outside of that. Which electives did you choose? Personally took several that have nothing to do with my current job that I still find interesting.
Konnstann 8y ago
I would agree, to the extent that Undergraduate studies don't automatically "expand your mind", but provide plenty of opportunity to do so. I finished my undergrad degree in an Engineering field that I chose based on interests and aptitudes, but I also minored in Economics, mostly due to a professor I had for Econ 101. I know, Econ 101 is pretty useless in real life, but it was a stepping stone and walked me through the thought process of the various economists of the times. My mind definitely expanded when it came to my discipline as well, and I chose to explore other research areas primarily because of opportunities which college gave me.

mixmastamyk 8y ago

> college degrees are virtually meaningless …but essential in their gate-keeping aspect for coveted positions.