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In which the author, who dropped out of college, describes how Calculus is designed to be a "gatekeeper to college success for students", says that this is "goo

In which the author, who dropped out of college, describes how Calculus is designed to be a "gatekeeper to college success for students", says that this is "good for student confidence", but also that he personally "wouldn't re-enroll and finish his BA". I graduated with a degree in history. I am now a front end developer. STEM classed and SATs are a hazing experiment. They are a distraction from getting a job and delivering value and enjoying life

Ancalagon 7y ago
I highly doubt either of those are hazing experiments. STEM knowledge (and indirectly, classes) are extremely relevant for many very important professions. The SATs were supposed to be a standardized way to gauge college-preparedness by colleges because GPAs are subject to many per-school disturbances (inflation, etc.) I would actually the SATs are outdated, but neither they nor STEM courses are "hazing experiments".
- sampleinajar 7y ago
  I think the parent is maybe using hyperbolic language, but I think, at least from my direct experience and second hand accounts, it is fair to say that, especially entry level and foundational, courses in STEM in US universities are used to "thin the herd". At my state school O-Chem and Physics I contributed to high drop and repeat-take rates. These things sure feel like "hazing" especially when you are told and then experience that the upper division courses are nothing like that, and you are suddenly treated better, from an intellectual standpoint.
  - quaquaqua1 7y ago
    This is exactly what I was trying to convey. Additionally, how crazy is it that I am able to work in an analytical capacity as a Software Engineer despite never having taken such difficult courses. The notion that I can't ever in my life do technical work because I didn't pay $3,000 each for a B- in Orgo or Calc I or Intro to Comp Sci? Laughable.

Ancalagon 7y ago

I highly doubt either of those are hazing experiments. STEM knowledge (and indirectly, classes) are extremely relevant for many very important professions. The SATs were supposed to be a standardized way to gauge college-preparedness by colleges because GPAs are subject to many per-school disturbances (inflation, etc.) I would actually the SATs are outdated, but neither they nor STEM courses are "hazing experiments".

sampleinajar 7y ago
I think the parent is maybe using hyperbolic language, but I think, at least from my direct experience and second hand accounts, it is fair to say that, especially entry level and foundational, courses in STEM in US universities are used to "thin the herd". At my state school O-Chem and Physics I contributed to high drop and repeat-take rates. These things sure feel like "hazing" especially when you are told and then experience that the upper division courses are nothing like that, and you are suddenly treated better, from an intellectual standpoint.
- quaquaqua1 7y ago
  This is exactly what I was trying to convey. Additionally, how crazy is it that I am able to work in an analytical capacity as a Software Engineer despite never having taken such difficult courses. The notion that I can't ever in my life do technical work because I didn't pay $3,000 each for a B- in Orgo or Calc I or Intro to Comp Sci? Laughable.