A thought experiment. Would you rather have a Harvard degree without ever attending Harvard or attend Harvard but have no provable record that you did so? The

A thought experiment. Would you rather have a Harvard degree without ever attending Harvard or attend Harvard but have no provable record that you did so? The overwhelming majority of people would choose the former. Which is pretty strong evidence that the value of a Harvard degree is the social status and credibility that it gives you, not the things you learn in class.