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Maybe it's that software people are the majority on HN, and perhaps this statement can be true of CS majors, but it most definitely isn't true in general. It's

Maybe it's that software people are the majority on HN, and perhaps this statement can be true of CS majors, but it most definitely isn't true in general. It's also quite sad that so many people have apparently made so little of their time in college. If you are studying chemistry for example, doing lab work with real equipment and reagents is absolutely essential for gaining basic competency. If you want to actually, properly, learn and apply quantum field theory or the standard model of particle physics or other highly technical models, there is no substitute for face to face discussions with a true expert. In the US those experts reside almost exclusively at universities and national labs. Universities also serve important and often less-appreciated roles in sustaining the government through both research and talent pipelines. The need to maintain these pipelines can itself be a major source of research funding (the department of homeland security's SSAP program for example).

netizen-936824 5y ago
This is a great point. Too many times I've heard of people skating by and not trying to learn anything in school. I keep hearing from others that they think a degree is only about the ability to stick with something. I call bullshit, just because those people don't care and didn't try doesn't mean that the system is worthless when it comes to actual learning. We need to change the perspective of people on education from "just need degree to get a job" to "going to school to learn things which can be applied later or build a solid foundation for later learning" Employment is important (I guess? private companies just exploit labor but that's another topic) but you can do so much more with a good education than just "get job"
- yummypaint 5y ago
  I think this is a key distinction made in europe that we could benefit from. German high school for instance leaves people closer to where most Americans are after college, and that is considered enough to have a well paying and productive career. People who go to college and grad school generally pay nothing and receive free food etc, and that is possible in part because the system isn't flooded with people who are forced to be there to check a box.

netizen-936824 5y ago

This is a great point. Too many times I've heard of people skating by and not trying to learn anything in school. I keep hearing from others that they think a degree is only about the ability to stick with something. I call bullshit, just because those people don't care and didn't try doesn't mean that the system is worthless when it comes to actual learning. We need to change the perspective of people on education from "just need degree to get a job" to "going to school to learn things which can be applied later or build a solid foundation for later learning" Employment is important (I guess? private companies just exploit labor but that's another topic) but you can do so much more with a good education than just "get job"

yummypaint 5y ago
I think this is a key distinction made in europe that we could benefit from. German high school for instance leaves people closer to where most Americans are after college, and that is considered enough to have a well paying and productive career. People who go to college and grad school generally pay nothing and receive free food etc, and that is possible in part because the system isn't flooded with people who are forced to be there to check a box.