4 ms·

>Smart kid, likes math and science? You used to be able to get into a university relatively easily, with decent but not top few percent grades. When you got the

>Smart kid, likes math and science? You used to be able to get into a university relatively easily, with decent but not top few percent grades. When you got there you wouldn't be saddled with huge debt. When you finished there was a decent chance to stay in the academy. Try getting tenure now. You're neglecting the fact that nowadays there is very little actual use for a university. If I want to study something, I have instant access to it.

esafak 4y ago
That's not the only use of university. It also confers prestige and social capital which you can cash in when you enter the job market.
- antibasilisk 4y ago
  There are ways of obtaining social capital with a much better ROI
  - esafak 4y ago
    Like what?
    - antibasilisk 4y ago
      Visiting rich neighbourhoods and joining whatever it is they do. You just have to look the larp, and a bespoke suit and train ride is a much cheaper investment than three years at uni.
SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
Do you know a lot of working mathematicians without degrees?
- antibasilisk 4y ago
  A lack of people pursuing the option doesn't mean the option is any less viable. Nobody's stopping you from downloading a book on abstract algebra, or statistics, or lattices, or whatever it is that tickles your fancy.
  - SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
    > A lack of people pursuing the option doesn't mean the option is any less viable. Ok, so as long as we're clear you're asserting this claim without any evidence, just your belief that reading a book somehow grants the same education as, say, a higher level formal education.
    - antibasilisk 4y ago
      There is very little difference between paying to read a book, listen to a lecture and occasionally take a test, and just reading a book & listening to a lecture. You don't even need it to get to know academics. I've been told on numerous occasions by people that I was right about university (I've been telling people not to bother for like 7 years now), and that it wasted their time and drained their bank account for nothing.
      - SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
        > There is very little difference between paying to read a book, listen to a lecture and occasionally take a test, and just reading a book & listening to a lecture. Unless you're trying to convince someone else you did those things. > I've been told on numerous occasions by people that I was right about university (I've been telling people not to bother for like 7 years now), and that it wasted their time and drained their bank account for nothing. People can say lots of things, until there's proof there's no reason to believe it. Again, if you have examples please let me know.
        antibasilisk 4y ago
        >Unless you're trying to convince someone else you did those things. This is very easy to do if you've actually done those things.

esafak 4y ago

That's not the only use of university. It also confers prestige and social capital which you can cash in when you enter the job market.

antibasilisk 4y ago
There are ways of obtaining social capital with a much better ROI
- esafak 4y ago
  Like what?
  - antibasilisk 4y ago
    Visiting rich neighbourhoods and joining whatever it is they do. You just have to look the larp, and a bespoke suit and train ride is a much cheaper investment than three years at uni.

SketchySeaBeast 4y ago

Do you know a lot of working mathematicians without degrees?

antibasilisk 4y ago
A lack of people pursuing the option doesn't mean the option is any less viable. Nobody's stopping you from downloading a book on abstract algebra, or statistics, or lattices, or whatever it is that tickles your fancy.
- SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
  > A lack of people pursuing the option doesn't mean the option is any less viable. Ok, so as long as we're clear you're asserting this claim without any evidence, just your belief that reading a book somehow grants the same education as, say, a higher level formal education.
  - antibasilisk 4y ago
    There is very little difference between paying to read a book, listen to a lecture and occasionally take a test, and just reading a book & listening to a lecture. You don't even need it to get to know academics. I've been told on numerous occasions by people that I was right about university (I've been telling people not to bother for like 7 years now), and that it wasted their time and drained their bank account for nothing.
    - SketchySeaBeast 4y ago
      > There is very little difference between paying to read a book, listen to a lecture and occasionally take a test, and just reading a book & listening to a lecture. Unless you're trying to convince someone else you did those things. > I've been told on numerous occasions by people that I was right about university (I've been telling people not to bother for like 7 years now), and that it wasted their time and drained their bank account for nothing. People can say lots of things, until there's proof there's no reason to believe it. Again, if you have examples please let me know.
      - antibasilisk 4y ago
        >Unless you're trying to convince someone else you did those things. This is very easy to do if you've actually done those things.