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I've replied below a few times, but I need to respond directly to this comment: It's only a matter of time before the rest of the world catches up to my way of

I've replied below a few times, but I need to respond directly to this comment: It's only a matter of time before the rest of the world catches up to my way of thinking. What's so special about this way of thinking? Do you really believe in the existence of brilliant MIT or Stanford grads who have produced nothing during their 4 years in school? Further, do you believe these hypothetical underachievers are getting hired by Google, Facebook, Apple, Intel, or any other excellent company? You're populating this thread with straw men and false dichotomies. The two spectra you're talking about -- autodidactism versus traditional education, and real-world experience versus theory -- are not mutually exclusive. There are students with strong theoretical training who hack on projects at AT&T Labs over the summer, and there are autodidacts who take night classes at their local university or college. Please stop spouting off about "people who get stuff done," or these pseudo-sheeple you've dreamt up who go to Caltech, get degrees, then do nothing. Everyone gets stuff done in one area or another.

noahc 15y ago
I don't think we really disagree that much. I admit that last phrase was a bit over the top. But, I do believe that long term industrial education will slowly die out. Probably a lot slower than I think. There's nothing that special about my thinking really. Google, Facebook, Apple, Intel, etc all hire the best. I don't know THAT much about their hiring policy or practice, but there are people just by sheer numbers (on either side of spectra) who are more than qualified. In fact you can go to college and get stuff done. It's one of the best ways to go because you can use loans and scholarships to fund yourself getting stuff done. It's the degree so much that I don't care about. And to be really honest, it's probably easier to get stuff done in the right college setting than it is to get it done almost anywhere else in the world. All I'm really saying is that I have a strong preference for self learners and people who have done more than get a degree. Am I missing something?

noahc 15y ago

I don't think we really disagree that much. I admit that last phrase was a bit over the top. But, I do believe that long term industrial education will slowly die out. Probably a lot slower than I think. There's nothing that special about my thinking really. Google, Facebook, Apple, Intel, etc all hire the best. I don't know THAT much about their hiring policy or practice, but there are people just by sheer numbers (on either side of spectra) who are more than qualified. In fact you can go to college and get stuff done. It's one of the best ways to go because you can use loans and scholarships to fund yourself getting stuff done. It's the degree so much that I don't care about. And to be really honest, it's probably easier to get stuff done in the right college setting than it is to get it done almost anywhere else in the world. All I'm really saying is that I have a strong preference for self learners and people who have done more than get a degree. Am I missing something?