I'm going to give some personal experience about why I only hire people with degrees, which I realize is not data. If anyone can think of a way to actually eva

I'm going to give some personal experience about why I only hire people with degrees, which I realize is not data. If anyone can think of a way to actually evaluate this at a statistical level, I'd be very interested. I've worked with a large number of people both with and without college degrees, in the US and abroad. And I've found that it's not the degree that counts -- it's the liberal education (I mean that in the sense of a well-rounded education, and many college graduates are not receiving that, particularly at colleges/universities where they're groomed for a role in software engineering). People with a broad background aren't just more inclined to problem-solve, they're better at it -- they come up with more innovative and subtle solutions, they're better able to manage their own time, etc. Time and time again I see issues being kicked around until they land at someone with a "well-rounded" background, who actually is willing to examine and solve the problem rather than looking at it from a single perspective. I don't doubt that one can arrive at this state of mind without attending college, or that some who attend college fail to get there. But I want smart people who are able and willing to problem-solve, and in my experience college graduates have a serious edge.