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I met the love of my life and the mother of my child in college. The problem with these articles and the types of comments on sites such as HN is that people n

by xarien 14y ago

I met the love of my life and the mother of my child in college. The problem with these articles and the types of comments on sites such as HN is that people neglect the fact that college is an experience, and a highly subjective one at that. Too often do technocrats forget that college isn't simply an investment, but for many, it is also a consumption good, and THAT IS OK. Sure, college isn't necessarily going to make you the best programmer in the world. But, if one looks past the facade of a pure investment brought upon by our economy and media, there lies a rich experience in diversity and the exposure to the liberty of choice (at least in America).

w1ntermute 14y ago
You can easily be exposed to diversity and choice without going hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt.
- billeh 14y ago
  The best I've heard is "At least you will be able to think critically." Was that really left out of the previous 12 years' curriculum?
  - RougeFemme 14y ago
    Unfortunately, in the US, with so many public schools striving to meet benchmark scores on standardized tests that require little critical thinking. . .the answer is yes, that's increasingly left out of the previous 12 years' curriculum.
    - w1ntermute 14y ago
      This is largely FUD in well-to-do districts. Having gone through the public school system after NCLB was passed in a district consisting primarily of upper middle class students, I rarely heard NCLB or the related standardized tests mentioned. And when I did, it was in the form of a derogatory remark from the teachers. Of course, things may be very different for people from other socioeconomic backgrounds.
precisioncoder 14y ago
I think what the poster and other people say is basically there are cheaper consumption goods which would bring a better ROI. For the cost of one year of college you could travel the world, volunteer overseas, start a company, learn anything you want through self directed study, go to Europe learn a European language and take advantage of their education system. With a working visa I am eligible to attend university in Austria at a price of around 200€/year. It took me less than 6 months to learn enough German to land a job here at a total cost of under 1000€. These are just a few possibilities off the top of my head. However the big problem seems to be that it requires thinking and motivation, it's easier to take the college path since it's the current default.
Arelius 14y ago
> I met the love of my life and the mother of my child in college. And a friend of mine met the love of his life many years ago on a Bart Train. One of many who never met her in College. I guess my point is that sometimes you get lucky, and that place is in College. But the cost of college is high, and you don't know the value of the things you would do if you didn't go to college. Clearly you in particular would have lost the chance to meet the love of your life, but there is no way for somebody to know that looking forward to the choice, rather than back on the experience.

by xarien 14y ago

w1ntermute 14y ago

You can easily be exposed to diversity and choice without going hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt.

billeh 14y ago
The best I've heard is "At least you will be able to think critically." Was that really left out of the previous 12 years' curriculum?
- RougeFemme 14y ago
  Unfortunately, in the US, with so many public schools striving to meet benchmark scores on standardized tests that require little critical thinking. . .the answer is yes, that's increasingly left out of the previous 12 years' curriculum.
  - w1ntermute 14y ago
    This is largely FUD in well-to-do districts. Having gone through the public school system after NCLB was passed in a district consisting primarily of upper middle class students, I rarely heard NCLB or the related standardized tests mentioned. And when I did, it was in the form of a derogatory remark from the teachers. Of course, things may be very different for people from other socioeconomic backgrounds.

precisioncoder 14y ago

I think what the poster and other people say is basically there are cheaper consumption goods which would bring a better ROI. For the cost of one year of college you could travel the world, volunteer overseas, start a company, learn anything you want through self directed study, go to Europe learn a European language and take advantage of their education system. With a working visa I am eligible to attend university in Austria at a price of around 200€/year. It took me less than 6 months to learn enough German to land a job here at a total cost of under 1000€. These are just a few possibilities off the top of my head. However the big problem seems to be that it requires thinking and motivation, it's easier to take the college path since it's the current default.

Arelius 14y ago

> I met the love of my life and the mother of my child in college. And a friend of mine met the love of his life many years ago on a Bart Train. One of many who never met her in College. I guess my point is that sometimes you get lucky, and that place is in College. But the cost of college is high, and you don't know the value of the things you would do if you didn't go to college. Clearly you in particular would have lost the chance to meet the love of your life, but there is no way for somebody to know that looking forward to the choice, rather than back on the experience.