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1) Network generation is weak, but still there. Does it justify 150k + 150k opportunity cost? The data says no. 2) Colleges are, however, great at identity gen

1) Network generation is weak, but still there. Does it justify 150k + 150k opportunity cost? The data says no. 2) Colleges are, however, great at identity generation. People who come from top tier schools feel and act like they are awesome. This dramatically helps when it comes to asking for a higher salary, better position, etc. I have met a number of people who didn't go to college, and a lot of them feel they need to prove that they are just as smart as college alums (which they are). 3) Colleges shouldn't be viewed as an economic investment. It is also an intellectual investment. It helps change your world view into something larger and more interesting. I benefited dramatically from reading Plato under the tutelage of Ancient Greek scholars. 4) Lastly, colleges are FUN. Colleges are filled with parties and friends. You have to include this in the costs.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago
Most of that. But some of us didn't enjoy parties. Still, the friends I made (20 years ago) are still friends so that part is definitely true. On the other hand, if I had been digging ditches maybe I would have met and kept friends in the dirt business. Not as lucrative maybe; but the lifelong friend part would still be true. So its maybe not 'college' that yields 'friends' but rather 'being young and in some group'
humanrebar 12y ago
> You have to include [FUN] in the costs. That's part of the problem. There's no "hold the fun" option if you're price sensitive or if you want to invest your fun budget in something else. This is a really important point because it's really an age and lifestyle discrimination. If you're in your forties and want to get a degree (or a different one), you're still funding late night movies on the quad and disc golf even if you need to be home with the kids. That being said, I'm sure the fun line items aren't the bulk of education expenses, but other frivolous things certainly are: new rec centers, impressive fountains, micromanaging administrators, etc.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago

Most of that. But some of us didn't enjoy parties. Still, the friends I made (20 years ago) are still friends so that part is definitely true. On the other hand, if I had been digging ditches maybe I would have met and kept friends in the dirt business. Not as lucrative maybe; but the lifelong friend part would still be true. So its maybe not 'college' that yields 'friends' but rather 'being young and in some group'

humanrebar 12y ago

> You have to include [FUN] in the costs. That's part of the problem. There's no "hold the fun" option if you're price sensitive or if you want to invest your fun budget in something else. This is a really important point because it's really an age and lifestyle discrimination. If you're in your forties and want to get a degree (or a different one), you're still funding late night movies on the quad and disc golf even if you need to be home with the kids. That being said, I'm sure the fun line items aren't the bulk of education expenses, but other frivolous things certainly are: new rec centers, impressive fountains, micromanaging administrators, etc.