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Ask HN: Should everyone get a university degree?

6 pointsby bsldldover 3 years ago
I was discussing my project idea[0] on an online political forum.<p>One of the respondents on the form said that not everyone should get higher education. It makes students think that they are entitled for high-level jobs and that gives rise to shortage of workers for low-level jobs. Most people don&#x27;t understand that &quot;dirt and money go hand-in-hand&quot;.<p>What do you think, is this view valid?<p>[0] https:&#x2F;&#x2F;loan-free-ed.neocities.org

7 comments

dagwover 3 years ago
<i>Most people don&#x27;t understand that &quot;dirt and money go hand-in-hand&quot;.</i><p>Except it doesn&#x27;t. Everybody I know (including me) who earns very good money does so by sitting in a comfortable chair, thinking clever thoughts that they then write down (or otherwise communicating them). People I know without any degree working with &#x27;dirt&#x27; generally earn half.<p>That being said, not everybody should necessarily get a traditional 4+ year academic degree. Many people will be better served with some sort 2-3 year, more practical and focused, post high school education. Also working a few years between graduating high school and starting your further education is in many cases a good idea. But ending your education after highschool I believe is almost always a mistake.
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gidorahover 3 years ago
No, everyone should not get a degree.<p>A degree is a specific kind of learning that many people does not work for many people.<p>I did a Master&#x27;s degree. It was hard, I barely passed. However, being an accountant you have to do a professional qualification (CPA, CIMA, ACCA, etc). I suited that style of learning more than the masters.
jstx1over 3 years ago
&gt; It makes students think that they are entitled for high-level jobs and that gives rise to shortage of workers for low-level jobs.<p>Education doesn&#x27;t guarantee a high-level job (however we define it); but almost all high-level jobs require good education.<p>&gt; Most people don&#x27;t understand that &quot;dirt and money go hand-in-hand&quot;.<p>This is plainly false.<p>There is something to the fact that not everyone will need or benefit from a degree but the way you&#x27;re rationalising it seems off. It&#x27;s like you&#x27;re saying that we should keep people uneducated so they don&#x27;t get too uppity about what they do in life and we have them fill the worst jobs out there that nobody wants.
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mapsterover 3 years ago
Some goto higher Ed for a high paying career. Others attend college for intellectual curiosity and growth.<p>If you don’t want either of these, or prefer a different route to either of these, then yes, that seems quite ok way to live.
Bostonianover 3 years ago
No, because as Charles Murray has explained in the book &quot;Real Education&quot; and in an essay &quot;Intelligence and College&quot; <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.aei.org&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2011&#x2F;10&#x2F;Murray%20Intelligence.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.aei.org&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2011&#x2F;10&#x2F;Murray%20Inte...</a> , you should have an IQ of 115 to study at the college level.
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aynycover 3 years ago
No, not everyone should get college degree. I do wish society provides a way for young (or old) people the opportunity to experience (military or civil service) something like college where they get a chance to meet&#x2F;see&#x2F;feel&#x2F;listen to others. Trade schools don&#x27;t offer that.
codingdaveover 3 years ago
No, it isn&#x27;t for everyone - but not in the slightest bit for the reasons your respondent is saying. It sounds like you are getting trolled. Blaming education for a labor shortage is just trying to shift the blame from the business owners trying to pay their workers less.