>>You have to learn how to learn – that is something that you will find invaluable in life.
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>And if you already know how to learn? FWIW, this "College teaches you to learn" is crap. Preschool prepares you for elementary school. Elementary school prepares you for high school, and hugh school prepares you for College. By the time I get to College, if I don't know how to learn, I'm an idiot. Plain. Simple. I'd really appreciate it if they taught something after 12 years of preparation.


IMO, the biggest advantages that college USED TO HAVE was a broadening of horizons and acquiring professional skills. Scientific training, for example, benefits greatly from tutored training in methology, the so-called scientific method, critical thinking, etc... It doesn't have a corner on those markets though. Self taught people tend to be focused too narrowly on a few ideas and blissfully ignorant of a large number of others. In science, for example, I've noticed that self-taught individuals usually don't fully understand major concepts, like the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, or they misunderstand it. Being self-taught, they didn't have the company of other students or teachers on which they could bounce ideas, receive constructive criticims, suggestions, ideas for improvement, etc... (Which, BTW, is what makes forums like UT so popular!) and the realization that most topics are barely scratched.

Colleges also USED TO give a wide range of speakers unimpeded access to college forums. With rampant political correctness on most college campuses stamping out any diversity (read: those not far left of center not welcomed) in the name of diversity (what an irony!) college campuses are a mockery of academic and political freedom. It's not as bad at the HS and elementary levels yet, but it's getting there. From my office window I am treated every year to a 'march' by elementry kids, because the capital bldg is only a block away from here, who are 'protesting' one thing or another. This is during school time and with teachers in charge. The amazing thing is that some of their 'protests' envolve ideas that are way above their life experience or intellectual ability. They are like the 8 year old Asian child playing mock battles and shouting "Death to Americans" or being drilled by his adult supervisors in martial arts.

So, all in all, my seven years in college were the most interesting and exciting times of my life (except for pilot training!:-) and I'd go back in an instant if I could. In fact, it would take little or no encouragement for me to become a professional student!

VoTech schools, while fine for quick, concentrated learning of a trade, doesn't create a well rounded individual. Before VoTech they were "rednecks". After VoTech they are "rednecks" who can repair air conditioners or use VB to write some programs. There is a world of difference between a person who had 36 hours of programming at a VoTech school and one who has earned a CS degree at a good University. The former reads "VB for Dummies" and the latter reads Donald Knuth, mathematics and all.