Posted on May 15, 2016
If you don't have a college degree, do you feel that you are somehow less smart than those who do?
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College Kids Say the Darndest Things: On Gender
Do college kids think there's a difference between men and women? FPIW visited Seattle University to find out.
This video should disabuse you of that notion. See how "smart" these college kids are. Political correctness has completely killed common sense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4S0gHlKiho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4S0gHlKiho
Posted in these groups: 
Education
Political Correctness
Education Political Correctness
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 30
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I've said it for decades, there is no correlation between education and intelligence.
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This is what happens when liberal/progressives control our educational system - those unable to think clearly themselves pass their disabilities on to succeeding generations.
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Hi, Captain Durish.
As a matter of full disclosure, I have an MBA with a specialization in Project Management. Having said that...
As a society, we have thrust too much weight on the importance of a college degree, for the wrong reasons. When our economy was agrarian in nature, college was reserved for rich, city kids for very critical positions like doctors or lawyers. I’ve never been there, but I can’t imagine a lot of rows to hoe in Boston or Philadelphia. As we progressed to a manufacturing economy, college was required for management positions at GM and Ford. Now in a knowledge economy based on information services, because of all of the weight we have forced a college education to bear, we have convinced ourselves and our kids that the only way to achieve a good job and foster a successful career is with a college degree.
That’s not necessarily true.
While a degree is a good weapon to have in your kit, it should achieve more goals than just a good job. College is an opportunity to enhance your critical thinking skills, expose yourself to world views beyond the one you grew up with, and learn how to express your views to others in a clear, professional, educated manner. It should serve for the betterment of society, not just the guarantee of a $100K/year job.
Does it make you smarter? No. I graduated with a bunch of people that were as dumb as a box of rocks from their freshman indoc until they walked across the ceremony stage, fresh undergrad degree in hand. Does it somehow promise a high-paying career? Of course not. I know a graduate with a BA in Art History that’s flipping burgers right now (and there is nothing wrong with that, she’s paying her bills, but it’s just not the endgame she expected, because she has a degree). Is it worth it? Maybe. It isn’t cheap, it’s only getting more expensive, and it is a huge investment in time and energy. Trade schools are cheaper and shorter, and might have a higher starting salary potential than rookie undergrads.
As a matter of full disclosure, I have an MBA with a specialization in Project Management. Having said that...
As a society, we have thrust too much weight on the importance of a college degree, for the wrong reasons. When our economy was agrarian in nature, college was reserved for rich, city kids for very critical positions like doctors or lawyers. I’ve never been there, but I can’t imagine a lot of rows to hoe in Boston or Philadelphia. As we progressed to a manufacturing economy, college was required for management positions at GM and Ford. Now in a knowledge economy based on information services, because of all of the weight we have forced a college education to bear, we have convinced ourselves and our kids that the only way to achieve a good job and foster a successful career is with a college degree.
That’s not necessarily true.
While a degree is a good weapon to have in your kit, it should achieve more goals than just a good job. College is an opportunity to enhance your critical thinking skills, expose yourself to world views beyond the one you grew up with, and learn how to express your views to others in a clear, professional, educated manner. It should serve for the betterment of society, not just the guarantee of a $100K/year job.
Does it make you smarter? No. I graduated with a bunch of people that were as dumb as a box of rocks from their freshman indoc until they walked across the ceremony stage, fresh undergrad degree in hand. Does it somehow promise a high-paying career? Of course not. I know a graduate with a BA in Art History that’s flipping burgers right now (and there is nothing wrong with that, she’s paying her bills, but it’s just not the endgame she expected, because she has a degree). Is it worth it? Maybe. It isn’t cheap, it’s only getting more expensive, and it is a huge investment in time and energy. Trade schools are cheaper and shorter, and might have a higher starting salary potential than rookie undergrads.
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CPT Jack Durish
I'm not sure that "we have thrust too much weight on the importance of a college degree..." for the wrong reasons or the right ones. The simple fact is that college degrees simply aren't what they used to be. Schools and colleges were institutions of education once upon a time. Now they are institutions of indoctrination. Thus, my degree bears only a passing resemblance to those being issued today.
As to a degree promising a high-paying career... that was never certain. The degree then and now opened doors to opportunity that might otherwise be barred shut to those without a degree, but skills are needed to take advantage of those opportunities. There seems to be little time in schools these days for the development of skills.
As to a degree promising a high-paying career... that was never certain. The degree then and now opened doors to opportunity that might otherwise be barred shut to those without a degree, but skills are needed to take advantage of those opportunities. There seems to be little time in schools these days for the development of skills.
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Absolutely not. Having recently been to college I can testify that an overwhelming majority of college students lack common sense. What's more is it is easy to pick an easy major like criminal justice (I can say that cause that is what my bachelors is in) just to get a fancy piece of paper. That being said, some of the smartest people I have ever had the pleasure of speaking to were my lower NCOs that didn't have a degree. Intelligence comes in many forms and not just from having a degree.
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I have somewhere around 90 credit hours of college. Never have added it all up. Never had it put towards a degree. But there is no doubt I know more than those confused kids in the video. I have to wonder what these girls reaction would be if some burly hunk of a construction worker walked through their locker room while they were changing clothes...
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CPT Jack Durish I watched the video. Anyone who says --there is no reason for male and female lacks either intelligence or common sense.Without genders we have NO reproduction.No cattle for beef or milk,no pigs for pork,no chickens for eggs,etc.Even plants have male and female,without the difference you soon have no food to feed these PC "savants".
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SSgt Terry P.
CPT Jack Durish - As it was meant to be,CPT.
Thought you might like this,common sense seems to be lost.
Thought you might like this,common sense seems to be lost.
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You shouldn't feel less smart, but don't be surprised if your military or civilian career takes a lower trajectory compared to those who have a college degree.
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CPT Jack Durish
Sad but true if you're seeking a career in government of most corporations. However, there's a wealth of opportunities (well-paying, satisfying careers) in arts, crafts, skilled trades, and, of course, entrepreneurs of all types.
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No. A lot of the stuff I know and do is not found in books used at colleges. I'm not saying I'm smarter then someone that went to college, but I learned things through life experiences that are not used by people that much anymore( common sense for one).
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I feel more intelligent not having one and saving the tens of thousands than pursuing a new high school diploma (meaning everyone has a bachelors in something). Looking at snapchat stories of my fellow peers that decide to go to university and seeing them drink every single moment they get... I could go on
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SFC Marcus Belt
I thought as you did at one time, that a Bachelor's was the new HS diploma, except the numbers say that less than 30% of the workforce has undergraduate degrees. When I looked at career fields, post-Army, the descriptions for well-qualified candidates said "ten years relevant work experience, or a 4 year degree." I figured, let's have BOTH!
And then I decided I wanted a PhD in Social Psych, so that's what I get for thinking too much.
And then I decided I wanted a PhD in Social Psych, so that's what I get for thinking too much.
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
SFC Marcus Belt - I'm doing research, I have buddies graduating from an NSA accredited university (Central Washington University) with the equivalent knowledge (not their fault,, but the curricula) of someone with a CCENT (again, not bashing but a fair comparison). I'm doing all of my skillport classes. I'm going to reach out to some Warrant Officers (255N or 225A) if obtaining a degree would be better than equivalent work experience.
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SFC Marcus Belt
SPC(P) (Join to see) - Valid points, no doubt, and within technical fields especially, focused training and experience are the keys.
But "everyone" in America does not have a Bachelors Degree. And I'd argue that as we have placed less emphasis on English, Social Studies, Consumer Economics and History, we've seen our educational outcomes become poorer for it. And there's cognitive and neuroscience to support that education in these subjects creates conditions in the human brain that make people more receptive and better able to learn tangible, job-based skills as well.
Education is about learning HOW to think about and process information: the "meta-cognitive" aspects of learning, that is, thinking about thinking. Don't get me wrong, I am a Psych Major and really (REALLY!!!) close to graduation, and I certainly know more about psychology than I did before, but I also know much much more about how I learn. How to get information from a printed source, into my head, and then "operationalize" that information? How do synthesize information from multiple sources? What do I do with data that are counter to other data? These metacognitive abilities are useful and applicable to every domain of life, and while they are certainly not peculiar to the university experience, it's where I found them, or at least refined them, and so I think it would be an error to dismiss higher education out of hand as a waste of time.
Think of it this way: you've probably got peers in the Army that, when their enlistments are done, they will have literally nothing to show for their time. Others will have learned things about themselves, gained worked experience and skills, and maybe a technical certification or two. The same applies for education: if you start, day one, with the goal of finding something useful, you'll do so. If not...you won't.
I have chosen pursue higher education because they don't let guys with GEDs (me, until I graduate) teach and conduct research and universities. Certainly not the only course of action, but it's the only one that will meets my goals.
Assess your goals, then make an informed decision, but understand that you'll have to actively seek what it is you wish to achieve regardless of the path you take.
Take it easy!
But "everyone" in America does not have a Bachelors Degree. And I'd argue that as we have placed less emphasis on English, Social Studies, Consumer Economics and History, we've seen our educational outcomes become poorer for it. And there's cognitive and neuroscience to support that education in these subjects creates conditions in the human brain that make people more receptive and better able to learn tangible, job-based skills as well.
Education is about learning HOW to think about and process information: the "meta-cognitive" aspects of learning, that is, thinking about thinking. Don't get me wrong, I am a Psych Major and really (REALLY!!!) close to graduation, and I certainly know more about psychology than I did before, but I also know much much more about how I learn. How to get information from a printed source, into my head, and then "operationalize" that information? How do synthesize information from multiple sources? What do I do with data that are counter to other data? These metacognitive abilities are useful and applicable to every domain of life, and while they are certainly not peculiar to the university experience, it's where I found them, or at least refined them, and so I think it would be an error to dismiss higher education out of hand as a waste of time.
Think of it this way: you've probably got peers in the Army that, when their enlistments are done, they will have literally nothing to show for their time. Others will have learned things about themselves, gained worked experience and skills, and maybe a technical certification or two. The same applies for education: if you start, day one, with the goal of finding something useful, you'll do so. If not...you won't.
I have chosen pursue higher education because they don't let guys with GEDs (me, until I graduate) teach and conduct research and universities. Certainly not the only course of action, but it's the only one that will meets my goals.
Assess your goals, then make an informed decision, but understand that you'll have to actively seek what it is you wish to achieve regardless of the path you take.
Take it easy!
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
Well put! I'm taking notes from that response. And congratulations on the almost graduation!
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"But painfully clear to many employers are serious gaps between elite educational credentials and actual individual competence"
Love this article from Harvard Business Review
https://hbr.org/2010/07/higher-education-is-highly-ove
Love this article from Harvard Business Review
https://hbr.org/2010/07/higher-education-is-highly-ove
Higher Education Is Overrated; Skills Aren’t
With innovation, entrepreneurship and significantly smarter fiscal policies, America should eventually escape its “hireless recovery.” But what won’t hasten new hiring — and might even dampen job prospects — is the mythical belief that higher education invariably leads to higher employment and better jobs. It doesn’t. Foolish New York Times stories notwithstanding, education is a […]
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CPT Jack Durish
Thank you for this. Sad that your link is buried within this discussion thread. You should make it the anchor of a new discussion so that it receives the attention it deserves. (And if you don't do it, I will)
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SGT Kyle Johnson
CPT Jack Durish Please do. This topic has been stuck in my craw. I was going to start a new thread, but could not come up with a good title. I have been looking for a new position and all this BS of do you have a degree? In what? Oh, you don't care a degree?? WTF ?? LOL
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