[aiethics] Tell kids to go to college?

[Heath Borders-Wing]

Alicebot AI Ethics Committee - http://www.alicebot.org


Hi.  I'm a new member, so I don't want to come off as unfriendly or
anything, but I have to disagree with all the college-education bashing.
I'm not sure what colleges you guys had experience with, but at mine, =
the
university of missouri-columbia, which is an ordinary state school with =
a
slightly better than average engineering program, where I am majoring in
computer science, computer engineering, and math.

Anyways, at my program, as with many others, student learn a foundation =
of
theory on the subjects.  The college focuses on studies and research, =
not
training people for jobs.  As of late, my college has started turning =
more
towards a job training degree program rather than a program for those =
that
wish to learn about the topic, regardless of whether they wish to work =
in
the field.  While I do feel that I am not learning as much as a could be =
at
college, I do feel that it has given me a great foundation on which to
build.  Furthermore, because of general education requirements, I have
learned about areas that previously did not interest me.  This has made =
me
more worldly and a more informed citizen.  While someone may become MCSE
certified and get a high-paying job, any good student of computer =
sciences
can do the same.  The advantage of being college educated lies in the
broader range of topics the college student will have studied.  This =
will
allow me to possibly take a job in any range of areas while someone who =
is
MCSE certified is restricted to a specific area.  Further, they do not =
have
the more learned background in the sciences and the arts that the =
college
student has, which brings new perspectives and solutions into my work,
increasing its quality.

There is no denying that helping on an open-source project, or becoming =
MCSE
certified will impart signifigant knowledge onto a prospective student.  =
But
it is most important that students be well-rounded in their education =
and
establish a foundation in multiple areas to make them more valuable to
companies and the world in general.

-Heath