On the Utility of Higher Education: A Response

Bryan asked: "Do you agree with the idea that college is not meant for everyone?"

I most certainly agree with this idea. As Bryan pointed out in his post, there are many jobs for which a college education is not required, and there are certainly a number of people who are in college only because of the oft-touted belief that one needs a college education to be able to get a good, high-paying job.

There are, of course, certain merits to college education. It can provide specialized skills that one might need for certain careers, like those in medicine. Extended schooling also gives the student the time and resources to develop a deep body of knowledge, useful for careers in education or research-based fields like the natural sciences.

But there is no need for everyone to pursue an advanced degree. Indeed, a large body of college graduates can have very negative effects. A number of fields are facing the issue of too many qualified candidates -- great for the companies (and colleges!) that are hiring, but not so much for the candidates who spent years getting a degree only to be unable to find a job as each position they apply for is heavily contested by other equally qualified candidates. And of course, our country has far too many lawyers.

The question of who should get a college education ultimately comes down to finding the skills of the individual, and the sometimes difficult project of matching those skills to an occupation that will pay a decent wage.

To end with a question: Is pursuing a college education worthwhile if one does not intend to use the skills from that education (for example, perhaps, going to medical school if one does not want to practice medicine)?