Is the purpose of college to learn how to do a job or just to prove your intelligence?

Answer 1

Niether. It merely shows that you can finish something, nothing else really. In technical fields what is taught is often completely wrong and even sometimes contrary to industry practices in the real world. Few people can learn a complex skill in the tiny amount of time you actually get to study it in college. Many majors do not even touch their skill set until they are in thier 3rd year, the first two years being fluff and stuff that should have been learned in HS but is no longer taught there.

Collage is also based on the Gentleman scholar days when a wide range of skills was needed for landed nobles. A well rounded education was the goal. Today there is too much to learn to be well rounded. Human beings just do not have that kind of knowledge retention. Political agendas, degrading curriculems and lack of touch with the industries they supposedly serve have created a situation where most collage courses are purely an academic exercise with no real world application.

I always hated getting fresh collage grads from HR as new employees. When I had free reign on hiring I would not even look at the education section. In the interview I quized on technical knowledge, not regurgitation of cert but did they actually know what they were doing. Could they perform in the real world. College grads who did not learn on thier own were worse than if I pulled somebody off the street. At least the person I pulled off the street knew they knew nothing. Collage grads would argue and think what they were taught had real world usage. Then they would often defy orders, go try to use those collage shortcuts taught instead of real comprehension then have to come back hat in hand and apologize and THEN I could finally teach them how it's done in the real world and how the technology worked. 6 months later after intensive supervision they learned enough to be entry level at thier job.

So if you are in college learn your field on your own. Do well with tests and such and make good grades but realize most of what you are taught is worthless and applies purely to the academic world.

Answer 2

You don't learn to do a job in college. You don't "prove" your intelligence there either. You take a general curriculum to get a baseline all around education in several topics, such as: sciences, math, humanities, english, etc...these prepare you for learning information in advanced classes to take into the job force of your choice. You will still learn a lot "on the job", but college prepares you for the workforce, and a higher paying job.

I am in college as an older student to get an Art teaching job in the state of Indiana, which is going to be really difficult.

Answer 3

It should do both... worked for me. Years ago I entered college to become a RN, which I did for 15 years, then kids and now I work in an elementary school teaching kids and teachers how to use computers. I miss-read your question... as improve your intelligence, college will do that, but will also prove your intelligence to a prospective employer even if job is unrelated to your major area of study.

Answer 4

It sounds as if you are trying to find an excuse for not going to college. The purpose of college is to get an education. If you are intelligent, you don't have to prove it.

Answer 5

College is a great mental maturing stage. I graduated with my masters a year ago, and I am far more prepared for my field than I would have been if I didnt go. From college you learn HOW to think and not necassarily WHAT to think. You will graduate with a bunch of facts and figures, but the real value of college is learning the ability to think on the fly, how to analyze problems, and how to create solutions in any field that you decide. Also when you slap your college degree on your future employer's desk, it is worth a lot of money in your salary. You will earn back what you invest in college via salary over the years. Good luck and stay in school.

Answer 6

I believe the answer to your question is that it depends on the career you choose. For example, to become a Chef, the college education would be to actually teach you to cook. However, if you are considering a career in, say, insurance, there is no specific degree. In that case, the company would require the college degree simply to prove your intelligence and perhaps that you can finish what you start. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Didn't do a great deal for me education-wise, and it CERTAINLY wasn't about proving my intelligence (got a bit of a complex about avoiding that thanks to pushy parents/teachers when younger - it doesn't win you any friends!)...... What it did offer great value in was life experience, that might not have got elsewhere, though it was a hellishly expensive way of doing it!

e.g. in going out making friends with people who may not expressly be part of your class at school (inc those outside the college itself), getting work to pay bills, effective budgeting and time management, partying, relationships :-) cooking cleaning and tidying up for yourself, etc... all in a relatively safe sandbox environment so you're not burned so hard later on

For education and job prospects, I found going on an actual apprenticeship-type course (in-work training) for two years was a lot more effective, and I actually ended up with a "half degree" (HND) that was at about the same level as my real one... and the experience I garnered in it is useful in far more places than the degree itself... plus, it wasn't just free but they paid me for doing it!

Answer 8

Some people do think that the more college they had the more intelligence they are, but for most is to learn how to, to follow up with technology and society.

Answer 9

Well, if you go in for a profession (e.g. engineering, computer science, hotel management) the curricula resembles a glorified trade school. If you go for an arts degree, you learn stuff that may or may not be useful to you later but guarantees that the people will not mistake you for a random ape wearing clothing. Of course there are varying shades in between.

Answer 10

prove intelligence. Most college grads are not fully ready for any specific job. You still need training.