I don't necessarily think "higher" education indicates greater intelligence. Some people swear by it. I've got a chemical engineering technician diploma from a three year college program. It was all I could afford as a student on loans. I did well in my classes (some better than others) but I don't think it imparted to me any special intelligence. University degree people generally look down upon my education but usually cannot perform basic chemical functions that I can do with my eyes closed. Anyone else experience this phenomenon?
2007-01-13 02:09:03 · 17 answers · asked by heathen 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
I agree with you. I have friends who barely graduated from high school who are some of the most intelligent people I know, and very successful. I've met people who graduated from college who couldn't carry on an intelligent conversation. This is part of the reason that the whole "you have to go to college to get a decent job" thing isn't true. Formal education isn't for everybody and is different from the real world and succeeding at a real world job.
2007-01-13 02:21:28 · answer #1 · answered by pag2809 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not. It can increase your knowledge base (though I'm sure about 50% of college bound people in the long run learn nothing), make you more professional/formal, and land you a good job. However, it's not going to make you much more clever than you already are.
Actually, all of the grinding, craming, and regurgitation of information to pass the tests and such can take a toll on an individual if you arn't careful. Could turn you into one of those eliteist hermit type people and are angst and look down on others XD
And yes contrary to popular belief, Ph.D isn't a genius certificate. I'm sure there are plenty of younglings entering college that are much smarter than their professors are. Though naturally the opposite is also true XD
University grades also don't mean much. I remember getting an A+ with 100 on the examination in calculus 2, but a B- in biology with a 78 on the final exam. Why did this happen? Because I tried harder in math...nothing to do with intelligence ( I failed the lab exam and frequently didn't show up to labs XD). College grades are 99% work and 1% brain.
2007-01-13 03:57:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If 'higher' education was as described by all the alumni that went to college, this country and every other country would be filled with geniuses. However, I have seen people who graduated from college with various degrees that cannot operate a can opener or a lawn mower(manual, both). So, no, I don't think 'higher' education gives one the right to say that it is better than using the senses God gave a squirrel, because most of these so-called smart people cannot function, not only in their chosen fields but in everyday life.
2007-01-13 02:17:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
intelligence is something you are born with. However, college can get you knowledge. In our country though, a lot of college classes are a waste of time. We live in a culture that values a college education though, regardless of your salary, job, or intelligence. My mother works for 10,000 a year as a teacher's aid and is much more qualified and experienced that the teacher she works under. They teach an ESL class together and my mother speaks Spanish fluently and knows how to teach kids. The other teacher, the full timeone, just has that degree. But because of the degree, she gets the greater salary and benefits. It doens' make any sense, but that's the reality of the country in which we live.
2007-01-13 05:28:15 · answer #4 · answered by IKB 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is a fact that someone with no studies can be more intelligent than one with those, it´s just nature, but it´s true as well that the intelligente needs a development and studying is not way to do it, I mean, I´m doing engineering and I guess in some years I probably be a bit more intelligent than now as I´ve done a lot of problems...
2007-01-13 02:14:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree. I met a lot of total morons at the Universities I attended; and I have met some brilliant people that couldn't afford college or just bullied their way through the business world sans degree.
2007-01-13 02:13:39 · answer #6 · answered by Sassygirlzmom 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I would say it just gives you more knowledge, especially in the areas you studied. I'm studying history and legal studies so know a good deal about that, but I don't know the first thing about chemical engineering because that's not my area. People who get degrees also have to take all the basic courses, so that gives them more general knowledge in those areas also.
2007-01-13 03:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by kj 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
To answer your first question,higher education only translates to greater education,not greater intelligence. I've met plenty of over educated bozos who can barely tie their shoes and plenty of college dropouts who are geniuses. that also answers your second question.
2007-01-13 02:21:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It doen't just come down to intelligence. You're talking about knowledge and experience. Intelligence measures your ability to grasp complex, complicated and difficult ideas as well as the sheer amount of things you know.
Higher education just offers you specialist knowledge while also stimulating your brain to work harder.
2007-01-13 02:16:29 · answer #9 · answered by lazer 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, higher education does not equal greater intelligence. It just denotes a desire to acquire knowledge.
2007-01-13 02:13:22 · answer #10 · answered by ladykod 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋