Why do you need a college degree just to prove you are qualified for a job?

Question

This is something I'll thought about all throughout my life. Why does the world only think a piece of paper (diploma) is the only way to prove hard work? People can go to libraries which offer free knowledge, or look it up online. Just because they dropped out or never went to college does not mean they are incapable of doing a job. I mean it's not like you earn knowledge like you earn money. Knowledge can only be learned, and everyhting you need to learn is out there, free of charge. So why then, do you have to pay thousands of dollars to learn in order to get a simple degree that says, "I am qualified"?

I saw a boy about seven on Opera who was a doctor and extremely smart. He didn't go to college, but learned it all himself, and probably with the help of others (he goes to college now, though he is still just a kid). My question still remains, how come if you don't have a degree people seem to think you don't know what you are talking about or don't think you could possible know how to do your job?

*Many times businesses don't even look at the type of degree you have, they just make sure you went to school. They ignore people without the degree, and don't even offer a chance.

Answer 1

Because a degree is the "measure of proof" that you have a certain skill set. I agree, you can learn everything for free, and some of the most successful people in the world were high school drop outs anyway. But a degree helps get you in the door, because it is like a product guarantee, and helps a potential employer by reducing his or her risk in hiring you.

Once you are in the door at your first place, it is what you do and experience gained that define success. The degree will mean little.

Answer 2

Employers at all levels want to find the best qualified person for a particular position without spending very much time doing the research.

The main thing that a college degree shows to an employer is that you have basic skills in a particular area or field. Additionally, it shows the employer that you have at least some abilitiy to think concerning the field. Also, law requires that some positions be filled with particular educational skills.

While I agree that a person can learn much from various sources, it still does not provide the overall abilities and souces that also come with a degree

Answer 3

What was the question?

>Why do you need a college degree just to prove you are qualified for a job?

Because some jobs require it. I don't want a Dr. prescribing medicine who hasn't been to med. school.

>So why then, do you have to pay thousands of dollars to learn in order to get a simple degree that says, "I am qualified"?

It saves time.

Answer 4

Because apart from the amount of knowledge that you learn in a university you learn ways of distinguishing valuable knowledge from trash. There is an amount of criticism that this way others control the way that you develop your thinking but the alternative would be worse. For example you wouldn't make out an astronomer from an astrologist. Expertise isn't a mere compilement of knowledge but also understanding of methodology.

Answer 5

Because it looks good on a resume, right? Really, a diploma doesn't make you a better person or better employee. If you are a **** to start out with and you are **** in the end, the diploma really doesn't matter. The work it takes to earn something that nobody said you had to earn is double-throwdown-extra-fancy-jumba-comba!

Answer 6

I agree with you. You know what you know and don't need to prove it to anyone else.
No one will give you a job on that premise so you can become self employed. Thank goodness for a free society.

Answer 7

It is because one authority (employer) wants the word of another authority ( educational institute) that "you" are an authority of your vocation. Simple as long as you don't complicate it. All it is; is a conformation of your educated skills.