America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree

Re:America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree by vaksel on Monday October 06, 2008 @03:49PM (#325238)

I think the problem with the degrees is that they focus way too much on the concepts and way too little on practice. Schools need to offer and require at least one class where you spend days actually doing the jobs available for your major. Instead of doing BS work problems where instead of using Excel like they do in the real world, you have to use a blank piece of paper.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree by bbgm on Monday October 06, 2008 @06:04PM (#325366)

To offer the contrarian view, I know many who've changed careers and explored alternative paths because they had a sound conceptual understanding. Yes, you can't just be theoretical, but I'd argue that you go a lot further when you know why you are using Excel in the first place and what you want to achieve with it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree by vaksel on Monday October 06, 2008 @06:41PM (#325416)

well thats the thing in most cases the teachers will talk about the concepts without really touching on how to apply them in real life. So sure you might know what an integer is and know what that does in all languages, but that won't help you program competently

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree by bbgm on Wednesday October 08, 2008 @12:37AM (#326337)

No it won't but if you don't know what an integer is, how are you going to program simple math? You have to understand the basics. Programming is implementation, and of course, must be taught well to be mastered, but it becomes a whole lot easier if you understand what you're trying to program. It's not the best analogy in the world, but hopefully makes some sense

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree by tlrobinson on Tuesday October 07, 2008 @04:52AM (#325557)

So, like a vocational / trade school?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree by vaksel on Tuesday October 07, 2008 @10:34AM (#325707)

Not school, just a few courses for each major to prepare the students for the work force. I mean right now you come out of school, and you really have no idea wtf you can do. At least with some vocational practice you can see if its a job you want to do for the next 50 years

[ Parent | on HN ]