College Opportunity Options

[BamBamBoogie]

Should there be a tuition for college? Some say that it discriminates against those who lack opportunities and financial stability. While others say it prepares you for a society where nothing is free. What do you say?

[-DressYourEyelid...]

there is a big difference between a mistake and malpractice.

and with the onset of doctor shortages, it has been proven that many medical schools have passed students that should have otherwise failed. do these so-called doctors deserve or live up to their degrees and certifications? no. in which case, degrees mean everything and nothing at all at the same time.
i realize that it is easier to go with the odds and hire based on schooling, but is it better?

i'm sorry the debate topic was changed entirely. well, not really, this is far too much fun and insightful - it has given me lots to think about and has made my day :D

[batman]

there is a big difference between a mistake and malpractice.

and with the onset of doctor shortages, it has been proven that many medical schools have passed students that should have otherwise failed. do these so-called doctors deserve or live up to their degrees and certifications? no. in which case, degrees mean everything and nothing at all at the same time.
i realize that it is easier to go with the odds and hire based on schooling, but is it better?

Even if this is true and the people with degrees are getting increasingly more incompetent... what does this say about the people who couldn't get their degrees? Even with the standards lowered, it's still a safer bet to go to a doctor who got his/her MD from from a reputable med school.

I'm incredibly biased in the whole "does it really matter where you go to college" issue, since I did work hard all through high school to make it into my first choice. Of course I would hate to think that all that effort was wasted and means absolutely nothing in the long run.

I agree that Ivy Leagues are overrated (and a bit corrupt) on some level, but I don't think that getting a degree at an Ivy is meaningless. It's worth it to graduate from a prestigious university that's known for their selectiveness. It's sort of an instant recognition. People hear "Harvard/Yale/Princeton/etc" and they immediately think "smart" whether you graduated first or last from your class. In addition to the value of the degree you get, when you go to a well-known university, you're also making connections with future congressmen, lawyers, doctors, etc, which opens up tons of opportunities that you might not have had otherwise.

While that degree doesn't make you any better than the next person (i.e. "you need a degree to be somebody" is bullshit since nobody but yourself can tell you what you're worth), I think it's worth it in the sense that it adds prestige to your name. And tbh, with all the work that goes into getting a degree,... it better mean more than just a certificate.