I think most of the comments here are missing the key argument in this article: namely that in addition to college being a poor fit for many potential students, there are some much better, more productive ways that young people could spend the time in the years immediately following high school.
The suggestions to encourage your kid to practice one skill, or start a business, are spot-on, at least from an economic POV. Learning a trade and having some business experience are much more effective at increasing your future potential earnings than a liberal arts education.
Personally, I dropped out after my freshman year to go work for a startup I've had a great time working in IT since then, and consistently out-earned my friends who stayed in school, even now that they've had 4-6 years in the workforce to catch up on experience.
That being said, I think that there is still a strong argument to be made for people eventually attending college. I still look forward to college as something I'll do in the future as a sort of "working vacation." I.e., just like faculty take a sabbatical to focus on their research, or spend time with their family, I hope to take a couple of years off to devote myself to intense, full-time study of some subject other than computers.
Oh, blah. I'll grant you that people (in this country) would be better served by slowing down a bit, but I wouldn't encourage a high school kid to start a business instead of going to college.
Maybe it's a good idea for a kid to work on his "startup" when he's barely old enough to shave, but probably not. The chances of success aren't higher when you're young and under-educated (likely the opposite), and you'll be squandering the one time in your life when you're allowed to get away with things and make mistakes.
Don't want to go to college? Fine. Travel the world. Have adventures. Play in a band. Make friends. Meet women. You're not likely to get the chance later, and you'll be a more compelling, charismatic person for the experience. Then go to college.
Once you've graduated, you'll have the rest of your life to start companies (and the charisma and friends you've picked up will help you on your way).
Comments
I think most of the comments here are missing the key argument in this article: namely that in addition to college being a poor fit for many potential students, there are some much better, more productive ways that young people could spend the time in the years immediately following high school.
The suggestions to encourage your kid to practice one skill, or start a business, are spot-on, at least from an economic POV. Learning a trade and having some business experience are much more effective at increasing your future potential earnings than a liberal arts education.
Personally, I dropped out after my freshman year to go work for a startup I've had a great time working in IT since then, and consistently out-earned my friends who stayed in school, even now that they've had 4-6 years in the workforce to catch up on experience.
That being said, I think that there is still a strong argument to be made for people eventually attending college. I still look forward to college as something I'll do in the future as a sort of "working vacation." I.e., just like faculty take a sabbatical to focus on their research, or spend time with their family, I hope to take a couple of years off to devote myself to intense, full-time study of some subject other than computers.
Oh, blah. I'll grant you that people (in this country) would be better served by slowing down a bit, but I wouldn't encourage a high school kid to start a business instead of going to college.
Maybe it's a good idea for a kid to work on his "startup" when he's barely old enough to shave, but probably not. The chances of success aren't higher when you're young and under-educated (likely the opposite), and you'll be squandering the one time in your life when you're allowed to get away with things and make mistakes.
Don't want to go to college? Fine. Travel the world. Have adventures. Play in a band. Make friends. Meet women. You're not likely to get the chance later, and you'll be a more compelling, charismatic person for the experience. Then go to college.
Once you've graduated, you'll have the rest of your life to start companies (and the charisma and friends you've picked up will help you on your way).