Why do people think that having a college degree makes you smart? (public school, salaries)

[Cofga]

I know a lot of folks who might have higher IQs than I do but they aren't worth a snot when it comes to putting it to any valuable use. Add to that the fact that intelligence without knowledge is also useless--a college education not only gives you the knowledge it teaches you how to use it. An early Cro-Magnon could have had an IQ equal to or greater than modern humans but I doubt you would put one to work doing anything more technically sophisticated than hunting, fishing, and building mud and wattle huts. My PhD was worth every minute I spent in a classroom or lab getting it but my IQ and personal abilities allowed me to advance to the forefront of my profession

[Katiana]

There are some pretty stupid or ignorant people with college degrees.

This is usually said by people who don't have college degrees. Not that I don't agree, but you don't find many people who wish they hadn't gone to college. There seem to be more that didn't go, and wish they had.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by Katiana

This is usually said by people who don't have college degrees. Not that I don't agree, but you don't find many people who wish they hadn't gone to college. There seem to be more that didn't go, and wish they had.

And I'm willing to bet you'll find more stupid people among those who didn't go to college than those who did. Even worse those who are convinced they know more than if they had gone to college yet fail to prove the point. Nothing like a self proclaimed expert.

I agree on people not wishing they hadn't gone to college. I kind of wish I'd never gotten my teaching degree (but then again I could be sitting with no job at all if I hadn't) but I don't regret my engineering degrees one bit.

[sailordave]

Originally Posted by miu

Well... generally, those that do well academically in high school are encouraged to go on to college. Hardly anyone that does well in high school (such as straight A's in math and science) stops going to school once they get their high school degree. Careers in the sciences, such as engineering and medicine, do require years of formal education. Some things just can't be learned on the job with help from an indulgent and supportive employer.

Going on to college and doing well in ones college classes shows a future employer that one is able to learn complex knowledge and also to take that knowledge, research it further and take it to a higher level. It shows an employer that one can be given an assignment or project, and complete the task successfully. At the university I am working for, the students are encouraged to work on development projects, write a report, create a poster board presentation of their project and then to "sell" its merits to fellow students and professors.

Anyway, I realize that book smarts aren't everything, but I prefer to date men with at least a college degree because in general, these are people that enjoy gathering knowledge and reading good literature. They make for more enjoyable and satisfying conversationalists.

On the other extreme, men in the trades, such as construction or auto mechanics, don't generally talk about the latest in scientific advancements or the good books they have recently read. And while it's great that they can do their own handiwork on their houses such as building decks and additions, that stuff is very boring (to me) to talk about. And this is from my own personal observations.

So mikejj2004... I am just curious as to how old you are and what career are you hoping to pursue without the benefits of a college degree? And if you find in your social interactions, people thinking that you are less smart than their friends with a college degree... Usually, most of the people I meet never come out and say if they have a college degree, but from the way they talk and their interests, I am usually able to accurately guess if they are college educated or not.

Considering the ratings of do-it-yourself type networks, plenty people do not find building decks or doing their own home improvement boring topics. Though I do not have a degree and work in a mechnical trade, I enjoy taking time off to visit my local library, mostly to read some classics or how-to or self-help type books. Having a knowledgable diy type husband around the house can be very handy especially in times of emergencies or to save on utilities without having to hire contractors. So sorry you find the majority of the working class people to be so stupid and boring for you. I'm curious, when you bring your car in for service, do you tell them you find them boring and stupid? When your home AC breaks down at the worst part of summer or winter, do you tell the repairman how boring you find him and his line of work? These, and many other trades, help to keep this country rolling. Perhaps if you took the time to get to know some of these tradesmen you may find that they have a brain and are not as boring as you believe. Perhaps it is you whom others find to be boring.

[sailordave]

Originally Posted by Katiana

This is usually said by people who don't have college degrees. Not that I don't agree, but you don't find many people who wish they hadn't gone to college. There seem to be more that didn't go, and wish they had.

Touchy
I work in a hospital. My duties include the hospital's heating and cooling system, emergency generators, daily chemical water test on all our systems, medical gas system, fire alarm system (we're the first responders in an emergency), and when maintenance isn't here we try to do as much building general maintenance as we can since there's only one person here at that time. Though the doctors and nurses have good medical knowledge,...some of the staff are lacking in other areas. Below are some examples of what we've seen in our line of work.
1. Nurse-"How do you flush yogurt down the toilet?"
2. During a horrible thunderstorm we began to have roof leaks. Nurse tried to order me to put tarp out on our roof (our building covers several acres)
3. During hurricane Lilli we had windows blowing out and we were fighting to keep our old generators running. That's when someone in Administration called asking for us to bring her a bulb for her desk lamp.
4. Spring time around midnight. Got a call about flying bugs around the nurses' desk. They had all the windows open and all lights on. They wanted fresh air but wanted me to get rid of the bugs. None of the windows have screens.
5. Reason why our windows don't have screens is because someone in Administration didn't like the way they made the building look. No more screens, hello flying bugs.
6. Doctor wanted us to install a special channel on his TV. We told him it wasn't included in the cable package. He got angry and ordered us to install that channel on his TV (Dr. lounge) Sorry, we don't run the Cable television company.
7. Nurses' lounge sink was clogged. From the pipe under the sink I removed knives, spoons, paper, food, needle caps, coffee grounds, straws, and other items. When I showed them what was clogging the sink they asked me to install a garbage disposal. Did I mention the METAL spoons and knives?
What makes all this worse is the types of people above are the ones who look down on others who they feel are beneath them. There are lower paying positions than myself. I don't look down upon them for their work. It's a necessary job that must be done for the hospital to function properly and though it's not a mentally stimulating job, it's jobs that require skills to get done properly. No matter how many degrees you have, no matter how smart you think you are, if you're willing to listen with an open mind, you can learn something from anyone you meet, whether they're a janitor buffing the floors or a restaurant worker serving your food or a farmer in the field. You just might be surprised what you learn if you're willing to listen with an open mind.

[sailordave]

The above does not make up the majority of the medical staff. Most don't look down on others and most aren't that stupid outside their field of study. But such people do exist.

[Katiana]

You seem to be confusing the actions of individuals (hospital adminstrator [maybe admin assistant], doctor, nurses) with everyone in those professions.

I don't know many nurses who look down on others.

[sailordave]

I had to walk away for a while because some of this is a bit personal right now. Virtually all of my family work in trades. My dad and two uncles dropped out of high school. They all eventually worked in the oil field after getting their GED while in the military. One was in Korea, one was called up for the Cuban missle crisis, and my dad was in Vietnam on an aircraft carrier. My dad worked his way up and was even taught computer programing and helped to write software for oil tools back in the 80s. One of the two uncles retired from the oil industry and worked as a consultant for oil companies. The most personal one right now is another uncle who at this very moment is laying in ICU slowly dying. He worked as an automechanic for a dealership for 40 years. He raised four sons and he and his wife live in a home they bought and paid for in full. Our families would often go camping and fishing together. He loved fishing. He also loved gardening and grew tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, bell peppers, pears, and other fruits and vegetables.

[sailordave]

Originally Posted by Katiana

You seem to be confusing the actions of individuals (hospital adminstrator [maybe admin assistant], doctor, nurses) with everyone in those professions.

I don't know many nurses who look down on others.

Didn't say they all did this but there are those who do. Most don't.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by sailordave

I had to walk away for a while because some of this is a bit personal right now. Virtually all of my family work in trades. My dad and two uncles dropped out of high school. They all eventually worked in the oil field after getting their GED while in the military. One was in Korea, one was called up for the Cuban missle crisis, and my dad was in Vietnam on an aircraft carrier. My dad worked his way up and was even taught computer programing and helped to write software for oil tools back in the 80s. One of the two uncles retired from the oil industry and worked as a consultant for oil companies. The most personal one right now is another uncle who at this very moment is laying in ICU slowly dying. He worked as an automechanic for a dealership for 40 years. He raised four sons and he and his wife live in a home they bought and paid for in full. Our families would often go camping and fishing together. He loved fishing. He also loved gardening and grew tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, bell peppers, pears, and other fruits and vegetables.

My prayers to you and your family.

I have nothing but respect for people in trades.