This is one of the more heinous quotes in the entire article.
First, it seems to write off any sense of plasticity in cognition and learning.
Second, these people clearly were successful in that they earned a degree, so ojbyrne is right in that this statement and the data have no correlation; say what you will about the quality of an education in some institutions, but I can assure you that plenty of people in food service and janitorial occupations dropped out of college (if they were fortunate enough to have the opportunity available).
Finally, it underscores the article's implication that a lack of success invalidates the reason for having tried at all. As other commenters pointed out, a college degree can be a vehicle for personal fulfillment, salary maximization, etc. (There was a link on HN very recently about the 100-year-old man going for his PhD... is his effort not worthwhile?) Call me crazy, but I believe people who attain a degree are enriched in some way, and if they fall short of their original goal it's still better to have tried.
I work for an education-related startup, and I'm quick to acknowledge that problems abound in higher education... but this article really raised my hackles.
First, it seems to write off any sense of plasticity in cognition and learning.
Second, these people clearly were successful in that they earned a degree, so ojbyrne is right in that this statement and the data have no correlation; say what you will about the quality of an education in some institutions, but I can assure you that plenty of people in food service and janitorial occupations dropped out of college (if they were fortunate enough to have the opportunity available).
Finally, it underscores the article's implication that a lack of success invalidates the reason for having tried at all. As other commenters pointed out, a college degree can be a vehicle for personal fulfillment, salary maximization, etc. (There was a link on HN very recently about the 100-year-old man going for his PhD... is his effort not worthwhile?) Call me crazy, but I believe people who attain a degree are enriched in some way, and if they fall short of their original goal it's still better to have tried.
I work for an education-related startup, and I'm quick to acknowledge that problems abound in higher education... but this article really raised my hackles.