I loved doing statistics. What made it fun was the fact my professors "day job" was just that: doing statistics. He was enthusiastic and had a way of getting everyone (about 20 students) into it so much a couple of them were considering changing careers, myself included.

Got mean? Median, Mode anybody? =)

As someone with a psych degree, I agree with you. I learned a lot from doing psych, but much of that would not be directly relevant to most jobs. I'd say the most useful skill I learned was how to do stats.

Exactly right.

I would add that it is still possible to get a lot out of a university education, but as with most things in life, it depends one's approach. Education is an opportunity to learn and develop intellectually. The problem is that most people see it as a qualification. As rockymountainpirate mentioned below, Howard Roark had it right in taking what he could learn from the university and leaving the rest. He didn't want or need the university's stamp of approval.

Make some popcorn and give this link a view. It's an hour long. It is worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl7R8xIxz...

My two cents:
At first glance, one would think pedigree should matter. It is product branding, more or less.
The colleges that teach the best would theoretically produce the best product, and those graduates would be more valued by the employers.

However, it's self-evident that colleges are not manufacturing an assembly line of consistent product. The end result of education is probably over 90% due to what the student puts into the process, rather than anything special being taught at a particular college. The fact that college credits transfer so readily between institutions is a clue here. A well-driven student will likely SUCCEED in any college. A lax one will likely PASS any college. Pedigree is all about giving consideration to why a student could or couldn't get through the admissions boards of the best regarded institutions. Admissions boards have many more things on their mind these days beyond academic excellence. I don't think pedigree should matter, so long as colleges are doing things like letting Latino students in so they can meet their Latino diversity quota. Businesses ought to care about a DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE. Pedigree is not a help - at least not today.

Also, a great many colleges do not even have as their goal the production of a graduate that will have been taught the skills necessary to operate in the workforce. That idea is just dirty to them. They think they are there to expand their students brains, not give them work skills. It's why we are a nation producing thousands of unemployed 20 year olds who majored in English Literature, History, Communications, Art, and so forth. I think the majority of the liberal arts degrees are phony, considering what the high school councellor told them they were going to college for. We are told to go to college so we can get a good job. But liberal arts colleges have NEVER BEEN ABOUT JOBS. They're happy to take your money to give you your "education", but it's got nothing to do with marketable skills.

here is the post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2No1qU12...
my daughter's friend is the one who talks about the bus.
she is very smart and accomplished, btw

I bet they don't! Lol but you are spot on about it

Unless you want to be in the hard sciences or engineering a degree probably isn't worth the cost vs the reward. A lot of jobs I've applied for say a 4 year degree or equivalent experience. Doing over theory is a much better teacher.

I like Howard Roark's approach. He took all the schooling he needed in engineering, but what he considered the worthless learn how to make copies of what was already a copy he said no.

A young girl I know is so proud of her AA in Psychology and her family thinks she just the smartest person in the world. They don't like it when I say it qualifies her to be an entry level HR person at the local Wal-Mart.

2 sides to the question. i.What do you NEED 2. when is it USEFUL
Our society stigmatizes if you don't have one, but I see it as just another 4 years to finally hone your little statist self. Ask most entrepreneurs if what they learned in college was essential to their success As DK stated, the cost to value ratio is not a great bet. As well, most college institutions are way out of touch with the private sector, and so most degrees in the liberal arts division are useless for acquiring job skills. and that is a darn shame. all of america sports huge student loans which will be the largest debt most of them have in their life. another darn shame. but it's all about the big govt big school big crony business. that said, I loved college for the most part, but paid a high price. and I didn't learn a damned thing about how to do a job or build a business or make it on my own. It was everything else I did or interests I had that helped me get jobs and/or build a business. so why the high price? answer: it's not a free market! biggest monopoly in the world.
Note: I am going beyond the obvious requirements for certain professions here and speaking generally of the education quality.

I went to VCU, and majored in interior design. BFA. I also was accepted into Pratt, but since I was paying for it myself, and resided in VA, I could only afford to go to a state school. I warred with my professor over my senior project. He was a little Korean tyrant who hated women! Erg. Sorry I got slightly off topic. ;-)

If you're a liberal, it means EVERYTHING. For rest of us, who cares. (My view anyway.) I got mine from a private university. That's the only thing I will inquire about, other than if the degree is Science-based or Arts-based. Yes, mine is a Bachelor of Science degree.