Do You Think More Highly Of A Person With A College Degree?

[Red Door]

However, you were very explicit in pointing out that the college degree was the only difference. Their personalities were the same...the interview was the same.

That was your criteria. You said yourself, that the only difference between the two was the college degree, did you not?

Or are you now changing your own criteria?

I did say the above. I guess the college degree is the only difference, but why are you forced to pick the guy with the degree? They have the exact same creddentials, except for the degree. They're equal in terms of readiness for the job, except one has a degree and the other doesn't. Now, tell me how I force you to pick one option trying to get the answer I wanted. After reading the other debate in the other thread and seeing
some of the opinions other people posted, I was truly interested in what people would do.

 

[CaptainF]

Jolly good for them. Money isn't everything.

Going through 4 years of bureaucracy is?

 

[North King]

Going through 4 years of bureaucracy is?

Contrary to popular belief, there is an inherent value in being more knowledgeable.

 

[frob2900]

Going through 4 years of bureaucracy is?

College isn't just 4 years of bureaucracy, though. If you actually apply yourself you can learn loads of very, very useful and interesting stuff.

Contrary to popular belief, there is an inherent value in being more knowledgeable.

I think he's disputing that college does make you more knowledgeable.

 

[LuckyAC]

I did say the above. I guess the college degree is the only difference, but why are you forced to pick the guy with the degree? They have the exact same creddentials, except for the degree. They're equal in terms of readiness for the job, except one has a degree and the other doesn't. Now, tell me how I force you to pick one option trying to get the answer I wanted. After reading the other debate in the other thread and seeing
some of the opinions other people posted, I was truly interested in what people would do.

You pick the guy with the college degree because there is absolutely no reason to pick the guy without. At least it's possible that having a college degree could help or be indicative of some good quality, but it's not possible that not having a college degree will help.

Basically the poll only asks if people think a college degree is a positive attribute or a negative attribute, not how strongly positive, or whether it is worth the cost. There's no real reason to think it's actually negative, no matter how worthless it is. People who value college degrees extremely highly and those who think they are mostly a waste will pick the same answer here, so as a poll, it doesn't do a good job of distinguishing between opinions.

It's like asking which you'd prefer between two furnished houses which are identical in every way, except one has a painting hung on the wall. I may value paintings very much or very little, but there's no reason to take the house without the painting. At worst, the painting doesn't help, and I take it down. On the other hand, I may like it, and it is a positive. No matter how small the gain, it's always better than nothing. (assume there is 0 effort to disposing of the painting, there is no cost associated with choosing the guy with the college degree)

 

[MobBoss]

You pick the guy with the college degree because there is absolutely no reason to pick the guy without. At least it's possible that having a college degree could help or be indicative of some good quality, but it's not possible that not having a college degree will help.

Basically the poll only asks if people think a college degree is a positive attribute or a negative attribute, not how strongly positive, or whether it is worth the cost. There's no real reason to think it's actually negative, no matter how worthless it is. People who value college degrees extremely highly and those who think they are mostly a waste will pick the same answer here, so as a poll, it doesn't do a good job of distinguishing between opinions.

It's like asking which you'd prefer between two furnished houses which are identical in every way, except one has a painting hung on the wall. I may value paintings very much or very little, but there's no reason to take the house without the painting. At worst, the painting doesn't help, and I take it down. On the other hand, I may like it, and it is a positive. No matter how small the gain, it's always better than nothing. (assume there is 0 effort to disposing of the painting, there is no cost associated with choosing the guy with the college degree)

You understand my point completely in why the only logical choice in the question is the person with the degree. Another good example would be its precisely like two identical checking accounts....except one accout gives you free checks. So which do you take?

 

[The Yankee]

If I were just hiring a line worker at some lead paint toy factory, I might be more inclined to take the person without the degree. Then, I may not have to worry about the college-educated worker either wanting more pay or quickly becoming disgruntled with his/her position.

So, case-by-case basis. It'd be foolish to apply "one size fits all."

 

[dwaxe]

3. Probably the one with a college degree because he went to the same college as me...

 

[downtown]

I think less of people who went to certain colleges......

 

[Integral]

If the two applicants are truly equal in every respect except that one had a degree and the other did not, I'd take the one with the degree.

Let's say this is for a job in computer science. As per the OP, the two have the same qualifications--know the same languages in the same depth, have worked on similar projects, and have similar overall experience in coding. In this case, the only difference is that in one instance, the programmer has had his coding ability graded over the course of three to four years. The other guy has not. All else equal, I'd rather have the guy who has had feedback on his abilities than a person who has self-taught.

This is not to say self-teaching is not useful. It is--and it's a good indicator of drive and ambition. But a self-taught programmer (or whatever) usually hasn't had regular feedback on their work in the same manner that a college graduate has.

However, the value of a college degree is roughly porportional to the selectivity of the college. Usually, graduates of highly selective colleges tend to be smarter, better trained, and able to handle work better than others. Not saying that everyone who graduates from a top-30 school is better than everyone else, but on average...

Or, if you take the "building with a picture" approach, each candidate has the skill set X, while one candidate has the qualification Y. For positive values of Y, X+Y > X, so the college graduate has the advantage.

Integral

 

[GenMarshall]

1. In general, do you think more highly of people with a college degree versus people who don't?

I think more highly of people with a college degree.

1A. Are these people (the one's with degrees) more intelligent than those who don't have college degrees?

Yes, the people with a degree are more intelligent than thoes who dont.

1B. Are they (the one's with degrees) more likely to succeed in life?

Yes, people with degrees are more likely to succeed in life.

2. Assume the following scenario. You are an employer for a $100,000 per month job. You get two applicants, they're both just as qualified, except one has a college degree, and the other doesn't. Which one do you hire? Why?

I would hire the one with a college degree. That individual has more education and training under his or her belt compared to the one who doesn't.

3. Assume the following scenario. You are gettin married. You have 2 best freinds, they're both just as qualified, except one has a college degree, and the other doesn't. Which one do you make the best man? Why?

Doesn't matter. The level of education does not effect my decision when regarding friendship. The only thing that would effect my decision is their loyalty, how long I have been friends with, and trustworthyness.