The economics of college vs. the economics of private tutors (2020) | Hacker News Reader

The economics of college vs. the economics of private tutors (2020)

marginalrevolution.com

8 pointsovervale10 comments

this is a very one-dimensional analysis.

It doesn't factor in the network you gain from college, chance to collaborate with others, opportunity to find romantic partners, etc...

Perhaps raw education is not the point, or the whole point, of college but if you just want become educated in specific fields then you have to question the value proposition of college.

I wish there were a nation-wide "college exit exam". I also think there should be a "high school exit exam". This would allow advanced students to prove themselves earlier and it would set a universal standard bar that can be used to compare colleges and students. A college exit exam would have to be comprehensive enough that it would probably take 3-4 days to complete.

Well, we do have the GRE, MCAT, LSAT, GMAT...

There were also originally more than a dozen GRE subject tests, but with the discontinuation of the chemistry subject test this year only three remain (math, physics, psychology.)

Those are entrance exams.

What would you put on the universal college exit exam? Or do you mean you want one for each degree?

I would rather see something else: a "cap stone" per course that incorporates all of the topics taught within that course. I could bang out 4 years worth of courses in a year if that were the case. And I would be finding some use for what was taught, rather than just learning to pass an exam. I would rather build a database than obsess over cardinalities and other theoretic stuff; atleast at that point I would understand why cardinalities are important -- instead of an annoyance with no point.

Plus, it's easier to accomplish when you absorb yourself in one topic, rather than 3-6 at one time. Too much multitasking is unproductive, ineffective, and an easy way to hate your life.

I envision one general exam and one exam for each of the specialties. It would change the entire focus of high school and college to preparing for the exam.

Do you think that changing the focus of entire degree programs to be a single test would be an improvement? I don't.

Yes, I do -- if the exam is well-designed, which it can be.

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