You Don’t Need to Go to College

GaryVee Video Experience

17 Aug 201801:36

Summary

TLDRIn the transcript, the speaker humorously addresses the topic of college education, questioning its necessity and value. They express a personal wish for a more impactful educational experience, like attending Harvard. They argue that the traditional college model's return on investment (ROI) is no longer guaranteed, suggesting that travel and real-world experiences could be more beneficial for personal growth than formal education. The speaker challenges the conventional wisdom, advocating for alternative paths to becoming well-rounded individuals.

Takeaways

😀 The speaker humorously addresses the topic of college and its costs, suggesting an alternative to paying for college is taking a vacation.
🤔 The speaker admits that their opinion on college is based on 'unemotional math,' indicating a belief that the traditional college ROI (return on investment) model is flawed.
🎓 The speaker regrets not being a great student and expresses a wish to have attended a prestigious university like Harvard to potentially impact more people.
📉 The speaker points out that over the past 50 to 60 years, the ROI for college education has been positive, but this is no longer the case.
🏢 The speaker criticizes the era of corporate control, suggesting that the current job market and societal structures have changed, affecting the value of a college degree.
👨‍⚕️ The speaker acknowledges that certain professions, such as medicine, require a degree and understands the necessity of formal education in these fields.
🌍 The speaker argues that college is not the only way to become well-rounded, proposing that travel, like touring Europe, could be more beneficial.
🎮 The speaker uses the example of a student playing video games in a dorm room to illustrate their belief that traditional college experiences may not be as enriching as other life experiences.
🏆 The speaker concludes with a playful 'war won' metaphor, suggesting that their point of view on college has been accepted or acknowledged in their household.
🎵 The script ends with a reference to music, indicating that the conversation was likely part of a larger media production or podcast.

Q & A

What is the speaker's view on the necessity of college education for children?
-The speaker believes that college education is very difficult to assess and suggests that it may not be the only path to becoming well-rounded and successful.
Does the speaker think attending college is essential for professional success?
-The speaker implies that while a degree may be necessary for certain professions like being a doctor, it is not the only factor that contributes to one's success.
What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to college for personal growth?
-The speaker suggests traveling, such as going on a tour in Europe for three months, as an alternative way to become well-rounded and worldly.
How does the speaker feel about the return on investment (ROI) of college education historically?
-The speaker acknowledges that for a 50 to 60-year period, college education was ROI positive, meaning it provided a good return on the investment made in education.
What has changed in the speaker's view that affects the ROI of college education?
-The speaker believes that the world has changed and the era of corporations controlling the job market is over, which affects the ROI of college education.
What is the speaker's opinion on the social aspects of college?
-The speaker seems to downplay the social aspects of college, suggesting that other experiences, like traveling, could be more beneficial.
Why does the speaker wish they had gone to a prestigious university like Harvard?
-The speaker wishes they had gone to Harvard because they believe it could have allowed them to impact more people, implying that the prestige of the institution could have broadened their reach.
What does the speaker mean by 'unemotional math'?
-The speaker refers to 'unemotional math' as a rational, emotion-free analysis of the costs and benefits of college education, suggesting that their viewpoint is based on logical assessment rather than personal experience.
What is the speaker's stance on the role of corporations in determining the value of a college degree?
-The speaker suggests that the role of corporations in valuing college degrees has diminished, which is a factor in the changing perception of the ROI of college education.
How does the speaker feel about their own academic past?
-The speaker expresses a wish that they had been a great student and had attended a prestigious college, indicating some level of regret or dissatisfaction with their own academic background.
What is the speaker's final suggestion regarding college education for children?
-The speaker's final suggestion is to consider alternatives to college for personal growth and to question the traditional path of attending college immediately after high school.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 The Value of College Education

The speaker discusses the complexity of the college decision, expressing a personal wish for a more impactful educational experience like attending Harvard. They argue that the traditional view of college as a positive return on investment (ROI) is outdated due to societal and corporate changes. The speaker challenges the necessity of a college degree for certain professions, suggesting alternative experiences like traveling to Europe for a more well-rounded education. The conversation ends with a humorous exchange, highlighting the personal nature of the debate.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡College

College refers to an institution of higher learning that grants academic degrees. In the script, the speaker discusses the value and impact of attending college, suggesting that it was traditionally seen as a positive return on investment (ROI) and a pathway to success. The speaker also questions the necessity of college for personal development and success, proposing alternatives like traveling to Europe for a broader worldview.

💡ROI (Return on Investment)

ROI is a measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or compare the efficiency of different investments. The script mentions a historical period where attending college was considered an ROI-positive decision, implying that the benefits of a college education outweighed the costs. However, the speaker suggests that this may no longer be the case.

💡Harvard

Harvard is a prestigious university often used as a symbol of high academic achievement. The speaker expresses a wish to have attended Harvard, implying that it could have provided a platform to impact more people, which is indicative of the perceived value and influence of top-tier educational institutions.

💡Unemotional Math

The term 'unemotional math' in the script suggests an objective, logical analysis of the situation without emotional bias. The speaker uses this to describe their viewpoint on the value of college, which is based on a rational assessment rather than personal experience or sentiment.

💡Well-rounded

Being well-rounded implies having a balanced set of skills, knowledge, and experiences. The speaker argues that college is often seen as a means to become well-rounded, but suggests that other experiences, such as traveling, could be equally or more effective in achieving this.

💡Social Things

The phrase 'social things' in the script refers to the social experiences and interactions that one might have while attending college. The speaker questions whether these experiences are truly beneficial for personal growth compared to other life experiences.

💡Dorm Room

A dorm room is a type of residence typically found on college campuses for students. The script uses 'dorm room' as a symbol of the college experience, contrasting it with the speaker's proposed alternative of traveling to gain a broader perspective on life.

💡Call of Duty

Call of Duty is a popular video game series, mentioned in the script to illustrate a stereotypical activity that might consume a student's time in college, rather than engaging in more enriching activities that contribute to personal development.

💡Profession

A profession refers to a vocation or career that requires specialized knowledge and often formal educational qualifications. The speaker acknowledges that certain professions, like being a doctor, necessitate formal education, but questions the blanket requirement of a college degree for all career paths.

💡Corporation Control

The script mentions an 'era of corporations having control,' which likely refers to a time when traditional college degrees were highly valued by employers and were a key to career advancement within corporate structures. The speaker implies that this era may be changing.

💡Garrett

Garrett appears to be the name of a person in the script, possibly the one who is arguing against the necessity of college for personal development. The mention of 'Garrett' winning the war in the house suggests that his viewpoint on the topic has prevailed in a discussion or debate.

Highlights

The speaker expresses difficulty with the topic of college education for children.

Speaker humorously suggests taking the money for college and using it for vacation instead.

The speaker admits not being a great student and wishes they had attended a prestigious university like Harvard.

The speaker's view on college is based on 'unemotional math', indicating a data-driven perspective.

Historically, college education had a positive ROI over a 50-60 year period.

The speaker argues that the era of corporations controlling the value of a college degree is over.

The necessity of a college degree for certain professions like medicine is acknowledged.

The speaker questions the value of college for becoming well-rounded, suggesting alternative experiences like traveling Europe.

The speaker implies that college may not be the best environment for personal growth, citing examples like playing video games.

The conversation concludes with an agreement that the speaker's point of view has won the argument in the household.

The speaker thanks Garrett for the discussion, indicating a friendly and open dialogue.

The transcript ends with a light-hearted musical note.