College is important for several reasons, although I think one purpose it serves is probably the one most here despise the most -- credentialing.
I honestly don't think you can ever escape the need for credentials. It's simply a shortcut to help filter a vast pool of people. Even YC itself is a credential (ask those VCs who will "no questions asked" fund YC companies).
While you should continue to learn things in life, the ability to get a credential will always also be valued (working at Facebook, or being part of YC, or doing design under Jon Ives, etc...). At least until someone creates a brain app that can simply scan your brain to determine what you know.
I'd argue that college's biggest problems are (1) the credential isn't as valued as it could be due to lack of rigor. And (2) it's cost. But fundamentally the institution isn't deeply flawed, like say music distribution is.
I honestly don't think you can ever escape the need for credentials. It's simply a shortcut to help filter a vast pool of people. Even YC itself is a credential (ask those VCs who will "no questions asked" fund YC companies).
While you should continue to learn things in life, the ability to get a credential will always also be valued (working at Facebook, or being part of YC, or doing design under Jon Ives, etc...). At least until someone creates a brain app that can simply scan your brain to determine what you know.
I'd argue that college's biggest problems are (1) the credential isn't as valued as it could be due to lack of rigor. And (2) it's cost. But fundamentally the institution isn't deeply flawed, like say music distribution is.