There is no denying that tuitions of elite private institutions such as Brown have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels over the past few years. College is expensive, undoubtedly, and many students and their families struggle to afford tuition. But we should not let that cost taint our view of the true value of a high-level college education. Armani Madison ’16 spent a substantial amount of time talking about the precarious job market and the uncertainty that accompanies a college degree but did not explain the true value of a Brown education (“What is the value of higher education?” March 12). I cannot, in one short article, espouse exactly why a Brown education is so valuable, but I will put forth a few ideas while explaining why the aforementioned article uses an incorrect framework to judge higher education.
First and foremost, the article refers to college tuition as an investment. This is fundamentally the wrong way to look at the situation: An investment implies that the money is being spent simply as a means to an end. Surely most Brown students do not see their time on College Hill as just a conduit to make money in their careers. While this might be a legitimate goal of many students, the vibrant student life and sense of community that exists at Brown are testaments to students’ passion for Brown as an institution.
I was further disappointed to see Madison create an erroneous dichotomy between ingenuity and professionalism when he asked, “Will we continue to pursue innovation and originality, or will we give it up for professionalism?” Quite frankly, it is frustrating to see entering the professional world as a compromise of one’s creativity. Technological breakthroughs and entrepreneurial ventures embody the very innovation Madison suggests is absent in the professional world.
And what does “professionalism” even mean? My sister is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in public health, something classified as a professional degree, but certainly will pursue careers in public service and the common good. Ideally, she will conduct groundbreaking research on infectious diseases. It would be fallacious to argue that professionalism and thinking outside the box are mutually exclusive.
Perhaps Madison should have substituted the word “corporatism” for “professionalism.” Then it would be clear that this is little more than a veiled attempt to criticize those who choose to pursue corporate jobs. But can you blame them? Madison’s article shed light on the unstable job market, but the corporate sectors seem to be consistently hiring. College costs a ton, and it is natural to pursue a career path that will allow you to repay student loans and remain financially stable.
Madison proceeds to present a banal, misplaced critique of high-paying jobs by saying, “My interpretation of the ‘spirit of Brown’ is that our goals should not be to necessarily accumulate wealth, but rather for us to achieve positive change in the world due to our efforts.” For some reason, aspiring to be successful and make money becomes incompatible with effecting positive change. In fact, that change Madison speaks of needs the financial backing from wealthy individuals. The super rich undoubtedly have a societal imperative to give back, and there have been many instances of society benefiting from this philanthropy — including me, from the library I sit in as I write this. The idealism represented here is admirable, but we cannot continue to consider effecting change and accumulating wealth as diametrically opposed to each other.
Unfortunately, the article rests on a premise that higher education is supposed to train you for life after college. Quoting the piece by Suli Breaks, Madison discussed how many successful people learned the necessary skills for their profession without attending college. This conception of higher education runs contrary to the very essence of a Brown education. The Brown education, the Open Curriculum and even Brown’s grading policy reflect a desire not to teach for the job market but rather to impart critical thinking skills that students can apply to any field, discipline or craft. Surely a Brown degree represents skills acquired and experiences had — not just training for the job market.
There is a reason I used the word “value” instead of “worth” in the title of this column. The latter implies some sort of monetary equivalent or quantitative measurement, while the former allows room for intrinsic importance irrespective of external considerations. I am cognizant of the fact that college tuition is incredibly expensive, but to measure the worth of an education solely based on whether or not it secures you a job after you graduate runs antithetical to the reason most of us attend Brown.
Zach Ingber ’15 is thankful he has more time to decide between the Peace Corps and Goldman Sachs. In the meantime, you can reach him at Zachary_ingber@brown.edu.
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