The state university I attended in NJ was literally an extension of high school for many “preferred minorities”; they would waste away in “remedial classes” (high school-level classes without which white guys weren’t even admitted) for a couple of semesters earning no college credits before dropping out.
The whole idea of “general education requirements” (basic classes in English, Math, etc. required regardless of your major) are a waste of time & money, and provide a high school atmosphere to at least the first two years of college.
My degrees were in Pure and Applied Science and Pharmacy. Chem, Math, Physics, Botany, Zoology, Physiology, and of course Geology and Pharmacy, were my daily diet at University. I always could obtain a well paying job.
The problem is our universities offer degrees that are worthless in many cases. If you courses are tough you will find a job when you graduate.
My niece has a degree in “women’s studies.” Her job sucks. She is now enrolled in a Masters Program in Medical Administration with a business administration degree. She will get a good job.
Reality is a harsh master.
Life and the modern world changed, Academia did not, it remained fixed at 1965 with additions of Politically Correct faculties that are worthless.
Academia is a business but it lost it's way during the Vietnam war. Instead of preparing youth for tomorrow, it prepared youth to automatically rebel and tear down the very freedoms Academia is supposed to support.
Instead of training the elite and working class strata for employment in a manufacturing country, America became a giant WalMart and Kim Kadishan idol worshiping nation. Now many students see themselves as the Elite.
The hard won Judeo-Christian Protestant work ethic has crumbled.
As a Professor of mine at Michigan once said, “getting an undergraduate degree does not assume that you KNOW anything, but it does assume that you now know how to ask the RIGHT questions”.
Now, I am not even sure that hold true.
Maybe we should just add two more years of high school, and let colleges teach degrees only. That way everyone would have the equivalence of an Associates degree. College could reduced to 2 years, depending on the degree, and HS kids would be better equipped to decide on a career path.