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Dangerous Ideas: Sorry Paul Graham, I Think it Does Matter Where You Went to College

calnewport.com

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Re: Dangerous Ideas: Sorry Paul Graham, I Think it Does Matter Where You Went to College

#2

Post by davidw »

PG wasn't putting anyone down, just saying that there's very little correlation between startup success and where someone went to school. That's a narrow enough statement, and he has enough data on it, that I think it's convincing.

Re: Dangerous Ideas: Sorry Paul Graham, I Think it Does Matter Where You Went to College

#3

Post by eusman »

if I am not mistaken pg's point was that where you got your education doesn't contribute to the success of your company, not that if you are a Harvard student its meaningless like this guy sais!

Philip Greenspun made a similar point in a shorter fashion not many days ago,

"What about homework? Students would do homework either in the library or at home. In 1865 both places lacked television, video games, email, etc. In 2007, the students who do best may be the ones with the best study habits, not those who are the most able. Companies do not rely on lecture+homework for getting work done; they create an environment with limited distractions and keep workers there for most of each day." (http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2007/08/23/improving-unde...)

, and overall it's a notion that meets acceptance from great hackers and successful people who recognize quality in people, because being early self-taughts gives them this inner understanding.

do these people actually read something before they reply to it?!

if we all look outside our windows we will see that not everyone wants to risk their ass for starting up. So, yes there is also need for colleges, a system to rank individuals abilities.

Re: Dangerous Ideas: Sorry Paul Graham, I Think it Does Matter Where You Went to College

#7

Post by aswanson »

bluishgreen wrote: post #4

"The student who got an 'A' on her Kant essay is, quite simply, someone who really understands Kant" This is the point where my bull shit meter hit the red area and then went on to roll on the floor and laugh :)

Ditto. Can any subject require more subservience to a teacher than the 'Kantian interpretive' type he uses here?

Re: Dangerous Ideas: Sorry Paul Graham, I Think it Does Matter Where You Went to College

#8

Post by brlewis »

pg wrote: post #5

This guy not not only misunderstood what I was saying, but literally made up quotes; e.g. "obedience to authority."

Predictably, yes.

I've learned at least two things watching people misunderstand essays. First, when an essay touches on a polarizing issue, people tend to peg it as one end or the other of that polarization. Second, once people peg an essay as making an argument that they disagree with, they stop paying attention, if they keep reading at all.

I'm not trying to be critical of anyone; I tend to do the same thing.

Quote: I hear variations of this same tired argument probably once or twice a month. (It comes with the territory when you write a book titled How to Become a Straight-A Student).

He has you lumped in with the rest of his critics. "Obedience to authority" is a collective quote from the lot of you, with your words "index of obedience" as just one fuzzy part.

What's funny is in the end he agrees with your last three paragraphs. Quote: It's fine to make the point that college and grades aren't everything. In fact it's important.... I'll be the first say it: College is not necessary for success!

Re: Dangerous Ideas: Sorry Paul Graham, I Think it Does Matter Where You Went to College

#9

Post by aston »

nanijoe wrote: post #6

The author was obviously looking for attention.Sadly, he got it.

Cal's a pretty smart dude (grad student at MIT) with a couple of books under his belt (both about doing well at college). I think this essay isn't a fish for attention; it's his worldview. It's actually not so far divorced from what Paul Graham is saying anyway, since he readily admits that you don't need a good college nor good grades to be successful.
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