If one spends too much effort on getting a good grades but no idea what he wants to do with his life, he will most likely underperform against another who is passionate about something and only maintain his grades to an ok level.
Motivation is more important than gpa. Some top students are doing a good GPA without knowing why. They just blindly work to get a good GPA and wonder what they should do afterwards.
Frankly most of the college courses are useless. It’s still better to go since everyone thinks it is good to go and most people need to get hired by a boss.
University is a way to prevent revolution and social unrest due to excess labor after the industrial revolution and medical advances. If you have millions of unemployed 18-22 year old, crime could be a big problem. Also employers can reduce the amount of training.
Many PhD programs are there to reduce unemployment for college graduates.
Most college kids just take some useless classes that’s easy to pass. They go to college to avoid unemployment and also make some new friends. An expensive way to make friends and avoid being lonely at home.
I worked 20+ hours/week in college, double majored with a somewhat decent GPA, and graduated in less than 4 years. I am a big advocate of not paying for your kids’ college education. They don’t cherish it and waste their time and your money.
I think college should be reserved for top 10% who will become professionals. Other students don’t need bother. The tuition debt is unnecessary and one purpose is to provide income to the excessive number of PhDs.
Many of the college kids should go work in long term care facility and become more useful
Even if you know college is useless, every parents stil send kids to college so that the kid won’t leave behind. But in reality, 80% of the college graduates don’t need to go
Truth be told I have never met any parent who says he/she isn’t saving for kids’ college. There’s even a subtle social pressure if you don’t have a actionable semi decent plan.