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0 pointsepistasis12y ago0 comments

IMHO, it's far more of an error that those without privilege/money are denied access to education than those with privilege/money get an undeserved benefit.

This doesn't just affect the individual, it affects all of us who are trying to hire good engineers. The smaller the number of people that are allowed to attempt an engineering degree, the fewer that will earn them. Every single potential engineer that is prevented from entering the field because of education hinders us.

Trying to bring this back to HN a bit more, I think that entrepreneurs and capitalists should realize (and you may already be on the same page with me) that they are in essence farming society; they are leveraging and multiplying the work and efforts of many others in order to enrich their own wealth and the wealth of others. The more fertile the soil, the more the entrepreneur can grow. For technology based capitalists, a more educated society provides far more fertile soil both in terms of workforce and potential customer base.

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2 comments · 2 top-level

solistice12y ago

In Germany, there's the Duale Hochschulreife, where students apply to companies and colleges. The company will then pay for your degree in exchange of your working for them during the breaks and some additional periods fully sanctioned by the University in question. They also pay you a wage for the time and usually offer you a full time job after you've graduated.

The benefit for the companies which do this is that they've essentially trained engineers allready familar with their company culture, technology stack and working procedures, which require no additional time to train. Also it's beneficial for the image of the company.

The benefit for the students is that they graduate debt free and with solid job prospects (since they allready have one).

anologwintermut12y ago

I'd agree, except that most financial aid is zero sum (in terms of scholarships/grants). If you don't get it, someone else will who also might become an engineer. Someone gets screwed either way if your parents really won't support you. But if they were lying, then you go to college anyway.