I went to a small state school and lucked into a great education.
I earned a philosophy degree while working towards a terminal graduate degree in history (meaning no doctor sauc3). I won a tuition waiver, so the two courses I needed to finish my philo degree only cost my time, the effort to think, read, attend lectures, write some papers, maybe give a talk and take a test. Plus the price of the books that were bought used from Amazon. Sorry, I know, but I was a broke grad student, forgive me or don't. That's not the point of the story. For what it's worth, I feel like I tried to check out what I could from the library, because lots of my fellow students didn't know about that trick. Anyway, I am getting sidetracked.
That philosophy degree was mostly earned under a feminist and noted scholar of queer theory, someone who literally wrote the book on it. We remain friends to this day, and spent a decent chunk of the morning having a discussion about gender and politics over text.
Do you think that someone who went to an Ivy could have that same exchange with a professor who taught them over a decade ago? Would they even be able to get in touch with their more famous professors?
I'm not trying to make an explicit argument about the quality of my education, but rather to suggest you get out of college what you put in.
It's sad that "AI" is destroying the American university, and we are worse as a society as a result. "AI" isn't just making tech worse, it is making society worse as well. I think there is an alternative, but we just have to persuade more people and start thinking about how to resist. Then making plans and following through.
I've read about Neo-luddite movements and clubs springing up around the country, including college campuses. This makes sense to me, and reminds me once again that the kids are alright.
For now, I am going to keep writing and holding out hope for the future. Thinking about ideas to share that will make the world a better place. I am not content with how things are, and the world is crying out for something better. Maybe I have the answer? Perhaps I will spark the right idea in someone else? Either way, I am going for it!