I'm a college graduate (engineering), and while I broadly agree with the spirit of this article, I think the message is sometimes over-simplified: E.g., “Instead of focusing on demonstrated competence, the focus too often has been on a piece of paper.”. OK, but isn't a degree/qualification just a certificate of  competence, as demonstrated over a 4+ year period?A $100 bill is also just a 'piece of paper', yet that doesn't mean it's without value.I should disclose that I went to college in the EU (Ireland) where college is heavily subsidised, and so the financial barriers to access are probably not comparable to the USA.

I'm a college graduate (engineering), and while I broadly agree with the spirit of this article, I think the message is sometimes over-simplified: E.g., “Instead of focusing on demonstrated competence, the focus too often has been on a piece of paper.”. OK, but isn't a degree/qualification just a certificate of  competence, as demonstrated over a 4+ year period?A $100 bill is also just a 'piece of paper', yet that doesn't mean it's without value.I should disclose that I went to college in the EU (Ireland) where college is heavily subsidised, and so the financial barriers to access are probably not comparable to the USA.

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