Reality challenges education

By Jane Muhlstein

January was a big month for tycoon Donald Trump. The tabloid coverage received by his high-profile marriage to lucky model number three was enough to make even the biggest pop culture buffs all but forget about the start of the third season of "The Apprentice."

But we all have a vested interest in the outcome of this season. With a new spin on the battle for the chance to run one of Trump's companies, this season pits nine over-achieving college graduates against nine self-starters who finished their formal education with high school. Trump plans to use the "Book Smarts vs. Street Smarts" season to see whether there is more value in learned theory versus natural practicality.

While I have my doubts about the scientific precision of the made-for-TV experiment, the idea is scary. Magna (college graduates) and Net Worth (high school graduates) are currently tied, each having won one challenge. What if Net Worth wins? What if we are no better off for spending four years working toward degrees?

With all the time, money and energy we have invested in higher education, many of us basically assume that the education we will leave Santa Clara with will make us more marketable to employers and more valuable in performing our jobs. But maybe we're giving too much credit to the magical powers of a college degree.

I wouldn't trade the opportunity to go to college. I value nearly every class I have taken. But we shouldn't sell short the value of real world experience, basic intelligence and knowing how to struggle and fight for a career.

On the first episode of "The Apprentice," Trump told the contestants that, as a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance, he would have to rethink the importance of his education if the high school graduates proved more adept at business. But maybe he should look at his peers to see how much can be accomplished with a lot of intelligence and hard work.

Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computers, and Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, both started their companies without the support of a college degree.

I would never imply that the four years spent in college have been wasted. I, for one, love that I can hold my own in Jeopardy categories like Early U.S. Presidents. But maybe we should give a little more credit to those go-getters who create their successes without an academic safety net.

* Contact Jane Muhlstein at (408) 554-4546 or jmuhlstein@scu.edu.