from Hacker News

Ask HN: Are universities places of free-thinking and growth?

by desertraven on 3/6/23, 9:16 PM with 1 comments

I’m not as interested in university for the courses, but more so for a social experience that would expose me to people studying a wide range of subjects with an eye to improve the way of the world.

Was it ever like this? Or am I being idealistic?

I feel like our culture as a whole is a little more strapped for cash, hence needing to work often, and therefore relaxing and thinking less. There seems to be more censorship, and the universities themselves are more corporate rather than truly offering nurturing environments for student growth and wellbeing.

Is the era of going to university for more than just a degree over?

  • by DamonHD on 3/6/23, 9:30 PM

    I'm a new PhD student/researcher right now, 30 years after my MSc, very much for much of what you are talking about.

    (At this level it seems possible, unlike my BSc/MSc which were sausage factories.)

    I rocked up saying what I wanted to work on, and they said yes.

    Also, I am fully in it for the social and thinking aspects...