JS13

I am a grad student since September 2012. I have had a love/hate relationship with higher education since I started my undergrad, but now I feel like the hate component of the relationship is taking over. I am trying to figure out if there is any purpose to higher education apart from getting a good job (and even that is becoming less and less likely). I always looked at higher education as a place where people could gather and work on problems plaguing society. Instead, I find academics that are isolated from the real word, socially awkward, and not very helpful (or even concerned) in guiding graduate students in their intellectual development. Not to mention the fact that grads have to beg to get measly scholarships or grants to ensure a minimal standard of living. It is very hard to perfect your craft and become a real expert if you have to constantly deal with financial handicaps. The amount of work thrown at us grads prevents us from really learning anything or thinking about the social implications of our work; we're too busy just trying to keep our heads above water. How many bright minds have been crushed by this system? How many people have left in disgust to take their talents elsewhere? Am I crazy, thinking of all this?