Murray, Charles. Real education: Four simple truths for bringing America's schools back to reality. New York: Crown Forum, 2008.
Chapter 3: “Too Many People are Going to College”
I would probably consider myself in about the 75th percentile in academic ability in the United States. According to Charles Murray, I should not have gone to college—only about the top 10-20% can really grasp the material presented to college students. In reality, I did not experience college in the way he describes—that is, as a resident—I commuted to college while living with my parents. And I did not receive an in-depth liberal education as he describes. I did not read Paradise Lost or On Liberty. I doubt that I would have made it through either. I did not excel in Science or Humanities courses. I majored in the subject I found the easiest—Psychology. So maybe he’s right and I should not have gone to college. However, if I had not gone to college I would not have been able to return for my Master’s degree and become a librarian. I would not have been able to enter the profession that so fully fits me and satisfies me and truly completes me. So although I agree with much of what he says, and I agree that college is not for everyone, I do not believe that anyone who genuinely wants to get a college education should be denied the right to try. Who can really say what percentile of intellectual ability is fit for college?
