Marilee Jones, was the dean of admissions at MIT until her dismissal in 2007, when it was discovered that she had lied about her academic credentials 28 years ago. She had claimed three degrees, although she had none. Throughout her stay as the dean of this great institute, she never made an administrative mistake. Records were accurate. She also supervised PhDs. When she spoke, everyone listens in ecstasy and she stole the minds of many. She was very knowledgeable of the institute’s laws and managed them well. She was also vast in almost all endeavours of schooling and scholarship.

Some years ago, here in Nigeria, a leader claimed a degree from Harvard. That was not the problem. The House he led dethroned him on the ground of forgery. While I am not supporting forgery, yet, can someone consider: why would Sanusi forge certificate? He was a great leader. During his days, the house was calmer and super productive. I am not saying the house was best. Yet, he was actually doing very well. The qualification for being in that office was not a university degree. Now it gets back to my question. Would it not be the high demand for degrees that led him to it? Behind that knowledge that he had fakes, he was still doing fine.

It is also possible that some of the University lecturers in Nigeria fudged their way to their seats. While they are not yet discovered, they continue to grow and progress even earning more degrees without getting the first original.

It is not out of place for us to hear stories of people who never attended Universities but are great leaders and great managers of organizations. You and I know of the support to education in Africa by Gates yet the story of Gates not attending University is almost household news. But do you know that Harvard engages gates on Student orientation. They also depend on his technology. Many people achieve great heights without University education.

But in the last decade the percentage of jobs requiring at least some college degree has doubled, which means that employers are going along with the college racket. A resume without a college degree is never going to get past the computer programs that screen applications. Why? Certainly it’s not because most corporate employers possess a deep affinity for the life of the mind
My theory is that employers prefer college grads because they see a college degree chiefly as mark of one’s ability to obey and conform. Whatever else you learn in college, you learn to sit still for long periods while appearing to be awake. And whatever else you do in a white collar job, most of the time you’ll be sitting and feigning attention. Sitting still for hours on end—whether in library carrels or office cubicles-- does not come naturally to humans. It must be learned – although no college has yet been honest enough to offer a degree in seat-warming.

I now wish to know from you. Is it worth it attending the University or at least seeking only the graduates for employment since it could just be the non-graduates who will do that same job for him?

Wonderful piece. In my own opinion especially in this part of the world (Nigeria). I think for non research job they should give all equal opportunity. Some smart people cant get a university degree due to so many factors: poverty, lack of space in our higher institutions etc. But yet those people perform more than the graduates at their place of work. Some forge degree certificates just to earn more pay etc. Ability should measure the pay. First class students should go work as researchers or go become lecturers.