At the age of 17, Aristotle went to study at Plato’s Academy, where he spent 20 years, eventually developing his own system of knowledge. Clearly, he regarded knowledge as an end in itself. Being able to devote decades to study is wonderful for someone who just wants to learn, but most 17-year-olds today simply don’t have that luxury.
Education, especially postsecondary education, has become big business and is now regarded as an investment. Students face fierce competition to get into prestigious institutions that are seen as a gateway to a high-paying job. And there are plenty of industry experts, such as education consultants, ready to help them succeed.
Universities also have to woo candidates, and various rankings help them differentiate themselves. The Wall Street Journal, rather bluntly, has a ranking for the top US colleges that make new graduates rich.
Compared to Hong Kong’s five, the US has 55 universities in the top 200, while Britain has 25, and Germany 20.
