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Does someone have to be college educated to be intelligent?

It certainly can help, but is it a must? I don't think it is a guarantee. I think it depends on your line of work. I can have in-depth philosophical conversations with all of my college counterparts (one's that are very well-versed in a wide array of topics, one's that I do consider intelligent). I have gained general knowledge about many topics through research and reading many books. In other words, I responsibly took matters into my own hands because I never really cared for the structure of our schools. I can outwit plenty of college-educated folks (especially theists), because I noticed that even if they are reasonable with most things, they can be unreasonable with other things (I'm in no way implying that people that are not college educated are more intelligent on average, just that it is possible). I'd like think I have done my best without college. I still have taken several of college workshop classes that are structured differently since I found them to be much more useful in my personal pursuit of knowledge. What do you think?

AustinSkepticus 7 Apr 2
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58 comments

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Definitely not.

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Yes the fact that you do your own research shows your intelligence. However, I keep convincing my intelligent 22 yr old daughter who had college paid for to go back and get her GED. Unfortunately in today's world you need more than a high school diploma if you are career minded and want a livable income. Technical school, community college, vocational training is continuing your education and prepping for a trade.

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Perhaps in college you get exposed to some ideas that you wouldn't self educating yourself. College can also help give structure to your intellectual pursuits that you don't necessarily get on your own. But otherwise education and intelligence are two different things.

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Nope, I know plenty of well educated morons.

Yep, you find a lot of them in governments all over the world. 😉

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I've known a lot of college graduates who are complete morons

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Intelligence isn't about going to college.
Going to college doesn't guarantee intelligence.

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Hell no. I'm almost entirely self educated and got within the 98th percentile in the nation (10 years ago, but I haven't stopped learning everything I can). Trump graduated college and the guy is as intelligent as a lead paint chip.

Now begs the question of what type of intelligence is considered intelligent? I know genius who can solve mathematical equations blindfolded underwater but can't tell how many PSI should be in their tires. I know people who are highly intelligent in many areas, but borderline special needs in others (I fail at mathematics. I can only do the basic addition and subtraction...I'm talking single digits, but I scored college level in reading, writing, comprehension, history and science in middle school.)

@LadyAlyxandrea Adaptability, Achedmic or How many iPhones can you sell in a year ?

@Nickbeee I am adaptable and academic but I probably couldn't sell a single iPhone especially because I hate apple lol

@LadyAlyxandrea Haha!!!! I use Mac laptops (pc's too - I mod em all).. Good for music.. I am not made to sell stuff !! haha. Being kinda fundamentally opposed to the capitalist system on one level - Don't like I phones though .. use android .. Chinese Elephone lol .. ten core processor £140 . . I phones are overpriced more than the laptops lol

@LadyAlyxandrea Everyone has their weaknesses. Just makes us human.

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Intelligence and a college education are two different things. A college education has no effect upon a person's intelligence.

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I teach at a college and some of our professors are dumb as a post! Knowledgeable in their field but plain 'ol stupid as people. Sad.

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Many intellectuals of the past were self-taught.

[en.m.wikipedia.org]

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Absolutely not. Intelligence is very likely a personal skill and maybe we don't really understand yet why does happen with some people and not others. On the other hand, the value of college education is that you get to strech your brain muscles and develope techniques that will help one succeed if one is willing to put the time and hard work. No shortcuts here. So, both valuable and if you can have both, intelligence and college education then that's awesome if you make the most out of it

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You can be educated and stupid at the same time. Educated and smart are two completely different things. And you would be very surprise to know how many people who are not college educated have higher IQ's than those who did persue higher education. Quote to live by: assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups. I am not knocking higher education (I have two batchelors and a masters) but I have seen my fair share of college educated people who can't fix a flat tire or change the oil in their car, light a fire without a match, teach their child how to swim, teach a dog to sit, read a map, live without TV or a cell phone, remove a broken lightbulb from its socket. Something to think about.

LJ49 Level 4 Apr 2, 2018
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I agree completely! I have read thousands of non-fiction books, attended lectures, I bought The Great Couses, on the study of religious, philosophy, psychology, and many studies on the brain. All this study has paid off in my old age, compared to my peers! But, I do see, where the college discipline is need, if you are to pursue one career choice! And you need the 'record' to prove your worth in a specific study!

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I have a girlfriend who only had a GED out of high school. She does read voraciously, and really is pretty self educated. Her son has a PHD from Cornell.

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There is a difference between knowledge and intelligence. One comes from gathering knowledge, the other from thinking critically and logically.

MrHIT Level 5 Apr 2, 2018
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In August, I will be a Freshman in college again. I'm going back to finish what I started. I want my career and I want to be highly educated. I also think that you don't need a college degree to be intelligent.

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Well, since I have no college education, I would say of course someone without one could be just as intelligent. My father had no college education, and was one of the smartest, as well as wisest people I have ever met. He read very widely and constantly. I've inheritied many of his books, and he would write in the margins, discussing things with himself. I have tried to read as widely and educate myself as much as I can, and I would like to think I'm almost as smart as he was. A college education is no guantor of intelligence.

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au contraire

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Sapiosexual here. Attracted to ones mind and intelligence. Its kind of like book smarts and street smarts. Its better to have both but as long as you seek to educate yourself, you're smart in my opinion. Immerse yourself in the power and beauty of knowledge!

Smarts is a must have trait, in my opinion.

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While many of my peers were going to college and getting a beer-soaked education that met someone's arbitrary guidelines, I was busy reading and working and actually educating myself with no constraints. I'm more well-rounded than many of my college-educated peers, and they often come to me for help and knowledge. On the other hand, in the field in which their education disposed them, they often have things to teach me.

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Nope. I've met some really dumb people that have a college degree of some sort. I ended my formal education in 9th grade. 8 years later I took the ACT's and scored 2 points above the national average. I just took the test. I didn't study anything.

When my oldest son was in 8th grade they gave him some kind of asssesment test and he scored higher than most graduating seniors.

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Not to be intelligent but to have knowledge, you could read books and also gain knowledge, college just gives you a title.

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