<p>With all of the fuss going on about student loan debt and the american crisis in education, can Americans still (or have they ever been able to) say that they have the best higher educational system in the world? What is wrong with American higher-ed and how can we fix it? What makes us better (or worse) than other systems? How do you define success in higher ed?</p>
<p>Should the goal of higher education be to send the most citizens to college (alluding to Obama's goal that, "by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.") If not, what should it be?</p>
<p>Perhaps of consideration are tuition costs vs career preparation, ability of different socioeconomic classes to get highered, etc.</p>
<p>In my own opinion, the best education is education that is right to the point. Education that teaches you things you will need in the workfield as well as education that will just improve your critical thinking skills. Teachers that will grade you based on understanding concepts and whatnot. Also, an environment where you can learn comfortably. Anyone can get a job. You just need to be educated in the right way. People need the education, the motivation, and the ability to perform well. Tuition costs will vary because professors who are masters at what they do will require higher pay and schools with world-class facilities will also require money to pay the bills. Career preparation will rely on how well the school is connected with various companies in the industry. Schools with top-notch professors and high reputation will have good standing in career preparation. Some American and a few Asian colleges are at the top because they know how to successfully prepare students for life after graduation. There are colleges (I’ve been to one) that have no idea what they are doing and shouldn’t even be considered a college. The goal should be to allow people to have access to education that will teach them what they actually need for a good future. Teaching people the right stuff and conditioning them to learn so that they know that they are getting their money’s worth.</p>