Elon Musk Thinks 'College Is Basically For Fun And To Prove That You Can Do Your Chores' — Says Degree Requirements Are 'Absurd'

Elon Musk's outspoken views on education continue to resonate as more companies reconsider the necessity of college degrees for employment. 

During a discussion at the Satellite 2020 conference in Washington DC, Musk stated, "I think college is basically for fun and to prove that you can do your chores, but they're not for learning." This perspective showcases his belief that traditional educational paths may not be requisite for acquiring essential skills or achieving success.

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Musk elaborated that jobs at his companies like SpaceX and Tesla should not stipulate a college degree as a requirement, branding such prerequisites as "absurd." Instead, he champions "exceptional ability" as the primary hiring criterion, reflecting a broader shift in employment practices. 

A 2023 survey from Intelligent.com supports this trend, revealing that 55% of companies have eliminated degree requirements for certain roles to diversify their workforce and widen their talent pool. Delta's CEO, Ed Bastian, recently eliminated the degree requirements for all jobs at the company, including piloting. 

This shift is significant, considering Musk attended and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania but opted to drop out of his Ph.D. program at Stanford after only two days. His career trajectory exemplifies the potential for success outside conventional educational frameworks, a path also followed by people like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

With the cost of college outpacing inflation and wages, many find themselves in a financial straitjacket after graduation. The burden of student loans is felt disproportionately across demographics, complicating the narrative that higher education is the unequivocal path to financial stability.

Musk's comments alongside the trend of companies ditching degree requirements suggest a future where the ability to learn independently could be valued over formal educational achievements in many professional fields.

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