Do you need an education to change the world? With so many issues present that need help right now, why prolong helping for a couple of years to get an education? On Richard Florida’s blog, he poses the same question…

In my experience, though, too many students who are interested in making a difference in the real world go on to the Ph.D–and for the wrong reason. As I always tell students asking me for advice on this, the only good reason to want to do a Ph.D. is that you want to be an assistant professor at some academic institution. If you want to deepen your knowledge or enhance your credentials, go and work out there for four or five years (past a high-quality master’s program), and you will be infinitely more ready to rise up in the world than if you had spent that time doing a Ph.D. And having done well in a master’s program, or having enjoyed it, is no guarantee that you are suited to a Ph.D. program.

via Chris Blattman

Granted he is referring to getting a PHD over a Master’s Degree but what do you guys think? Do you really need a post-graduate degree to change the world? Why not learn in the real-world? Or start a for-profit business to make change? Why wait? I think a lot of young do-gooders want to DO something and not just TALK about doing something. From most of the people that I’ve talked to graduate school seems as an excuse to “find out what you really want to do” and prolong any life decisions a person has to make. What do you guys think out there? Is a post-graduate degree valuable to change the world? Leave your comments below!