College Education - Professional Preparation or Social Integration?

Before I begin tearing apart the educational system of an entire nation, I should first clarify that the term "college education" is very broad. A college education can range from a variety of different colleges, both public and private, small and large, from major cities or small towns. The types of majors also vary impressively. Majoring in medicine is not the same at all as majoring in social communication. But some similarities can be established. I can understand that certain professions require the student to learn acquire specific knowledge concerning the treatment of problems that…