The Future of College

Right now, I’m taking a Masterclass with Daniel Pink, the legendary business writer of Drive, When, To Sell is Human, and more. 

Masterclass sells access to his course for $100. They also sell annual access to all their courses for $200. 

Meanwhile, business students around the country are taking Zoom classes from professors who have done less research, and who communicate worse than Daniel Pink for 25-50x the cost. 

Of course, Pink’s course isn’t the equivalent of a business degree. And of course, there is far more to college learning than watching recorded lectures. Of course research papers, tests, group projects, presentations, debates, discussions, internships, and student networks are essential learnings in a college setting. 

But let’s think for a second. 

What if the smartest, best communicators in business, recorded lectures that covered all of the curriculum of business school? Then, what if professors led group discussions, answered questions, and served to facilitate learning among students? Then they wouldn’t have to compete with the smartest people in the world. They could supplement and enhance those insights through local, focused attention. 

Universities have held a vise grip on access to and culture of education. But since the Zoom era has begun, these feeble walls are falling down. Why would a student pay $40k per year when there are no football games to attend? We’re starting to see a world where all the noise colleges have been making is silenced. We’re seeing technology rise to a level that can securely host these lectures and learnings. What if things were different? 

Of course none of these ideas are new or original. I also have no idea how to implement this.

I’m just thinking out loud here. 

All the best!