How To Be The Smartest Person In The Room Without Going To College
"All Montanans should consider taking advantage of the inexpensive educational opportunities that are available both locally and online to reach their fullest intellectual potential."
Almost 40 years ago, as a young Marine Corps first lieutenant, I took command of a reconnaissance platoon. As the Marine Corps’ eyes and ears, our job was to operate behind enemy lines and report back to higher command what we saw; or, to call in air strikes on high value targets. The Marines in my platoon were some of America’s finest warriors. They were smart, physically tough, independent thinkers, and skilled problem solvers. One skill that was critical for both mission accomplishment and survival was the ability to communicate long distances. In the days before satellite or cell phones, we relied heavily on high frequency (HF) radios. To ensure our communication success, all of our radio operators needed to learn Morse code, as it could often be successful when voice communication wasn’t. The standard for learning Morse code for most branches of the military at that time was to send radio operators to a special school for several weeks to acquire the skill. Unfortunately, Marine Corps budgets didn’t have the same financial support of our sister services in those days. This didn’t waive our critical need to learn Morse code, so I had to get creative. I ended up becoming a civilian Ham radio operator, which in those days required proficiency in Morse Code. Once I gained working proficiency, I trained the rest of my Marines. Thousands of Ham Radio operators didn’t go to special schools to learn Morse code; they listened to cassette tapes and practiced at home until they gained proficiency. In spite of the austerity of my in-house Morse Code academy, within six months our platoon had the reputation of being the best communicators in our brigade.
From that experience I learned that conventional education is not the only means of obtaining requisite skill, knowledge and wisdom. In fact, with a little bit of confidence and some grit, most people can learn (and teach others) what is necessary to succeed without attending a formal school.
My objective for this article is not to argue for or against the value of a college degree, and I will say that I believe everyone should consider attending the best college they can afford without borrowing money. My only purpose is to share some excellent ways for Montananas to get a college level education without going into debt or moving into a dormitory.
In 21st century America, if you have a laptop, tablet, or cell phone there is no excuse to be uneducated. There are dozens of ways to get a college level education these days, and many of them are low-cost and even free. For those who are interested in lifelong learning, here are some venues I use and enjoy on a fairly regular basis:
The Great Courses Plus: Great Courses Plus produces and distributes college-level audio and video courses available by streaming and download formats. Older courses can still be purchased on DVD. These courses are taught by top-notch, award-winning professors selected for their teaching excellence. The courses range from 1 to 84 lectures, and there are nearly several hundred courses offered covering many different subjects: the arts, philosophy, business, history, science and mathematics, religion, and better living. While the courses at first glance are rather pricey ($50-$500), every course goes on sale at least 70% off at least once a year. I have never paid full listed price for any course, and I have purchased a half a dozen or so for $9.95. For the last several years I have subscribed to their streaming service for an annual fee of $150. I have completed dozens of these courses including: The Ethics of Aristotle, Homesteading, Complexity Theory, Constitutional Law, and Beginning Guitar. For 41 cents a day, I have access to some of the best educators in the world. The courses are outstanding, and I listen to several lectures a week.
iTunes U: In 2007 Apple teamed up with dozens of English-speaking colleges and universities offering hundreds of college and graduate level courses on just about every subject imaginable. Unfortunately, they ended the service in 2021; however, most of the college lectures that were offered by Apple can now be found at LearnOutloud.com.
While the quality isn’t as good as the Great Courses, the courses offered on iTunesU are free. I have taken three courses online via iTunes U: a finance course and a game theory course from Harvard, and a Greek history course from Yale. While the material was good, the professors were not as engaging or interesting as with the Great Courses; but then again, the courses were 100% free.
Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a not-for-profit whose goal is to improve education by providing world-class education for anyone anywhere. Originally designed to teach math, science, and computers, Khan Academy has branched out into economics, finance, history, and American civics. Khan Academy courses are also free.
Khan Academy’s format is a little different from the other two I mentioned. Rather than teach a semester course with multiple lectures like most schools, Khan Academy offers 5-7 minutes of instruction on a specific concept or topic, with the goal for the student to master the concept or topic before moving on to the next video. The methodology is brilliant, allowing the student to work at their own pace, ensuring that essential material is not only presented to the student but also mastered. Khan Academy is geared for all ages, from elementary school through college. For those who are interested in learning the nuts and bolts of a particular subject, Khan Academy is excellent. I took a banking course, and it was very well done. The Khan Academy’s format lends itself to learning concepts rather than entertaining the student; therefore, you might want to use the Great Courses and iTunes U for learning the humanities and Khan Academy for math and science; or, you might want to use the Khan Academy to supplement what you are learning via the online lectures of other venues.
Local Philosophy Societies: One of the highlights of my week is meeting with a few friends via video-conference to read, study, and discuss classic books. We are currently working our way through “The Peloponnesian War” by Thucydides. Originally, we met at a local coffee house every Saturday, calling ourselves the “Whitefish Fly Fishing and Philosophical Society.” We would discuss everything from Einstein’s theory of relativity to John Stuart Mill and Adam Smith. Over time we morphed into “Wisdom Wednesdays,” and we chose as our raison d’etre to read classic books so old they are out of copyright protection. Currently, our group has attendees from Washington State, Michigan, and Helena, Montana as well as a few Flathead County locals. We all meet via videoconference. Over the last two decades we have studied Aristotle and Plato, several Roman Stoics, Soren Kierkegaard and Saint Augustine. Every community has its thinkers, and many are happy to participate in a group where the goal is to know more tomorrow than we know today.
It should be noted, none of the above listed programs offer college credit; therefore, proving you have taken and mastered these courses can be a challenge. (For self-employed folks or retirees like me, this isn’t a requirement). If proving your education is necessary, you will need to keep accurate records of your work. When I homeschooled my college-aged son, I kept records of the classes he completed via the Great Courses and iTunes U, as well as the homework assignments I had him complete. I can’t speak for all employers, but I personally would consider a prospective employee who could prove they educated themselves via the three venues I listed. Anyone who has the wherewithal to organize their own education, the discipline to complete the courses and record their coursework, and show proof of their work in a second job interview, would certainly be offered extra consideration.
In addition to becoming more knowledgeable, the programs and opportunities I mentioned above have enriched my life. From philosophy to physics, and economics to religious studies, I have been able to get a world-class education without ever needing to fill out a college application or find parking on campus. Montana attracts interesting people, and interesting people enjoy the company of other interesting people. Montanans are resourceful by nature; and if attending college is not in the cards, it doesn’t mean an excellent education can’t be obtained. All Montanans should consider taking advantage of the inexpensive educational opportunities that are available both locally and online to reach their fullest intellectual potential.
This is the first installment of the ongoing series Reclaiming Independence by our Board Chairman Joe Coco. In this series, Joe explores ways that Montanans can assert their own independence and free themselves from reliance on government through self reliance, resourcefulness, and building communities.