BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
What is discussed
AskMonty AI editorial noteSource consulted:
Montemagno considers university in the AI era, starting from the decision his son is preparing to make. He questions costs, rigid curricula and automatic expectations of employment, while recognising the value of structured knowledge, a method of learning, relationships and experience. His conclusion is not a general rejection of higher education: the specific course, personal circumstances and alternatives matter. He proposes five questions about goals, course content, budget, other routes and evidence from students and teachers. When discussing online education, he also refers to his own courses.
Key points
- Total cost and time invested should be compared with concrete alternatives, including routes that combine work and study.
- Access to information is different from learning: Montemagno criticises poorly personalised teaching and implicit promises of guaranteed employment.
- University can organise knowledge and develop a method of analysis, beyond individual facts.
- Relationships, independence, time to explore who to become and cultural value also matter beyond financial returns.
- Before choosing, clarify goals, actual course content, budget, alternatives and direct evidence; the decision remains personal.
