The short-sightedness here is surprising. What one starts out with in a career doesn't necessarily predict what you will be doing in 5 years. As I see it, a degree is something that just cuts past another people.
another people = other people
My brother works at MBNA. He had started out going to college, had no discipline, and went into the Air Force. His tour ended and he left. He applied to MBNA for their entry level job. Everybody at MBNA starts out telemarketing (they only call their own customers) even the college graduates. In fact, there are so many college graduates that it's tough to break in without a degree. Well, with his 4 years in the Air Force, they gave him a shot -- after 6 interviews! He's doing well now, better than he ever thought possible in the past.
Some of the dumbest people I have met have phD's.
Some of the most intelligent people I have met have a High School education.
Bottom line, you only get out of an education what you put into it.
Even the dumbest beast can graduate from medical school if he or she is tenacious enough. But it won't make them a good doctor.
Conversely, Being at the top of you class in Medical School won't necessarily make you a great doctor.
A college should teach you how to think critically and refine that process for you. The paper only really means something to someone who is as shallow as the paper.