You make valid points, but actually, I wasn't suggesting engineering become a 2 year program, rather, that tech schools could make a 4 year engineering program that doesn't need you to take all the BS electives your typical university does.
Sorry I stepped on my soapbox! Obviously I've got a bone to pick with the "vaunted" doctor and lawyer reputation cliche, being a grizzled engineer that's dealt with both from the good and bad sides, as consumer-of their output and supplier-to their tools and works!
As for elective BS, the only non-degree related elective I took was Psych 301. Fascinating experience. Not because of what I learned from the course, but from what I learned about the PEOPLE taking and giving the course!! When contrasted with the scientific principles in my other courses, I was shocked to see so much, well, essentially "witchcraft" and unscientific hokus-pokus crap!
That one class opened up a window into the people I'd soon be dealing with in "the real world" ever since!
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And I'm not ragging on trade schools/Jr Colleges, but some of the most critical pre-engineering classes are required in the natural sciences. The Math and Chemistry that I took really made me reconsider why it was I wanted to be an engineer. That's why they were called "weed-out" classes with 66% fail-out rates that nearly got me too!
I just don't think a trade school or JC has the financial incentive to do the good things that the Ivory Towers do by really rejecting the half-hearted folk. Not that Uni's don't graduate a few bad apples.....(as I am probably living proof!) ;-)