Why put up with the bureaucratic cr*p in college? Not at the rates they charge. Core requirements exist these days simply as an excuse to fund junk like Womens Studies/Gender Studies/Ethnic Studies, and English and History courses full of propaganda.
"Hopefully, she - and her mother - will have matured by then."
All the more reason not to accept academe's B.S.
With that attitude, I assume you don't have a degree yourself?
I think it's worth it to take a few non-related, non-exciting classes to get the piece of paper. Without that today, kids will have a hard time getting a decent job. And those that think they are too good to follow the rules will end up whining about how bad the college system is, whereas they had a choice.
If you truly want to change the system, do it from the inside. Get a PhD, teach at a university, and try to become part of the administration. But considering that all universities worldwide require some basic social studies and language courses - and have for centuries - it may be tough to change the way it is done.