The liberal arts curriculum, with an emphasis in the sciences, at Beloit College encouraged a freedom from bias and prejudice and developed a willingness to examine prior conclusions, to look carefully the second time into things you were most certain of the first time. In my undergraduate education, post-graduate education, and professional career, the concept that a person may not always be rewarded for what he knows, but most assuredly will suffer for what he doesn t know, was a constant reflection on my studies at Beloit College. Scale, i.e. small classes, is an essential requirement of a liberal education. I was motivated to learn. It is difficult to catch and hold the attention of students sitting 100 rows away when there is no interaction.
Contemporary life is complex and ever-changing.
You can only build upon the foundation that is put into place during the first 20 to 25 years of life. The stronger and broader the foundation, the easier the job will be. Diverse knowledge is helpful. You see more relationships and contrast. Combining different sources leads to new ways of thinking about things, and often to useful new ideas and solutions to problems.