I have often contended that the reason that many entry level positions require a college degree is not because a liberal arts education is actually applied in the position, but rather the company does not want 18 year old kids applying for the job. They want 22 or 23 year olds with a little more life experience eager to prove themselves. Nothing against 18 year olds, but there is a huge amount of maturation that happens in those early twenties that companies benefit from.

I ran across this quote from Robert Frost the other day and found it interesting:

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence."

I actually wonder if this isn't a better definition of maturity, than it is of education (although they are interrelated, of course). Those individuals who are mature (of any age), can listen to criticism, alternate opinions, or radical ideas and remain themselves.