A lot of criticism has been leveled against the American school system's approach and its emphasis on rote learning and test preparation. At the end of twelve years, high school graduates typically have some externally imposed self-discipline, a lot of practically useless knowledge, and not a single independent thought in their heads.
A bachelor's degree in philosophy is a kind of antidote to this kind of indoctrination. Philosophy students learn very little in the conventional sense, except to think for themselves and become eloquent.
You will, of course, read extensively about what the great minds of the last 2,500 years or so (few of which could agree on anything) thought about the "big" topics such as truth, beauty, rights and duties, right and wrong, and the meaning of life. Memorizing these theories isn't the point, though.
Analyzing and discussing questions such as these, constructing arguments about them, and finding flaws in others' reasoning creates a very disciplined way of thinking. Defining complex issues, extracting the important points from them, and devising coherent solutions require and build an analytical mind - something that's surprisingly rare in modern society. If you doubt that, just watch 15 minutes of television news.
Philosophy as a subject is typically undervalued in American society and colleges. In contrast, many of the older universities in Britain and Germany (as well as elsewhere) continue to treat it as a serious and worthwhile field of study.
