Title character Franny Glass has more than a few complaints about the college system. A student herself, Franny finds her professors to be egotistical, grad students to be condescending narcissists, and most of her peers conformist bores (including her boyfriend). The problem with college, she feels, is that it's about trying to amass knowledge for the sake of knowledge – which in her mind is no more noble than trying to amass wealth or fame. Knowledge ought to lead to wisdom – yet there's no discussion or even mention of wisdom on a college campus. This renders the entire system shallow and fruitless.
Franny gains the wisdom at home that she cannot find in college.