A discussion - prestige vs feel

College Search & Selection
41

<p>OP, I'm going to pose your dilemma to someone knowledgeable and see what they've got to say. In the meantime, assuming that you have acceptances in hand and that you won't end up hurting yourself, and assuming that you've talked to some professors before and would feel comfortable asking them additional questions, I'd suggest discussing your dilemma with math professors and students (grad and undergrad) at your two candidate schools. I'd be more circumspect with the professors, emphasizing academic comparison between the two, and asking the profs what differences they see between the departments, and what their graduates end up doing post-grad. Do most go to grad school, and if so, where and in what? Or are many going into the working world--again, what are they doing? Ask the profs if they had a choice between the two schools in your shoes, would they see clear advantages to one or the other? If you are sure to say complimentary things about each school when talking to profs/students from that particular school, that helps with your role as a prospie trying to make the best choice between two equally compelling options. </p>

<p>I know this thread has taken a more philosophical turn, but for those who are grumping about students not wanting to deal with cold weather, please note that the OP wants Boston over Palo Alto.</p>

42

<p>hmom5, what do you and your DH do out of curiosity?</p>

43

<p>
[quote]
Yes, I am looking at a lot of good schools, but the question is one sort of between (an example form 2 schools I didnt apply to) Stanford vs. Boston Uni.

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</p>

<p>Slithey-- we're not comparing BU to Stanford, that was just the example. I do think that your points are valid when looking at this question from the standpoint of two specific schools and not looking at it generally.</p>

44

<p>I'm in investment banking and DH is a management consultant.</p>

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<p>oic. the fact that you are still gainfully employed in i-banking (assuming you are upper-to-senior management level) means that you are: a) very good, b) very lucky, c) both.</p>

<p>rough markets, and there will be more cuts to come. my former colleagues from my i-banking days are very few and far between (either have departed or have been made redundant)... at any rate, don't want to hi-jack this thread, was just curious.</p>

46

<p>I was just over on the ibanking thread explaining that I plan to be a movie star next, it's the only high paying, recession proof job left. But I have been at the same firm for darn near 30 years and my retirement has long been planned for when my youngest started college, which happened in September. Hollywood or bust, but I'm keeping the day job until I get signed.</p>

47

<p>
[quote]
Historically, my view is far closer to what the university has intended to be since around the 12th century when the first modern universities were founded in Italy. Things have changed a lot in 100 years,

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</p>

<p>Yeah, our 13th century world has changed quite a bit in the last 100 years. Only 8 centuries left until we get CC!! ;)</p>

48

<p>hmom5, hollywood star huh? i guess you are a hotty as well... lucky DH...</p>

49

<p>At this stage I think I better go for the dowager roles, or maybe the hard bitten former banker roles, there's got to be some movies coming featuring the the fall of BSterns and it's pot smoking head or Thain's bathroom antics....</p>

50

<p>hollywood is all about escaping the unpleasant drudgery of reality. i'm not sure there is a big market out there for self destructive finance CEOs... though I did hear that Michael Moore is up to his antics again ambulance chasing the current crisis.... and that Michael Douglas will reprise his Gordon Gekko role with the hedge fund industry as the backdrop... maybe there is a market afterall...</p>

51

<p>
[quote]
Applied SCEA to Yale, and am looking at all the ivies plus:</p>

<p>MIT
Caltech
Stanford
University of Cal - Berkley
University of Chicago
Univ. Michigan - Ann Arbor
Northwestern
Duke
John Hopkins</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1061329465-post4.html%5B/url%5D%5B/quote%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1061329465-post4.html

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</a>
...was the OP's list several months ago. Assuming there were no drastic changes, all of them are excellent choices, and choosing based on fit would be a good idea.</p>

<p>I really do think these 2000 word posts could be considerably condensed.</p>

52

<p>
[quote]
though I did hear that Michael Moore is up to his antics again ambulance chasing the current crisis....

[/quote]

His last gasp and crisis to pin on the Bush administration...he should then go away for a while, unless he wants to critique the Obama administration.</p>

53

<p>^^</p>

<p>bet it bombs.</p>

<p>nobody wants to rehash that in a movie theatre.</p>

<p>people want to escape..be entertained..when times are rough.</p>

54

<p>For some, I suppose that would be important, for others, it may be less concrete. I don't llike the idea of college as a purely vocational endeavor. I agree that we have raised a generation of softies, and I would be very disappointed in my daughter if she were to pick a school because of nice bathrooms or something like that. The right path, I think, lies somewhere in between. I think the kid should think about where they want to be in 20 years, but, on the other hand, they are not likely to really know. I think that most of our kids will bloom where planted, but some may not. </p>

<p>Why does everyone have to see this so very black and white - for most kids, the choices are not between being happy at East West Southern Regional Community College and hating every moment at Caltech. It's a little more subtle than that.</p>

55

<p>"I know you have good intentions; but, you come off as being extremely spoiled. Your parents are paying for your 4 years of college with their hard-earned money so you can utilize all the resources and strengthen your career options, not so you can "maximize" your happiness. </p>

<p>I agree with hmom that this "perfect fit" business is complete BS. In fact, it's the reason the American economy is going down the drain. You should go to a college because it will increase your earning potential, not because the campus is pretty. While entitled Americans are worrying about superficial things to help decide where they want to go to college, immigrants and people in foreign nations are actually focusing on the things that matter and producing results despite the circumstances.</p>

<p>How happy do you think the average middle-class Chinese worker is compared to the average middle-class American? Probably not even close to being as happy, but he is definitely a lot more efficient. Americans have become programmed to avoid the harsh truths at an early and embraced this system of "rewarding effort".</p>

<p>So, you probably thought you were special when you received a "participation certificate" when you went to a sporting event or took a math competition in middle school. Then, you were probably satisfied when you put forth mediocre effort in your high school classes and got decent grades. Then, you probably had your entire family pat you on the back when you scored in the 95th percentile of the SAT/ACTs. Then, your entire community was probably proud of you when you got admitted to Brown, an "Ivy League" college.</p>

<p>Now, you graduated and probably enjoyed the liberal academic policies of the institution and have like a dozen Pass/Fails on your transcript from a bunch of fluff humanities courses. In the past, you would have probably been picked up by Goldman Sachs because GASP "you are something special" after all. That's when you realize "oh man", I really don't know anything. It's because of people like you who look good on paper but have no real skills that have destroyed the American economy.</p>

<p>What have you really accomplished though? All the praise you have received in your life is a complete fluke. What skills do you possess now that can positively impact the American economy? I bet a homeschooled kid in China is just as skilled and qualified as you and he didn't have to spend $200k.</p>

<p>My cousin, who is on the verge of a giant medical breakthrough, was raised differently. When he got a 1590 on the SAT, his parents didn't invite the whole city and celebrate his achievement. They looked him in the eye and asked, "Why didn't you get a 1600?". When, he was admitted to Princeton, his parents didn't congratulate him and hug him uncontrollably, they asked him, "Why didn't you get into Harvard?". When he got a research article published in the best scientific magazine, his parents finally said "Congratulations son, you've made us proud".</p>

<p>If more kids were raised like my cousin, then this country wouldn't be in shambles. It's people like the posters in this thread who believe life is all about "maximizing happiness" instead of actual utility to society that have set the country down the wrong path. Too much positive reinforcement has instilled a sense of complacency and high self esteem in Americans.</p>

<p>Anyone who chooses Brown over Stanford should be slapped across the face. There are people who are getting laid off left and right in America and are about to have their homes foreclosed and you want to turn away the opportunities in front of your face for some selfish reason like "happiness"? Shame on you."</p>

<p>THANK YOU VERY MUCH ring<em>of</em>fire!!!!</p>

<p>I COULD NOT OF SUMMED IT UP BETTER MYSELF!!!</p>

<p>TOO MANY KIDS MY AGE FEEL THEIR ENTITLED... TOO MANY ARE HAPPY WITH THE EVERYCHILD GETS A TROPHY BULLCRAP....</p>

56

<p>okay wow. i just want to say the entire time i was reading this i was just thinking (..and the point of this is..?) i mean it seems like its an argument between going to a college that makes you happy and a college that will end up making you a lot of money? i mean everyone was arguing about so many things at once i dont see the point of this but based on the last page of posts this is my 2 cents..</p>

<p>first of all i want to say modestmelody i agree that having a job you are passionate about is worth making less, and to principalviola as the "low" incomes are becoming higher numbers the average income will be rising in proportion so thats kind of a pointless comment.. </p>

<p>i also want to say that modestmelody goes to BROWN. thats an ivy and im pretty sure shes smarter than all of us, especially the parents on here who think they understand college life still and THEY DONT AT ALL, IT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. i know that me personally i want to go to an out of state school and im taking out my own loans to pay for it, im not asking my parents for any money, because i know that since im going to a college that will make me "happy" (which apparently is a crime now a days) but isnt affordable it is my responsiblity to pay for my happiness/what i want. </p>

<p>also, to ring<em>of</em>fire, i dont understand why you think that people who "look good on paper but have no real skills have destroyed the american economy". ???? what are you talking about? i mean im sure there are some people who graduate from ivies and dont do well later in life but there are also people who go to community colleges and turn out to be millionaires.. i mean thats why i think this whole debate is stupid and pointless, each person is an individual and has their own ideas of their happiness so i know all you parents think were too stupid being teenagers to decide what would make us happy so i guess youre employing we should go somewhere that doesnt make us happy, and let our parents make the decisions for us?? i mean its our lives and every adult ive ever talked to says that college was the best time in their life and they would do it again in a second, thats the experience i want! i know that no matter where i go i can still learn so much and get a good job</p>

<p>my point is that anyone can pick a school that makes them happy and still succeed in life after college, people who cant do that just didnt succeed.. college is what you make it.</p>

57

<p>i also want to say that everyone on this post is assuming parents are paying for everyones college.. so its obviously stuck up rich parents.. im actually a responsible mature teenager (even though according to some of you thats impossible) and am getting grants scholarships and loans to pay for college my mom isnt paying a cent because this is my experience and my happiness and im deciding what i want out of college and where i will get the most out of college (both experience and education/job opportunity wise).</p>

<p>i dont understand any of this reason one bit. people are saying that people are choosing the "nicer dorms/prettier" colleges over ones that will give you the most education and be most beneficial toward a career.. how is this true at all???? i live in ga, uga is the most applied to and most competitive school in the state and GCSU (a smaller school) is just as good academically but the dorms are sooo nice and the uga dorms are crap for freshman, but idk a single person who has taken that into account to deter them from going there??? i mean i just dont understand.. some people care about their living conditions alot and some dont.. so i mean thats that and theres nothing we can do about it??</p>

58

<p>
[quote]
^^</p>

<p>bet it bombs.</p>

<p>nobody wants to rehash that in a movie theatre.</p>

<p>people want to escape..be entertained..when times are rough.

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</p>

<p>exactly. why would you pay good money for something that is getting played over and over again in the news much less get it force fed to you from an obese obnoxious a-hole?</p>

59

<p>
[quote]
Anyone who chooses Brown over Stanford should be slapped across the face.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Anyone who is good enough to get into Stanford and Brown will do just fine without getting slapped across the face.</p>

60

<p>GCSU is in Milledgeville, which has only cows, which is why they go to UGA over GCSU :D</p>

<p>but yea. IMO, the dorm type stuff comes into play when you have to close schools.</p>