<p>Yeah… really, a place where students spend a lot of their time blitzed so aren’t able to think hard enough to engage in political activity might best satisfy the original request… by the way, my STEM student is very interested in politics. She is super excited, she will be home from her summer research job soon, and we have a primary election while she is here that is her first opportunity to vote since she turned 18. Being with STEM students is no guarantee of no political thought or discussion.</p>
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<p>Xiggi,</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re conflating how US-based conservative/libertarian mass media and featured politicians with how many Western Europeans would define US liberal democrats…especially if we’re talking political scientists who have studied US politics and the US political spectrum at any length.</p>
<p>Sorry, but asserting that with my Western European friends or in a mid/upper-level political science class with reasonably engaged students will earn nothing but dismissive laughter in the same way a certain politician elicited when he corrected an elementary student’s correct spelling of a tuberous food crop… <<<</p>
<p>What!</p>
<p>Cobrat, you really have NO idea of what you are talking about. As usual, you come back with a couple of anecdotes of various relevance, and probably untrue as most of your stories about imaginary friends and cousins. But even if true, I am more interested in what YOU know and have experienced personally. </p>
<p>Have you ever met a conservative from Western Europe and asked him how he compares himself to an American liberal? Have you ever studied in a Western European college? I’d be happy to help you by giving you my own father’s telephone and let him tell you about conservatives and colleges in Europe. </p>
<p>The only thing that should elicit dismissive laughter is you failing the recognize the ridicule of your posts that are relating the experiences of a bunch of people in about each subject. </p>
<p>I will not argue with you about YOUR experiences at Stuyvesant or Oberlin, but, for the love of God, stop thinking that “quoting” your friends trumps the REAL experience and knowledge of natives in other parts of the world. </p>
<p>actingmt, she suggested that being idealistic was not a good use of a college kid’s time. (To your point, neither was “getting over a broken heart.”) All of these preferences led some of us to believe that the OP would have a hard time finding a college for her kid that would be free of every potential non-scholarly temptation–especially the more desirable schools on her bright daughter’s list. Which, again, is why several people suggested a commuter school or online university as an option.</p>
<p>As an aside, this is a poster who said on another thread that her kids are not allowed to have Facebook or other social media accounts. Visiting schools and getting comfortable with the freedom college life offers is going to be really important for this particular family.</p>
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<p>Humm, who said it was an innocent case? </p>
<p>And again, debating opinions is a bit different from questioning preposterous posts pretending to be authoritative. </p>
<p>Sally, I don’t think someone who asks for schools that are not party schools is secretly saying their kid is not allowed to have friends. But, maybe the OP will come back and try again. IDK. </p>
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<p>However, there are certain issues (mainly racism and anti-multiculturalism) where right-leaning European political parties *that win seats in legislatures<a href=“i.e.%20non-fringe”>/i</a> openly say things that right-leaning people in the US generally would not endorse (NL - Freedom Party, FR - Front National, BE - Vlaams Belang, AT - Freedom Party, HU - Jobbik, GR - Golden Dawn).</p>
<p>Of course, in some other issues, like universal medical insurance, the US is to the right of western European countries in general.</p>
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<p>There are controversies and politics within the world of science, although many of them are esoteric enough that they are basically invisible to those outside the area.</p>
<p>You know, I don’t mind that poltical arguments have taken over the thread I started which was asking for recs for non-political schools.
I can shrug off the various insults and denigrations addressed to me.
But I really do not appreciate strangers attempting to paint all sorts of quasi-abusive parenting issues into my posts.
I am getting posts basically accusing me of isolating my kids (who btw have lots of ECs, friends, teams, socials) because:
- I don’t let them put their real names on the internet in FB & other social media
- I want them to prioritize education
- I want them to be in environments that are physically, emotionally, and psychologically suitable to their ages and abilities</p>
<p>And now I also am somehow eviiil for thinking that going into debt to attend Full Sail Univ is not the best choice for my friend’s kid.</p>
<p>I will try to suggest as tactfully and gently as possible that the OP, if genuinely interested in identifying some good potential colleges for her daughter, address that topic more specifically. A number of us have mentioned possibilities, with no response. Perhaps the OP could list some colleges that her daughter has expressed an interest in applying to, and we could focus on them instead of a lot of circular arguments.</p>
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<p>In light of the above, it is becoming quite clear why OP may be concerned about his/her kid. </p>
<p>From what I’ve seen and those of several other CCers who posted similar accounts, it is the child who is heavily sheltered and micromanaged by parents prior to college who tend to be the most wild and ill-equipped to deal independently once he/she’s free of his/her parents and their influence upon arriving on campus to begin college. </p>
<p>Maybe he/she will be enticed to join the KISS Army even if the band’s cheesiness is nearly off the charts. :D</p>
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<p>Consolation,</p>
<p>I have seen the movie and this thread made me remember John Candy’s character. </p>
<p>Only thing is, John Candy’s character is much hardier and willing to endure physical hardship than practically all the Marxist/Leninist/Maoist classmates at my LAC. The mental image of those classmates humping even a light 30 pound fieldpack, rifle, decked out in combat uniform/boots, and living the guerilla life in the great outdoors is very ROTFLOL-worthy. From what I’ve seen of them, I’d doubt most will last more than 10-15 minutes of marching…and that’s assuming they can take the first step without doing a faceplant. </p>
<p>While not athletic myself, I had occasion to carry 2 8-11 pound notebooks and some hardcover books I needed to return to Columbia U’s library which my Columbia U friend borrowed on my behalf. Had a very pleasant walk from Battery Park City to Columbia U on a nice hot humid July day. 
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<p>Really, @cobrat?</p>
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My, such a flare for hyperbole. And its not accurate. You said she was being taken advantage of. </p>
<p>scholarme, please. No one is accusing you of being an abusive parent or an evil person. You are being dramatic. For someone posting all kinds of questions on the internet, you take offense really easily. Many of your responses sound snarky and ungrateful. Do you want help or don’t you? As woogzmama and others have noted, you have been really vague throughout this thread, even when people have asked for clarification on your objectives. But then you get all bent out of shape when the advice people offer isn’t what you wanted to hear. </p>
<p>If you are talking about me, I NEVER “accused you of isolating your kids.” I said exactly this:</p>
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<p>I don’t know what your agenda is, but it’s becoming pretty pointless trying to help you.</p>
<p>@jym626 Have you seen what Full Sail charges and how they market their tech school?
If the family was rolling in dough I wouldn’t care, but they’ve been thru tough times recently.</p>
<p>@sally305 Actually I think Ive tried very hard to remain calm in the face of overwhelmingly unhelpful attacks on my thinking and experiences. The genuinely helpful posts I have marked as helpful and looked at the sites. Remind me again of your helpful posts, if you don’t mind?</p>
<p>Edit to add: unless if by “help” me you mean posts trying to help me conform to proper thinking.</p>
<p>You have told other people to go back through the thread to find your posts. You can do the same if you want to refresh your memory on mine.</p>
<p>Have you seen what many colleges charge and how they market themselves?? Whether its the best or worst school for this other kid, its really their family’s decision. Maybe they are capable of listening to the “sales pitch” as you call it and make their own decision. Many schools, good, bad and otherwise, market like crazy. Enrollment management is a big business. And many students take out loans they shoudn’t for undergrad degrees. There are probably many lower tier, very expensive schools worse than Full Sail. I am not saying its the best or right choice for many students (though it worked for my relative who was headed down a very wrong path). Burt there are plenty of unimpressive expensive schools out there. And there are plenty of very good schools for which people go into ridiculous debt (NYU being notable) despite many warnings to the contrary. You don’t need to shield these poor innocent victims of potential marketing glitz any more than you need to shield your daughter from exposure to political discussions. IMO the one here has been very interesting.</p>
<h1>454 You suggested a school with bslanced povs and I agreed that was a good idea. Thank you.</h1>
<h1>455 I asked for recs for other schools they could consider apart from the one that eent to our kids HS. I got a lot of helpful suggestions on that thread and forwarded it to my friend, who happens to be recently widowed and very busy as you can imagine adjusting to single parenthood while still grieving. Of course I did not NEED to do that, but if our situations were reversed I would hope my friends would forward recs of better alternatives to me.</h1>
<p>Im sorry if that kind of “shielding” is abhorrent to you. Thank you for your help which is very helpful in learning about CC mores.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread.
The actual recs on how to find non-political schools have been bookmarked.
Thank you to everyone who has posted their opinions.
Your time is valuable and I appreciate your spending it here.</p>
<p>Constant snarkiness is unhelpful. We are all sure you are a wonderful, humble, benevolent friend to humans and small creatures of the earth. The rest of us are apparently something to scrape off the bottom of your shoe.</p>
<p>And for the umpteenth time, read a copy of The insiders guide to Colleges. You are welcome. Sheesh.</p>
<p>But, at least you have learned the value of the “really” response, with
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<h1>458 I have readvthat (Fiske’s) and also the Colleges that Change Lives, as well as P R.</h1>
<p>I dunno jym, you try getting dogpiled - I’d be amazed if you dont get snarky.</p>