Kegs and football games? So plebian

Colleges and Universities A-Z Ohio State University
1

So I was in a discussion talking with a few parents about universities and colleges that they saw as underrated/overrated. Two parents had kids attending an urban school. Here’s what they said -

P1: "We debated the traditional college campus vs. city campus question a lot with DS. Ultimately (based on the other schools he liked and fortunately got into) he concluded that he’d pretty much be sitting around pumping a keg every weekend and going to big sports events. I know that may be the college dream for some, but he decided that wasn’t his scene and opted for a city experience, and has not regretted that choice. "

P2: “Good for you and for your son! I do not get the appeal of “traditional” college campus at all - I would be bored as hell. I’ll take NYC living (even on s budget) over that any day.”

P1: " Me too. The keg and football stuff is really provincial and just a dull extension of HS as far as I can see. There are opportunities to “bond” with people in other ways, if sought out. "

This reminds of when some mom saying she just didn’t “get” the appeal to football, that it was so “archaic in its attraction to violence” and that sports, in general, was strange because of system of declaring a winner after scoring X amount of points. I was going to ask if she was autistic.

2

I agree with these parents. I don’t get the appeal of football. With all we now know about CTE, I do think it is archaic - and barbaric.

So, what’s your point with this post? And what’s your point with the autistic barb? “I was going to ask if she was autistic.”

3

I disagree with both.

I don’t get the appeal of football and beer fueled parties.
However urban v. football is a totally false dichotomy.
Attending a traditional campus does not mean keg and football unless you make it so. You don’t need to attend an urban campus to have a vibrant intellectual/cultural/social life - Grinnell is in the middle of nowhere and no one would go there for football and kegs - and the weekend offerings are excellent (and, compared to an urban campus where you have to pay for your entertainment: everything is free).