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I recognize the merits of the program but do not see how it could qualify as the NEXT GREAT THING.
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<p>I used that phrase because in three years, I have never seen a reference to University Professors on this site - even some of our most prolific posters, who are de facto college counselors, were not aware of the details of the program. </p>
<p>Most of CC, students and parents, are looking for a top quality education. Most read the USnews rankings and are aware of where BU falls in that list. I assume that many student researchers with top stats, or those parenting a student with top stats, would pass it by initially on that basis, never knowing that an elite program for 'renaissance-oriented' students exists there, one that, for the right student, could be a perfect fit. I was extremely impressed with the program and the professors who will be teaching next year's classes, therefore posted out of altruistic motives - public service to CC, guys, public service, or as one of the professors said, the "compassionate self" contributing to the "common good." </p>
<p>The UNI does not seem to advertise much (try Google - you will find it in recitations of graduate degrees, professor CVs, etc. but very little about the program itself). The concepts and features that I find to be worthy of admiration are described in the initial post. </p>
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First, despite its revamping, the program is well over 30 years old. At that age, you hardly qualify for a Cinderella status.
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<p>It appears that you overlooked the substance of the information and got distracted by my enthusiasm. I find many things to like about all of the schools to which S applied (as evidenced by my enthusiasm for St. Mary's College, for instance).</p>
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What is so unique about being able to create a distinct major, and aren't the risk of confusing future employers real by being too eclectic?
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<p>My son is 99.9% likely to continue his education for a number of years after undergrad - the employment factor in general is of very little concern to us at this time - I presume that a future employer will look at the graduate/professional degree. Further, my own career is a good example of the sometimes non-linear relationship between education and profession - degrees in philosophy, 25 years in information technology. One of the very best features of this program is that, by design, it is meant to support the considerable capacities of the developing mind in an exploration of the varieties of knowledge by overcoming the barriers between disciplines (as one example of a scholar who has advanced this theme, check out <a href="http://www.2think.org/hii/wilson.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.2think.org/hii/wilson.shtml</a> Consilience - The Unity of Knowledge (Edward Wilson). </p>
<p>Not all intelligent, motivated students would be attracted to this program. If they have a strong preference as high school seniors for a pre-selected major or one area of study, either sciences/math or the humanities or the social sciences or education, etc., they would probably not find it to be a viable option. However, if they have broad-based interests and an intellectual/scholarly bent, it could be ideal.</p>