The most selective college in the nation. 7% acceptance rate. ANd its not an Ivy.

College Search & Selection
81

<p>lol, Rames cmon. </p>

<p>Look, I'm not saying its a bad school by any means. I'm just saying that students who attend there will not be able to complete a BA in 4 years for a normal major. </p>

<p>Also, why do I seem ignorant for thinking its not a great opportunity to live on an isolated ranch with 29 guys for two years? And then not be able to complete a degree in 4 years? Judging by the roughly 110 people who apply, I don't think I'm in the minority. </p>

<p>Btw, Acarta stated not all people go on to the top schools as you mention. </p>

<p>Here are some graduation dates for DS alums, first from Deep Springs, and then from their 4 year college of transfer:</p>

<p>Deep Springs '05, Chicago '09 <---a total of 6 years
Deep Springs '05, Princeton '08 <---5 years
Deep Springs '05, Harvard '08 <---5 years
My research could be off, since its based on facebook.</p>

<p>Also note that the list of professors makes it clear that many subjects won't have any classes at Deep Springs.</p>

82

<p>They said that many students take time off in between - also, as they have an essentially free education at Deep Springs, perhaps they don't care so much about taking the time for their education (people who really love their college might be grateful to have that opportunity!)</p>

83

<p>thethoughtprocess, I think you're thinking of "classes" in too narrow a sense. As Ramses said, " I think you confuse 'coursework' with lecture hall/500 students/TA."</p>

<p>What Deep Springs does NOT offer is the standard MWF 2:00 PM to 3:10 PM lecture, plus a section with the TA on Tuesday morning, plus the lab on Thursday afternoon. </p>

<p>HOWEVER, if someone wants to major in biology (or chem or physics or environmental stuff or agriculture), he can work with a professor to design his own course. He is responsible for determining what he needs to learn and for figuring out how he can learn it. In this era of Internet information, he can find absolutely anything he wants to find. He can design and conduct his own experiments. </p>

<p>At the end of that "experience" -- call it a "course" -- he will probably be farther along than the kid who took Biology 101 or Chemistry 101 or whatever. </p>

<p>When he applies to transfer to his Ivy, both he and the professor will describe the "coursework" -- what he did, what he learned. And the accepting institution will say, "Ahhhh -- looks like this guy can start with Biology 401, since he's so far along."</p>

<p>Come on, think creatively. This is how smart people do it.</p>

84

<p>This is turning in to a great thread! This last post is the way that those of us who really admire all of the alternative schools think/feel.</p>

85

<p>VeryHappy, the fact there are 7 professors (10 but not counting horseback riding, oil paints, and cooking) in limited fields per semester means that they won't be able to have coursework in most majors. Its great to be able to design your own classes. Its a wonderful opportunity to explore your interests.</p>

<p>In fact, every top Private allows you to design your own classes one on one with professors, just like at Deep Springs. The difference is that at DS, if there is no professor relevant to your field of study then it doesn't matter. </p>

<p>When I say "class" I'm pretty much referring to a "transferable credit to complete a degree" btw. </p>

<p>At least they'll be the first 21 year old in their grade at college.</p>

86

<p>Your basing your assumptions on 3 kids? 3 kids who are at Harvard, Chicago and Princeton? You are in fact making a ton of assumptions, not the least that Harvard, Princeton and Chicago are merely allowing these kids to transfer because it's PC, to assuming you know why these kids are graduating when they do. Your assertion that DS is just some program to help gain entrance into college isn't supported by anything, and it certainly isn't based in reality.(Kids turning down Harvard et al for the DS experience)</p>

<p>"Also note that the list of professors makes it clear that many subjects won't have any classes at Deep Springs."</p>

<p>What you need to note, is that that list of profs change as the students deem fit. What part of students determine the curriculum do you find unfathomable?</p>

87

<p>Ramses, I never said that Ivies let Deep Springs grads in because its PC. Stop making stuff up, please.</p>

<p>My assumption that these kids can't graduate in 4 years is based on three kids, which is like 30% of their student body. Its also based off of the fact that they don't take classes that are transferable. Just because they talk intellectually all day doesn't mean they are learning something that transfers into Chem 1, Econ 1, or any other class. And yes, I realize the students determine that professors come. However, ONLY 7 professors are there a semester, and some of those being for "ethics" and "public speaking" rather than an academic subject.</p>

<p>At top privates, students are encouraged to study one-on-one with professors. In fact in some places its required to have at least one individualized course (like I do, unfortunately...). The key difference is that a top private has tons of great professors, whereas Deep Springs has 7 a semester that change every 6-7 months. </p>

<p>For example, during 2004-2005 there was no social science teacher (no Econ, Polisci, or Public Policy teacher). </p>

<p>My point is that the kids who attend Deep Springs will have to attend an additional 3-4 years of college anyways. It seems more like a year-long academic program rather than a junior college in that sense.</p>

<p>A few other things:
-You earlier stated Deep Springs had a strong alumni network with lots of senators and people in congress. Thats probably not true, considering people who go to Deep Springs in the first place are doing the opposite of networking.
- Where is evidence of people turning down Harvard for Deep Springs? Or is it just one or two instances of this being done in history? I mean, I know someone who turned down Harvard for Vanderbilt, that doesn't make it worth repeating. </p>

<p>Also, here is a question: what is better than a school where 50% of the kids transfer to a top private afterwards...a top private.</p>

88

<p>Thethoughtprocess is looking pretty close-minded about this. You basically come around to restating the same point over and over again.</p>

<p>"I can't see how you get a degree in four years"...I don't think they do either. I highly doubt that encumbers their success in any way, based on the career options that graduates have. </p>

<p>Saying Deep Springs is awesome should not provoke your assumption "as it seems too politically correct to assume that because something is different its better". Awesome does not mean better than your wonderful Duke University. It means that many people on this thread - while realizing that this school is not their cup of tea - can see how it would be a neat experience. Your disparaging comments suggest that you can't understand the value others see in a lifestyle that <em>you</em> clearly would not like.</p>

89

<p>This: "Not attacking, just questioning."</p>

<p>DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS: "I guess you get jacked from living on a ranch."</p>

90

<p>"at the end it got me thinking: Heres what I imagined. One day 6 students of the graduating class of around 15 said " hey, the rest of u guys go mow the lawn and plant some crops, while me and a few buddies will go onto studentsreview and write a few kick A$$ reviews of the school. Mayby we can get more ppl to wanna apply and lower the acc rate even more"</p>

<p>The fact that you post this ******** shows how little you understand. People attending this school are not concerned about these details that CC freaks are obsessed with.</p>

91

<p>Padfoot - I didn't realize disagreeing = close-minded. </p>

<p>I also didn't write the above (post 90). Please don't inappropriately attribute such things to me.</p>

<p>And getting jacked from living on a ranch is an absolute compliment. Same with me admiring athletes.</p>

<p>I questioned whether these students can graduate with a degree in four years. Seems like that its pretty much impossible. I also mentioned that some kids DS '05 are Harvard and Princeton '08 and Chicago '09.</p>

<p>Does questioning = close-minded?
After all, I might be the only person out of everyone on this thread who actually has gone through the annual reports, looked at the faculty, looked over the curriculum, searched for student graduation dates, etc. Its a trend of me looking at facts and a trend of people disagreeing with me repeating the same things over and over again.</p>

92

<p>I think there are a few ways of looking at this.</p>

<p>First of all, many schools, including the ones mentioned, are used to working with applicants who come from non-traditional academic backgrounds, such as homeschooling. I seem to remember reading on a homeschool thread that specifically Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Williams, Brown, and Chicago were happy to work with homeschooled applicants in not only accepting them in the first place, but also in putting them in courses that were appropriate to their needs and giving them credit.</p>

<p>Anecdote:</p>

<p>A friend of mine dropped out of high school sophomore or junior year, and spent the time before applying to colleges backpacking around India and taking master's-level courses at Prestigious U, which was near her home. When she came to Chicago as a first-year, she was able to pass through most of her core requirements because she had done similar work earlier (which is unusual for Chicago, a school that is conservative in granting any kind of credit and wants its students to experience the core). She was, essentially, a first year with second/third year standing.</p>

<p>Secondly, it sounds like DS students are not concerned with graduating within four years. First, a DS kid obviously likes school, so there's no reason to truncate the education experience, and secondly, it's silly to think that he will be at any financial disadvantage. This idea that one has to graduate in four years is a demarcation that you put on yourself, because a traditional student graduates in four years (or, in some cases, 3 or 3 1/2 years). Since Deep Springs is tuition-free anyway, it seems like EVEN IF the student ends up needing FOUR WHOLE YEARS to graduate (as I guess is Chicago '09), he will be on par financially with just about every other traditional student at the college.</p>

<p>(Another thing: some students decide to do a combined BA/MA program, which, of course usually take longer than four years. Chicago and Harvard offer this option, and I'm assuming other research uni's do too.)</p>

<p>Though DS is unusual in the way it combines service, outdoors, and academics, the concept of taking time off before or in the middle of college to travel or to volunteer is not. I think you're right, TTP, in considering this program more of an experience in itself than a two-year college.</p>

93

<p>...why are they problems, thethoughtprocess? Many of them take time off, or perhaps graduate after 3 years at a school like Harvard. So what? They got an amazing experience free at Deep Springs...and a year of Harvard tuition saved. It's not a bad experience if they enjoy it and get a lot out of it, which I'm sure they do. So it wouldn't be your cup of tea, and maybe someone who's in a huge rush wouldn't dig it either...obviously it works for the people there, though.</p>

94

<p>Unalove's post is a good one. </p>

<p>unregistered, if you look at my past posts repeatedly, I'm just saying that these kids won't get a BA in 4 years. </p>

<p>Whether people are concerned with that or not is their issue, I look at it as a huge disadvantage.</p>

<p>I'm also inputting my personal opinion that though Deep Springs gives you a sweet intellectual experience, it does not give you a real social experience you would get at a top private.</p>

95

<p>This Seattle Times article rebutts some of your assertions:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.guppylake.com/nsb/DS-SeattleTimes.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.guppylake.com/nsb/DS-SeattleTimes.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>The only advantage I see is u get to go to a top school but even that benefit is not entierely accurate. </p>

<p>As I stated earlier, not all even go to the top schools they mention cuz its nto possible. In reality only about half go to top schools. The rest still go to great schhols (Top 50 and such). </p>

<p>However going to deep ranch wont get u into a Top school. its the work u do at Deep Springs (or any college for that matter) that will get u into a top school. </p>

<p>I see little benefit in going there.... I would go crazy with the lacking amount of resources. I can only picture the library and the atletic facilities. </p>

<p>Plus the idea of living in a isolated ranch in the DESERT is scary.</p>

97

<p>And here's a snippet showing...wait for it....kids from ivies transfering into Deep Springs because they were denied by DS the first time:</p>

<p>"Dan is in his second year here and is one of several in his class who transferred, in his case from the University of Pennsylvania. Some say they are glad to have been rejected the first time they applied, because it gave them time to mature and better appreciate Deep Springs."</p>

98

<p>ramses, </p>

<p>First off, I'm not sure how that article is supposed to persuade me that kids who go to DS graduate in 4 years. You will be receiving your BA in 5-6 years instead of 4. Thats a huge disadvantage in my opinion. You are attending a program that won't give you credit.</p>

<p>The article also highlights a lack of diversity...which is amplified considering there are only 30 people. That is by far the worst aspect of such a place (even worse than living on a ranch in itself). It seems like 1-2 out of 30 kids are usually minorities, compared to 40-50% at most top privates.</p>

<p>As I said before, a student turning down an Ivy to go there isn't stunning...like I said, I know someone who turned down Harvard for Vanderbilt...not worth repeating, by far the minority. </p>

<p>And like Acarta said (and I agree), only 1/2 or so actually transfer to a top school (read: Harvard, Chicago, Brown).</p>

99

<p>For all those who feel that graduating in four years is such a necessity (thethoughtprocess etc.) realize that you feel this way because in your case, not graduating in four years means more tuition payments.</p>

<p>But with Deep Springs, some may not realize that in addition to paying for the time at the ranch thing, the college also pays for TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS AT ANY FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION POST-GRAD FROM DEEP SPRINGS. (VALUE=UP TO 50K/YEAR). So at the most somebody will be paying for one year of college (if it takes them five years total to graduate). For those with good stats in a tough financial situation, DS seems like a solid way to go if you dont mind the lifestyle.</p>

100

<p>i actually thought juliard's acceptance rate was pretty high (according to usnews)?</p>