What college catalogs don't reveal

TownHall.com ^ | Tuesday, April 1, 2003 | by Phyllis Schlafly

[JohnHuang2]

Tuesday, April 1, 2003

Quote of the Day by WellsFargo94

[CatoRenasci]

Good article. We've just been through the college admissions process with our oldest daughter, and all of the points Schafley makes are good ones.

The better college guidebooks, and the US News survey, give you 4 and 6 year graduation rates. As my wife and I were '60s and early '70s undergraduates, we were amazed at how many schools had 4 year graduation rates under 75%. In our day, about the only reason people didn't finish in four years was the draft (for guys), pregnancy (for women) or finances (back before everyone could get cheap money).

We have noticed over the past decade the increasing number of kid who take double majors, and the colleges differ greatly on how difficult that is to do in four years, and it also differs depending on how closely related the two majors are. Obviously a BA Classics/BS Engineering would be a very tough double major, and a BA History/BA American Studies would be easier. A tough choice is when kids are serious about music and an academic major, e.g. BM Music Performance/BA Mathematics or even English or History. It's almost impossible to do that in four years.

The remedial classes number is stunning. In my day, there were only two remedials offered at most real colleges: what was called "bonehead English" for those who couldn't pass simple exam given at the start of freshman year and "bonehead math" for those who hadn't taken trigonometry and analytic geometry in high school (not uncommon 35 years ago).

[glorgau]

Going over the resume and ...

Hmmm, Degree in Women Studies

Oh, so you're a lesbian?

[ventana]

We are now working with our son to determine where he will go to school. He has been offered several scholarships to top schools paying half or full tuition. He is also an NROTC sholarship winner and two of the schools he was accepted to will match the NROTC scholarship with room and board meaning a totally free ride (well, he will be in service after). He wants a career in medicine in research or clinical work and has been accepted at Carnegie Mellon, Univesity of Rochester, and Cornell among eight schools total. He is now deciding between U of R and Cornell. Cornell is liberal, but the Ivy League which is a major factor in its favor. Additionally, it has excellent scientific research. University of Rochester is superb, too. Not quite the name of Cornell, but a complete full ride with no debt. Freepers, any points pro or con you care to make will be appreciated! V's wife.

[kidd]

Thanks for posting this. I have a sophmore in high school. I wasn't aware of any of this.

Colleges brag about their famous tenured professors, but they usually duck the large-enrollment courses, which are often taught by recent hires or graduate students

This was true even in my day. Cornell bragged that Carl Sagan taught astronomy there. I never saw the man in the 4 years that I was there (79-83). He was too busy filming "Cosmos" and book writting and with speaking engagements.

[Blueflag]

Visit the schools physically when school is in session.

My brother went to Ga Tech after visiting Cornell (was his first choice)

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Go to a technical or junior college, it's cheaper and the education is just as good or better because it's hands-on experience taught by someone who understands the real world and not some loony-liberal professor sucking on a pipe blaming America for everything.

[Gefreiter]

Good article, and accurate. I took a BA and an MA, through GI Bill, federal loans, and working several jobs. Got an admin job at a different college where, believe me, I prefer to keep my politics largely to myself.

2 of my MA classmates now work as secretaries at Harvard. No joke...it helps to have a Master's to land an entry level job there.

As I recall, as an undergrad I had a "diversity requirement", which meant I had to take a clutch of courses that described the evils of white men. Did read some good books, but usually the experience left me annoyed and on the defensive.

In the grad program, scores of people were starting on careers in bulls--t, who through rigorous and thorough analysis all conclude that America is to blame for all things. Gets old fast.

[ventana]

Three books that I found helpful were the "Fiske guide to college"; "Choosing The Right College"; and "How to get into the Ivy League", which, whether the Ivy League is your goal or not still offers helpful information on the admissions process. One kid in my son's class, super student, #6, in class, is having a devil of a time not getting in in any of his choice schools. The reason: low SAT's, not enough extracurriculars, and presumably a poor essay. There is also a great book about alternative schools to the top Northeastern schools. Lots of fabulous schools in the Southeast, and middle states and they offer great educations. Rice, for instance, is top notch, and in Texas. Our son didn't want to go that far away, so we didn't explore that. His buddy just got into Claremont Mckenna, however. V's wife.

[jude24]

University of Rochester is superb, too.

Cornell vs. U of R? No contest -- go Cornell. Rochester costs as much as Cornell, but isn't anywhere near the calibre of Cornell.

Just about any university will be extremely liberal. U of R is especially bad, though.

[HitmanLV]

I knew a guy in high school who ended up majoring in womens studies. Go figure.

[ventana]

Yeah, he's leaning that way. He'll be a pretty lonely ROTC guy at either campus! V's wife.

[ServesURight]

Go to a technical or junior college

Well said. A lot of the beginning courses in a traditional university program are nothing but the same general education BS you took through high school anyway.

[jude24]

I knew a guy in high school who ended up majoring in womens studies. Go figure.

So did I....

I'm not sure what possesses a guy to do that. It's not a good way to pick up women, that's for sure.

[jude24]

Where in NY are you from?

[MortMan]

For my money, I'll take U of R and Strong Memorial Hospital for anything medical related. UR is VERY well known for its quality, and Strong is the region's premiere hospital, IMO.

[FreedomPoster]

Gooooo, Jackets, Sting'em!!

GT BME '82
GT MSME '85

[ventana]

Right next to West Point on the Hudson.

[leadpencil1]

bump

[jude24]

I'll take U of R and Strong Memorial Hospital for anything medical related. UR is VERY well known for its quality, and Strong is the region's premiere hospital, IMO.

That may be....

but for undergraduate work, UofR is not especially great. He'd do better to go to Cornell, and if he wants to go to med school later, then UofR might be a good choice.