My daughter deserves the absolute best college, which may be the problem

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Saturday, May 10, 2003 | Tom O'Boyle

[Willie Green]

My daughter and I are standing at a pasta bar, on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, when the chef asks what pasta I would like as my main course.

They all look scrumptious, but I finally settle on penne among the four alternatives before me.

[Willie Green]

Many students find it difficult to cope in the real world when they're confronted with the fact that everything isn't just handed to you on a silver platter. While these college amenities are nice, they can also be counterproductive in preparing students for a successful future. IMHO, our institutions of higher education are doing our nation a disservice by not practicing and preaching the virtues of discipline, hard work and frugality.

[maxwell]

Gad. These kids have it all. Little ninnies. I negotiated every detail of my college experience from my choice to my finances. No parental handholding here, no campus tours-- too busy. I lived off campus, worked an outside job at least 32 hours a week, studied my Republican wazoo off for a double major, ate corn chips and discount frozen pizza and had no life.

[Satadru]

The reason now employers are demanding more and more is because now college education has become extremely accessible. Years of spending in education has just shifted out the curve where employers are demanding college education for most jobs that used to be filled, or could easily be done by high school graduates. But, the sad thing really is although people are getting college degrees, they are not really getting educated. Most opt for professional programs where they are taught a certain skill, and not really getting the liberal education that people used to go to school for. Whatever liberal arts colleges are out there are teaching such absolute nonsense in gender studies and queer theory that liberal education has become completely diluted as well. So, overall the situation is pretty bleak.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Eons ago when I was at the College the Core provided that liberal arts education. I fear that even Chicago is now providing a Liebral education rather than the Liberal arts for which it was so noted.

[Darheel]

And to think, you could have gone tie-dye and tattoos and got the same grades as the ho that scr*wed your professor.

But seriesly, this guys' kid did 'all-nighters' just in high school, for what? To get into a snooty college full of snooty and unwashed democrats. IMHO, it's off to junior college at 250 a class, the teachers are better, the buildings are newer, and it's closer to home. Guess I'm just a stick-in-the-mud, but it sure beats being a glorified piggy bank.

[Darheel]

I have yet to find one thing 'liberal' about democrats. As far as I'm concerned, the real Liberals are Conservative to the Core. (flame away lol).

[maxwell]

Well that makes us two sticks-in-the-mud, dude... I actually started out at a junior college and transferred up as I could afford to...

[Satadru]

Well, most of the Core is alive and well. The best thing about Chicago was the uproar among the students when the administration tried to mess with the Core. But, I think Chicago is an anomaly and there is a huge case of self-selection in Chicago.

[maxwell]

Maybe I'm just jaded but what's it all for? (Or to properly reflect my edumacated background, for what is it all?) I know too many people (mostly chicks) who get out of four or five years with a degree in soc. or psych. or one of the other humanities, and end up working a cash register or something. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but then what was the point of blowing four years of daddy's money on an extension of high school?

If I ever get me some anklebiters (G-d forbid) and they wanna go to college I'll say "Fine, you go do that, I'll see you in four years..."

[Gamecock]

I have 2 words for the little ninnies: West Point. My 11 year old's mushy little head is already stuffed full of Duty, Honor, Country. Plus they will already send information to kids of this age...

[cynicom]

Is there some secret curriculum that is only taught at the upper crust schools. Do their professors have wells of ancient knowledge open only to them? Do they use some super secret textbooks? Is the calculus taught there a superior brand to that taught at East Overshoe U????

[maxwell]

I have 2 words for the little ninnies: West Point.

Sounds like a plan to me, dude.

[Helms]

The writer went to Alleghany College in Meaville PA-http://www.allegheny.edu/index.php. Are there not solid conservative colleges: George Mason?

[binreadin]

I worked in a DC magazine staffed by graduates from one of the US "elite" universities. It was unbearable. The pretentious little snots already knew everything, made all kinds of stupid content/proofreading errors as a result, and every Friday afternoon we had wine tasting and poetry reading. We, as a nation of parents, are being fed a huge crock of big-business BS when it comes to many of our universities.

[Carry_Okie]

The big difference between elite schools and the run of the mill is the students and the ratio of students to faculty. Because the students are (on average) more capable, the curriculum is tougher. The contacts a child makes while enrolled and the job network from alumni is also useful.

The faculty ratio means that a student can get more attention from a professor who will actually speak understandable English. Believe it or not, that's rare. Some of my former professors are lifelong friends.

[Salgak]

Of course, there IS the Flip side of your argument: a high school diploma has approached the general worth of discount, off-brand toilet tissue. Topics that USED to be covered in high school are now often sophomore-level courses in college, especially in the Liberal-Arts tracks.

Pretty much, the only 4-year degrees worth their salt anymore are the hard sciences and engineering, and some of the business tracks, especially accounting. . . .

[ramdalesh]

At the butt swabs they will change your diaper for you if you ask them to, and without working very hard you can have your very own piece of ivy league toilet paper. I'm in college and the most interesting thing I've heard from anyone is "Gee, we are like addicted to electricity!"

[patton]

GMU is my alma mater, and I ain't broke...

[js1138]

There are, of course, some unspoken risks in going to college. For women, the risk of being killed is about the same as for a member of the military. For men, even greater, but in their case, death is likely to be self-inflicted.