Big state schools - lot of fun, great networks, but do you really learn there?

[Anonymous]

Whether Emory University or Williams College offers the better education depends upon the particular student and the particular course of study. My first thought is that the intellectual firepower is greater at Emory, but that the well rounded student is more prevalent at athletically inclined Williams College.

[Anonymous]

This is a very limited understanding of SLAC. I think you want to compare T50 SLAC to T50 universities. Below that, the depth of strong universities is probably larger than strong SLAC.

You are talking about engineering. Clearly, most SLAC do not produce engineers. I don't know anyone who struggled to find employment after graduating from our SLAC. Most of my classmates are extremely successful.

Anonymous wrote:In this thread, there is a focus on Williams College versus the average big public university.

As one who prefers larger schools, I feel confident that everyone holds ultra-selective LACs such as Williams College, Amherst, Carleton, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Pomona, and a handful of other LACs in high regard. But it is a different story when comparing lower ranked LACs to big state universities.

Studying at an LAC is a very different experience than earning an education at a "big state school". But the graduates of the big state schools build the bridges, airplanes, rockets, and most of the other infrastructure upon which we rely. LAC grads continue on to higher education because, i large part, they have to in order to enter a profession. Not universally true, but true from a percentage standpoint.

Again, I encourage readers to use the WSJ/THE rankings as a starting point if beginning the college search.

Different strokes for different folks, but most students overwhelmingly choose to attend a large university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whether Emory University or Williams College offers the better education depends upon the particular student and the particular course of study. My first thought is that the intellectual firepower is greater at Emory, but that the well rounded student is more prevalent at athletically inclined Williams College.

Kids I know heading to Emory this year would NEVER get into Williams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this thread, there is a focus on Williams College versus the average big public university.

As one who prefers larger schools, I feel confident that everyone holds ultra-selective LACs such as Williams College, Amherst, Carleton, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Pomona, and a handful of other LACs in high regard. But it is a different story when comparing lower ranked LACs to big state universities.

Studying at an LAC is a very different experience than earning an education at a "big state school". But the graduates of the big state schools build the bridges, airplanes, rockets, and most of the other infrastructure upon which we rely. LAC grads continue on to higher education because, i large part, they have to in order to enter a profession. Not universally true, but true from a percentage standpoint.

Again, I encourage readers to use the WSJ/THE rankings as a starting point if beginning the college search.

Different strokes for different folks, but most students overwhelmingly choose to attend a large university.

Yes by definition most students choose to attend a large public university because the total student body of all top 30 LACS combined is comparable to UT Austin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Not all classes at state universities are huge. You get to know the professors in your program, in student organizations, etc. There are many opportunities for connecting with faculty and getting individualized attention. You take smaller seminars. And if you think students at state flagships are producing "high school level work," you are crazy. You have to be more of a self-starter, in some ways; no one is spoon-feeding you this stuff, but the opportunities are there, and plentiful.

Unfortunately, depending on the course/ major, this is often exactly the case.

It has to be. Are you telling me your average in state kid at UGA is cranking out papers that rival kids from the northeast who've been through the ringer at elite privates or publics? No f'ing way.

Someone tell this genius that the word is “wringer.”

I had no idea. Thank you. Now I have to go throw my Ivy League degree in the recycling.

There is a lot you so-called ivy leaguers don't know.

For example, tell us where the expression "through the wringer" originated. (And if you knew, you'd have the sense not to have written "ringer" in the first place.)

You got me. I had no idea. I googled it. Fascinating. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/is-it-through-the-wringer-or-through-the-ringer-difference#:~:text=The%20idiom%20through%20the%20wringer,was%20often%20that%20of%20questioning.

One thing about being an Ivy Leaguer, you have zero insecurity about your intelligence. If anything you act like an idiiot most of the time so state u joe sixpack types don't feel inimidated.

…And ironically enough, you cannot even spell “idiot” or “intimidated.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I seriously doubt this was a top quality SLAC. At the top SLAC, all faculty are pretty much tenure track so no one teaches for one semester. I never had an adjunct professor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Um, no.

Anonymous wrote:Kids who go to SLACs are babied and have their hands held for everything in college. They end up unable to be good advocates for themselves.

Um, yes. I taught at a SLAC for one semester. I was under huge pressure to give everyone at least a C because “they are all such sweet kids and they try really hard” even when they skipped classes and didn’t hand in work. I bolted for a state university and never looked back.

I said that I left after one semester. I didn’t say that my posies for one semester. I got an offer for a Research Scientist position when grant funding came through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether Emory University or Williams College offers the better education depends upon the particular student and the particular course of study. My first thought is that the intellectual firepower is greater at Emory, but that the well rounded student is more prevalent at athletically inclined Williams College.

Kids I know heading to Emory this year would NEVER get into Williams.

Williams had a 30% acceptance rate for ED. Does not seem so selective.

[Anonymous]

I taught at a SLAC for one semester. I was under huge pressure to give everyone at least a C because “they are all such sweet kids and they try really hard” even when they skipped classes and didn’t hand in work. I bolted for a state university and never looked back.

Name the school or I agree with PP questioning this statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all classes at state universities are huge. You get to know the professors in your program, in student organizations, etc. There are many opportunities for connecting with faculty and getting individualized attention. You take smaller seminars. And if you think students at state flagships are producing "high school level work," you are crazy. You have to be more of a self-starter, in some ways; no one is spoon-feeding you this stuff, but the opportunities are there, and plentiful.

Unfortunately, depending on the course/ major, this is often exactly the case.

It has to be. Are you telling me your average in state kid at UGA is cranking out papers that rival kids from the northeast who've been through the ringer at elite privates or publics? No f'ing way.

Someone tell this genius that the word is “wringer.”

I had no idea. Thank you. Now I have to go throw my Ivy League degree in the recycling.

There is a lot you so-called ivy leaguers don't know.

For example, tell us where the expression "through the wringer" originated. (And if you knew, you'd have the sense not to have written "ringer" in the first place.)

You got me. I had no idea. I googled it. Fascinating. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/is-it-through-the-wringer-or-through-the-ringer-difference#:~:text=The%20idiom%20through%20the%20wringer,was%20often%20that%20of%20questioning.

One thing about being an Ivy Leaguer, you have zero insecurity about your intelligence. If anything you act like an idiiot most of the time so state u joe sixpack types don't feel inimidated.

…And ironically enough, you cannot even spell “idiot” or “intimidated.”

Thanks. All these years thinking idiot had three i’s. I’m such an idiiot!

[Anonymous]

Ok, so was it a T20 SLAC? I doubt it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously doubt this was a top quality SLAC. At the top SLAC, all faculty are pretty much tenure track so no one teaches for one semester. I never had an adjunct professor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Um, no.

Anonymous wrote:Kids who go to SLACs are babied and have their hands held for everything in college. They end up unable to be good advocates for themselves.

Um, yes. I taught at a SLAC for one semester. I was under huge pressure to give everyone at least a C because “they are all such sweet kids and they try really hard” even when they skipped classes and didn’t hand in work. I bolted for a state university and never looked back.

I said that I left after one semester. I didn’t say that my posies for one semester. I got an offer for a Research Scientist position when grant funding came through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether Emory University or Williams College offers the better education depends upon the particular student and the particular course of study. My first thought is that the intellectual firepower is greater at Emory, but that the well rounded student is more prevalent at athletically inclined Williams College.

Kids I know heading to Emory this year would NEVER get into Williams.

Williams had a 30% acceptance rate for ED. Does not seem so selective.

Emory University admitted its first members of the Class of 2027 on Dec. 14 with a 31% acceptance rate for the Emory College of Arts and Sciences (ECAS). In total, 722 Early Decision I (ED1) students were admitted to ECAS and 353 students to Oxford College, according to Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Admission John Latting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all classes at state universities are huge. You get to know the professors in your program, in student organizations, etc. There are many opportunities for connecting with faculty and getting individualized attention. You take smaller seminars. And if you think students at state flagships are producing "high school level work," you are crazy. You have to be more of a self-starter, in some ways; no one is spoon-feeding you this stuff, but the opportunities are there, and plentiful.

Unfortunately, depending on the course/ major, this is often exactly the case.

It has to be. Are you telling me your average in state kid at UGA is cranking out papers that rival kids from the northeast who've been through the ringer at elite privates or publics? No f'ing way.

Someone tell this genius that the word is “wringer.”

I had no idea. Thank you. Now I have to go throw my Ivy League degree in the recycling.

There is a lot you so-called ivy leaguers don't know.

For example, tell us where the expression "through the wringer" originated. (And if you knew, you'd have the sense not to have written "ringer" in the first place.)

You got me. I had no idea. I googled it. Fascinating. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/is-it-through-the-wringer-or-through-the-ringer-difference#:~:text=The%20idiom%20through%20the%20wringer,was%20often%20that%20of%20questioning.

One thing about being an Ivy Leaguer, you have zero insecurity about your intelligence. If anything you act like an idiiot most of the time so state u joe sixpack types don't feel inimidated.

And this, my friend, is proof positive that you Ivy Leaguers may have what some would (graciously) refer to as "book sense," while your state u joe sixpack friends have what is known as common sense. Or life sense.

You see, I know people who had grandparents who had washing "machines" that were literally wringers. I listen, I observe, I pay attention, I make connections. That is the true definition of intelligence. And I spot one-dimensional people who have none of those capabilities on DCUM, and in Washington, all the time. Frequently, they are only too happy to inform that they are Ivy Leaguers. And I guffaw. (Do you know what that means?!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether Emory University or Williams College offers the better education depends upon the particular student and the particular course of study. My first thought is that the intellectual firepower is greater at Emory, but that the well rounded student is more prevalent at athletically inclined Williams College.

Kids I know heading to Emory this year would NEVER get into Williams.

Williams had a 30% acceptance rate for ED. Does not seem so selective.

40% of the student body at Williams are recruited athletes. Back those numbers out of their ED and try again. Then do the same for Emory assuming you can estimate the percent of recruited athletes there.. That’ll give you a better comparison.

And no, I have no idea what the result will be. But I am interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all classes at state universities are huge. You get to know the professors in your program, in student organizations, etc. There are many opportunities for connecting with faculty and getting individualized attention. You take smaller seminars. And if you think students at state flagships are producing "high school level work," you are crazy. You have to be more of a self-starter, in some ways; no one is spoon-feeding you this stuff, but the opportunities are there, and plentiful.

Unfortunately, depending on the course/ major, this is often exactly the case.

It has to be. Are you telling me your average in state kid at UGA is cranking out papers that rival kids from the northeast who've been through the ringer at elite privates or publics? No f'ing way.

Someone tell this genius that the word is “wringer.”

I had no idea. Thank you. Now I have to go throw my Ivy League degree in the recycling.

There is a lot you so-called ivy leaguers don't know.

For example, tell us where the expression "through the wringer" originated. (And if you knew, you'd have the sense not to have written "ringer" in the first place.)

You got me. I had no idea. I googled it. Fascinating. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/is-it-through-the-wringer-or-through-the-ringer-difference#:~:text=The%20idiom%20through%20the%20wringer,was%20often%20that%20of%20questioning.

One thing about being an Ivy Leaguer, you have zero insecurity about your intelligence. If anything you act like an idiiot most of the time so state u joe sixpack types don't feel inimidated.

And this, my friend, is proof positive that you Ivy Leaguers may have what some would (graciously) refer to as "book sense," while your state u joe sixpack friends have what is known as common sense. Or life sense.

You see, I know people who had grandparents who had washing "machines" that were literally wringers. I listen, I observe, I pay attention, I make connections. That is the true definition of intelligence. And I spot one-dimensional people who have none of those capabilities on DCUM, and in Washington, all the time. Frequently, they are only too happy to inform that they are Ivy Leaguers. And I guffaw. (Do you know what that means?!)

My grandparents were dirt poor immigrants. I’ve had all kinds of menial jobs in my life. But I misspelled an obscure word that is a commonly used idiom. Pretty sure not too many street smart working class people out there who can tell you the etymology of wringer off the top of their heads

[Anonymous]

Many SLAC alums have graduate degrees, which means they have experience both with SLAC and bigger universities. I'm not sure why some posters assume they don't know anything about universities.