Tufts tuition

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:William and Mary. Half the price.

+1. I don't think Tufts is a good school. Maybe it has improved but it's always been a Vanderbilt-eque school in my mind. A private, expensive, mid-range school for kids that want to stay private. Think SMU.

So I'd prefer any of the public schools in the area - UMD, UVA, VaTech, W&M, etc. over Tufts any day. I don't see the draw.
Maybe Ivies are worth the sticker shock but even then I think they're overpriced. You're paying for the name brand, OP. You can get better deals and state schools. But most people want prestige so they buy the Audi even though the Toyota lasts much longer for 1/2 the price.

Vanderbilt vs. UMD/VaTech/W&M vs Tufts?
Major dependent i think?
For a humanities/Econ type major…

For my kids, I’d pick:
Vanderbilt
Tufts
UMD/VT/W&M

I would disagree. Most Vandy / Tufts grads that I know have been middle of the road type students. Nothing stellar but still go on to have good careers. I have not seen anything impressive from either school - which leads me to believe that they're not worth the money.

Admittedly, I am biased. I graduated from a big state school and paid significantly less to now out earn many of my private school friends. Subjective? Yes, but I've not seen these private unis earn their tuition rates.

If the outcome for a middle of the road student is a good career, how does that compare to the average Florida State or Michigan State grad (to use to previous schools posited as comparable)

That was my point. The results from Vanderbilt or Tufts are no different than a solid state school like Fl St, M St, or similar. So why pay more? Not worth it.

But those results are the same as Ivy's. I mean, people go to college and then they have careers. A handful go on to be a supreme court justice or something, but that is very rare, even for elite schools.

Which is why we need to quash the myth that if you pay more, you get more. It's just not true. You can get the same education and/or outcome by going to a state school as you would by going Ivy. It's about what you put into it. This is why overpaying, taking out loans, or putting down $80k/year that YOU DO NOT HAVE is absolutely bananas. If you are rich and can sneeze $400K tuition, this conversation is not for you. The rest of us who need to think about spending should not fall prey to the name brand nonsense. It's just that. Marketing hype.

Why do we have to "quash the myth"? If this is what you believe, why does it matter what other people think? Is it because if you don't think Tufts is better than FSU, everyone has to agree with you so that Tufts' ranking will go down? I just don't understand this desperate need to have everyone else validate your choices.

Um, because it just isn't true. You do not come out earning more or with a better education just because you overpaid at some LAC. That is what makes it a myth: the underlying falsehood. You believing that Tufts will make you brighter and better than someone who went to UVA, eg, doesn't make it so

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Does the OP realize that this is a DC site? What college comparable to Tufts can my DC resident children attend for $30k. Please, tell me so I can stop saving and go on a damn vacation.

But what do you mean by “comparable”? Any state school will give you an excellent education for much cheaper. What exactly are you getting for 2 or 3x the price?

Again, please find me an excellent state school that costs $30k OOS. Please!

Well the assumption is that a high stats kid will be getting plenty of merit aid.

Again - name some names please. Tell me the names of the excellent public universities that will give my high stats DC kids enough merit aid to make the cost $30k. Because many of us have been at this search for years and still haven’t found such a thing.

Michigan State is ranked 60th. They give 15k merit scholarships plus 5k for Honors college. That brings tuition down to about 33k. They have an amazing alumni network and study abroad programs. It’s a great school.

Florida state is ranked 53rd. Their OOS tuition is 21K (not sure about room and board).

I can find more if you want.

Half of the 83k OP is complaining about is room and board. Florida is 45k with room and board. Michigan state is Michigan state, which is not comparable to Tufts. Michigan is comparable to Tufts and is 76k for the first two years and 80k for the last two years

Why is Michigan State not comparable to Tufts? Other than name recognition, no one can say why Tufts is so superior.

One is small private university in New England, the other is a large land grant university in Michigan. How are they comparable other than both awarding bachelors degrees?

We’re talking about quality of education. I mean if you want to pay 80K to be in Boston at a small school, then kudos to you. But others were asking for excellent state schools that are cheaper and I provided two examples.

So how are they comparable? What makes the quality of education at Michigan State comparable to Tufts?

That’s what I’m asking. People seem to think that Tufts is superior. I haven’t seen any quantifiable evidence that the education itself is that much better. Until I do, I don’t see a difference with most colleges. And I don’t see the point of paying so much for location or name brand. But that’s just me.

It may not be superior in the ways you are referring to - but the student experience at Tufts and Michigan St are very different (and this is not to say Tufts is better...for example if you like big school sports...).

People who have the money to pay for it, are willing to let their children choose where they want to go. For Tufts families, it's going to school in Boston. I often think the people complaining about the tuition are the ones that can't afford it. I get that for people who wish they could hand their kids an open slate to consider colleges....but no need for others to lash back on whether it's worth it or not. And for worthiness - NO - it is not worth going into huge debt to pay for a private college when you have other options that are more affordable.

This is hilarious. Obviously. Which trust fund did you just climb down from to finally understand that?

Yes - it sounds obvious - but there's a point here..... if you are complaining that it isn't worth it just because you can't pay it - then you really have no credibility. It's just jealousy that you don't have the option to pay for whatever feature of a private school might appeal to your child.

You rich white ladies are something. No, it is an objective metric. There is no data showing that a Tufts grad is better positioned than a UVA grad. I would argue that the opposite is true actually based on performance and ranking.

You can talk down to the "poors" all you like. Doesn't give you class or education. Just means that you cannot manage your money and are incapable of having a conversation around doing so

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary. Half the price.

+1. I don't think Tufts is a good school. Maybe it has improved but it's always been a Vanderbilt-eque school in my mind. A private, expensive, mid-range school for kids that want to stay private. Think SMU.

So I'd prefer any of the public schools in the area - UMD, UVA, VaTech, W&M, etc. over Tufts any day. I don't see the draw.
Maybe Ivies are worth the sticker shock but even then I think they're overpriced. You're paying for the name brand, OP. You can get better deals and state schools. But most people want prestige so they buy the Audi even though the Toyota lasts much longer for 1/2 the price.

Vanderbilt vs. UMD/VaTech/W&M vs Tufts?
Major dependent i think?
For a humanities/Econ type major…

For my kids, I’d pick:
Vanderbilt
Tufts
UMD/VT/W&M

I would disagree. Most Vandy / Tufts grads that I know have been middle of the road type students. Nothing stellar but still go on to have good careers. I have not seen anything impressive from either school - which leads me to believe that they're not worth the money.

Admittedly, I am biased. I graduated from a big state school and paid significantly less to now out earn many of my private school friends. Subjective? Yes, but I've not seen these private unis earn their tuition rates.

If the outcome for a middle of the road student is a good career, how does that compare to the average Florida State or Michigan State grad (to use to previous schools posited as comparable)

That was my point. The results from Vanderbilt or Tufts are no different than a solid state school like Fl St, M St, or similar. So why pay more? Not worth it.

But those results are the same as Ivy's. I mean, people go to college and then they have careers. A handful go on to be a supreme court justice or something, but that is very rare, even for elite schools.

Which is why we need to quash the myth that if you pay more, you get more. It's just not true. You can get the same education and/or outcome by going to a state school as you would by going Ivy. It's about what you put into it. This is why overpaying, taking out loans, or putting down $80k/year that YOU DO NOT HAVE is absolutely bananas. If you are rich and can sneeze $400K tuition, this conversation is not for you. The rest of us who need to think about spending should not fall prey to the name brand nonsense. It's just that. Marketing hype.

Why do we have to "quash the myth"? If this is what you believe, why does it matter what other people think? Is it because if you don't think Tufts is better than FSU, everyone has to agree with you so that Tufts' ranking will go down? I just don't understand this desperate need to have everyone else validate your choices.

Um, because it just isn't true. You do not come out earning more or with a better education just because you overpaid at some LAC. That is what makes it a myth: the underlying falsehood. You believing that Tufts will make you brighter and better than someone who went to UVA, eg, doesn't make it so

As much as you want this to be an objective fact, it just isn’t. Because the same person doesn’t live two parallel existences, we can’t tell whether this is true with respect to any particular person or persons. Some people come out of state schools with a great education and great earning potential. And some people come out of SLACs with an inferior education and job prospects. But there is really no way to tell overall which is “better,” or whether one is “better” than the other for a particular person. If you think Tufts is no better overall than FSU, or no better for your kid, that is fine. And if I think Tufts is better in general or for my kid, that’s fine too.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the OP realize that this is a DC site? What college comparable to Tufts can my DC resident children attend for $30k. Please, tell me so I can stop saving and go on a damn vacation.

But what do you mean by “comparable”? Any state school will give you an excellent education for much cheaper. What exactly are you getting for 2 or 3x the price?

Again, please find me an excellent state school that costs $30k OOS. Please!

Well the assumption is that a high stats kid will be getting plenty of merit aid.

Again - name some names please. Tell me the names of the excellent public universities that will give my high stats DC kids enough merit aid to make the cost $30k. Because many of us have been at this search for years and still haven’t found such a thing.

Michigan State is ranked 60th. They give 15k merit scholarships plus 5k for Honors college. That brings tuition down to about 33k. They have an amazing alumni network and study abroad programs. It’s a great school.

Florida state is ranked 53rd. Their OOS tuition is 21K (not sure about room and board).

I can find more if you want.

Half of the 83k OP is complaining about is room and board. Florida is 45k with room and board. Michigan state is Michigan state, which is not comparable to Tufts. Michigan is comparable to Tufts and is 76k for the first two years and 80k for the last two years

Why is Michigan State not comparable to Tufts? Other than name recognition, no one can say why Tufts is so superior.

One is small private university in New England, the other is a large land grant university in Michigan. How are they comparable other than both awarding bachelors degrees?

We’re talking about quality of education. I mean if you want to pay 80K to be in Boston at a small school, then kudos to you. But others were asking for excellent state schools that are cheaper and I provided two examples.

So how are they comparable? What makes the quality of education at Michigan State comparable to Tufts?

That’s what I’m asking. People seem to think that Tufts is superior. I haven’t seen any quantifiable evidence that the education itself is that much better. Until I do, I don’t see a difference with most colleges. And I don’t see the point of paying so much for location or name brand. But that’s just me.

It may not be superior in the ways you are referring to - but the student experience at Tufts and Michigan St are very different (and this is not to say Tufts is better...for example if you like big school sports...).

People who have the money to pay for it, are willing to let their children choose where they want to go. For Tufts families, it's going to school in Boston. I often think the people complaining about the tuition are the ones that can't afford it. I get that for people who wish they could hand their kids an open slate to consider colleges....but no need for others to lash back on whether it's worth it or not. And for worthiness - NO - it is not worth going into huge debt to pay for a private college when you have other options that are more affordable.

This is hilarious. Obviously. Which trust fund did you just climb down from to finally understand that?

Yes - it sounds obvious - but there's a point here..... if you are complaining that it isn't worth it just because you can't pay it - then you really have no credibility. It's just jealousy that you don't have the option to pay for whatever feature of a private school might appeal to your child.

+100000 It's sour grapes.

You wish. My DD applied to NYU despite the fact that we told her there’s no way we’re paying for it. Although we could. She knows she’s on her own raising the funds if she wants to go.

If you have $8M would you let her go?

Hard to answer if I don’t have 8M. But I’m guessing no. I’m cheap by nature. I’m always looking for the best value. But again, I can’t answer honestly unless I have 8M. It’s just such a waste of cash IMO.

This is exactly the point. You don't have the money to pay for NYU and you are being responsible.

But..... you don't need to decide (or judge) for someone else who DOES have the money to pay for NYU whether it's worth it for them.

Exactly. And it’s worth it for me. At the current price. If double, maybe not….

But there’s no universal “it’s worth it” calculation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:William and Mary. Half the price.

+1. I don't think Tufts is a good school. Maybe it has improved but it's always been a Vanderbilt-eque school in my mind. A private, expensive, mid-range school for kids that want to stay private. Think SMU.

So I'd prefer any of the public schools in the area - UMD, UVA, VaTech, W&M, etc. over Tufts any day. I don't see the draw.
Maybe Ivies are worth the sticker shock but even then I think they're overpriced. You're paying for the name brand, OP. You can get better deals and state schools. But most people want prestige so they buy the Audi even though the Toyota lasts much longer for 1/2 the price.

Vanderbilt vs. UMD/VaTech/W&M vs Tufts?
Major dependent i think?
For a humanities/Econ type major…

For my kids, I’d pick:
Vanderbilt
Tufts
UMD/VT/W&M

I would disagree. Most Vandy / Tufts grads that I know have been middle of the road type students. Nothing stellar but still go on to have good careers. I have not seen anything impressive from either school - which leads me to believe that they're not worth the money.

Admittedly, I am biased. I graduated from a big state school and paid significantly less to now out earn many of my private school friends. Subjective? Yes, but I've not seen these private unis earn their tuition rates.

If the outcome for a middle of the road student is a good career, how does that compare to the average Florida State or Michigan State grad (to use to previous schools posited as comparable)

That was my point. The results from Vanderbilt or Tufts are no different than a solid state school like Fl St, M St, or similar. So why pay more? Not worth it.

But those results are the same as Ivy's. I mean, people go to college and then they have careers. A handful go on to be a supreme court justice or something, but that is very rare, even for elite schools.

Which is why we need to quash the myth that if you pay more, you get more. It's just not true. You can get the same education and/or outcome by going to a state school as you would by going Ivy. It's about what you put into it. This is why overpaying, taking out loans, or putting down $80k/year that YOU DO NOT HAVE is absolutely bananas. If you are rich and can sneeze $400K tuition, this conversation is not for you. The rest of us who need to think about spending should not fall prey to the name brand nonsense. It's just that. Marketing hype.

Why do we have to "quash the myth"? If this is what you believe, why does it matter what other people think? Is it because if you don't think Tufts is better than FSU, everyone has to agree with you so that Tufts' ranking will go down? I just don't understand this desperate need to have everyone else validate your choices.

Um, because it just isn't true. You do not come out earning more or with a better education just because you overpaid at some LAC. That is what makes it a myth: the underlying falsehood. You believing that Tufts will make you brighter and better than someone who went to UVA, eg, doesn't make it so

As much as you want this to be an objective fact, it just isn’t. Because the same person doesn’t live two parallel existences, we can’t tell whether this is true with respect to any particular person or persons. Some people come out of state schools with a great education and great earning potential. And some people come out of SLACs with an inferior education and job prospects. But there is really no way to tell overall which is “better,” or whether one is “better” than the other for a particular person. If you think Tufts is no better overall than FSU, or no better for your kid, that is fine. And if I think Tufts is better in general or for my kid, that’s fine too.

You have just proved my point (amazingly). My statement: Expensive, private schools are not inherently better than public universities because outcomes vary widely. Paying more does not ensure success. PP: That is completely false. You cannot say which one is better because it will depend on the child and their specific circumstances.

Again, private schools are overpriced.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand people who CAN afford it and won’t pay for the absolute best education for their kids that they can get into. What else would that money be better spent on?! Disney world? A new flat screen? A Lexus? Short-sighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand people who CAN afford it and won’t pay for the absolute best education for their kids that they can get into. What else would that money be better spent on?! Disney world? A new flat screen? A Lexus? Short-sighted.

Because it is not the "absolute best education". Our HHI is about $750-800K. I will not pay private university for the kids. Absolutely not. They know this and we are going public only. And I drive a mini-van and have never been to Disney.

[Anonymous]

I graduated Tufts many years ago and I can unequivocally say that I became a better writer, thinker, and analyst in the first 6 months than I ever would have at the state flagship to which I was also accepted. My peers at Tufts were geniuses, almost all of them, at least 90% of the class, super smart, and that really challenged me to up my game. I had come from a decent not stellar public HS and I was the big fish there. It was humbling to go to Tufts. Had I gone to the state flagship I would have been the smartest person in the room, or one of, -- that is not ego, that is a fact just looking at the average statistics of the student body. I would have been the one teaching the other kids how to craft a strong essay. At Tufts it was the other way around. I learned tremendously from my peers.

I think the people who can't or won't pay for a college like Tufts want to justify that the college they can and will pay for is just as good. It's alright to think that if it helps you sleep at night, get over your insecurities. But no, most state flagships (aside from UVA) that have been thrown around on this post are not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated Tufts many years ago and I can unequivocally say that I became a better writer, thinker, and analyst in the first 6 months than I ever would have at the state flagship to which I was also accepted. My peers at Tufts were geniuses, almost all of them, at least 90% of the class, super smart, and that really challenged me to up my game. I had come from a decent not stellar public HS and I was the big fish there. It was humbling to go to Tufts. Had I gone to the state flagship I would have been the smartest person in the room, or one of, -- that is not ego, that is a fact just looking at the average statistics of the student body. I would have been the one teaching the other kids how to craft a strong essay. At Tufts it was the other way around. I learned tremendously from my peers.

I think the people who can't or won't pay for a college like Tufts want to justify that the college they can and will pay for is just as good. It's alright to think that if it helps you sleep at night, get over your insecurities. But no, most state flagships (aside from UVA) that have been thrown around on this post are not the same.

I went to the University of Texas and, quite honestly, this is the biggest bag of BS that I've ever heard. No, you would not have been the smartest in the room nor would you have taught the class.

The arrogance and self-importance from people like PP is precisely why many of us avoid expensive private schools. Rich kids (and their egos) are a handful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated Tufts many years ago and I can unequivocally say that I became a better writer, thinker, and analyst in the first 6 months than I ever would have at the state flagship to which I was also accepted. My peers at Tufts were geniuses, almost all of them, at least 90% of the class, super smart, and that really challenged me to up my game. I had come from a decent not stellar public HS and I was the big fish there. It was humbling to go to Tufts. Had I gone to the state flagship I would have been the smartest person in the room, or one of, -- that is not ego, that is a fact just looking at the average statistics of the student body. I would have been the one teaching the other kids how to craft a strong essay. At Tufts it was the other way around. I learned tremendously from my peers.

I think the people who can't or won't pay for a college like Tufts want to justify that the college they can and will pay for is just as good. It's alright to think that if it helps you sleep at night, get over your insecurities. But no, most state flagships (aside from UVA) that have been thrown around on this post are not the same.

I went to the University of Texas and, quite honestly, this is the biggest bag of BS that I've ever heard. No, you would not have been the smartest in the room nor would you have taught the class.

The arrogance and self-importance from people like PP is precisely why many of us avoid expensive private schools. Rich kids (and their egos) are a handful.

UT Austin in 1990s is not UT Austin today. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated Tufts many years ago and I can unequivocally say that I became a better writer, thinker, and analyst in the first 6 months than I ever would have at the state flagship to which I was also accepted. My peers at Tufts were geniuses, almost all of them, at least 90% of the class, super smart, and that really challenged me to up my game. I had come from a decent not stellar public HS and I was the big fish there. It was humbling to go to Tufts. Had I gone to the state flagship I would have been the smartest person in the room, or one of, -- that is not ego, that is a fact just looking at the average statistics of the student body. I would have been the one teaching the other kids how to craft a strong essay. At Tufts it was the other way around. I learned tremendously from my peers.

I think the people who can't or won't pay for a college like Tufts want to justify that the college they can and will pay for is just as good. It's alright to think that if it helps you sleep at night, get over your insecurities. But no, most state flagships (aside from UVA) that have been thrown around on this post are not the same.

I went to the University of Texas and, quite honestly, this is the biggest bag of BS that I've ever heard. No, you would not have been the smartest in the room nor would you have taught the class.

The arrogance and self-importance from people like PP is precisely why many of us avoid expensive private schools. Rich kids (and their egos) are a handful.

As an aside, I have a few friends who went to Tufts. We went to HS together and are friends to this day. They are not geniuses and did not graduate anywhere near the top of their class so I find the post above quite amusing considering our scores and class ranking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated Tufts many years ago and I can unequivocally say that I became a better writer, thinker, and analyst in the first 6 months than I ever would have at the state flagship to which I was also accepted. My peers at Tufts were geniuses, almost all of them, at least 90% of the class, super smart, and that really challenged me to up my game. I had come from a decent not stellar public HS and I was the big fish there. It was humbling to go to Tufts. Had I gone to the state flagship I would have been the smartest person in the room, or one of, -- that is not ego, that is a fact just looking at the average statistics of the student body. I would have been the one teaching the other kids how to craft a strong essay. At Tufts it was the other way around. I learned tremendously from my peers.

I think the people who can't or won't pay for a college like Tufts want to justify that the college they can and will pay for is just as good. It's alright to think that if it helps you sleep at night, get over your insecurities. But no, most state flagships (aside from UVA) that have been thrown around on this post are not the same.

I went to the University of Texas and, quite honestly, this is the biggest bag of BS that I've ever heard. No, you would not have been the smartest in the room nor would you have taught the class.

The arrogance and self-importance from people like PP is precisely why many of us avoid expensive private schools. Rich kids (and their egos) are a handful.

As an aside, I have a few friends who went to Tufts. We went to HS together and are friends to this day. They are not geniuses and did not graduate anywhere near the top of their class so I find the post above quite amusing considering our scores and class ranking.

Ok but you went to UT Austin which had a 50% acceptance rate during your college years. And you aren't Michael Dell are anywhere that level of achievement, are you??

[Anonymous]

So 17:23 what would be a better use of that money than education? I truly do not get it. Of course if your kid gets into a top state school like UVA or Michigan, that is understandable. But if it’s Tufts or similar, or a mediocre large state school where the classes are huge and they get lost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated Tufts many years ago and I can unequivocally say that I became a better writer, thinker, and analyst in the first 6 months than I ever would have at the state flagship to which I was also accepted. My peers at Tufts were geniuses, almost all of them, at least 90% of the class, super smart, and that really challenged me to up my game. I had come from a decent not stellar public HS and I was the big fish there. It was humbling to go to Tufts. Had I gone to the state flagship I would have been the smartest person in the room, or one of, -- that is not ego, that is a fact just looking at the average statistics of the student body. I would have been the one teaching the other kids how to craft a strong essay. At Tufts it was the other way around. I learned tremendously from my peers.

I think the people who can't or won't pay for a college like Tufts want to justify that the college they can and will pay for is just as good. It's alright to think that if it helps you sleep at night, get over your insecurities. But no, most state flagships (aside from UVA) that have been thrown around on this post are not the same.

I went to the University of Texas and, quite honestly, this is the biggest bag of BS that I've ever heard. No, you would not have been the smartest in the room nor would you have taught the class.

The arrogance and self-importance from people like PP is precisely why many of us avoid expensive private schools. Rich kids (and their egos) are a handful.

My neighbor graduated UT Austin in 1998. She's a moron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated Tufts many years ago and I can unequivocally say that I became a better writer, thinker, and analyst in the first 6 months than I ever would have at the state flagship to which I was also accepted. My peers at Tufts were geniuses, almost all of them, at least 90% of the class, super smart, and that really challenged me to up my game. I had come from a decent not stellar public HS and I was the big fish there. It was humbling to go to Tufts. Had I gone to the state flagship I would have been the smartest person in the room, or one of, -- that is not ego, that is a fact just looking at the average statistics of the student body. I would have been the one teaching the other kids how to craft a strong essay. At Tufts it was the other way around. I learned tremendously from my peers.

I think the people who can't or won't pay for a college like Tufts want to justify that the college they can and will pay for is just as good. It's alright to think that if it helps you sleep at night, get over your insecurities. But no, most state flagships (aside from UVA) that have been thrown around on this post are not the same.

I went to the University of Texas and, quite honestly, this is the biggest bag of BS that I've ever heard. No, you would not have been the smartest in the room nor would you have taught the class.

The arrogance and self-importance from people like PP is precisely why many of us avoid expensive private schools. Rich kids (and their egos) are a handful.

As an aside, I have a few friends who went to Tufts. We went to HS together and are friends to this day. They are not geniuses and did not graduate anywhere near the top of their class so I find the post above quite amusing considering our scores and class ranking.

Ok but you went to UT Austin which had a 50% acceptance rate during your college years. And you aren't Michael Dell are anywhere that level of achievement, are you??

This doesn't make any sense. So your conclusion is that unless you are Michael Dell, the education was wasted? Along the same lines, if you graduate from Harvard and do not become a SCOTUS justice or Zuckerberg, your achievement is thus diminished. Per PP, only the top .0001% of each universities achievers have merit. Odd conclusion which would assume that 99.9% of all funds on education were wasted.