Anyone touring top schools and finding then all to be dumpy and unimpressive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising senior and have been doing the rounds of many top 25 schools (universities and colleges). We started with safety schools last year and then junior year grades came back so this summer we've been touring some top schools. My kid is trying to figure out an ED.
We have a rising junior as well so we have a couple of kids with us.

The more of these schools we tour, the less impressed I am. They're sort of all a bit falling apart, poorly maintained, with pretty odd students (tour guides, summer students and especially touring students alike--don't jump all over for for saying this--being brutally honest), little sense of community, same-old, same-old stuff about study-abroad, etc. Many have very large class sizes, etc.

I feel like we're (kid and parent alike) are supposed to love these schools and want to pay $90K for them and my kids can't find one they really like. I very, very, very much feel like we're being sold a product that we're supposed to want to buy because of prestige and name but when we see the product up close it doesn't look great and I feel like a sheep lining up to say "yes sir. let me put my kid through mental/emotional twister for a 5% chance of being admitted to your school and then I will gladly pay you $90K for the honor. Yes sir." It just feels... gross. Maybe not gross but yucky. My kids are like, "well I didn't really like this or that here but I could probably make it work." They too feel the pressure to LIKE these places. The Almighty XYZ or ABC school! It's supposed to be their dream!

Please don't jump on me. I know it's summer and we're not seeing the universities at their best but ugh. They're all kind of disappointing. I can't be the only one who feels this way? (I'm not going to name university/college names because then this post will turn into a giant thread about whatever school(s) I name.

Dumpy? Unimpressive, meaning structurally, academically, what? As you looking at colleges or real estate to purchase?

She is buying a service for $360k and expects the quality of the service to reflect the price paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:T25 schools don’t need to have nice buildings to fill seats.

Congrats on missing the point that they charge huge tuition and have huge endowments but won't spend any of it on places where kids live, sleep, eat, and learn.

They didn't miss the point, in fact they explained why, you just stated the obvious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, those dumpy dorm rooms will look TERRIBLE on your DC's resume. Avoid.

if college is all about how it looks on the resume, than I totally understand why you think it's fine for colleges with billions in tax advantaged endowments not to clean up mold in any timely way.

[Anonymous]

If you go to Bowdoin or Swat and eat in the cafeteria with high quality good and rooms with long tables and good lighting, you'll see kids lingering with friends. You'll see 4 or 6 or 8 at a table, refilling coffee cups, or one leaving for a class and another joining. It's social, it's community .. it's part of why we want our kids to have a residential college experience.

You go to Georgetown, you'll find Chili's level food in a couple dining halls that are cheap 80s food courts. Tables tightly arranged in parallel so it's hard to join a table if the aisle side seats are taken. The lighting is either mediocre or bad and the sound makes it hard to hear other people. And what you do you see? A lot of tables of two eating as quickly as possible. And even more tables of one who are eating while scrolling.

You dont think this stuff matters? You're wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising senior and have been doing the rounds of many top 25 schools (universities and colleges). We started with safety schools last year and then junior year grades came back so this summer we've been touring some top schools. My kid is trying to figure out an ED.
We have a rising junior as well so we have a couple of kids with us.

The more of these schools we tour, the less impressed I am. They're sort of all a bit falling apart, poorly maintained, with pretty odd students (tour guides, summer students and especially touring students alike--don't jump all over for for saying this--being brutally honest), little sense of community, same-old, same-old stuff about study-abroad, etc. Many have very large class sizes, etc.

I feel like we're (kid and parent alike) are supposed to love these schools and want to pay $90K for them and my kids can't find one they really like. I very, very, very much feel like we're being sold a product that we're supposed to want to buy because of prestige and name but when we see the product up close it doesn't look great and I feel like a sheep lining up to say "yes sir. let me put my kid through mental/emotional twister for a 5% chance of being admitted to your school and then I will gladly pay you $90K for the honor. Yes sir." It just feels... gross. Maybe not gross but yucky. My kids are like, "well I didn't really like this or that here but I could probably make it work." They too feel the pressure to LIKE these places. The Almighty XYZ or ABC school! It's supposed to be their dream!

Please don't jump on me. I know it's summer and we're not seeing the universities at their best but ugh. They're all kind of disappointing. I can't be the only one who feels this way? (I'm not going to name university/college names because then this post will turn into a giant thread about whatever school(s) I name.

Dumpy? Unimpressive, meaning structurally, academically, what? As you looking at colleges or real estate to purchase?

She is buying a service for $360k and expects the quality of the service to reflect the price paid.

When did people start thinking of education in this way?

[Anonymous]

Dumpy is the wrong word. But campuses and college towns do look dead in the summer because there are so few students around. There's no energy. Tens of thousands of attractive affluent smart kids running around truly transforms college towns and inner city neighborhoods where these campuses are located.

[Anonymous]

From 11 pages, it seems all we've ascertained is that Ivies+ Georgetown + a few SLAC's are dumpy. All the other top universities and colleges across America are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From 11 pages, it seems all we've ascertained is that Ivies+ Georgetown + a few SLAC's are dumpy. All the other top universities and colleges across America are not.

All the colleges the wannabes here can't afford and/or can't get their dime a dozen striver kids into. lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising senior and have been doing the rounds of many top 25 schools (universities and colleges). We started with safety schools last year and then junior year grades came back so this summer we've been touring some top schools. My kid is trying to figure out an ED.
We have a rising junior as well so we have a couple of kids with us.

The more of these schools we tour, the less impressed I am. They're sort of all a bit falling apart, poorly maintained, with pretty odd students (tour guides, summer students and especially touring students alike--don't jump all over for for saying this--being brutally honest), little sense of community, same-old, same-old stuff about study-abroad, etc. Many have very large class sizes, etc.

I feel like we're (kid and parent alike) are supposed to love these schools and want to pay $90K for them and my kids can't find one they really like. I very, very, very much feel like we're being sold a product that we're supposed to want to buy because of prestige and name but when we see the product up close it doesn't look great and I feel like a sheep lining up to say "yes sir. let me put my kid through mental/emotional twister for a 5% chance of being admitted to your school and then I will gladly pay you $90K for the honor. Yes sir." It just feels... gross. Maybe not gross but yucky. My kids are like, "well I didn't really like this or that here but I could probably make it work." They too feel the pressure to LIKE these places. The Almighty XYZ or ABC school! It's supposed to be their dream!

Please don't jump on me. I know it's summer and we're not seeing the universities at their best but ugh. They're all kind of disappointing. I can't be the only one who feels this way? (I'm not going to name university/college names because then this post will turn into a giant thread about whatever school(s) I name.

Dumpy? Unimpressive, meaning structurally, academically, what? As you looking at colleges or real estate to purchase?

She is buying a service for $360k and expects the quality of the service to reflect the price paid.

When did people start thinking of education in this way?

Why wouldn't you at that price point? Why is college a thing people have come to expect to pay high dollar amounts without getting service/products for what you pay for? And no, the education alone is not the only thing you're buying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, those dumpy dorm rooms will look TERRIBLE on your DC's resume. Avoid.

if college is all about how it looks on the resume, than I totally understand why you think it's fine for colleges with billions in tax advantaged endowments not to clean up mold in any timely way.

First stuff that "billions in tax advantaged endowments" right up the wazoo. They are no different than your church or your country club. Being non-profit by no means requires any of those to adhere to any standards except laws.

I stand by the point that these posts sound like 100% sour grapes to me.

A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth watered as he gazed longingly at them.

The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.

Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.

"What a fool I am," he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for."

And off he walked very, very scornfully.

There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising senior and have been doing the rounds of many top 25 schools (universities and colleges). We started with safety schools last year and then junior year grades came back so this summer we've been touring some top schools. My kid is trying to figure out an ED.
We have a rising junior as well so we have a couple of kids with us.

The more of these schools we tour, the less impressed I am. They're sort of all a bit falling apart, poorly maintained, with pretty odd students (tour guides, summer students and especially touring students alike--don't jump all over for for saying this--being brutally honest), little sense of community, same-old, same-old stuff about study-abroad, etc. Many have very large class sizes, etc.

I feel like we're (kid and parent alike) are supposed to love these schools and want to pay $90K for them and my kids can't find one they really like. I very, very, very much feel like we're being sold a product that we're supposed to want to buy because of prestige and name but when we see the product up close it doesn't look great and I feel like a sheep lining up to say "yes sir. let me put my kid through mental/emotional twister for a 5% chance of being admitted to your school and then I will gladly pay you $90K for the honor. Yes sir." It just feels... gross. Maybe not gross but yucky. My kids are like, "well I didn't really like this or that here but I could probably make it work." They too feel the pressure to LIKE these places. The Almighty XYZ or ABC school! It's supposed to be their dream!

Please don't jump on me. I know it's summer and we're not seeing the universities at their best but ugh. They're all kind of disappointing. I can't be the only one who feels this way? (I'm not going to name university/college names because then this post will turn into a giant thread about whatever school(s) I name.

Dumpy? Unimpressive, meaning structurally, academically, what? As you looking at colleges or real estate to purchase?

She is buying a service for $360k and expects the quality of the service to reflect the price paid.

When did people start thinking of education in this way?

Why wouldn't you at that price point? Why is college a thing people have come to expect to pay high dollar amounts without getting service/products for what you pay for? And no, the education alone is not the only thing you're buying.

Yes it is.

Yes it is.

Again: yes it is.

As pointed out earlier, there is always High Point.

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere (maybe in the Selingo book?) that if you want swanky facilities and amazing food in the dining halls, choose a university that does not prioritize financial aid. That money has to come from somewhere. On the other hand, if you want a diverse student body that prioritizes merit over full-pay ability, that FA money has to come from somewhere. Few universities have the ability to offer lavish facilities and still have enough to prioritize financial aid as well as meet all the other needs of a university. Facilities and dining hall food are low on my list, but if they are high on your list, you should know how to target your search.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, those dumpy dorm rooms will look TERRIBLE on your DC's resume. Avoid.

if college is all about how it looks on the resume, than I totally understand why you think it's fine for colleges with billions in tax advantaged endowments not to clean up mold in any timely way.

First stuff that "billions in tax advantaged endowments" right up the wazoo. They are no different than your church or your country club. Being non-profit by no means requires any of those to adhere to any standards except laws.

I stand by the point that these posts sound like 100% sour grapes to me.

A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth watered as he gazed longingly at them.

The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.

Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.

"What a fool I am," he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for."

And off he walked very, very scornfully.

There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.

You might have a point but it might also be true that your pride is hurt because others don't envy you or your Larla/Larlo for your choice of school. So let's not assume it's sour grapes just because there's no Aesop's Fable about DCUM parents. This might do in the interim:

https://medium.com/@christinescioli/not-so-sour-grapes-1464a0f24ac

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising senior and have been doing the rounds of many top 25 schools (universities and colleges). We started with safety schools last year and then junior year grades came back so this summer we've been touring some top schools. My kid is trying to figure out an ED.
We have a rising junior as well so we have a couple of kids with us.

The more of these schools we tour, the less impressed I am. They're sort of all a bit falling apart, poorly maintained, with pretty odd students (tour guides, summer students and especially touring students alike--don't jump all over for for saying this--being brutally honest), little sense of community, same-old, same-old stuff about study-abroad, etc. Many have very large class sizes, etc.

I feel like we're (kid and parent alike) are supposed to love these schools and want to pay $90K for them and my kids can't find one they really like. I very, very, very much feel like we're being sold a product that we're supposed to want to buy because of prestige and name but when we see the product up close it doesn't look great and I feel like a sheep lining up to say "yes sir. let me put my kid through mental/emotional twister for a 5% chance of being admitted to your school and then I will gladly pay you $90K for the honor. Yes sir." It just feels... gross. Maybe not gross but yucky. My kids are like, "well I didn't really like this or that here but I could probably make it work." They too feel the pressure to LIKE these places. The Almighty XYZ or ABC school! It's supposed to be their dream!

Please don't jump on me. I know it's summer and we're not seeing the universities at their best but ugh. They're all kind of disappointing. I can't be the only one who feels this way? (I'm not going to name university/college names because then this post will turn into a giant thread about whatever school(s) I name.

Bowdoin was very underwhelming. Campus is meh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, those dumpy dorm rooms will look TERRIBLE on your DC's resume. Avoid.

if college is all about how it looks on the resume, than I totally understand why you think it's fine for colleges with billions in tax advantaged endowments not to clean up mold in any timely way.

First stuff that "billions in tax advantaged endowments" right up the wazoo. They are no different than your church or your country club. Being non-profit by no means requires any of those to adhere to any standards except laws.

I stand by the point that these posts sound like 100% sour grapes to me.

A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth watered as he gazed longingly at them.

The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.

Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.

"What a fool I am," he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for."

And off he walked very, very scornfully.

There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.

You might have a point

Not might. Do. But thanks.

but it might also be true that your pride is hurt because others don't envy you or your Larla/Larlo for your choice of school.

No, and you have no idea about any of that because I offered no position. I just think it is ridiculous to complain about something as meaningless as "these exclusive schools everyone wants actually are bad because the dorms are old" is such a ridiculous and obvious complaint. No college, whether Harvard or High Point, is right for every kid. But this is silly.

So let's not assume it's sour grapes just because there's no Aesop's Fable about DCUM parents. This might do in the interim:

https://medium.com/@christinescioli/not-so-sour-grapes-1464a0f24ac

This article is very explicitly about economics and material wealth. How do you think this applies to this discussion? I understand I may be missing the point. Can you explain?