Big Greek and Football Schools: The Only Real College Experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you really think the big state school experience rivals that of Duke ranked the 6th most prestigious school by US news with an acceptance rate of 4 %. Duke is a charter member of the ACC and its alumni base is one of the wealthiest in the country. No SEC school including Vandy is in the same neighborhood of the Dukies.

Yes, I do. We're not talking about the wealth of its alumni base or how prestigious the school is. We're talking about fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ACC schools seem a bit more measured and diverse. I envision you dont have to go out four out of seven days a week and there is more racial diversity, but they still have fun games and a party atmosphere on the weekend. How do they compare to SEC schools?

My DC is at an ACC school and having the time of her life - the academics are challenging, the opportunities are plentiful, and her social life is busy.
She is not Greek.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:🤮🤮🤮

What's about smart, young, fun and good looking kids having a great time and getting a good education at a big state school that playing big time football?

They’re not all getting a good education.

You can say that about any school. Just as you can also say that it is very possible to get a good education at EVERY big football school. Plus have lot of fun and be cute.

Yes but generally, people who have the priority of “having a lot of fun and being cute” are the least likely to be getting any meaningful education.

There's nothing wrong with having fun and being cute.

If that is your goal at the age of 18+ and the reason you’re in college- yes, there is.

Not THE goal. But one of them. Sure. Why not? You’re 18 to 21. You’re gonna be miserable and frumpy and working the rest of your life. Yes, even the Ivy ones. So why not add fun and cute to your college years?

DP. I have to agree with this. I wish I had enjoyed being young and pretty a bit more than I did!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you really think the big state school experience rivals that of Duke ranked the 6th most prestigious school by US news with an acceptance rate of 4 %. Duke is a charter member of the ACC and its alumni base is one of the wealthiest in the country. No SEC school including Vandy is in the same neighborhood of the Dukies.

Yes, I do. We're not talking about the wealth of its alumni base or how prestigious the school is. We're talking about fun.

I'm pretty sure one can find plenty of fun at Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it somehow so crazy to imagine that all people might benefit from having some fun, at regular intervals, throughout their lives? This idea that scoring high on the SAT means you need to be chained to a wheel of misery from the age of 17, or 34, or whatever, just … why? Why not enjoy your life at each stage?

+1
And a lot of these posters seem to feel that you can't have a high SAT score/GPA AND ALSO enjoy a full social life. No doubt they're the same people who insist attractive women couldn't possibly ALSO be highly intelligent. Same old story from the same old people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The vibe at NESCACs is so subdued, everything seems muted, like a black & white painting. In the winter they’re so depressing.

Completely agree. And I went to one! I loved it at the time, but looking at the excitement on my kids' campuses makes me regret my choice a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think adults over the age of 25 that still think about college are pathetic no matter where they went.

So then, every poster on this forum?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why is it somehow so crazy to imagine that all people might benefit from having some fun, at regular intervals, throughout their lives? This idea that scoring high on the SAT means you need to be chained to a wheel of misery from the age of 17, or 34, or whatever, just … why? Why not enjoy your life at each stage?

Why is it so crazy to imagine that “fun” is different for different people? For some people, the big college experience is fun. For others, the SLAC experience is fun. To each, their own.

Let’s be honest: the majority of students who find themselves at small liberal art colleges selected them because at 17 they lacked the confidence to see themselves thriving at big schools. And in retrospect many regret it.

You really should take a break. You’re actually convincing people that big school boosters are myopic.

DP. This thread is really no different than the many threads blathering on about indistinguishable LACs, and insisting they're the only schools that could possibly offer "top" academics. Those threads convinced me that SLAC boosters are incredibly insecure - and yes, myopic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes it's the best college experience for people whose life ends after college.

I always laugh at this “retort” because we all know that the adults who are most likely to angle to drop the name of their alma mater into any conversation that they conceivably can are Ivy and SLAC graduates.

Exactly this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is happy to go to a big football school IF the academics are also strong.

She said there's no way she wants to join a cult (i.e. be a sorority pledge and at someone else's mercy):

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1290807.page;jsessionid=C20B37B4DAF647AFA391C8E780546291

+1

[Anonymous]

the hazing thread was a rough read ...

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:What is this weird emphasis on good looking? It’s really sad that it sounds like some ninth grader writing this but I know it’s some 50+ parent.

Most good looking people are nice, and confident -- and that makes them fun. DCUM hates good looking people for some reason.

Most normal adults don't hate anyone based on their looks but you oddly have a bias.

DP. That's absolutely not true here in DCUM-land. Here, attractive women (and men) are to be criticized and mocked and assumed to be stupid. Please don't pretend otherwise - we've all seen it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why is it somehow so crazy to imagine that all people might benefit from having some fun, at regular intervals, throughout their lives? This idea that scoring high on the SAT means you need to be chained to a wheel of misery from the age of 17, or 34, or whatever, just … why? Why not enjoy your life at each stage?

Why is it so crazy to imagine that “fun” is different for different people? For some people, the big college experience is fun. For others, the SLAC experience is fun. To each, their own.

Let’s be honest: the majority of students who find themselves at small liberal art colleges selected them because at 17 they lacked the confidence to see themselves thriving at big schools. And in retrospect many regret it.

Nope. I went to one of the top private schools in the country and big football schools were just not considered. No one remotely considered any of the SEC schools, you would have been laughed at. I hadn’t even heard of Clemson or Auburn until about 10, 15 years ago. It was either Ivy or top SLAC.

There you are! Don't you have another insecure SLAC-boosting thread to start?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I have not read the whole thread, but Notre Dame has big football experience but no Greek system. That is what I wanted (and had).

True, but many "big football" schools have minimal Greek presence, which is the best of all worlds. It's there for those who are interested, but the vast majority aren't and it doesn't affect campus social life in any way.

[Anonymous]

Most Fun:

Ohio State
UGA
Penn State
Wisconsin
Iowa
Alabama
Auburn
Texas

Least fun:
Emory
U Chicago
Case Western
Wash U
Johns Hopkins
Columbia
NYU