Any examples of your child actually using the resources at a ritzy college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine isn’t at a ritzy college, it’s an urban biz school within a liberal arts university. Alumni is ever present, and do help facilitate internships. He was hired last summer by an alum who created the internship. Professors, too. He just got a paid “graduate” assistant job (he’s only a junior) through the professor he had last semester for her class this spring semester. Lots of sports games, banquets, invites to local restaurants for various speaker series, club events (lured with free food).He takes advantage of many free tickets to MBA and MLB games, concerts, theatre. Cheap, great, walkable off campus restaurants and bars. Discounted metro cards, news subscriptions, and a myriad of student discounts which most college students get. And the van that takes him directly to his off campus apartment after a couple of night classes.

There’s been an uptick of scooter thieves. His phone was snatched out of his hand last week while he was texting a friend that he arrived at their apartment. Thankfully, he wasn’t harmed. Campus security, RDOD, and detective checked in with him every day, hand delivered his new student ID, followed up with leads that DS sent— the kid tried using his debit card 4x, find my iPhone app provided a residential address near campus, and smoke shop address. Detective did go to both and gave DS an update. Oh, the counseling services department emails him every day, too. He’s declined multiple times, but he feels bad if he doesn’t reply back. Closed, gated campus is nirvana, nonetheless, petty crime is getting closer and closer to campus.

Would you mind sharing the name of the university?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid enjoyed the Olympic-sized swimming pool (not on the swim team, just loved to swim) and capacious hot tub. She liked the fancy buildings. Chose to study and hang out in unused classrooms at one of them rather than go to the library. The building had a coffee shop and was unusual -- a modern structure built over and around an older building. Interesting architecture. Exciting field trips covered. Lots of research opportunities and mentored projects. Small classes (five kids, in some cases), so lots of interaction with professors. Free weekly music lessons. Nice science facilities. Sent to conferences (including one in Europe to present a paper) for free. Close mentoring and advising.

Where? I think I might know (the building) but maybe there are lots of colleges with buildings like that.

[Anonymous]

ND. Used alumni connections - sometimes cold calling via LinkedIn - to get jobs summer after freshman year, summer after sophomore year, summer after junior year, and a job offer in senior year.

use what colleges are good at ..

[Anonymous]

My kid goes to an Ivy for a highly specialized program. He applied and was accepted for an internship that was only offered to students at that school and one or two others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nice gyms always seem to be a good investment for colleges. At every college I've ever attended or visited, the gym was always bustling with students even when the rest of campus was quiet. But I don't think gym quality always equates to how fancy a school is. I've seen far nicer gyms at large public universities than I have at the few NESCAC and Ivy schools I've visited.

I went to a state flagship, big football school, with a super-fancy student gym. Even back in the 90s they had pools, hot tubs, an indoor walking track, gym equipment, basketball courts, exercise classes, all free with your ID. And they have a lot more now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Often you read parents touting the vast resources at the most selective colleges, funded by multi-billion endowments and pricy tuition. Nobody ever details what those resources actually are and how often they’re used.

Our DD is at a top 10 and the only resource seems to be a boundless amount of staff who email her or forward her to another staff member, who will email her or offer to jump on a zoom, to detail things they will later email her. They don’t really offer bespoke help, they just email her copy and paste text and links into emails. Is this one example of the alleged resources?

Yeah, like U of Michigan (a public!) spending $30M on 200+ DEI "specialists".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she
Have an advisor who will proactively review her course selections, ensure she on track? (Or is the advisor non existent or hard to schedule (most colleges))
Ever email a professor or advisor indicating that a class she wants at the time she wants is booked... and a space is opened up for her?
Have the opportunity to enter a bespoke mentoring program, matched with an industry professional?
Have access to bespoke international experiences (aside from the semester study abroad that everyone else has), for example winter break in hong kong, spring break in colombia?
Ever have a professor say, if you don't have an internship lined up, just email me, we will find one for you?

I went to HYP and there was nothing like this, and I think this whole list is wildly unrealistic (maybe a one-off once in awhile for a particularly beloved student, but nothing like this for 99%.)

To me “great resources” is not advising or personal services, it’s about an incredible library, amazing art collections, world famous speakers coming to give talks, professors who are top in their field, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Often you read parents touting the vast resources at the most selective colleges, funded by multi-billion endowments and pricy tuition. Nobody ever details what those resources actually are and how often they’re used.

Our DD is at a top 10 and the only resource seems to be a boundless amount of staff who email her or forward her to another staff member, who will email her or offer to jump on a zoom, to detail things they will later email her. They don’t really offer bespoke help, they just email her copy and paste text and links into emails. Is this one example of the alleged resources?

It sounds like you want concierge service, but that’s not what these schools are offering. You’re expected to be a go-getter. The much less resource rich SLAC my kid goes to does much more handholding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does she
Have an advisor who will proactively review her course selections, ensure she on track? (Or is the advisor non existent or hard to schedule (most colleges))
Ever email a professor or advisor indicating that a class she wants at the time she wants is booked... and a space is opened up for her?
Have the opportunity to enter a bespoke mentoring program, matched with an industry professional?
Have access to bespoke international experiences (aside from the semester study abroad that everyone else has), for example winter break in hong kong, spring break in colombia?
Ever have a professor say, if you don't have an internship lined up, just email me, we will find one for you?

I went to HYP and there was nothing like this, and I think this whole list is wildly unrealistic (maybe a one-off once in awhile for a particularly beloved student, but nothing like this for 99%.)

To me “great resources” is not advising or personal services, it’s about an incredible library, amazing art collections, world famous speakers coming to give talks, professors who are top in their field, etc.

Huh, my DC is at a private in CA and had all of these.

[Anonymous]

Mine took on a new sport and has gotten free specialized instruction, gear and a training week.
She also got a grant for a summer masterclass opportunity.
She is in performing arts productions that get a lot of support.
She also gets excellent financial aid, free added fees and free books.
The college is ritzy with its money, but it puts it towards student activities, great professors and financial aid. We are really pleased.

[Anonymous]

how is any of this helpful if you dont name the college.

nobody is doxing anyone based on name of their college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she
Have an advisor who will proactively review her course selections, ensure she on track? (Or is the advisor non existent or hard to schedule (most colleges))
Ever email a professor or advisor indicating that a class she wants at the time she wants is booked... and a space is opened up for her?
Have the opportunity to enter a bespoke mentoring program, matched with an industry professional?
Have access to bespoke international experiences (aside from the semester study abroad that everyone else has), for example winter break in hong kong, spring break in colombia?
Ever have a professor say, if you don't have an internship lined up, just email me, we will find one for you?

I am a professor at a school most DCUM families wouldn't dream of sending their kids to. We do over half of these things!

[Anonymous]

I went to a top SLAC as a financial aid kid and had tremendous resources at my fingertips. Examples that come to mind first are a van that we could use for free (I think we had to apply?) to travel halfway across the country for a conference for free. It was such a fun road trip! And I organized several “symposiums” or small events with guest speakers and the school would always pay to bring the speaker. I met some amazing adults that way. Lastly, amazing food, mentors who I ended up babysitting for, etc

[Anonymous]

PP here, I’ll just share - that was Middlebury. I think many of these schools are what you make of them and require kids to really take initiative / seek out and talk to adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are at top 10 SLACs, and I think they have great access to the resources at their respective schools.

Define resources. More specifically the resources they personally use and which you believe are better than or unavailable at less prestigious colleges.

DP. My kid was at a T30 SLAC. Some of the resources available at T30 not available at a state university included,

- endowment that provided FA/merit aid that allowed my kid to receive world-class education for the price of a state university.

-semester abroad exchange for the same price I was paying.

- endowment that flew my student to the east coast and west coast for networking opportunities with potential employers.

- was able to transfer to a dream ivy university with full support.

- amazing ivy education, thanks to the T30 SLAC and its connection.

- after graduation, my student was pretty much allowed to sign up for a lucrative job.