Big Greek and Football Schools: The Only Real College Experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are more nerds at big football schools than this Greek and QB-crazy mom realizes. And there are more sporty kids at SLACs than she realizes.

Ironically, if she went into a dining room one winter weekend at both Middlebury and Clemson, I'm sure she'd prefer the cute 'n sporty girls and guys at Midd. Definitely richer too. And more on track for a IB job.

I know what she likes. And what she assumes her kids - and all kids - want. I just worry she steered here own kids wrong.

This is the last thing that most kids want. It's certainly the last thing that I'd want for them. DCUM is full of posters who want this kind of thing, and most of them seem miserable.

Beyond that, it's so ironic that posters dismiss OP's wants as superficial, yet caring only about money and career is no different. Worse, in fact, because at least OP's superficial pursuits don't hurt anybody.

[Anonymous]

ITD. I think one person is trying to brush one kind of school as “fun, normal” and one as “weird, gender studies majors”. And that’s just not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are more nerds at big football schools than this Greek and QB-crazy mom realizes. And there are more sporty kids at SLACs than she realizes.

Ironically, if she went into a dining room one winter weekend at both Middlebury and Clemson, I'm sure she'd prefer the cute 'n sporty girls and guys at Midd. Definitely richer too. And more on track for a IB job.

I know what she likes. And what she assumes her kids - and all kids - want. I just worry she steered here own kids wrong.

This is the last thing that most kids want. It's certainly the last thing that I'd want for them. DCUM is full of posters who want this kind of thing, and most of them seem miserable.

Beyond that, it's so ironic that posters dismiss OP's wants as superficial, yet caring only about money and career is no different. Worse, in fact, because at least OP's superficial pursuits don't hurt anybody.

Eh, there are a few posters who are dismissing OP’s interest as superficial. But most people seem to be saying that fun is subjective. It is only OP who is saying that there is literally only one form of fun - as if fun not only can be ordinally ranked, but also that every 18-22 year old has the exact same ordinal ranking in all circumstances. A silly premise for a thread.

(I agree that the one-size-fits-all ranking of careers is similarly silly.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I played baseball at a Big Ten School. My eldest daughter was a soccer player at SEC school and my youngest is now a junior at a top 20 school. My youngest is the one having the most fun. When I go back to alma mater for events or when I use to visit my oldest, there is this rabidity among the fanbase that borders on the level of ridiculous.

Except this DOES sound like fun. You've just gotten old and snobby and no fun. The "top 20" thing changed you. Don't let it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I played baseball at a Big Ten School. My eldest daughter was a soccer player at SEC school and my youngest is now a junior at a top 20 school. My youngest is the one having the most fun. When I go back to alma mater for events or when I use to visit my oldest, there is this rabidity among the fanbase that borders on the level of ridiculous.

Except this DOES sound like fun. You've just gotten old and snobby and no fun. The "top 20" thing changed you. Don't let it!

It’s OKAY that you think this is fun. It’s also OKAY that some are never drawn to the face paint life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we all agree to this? I mean, so much fun, so much variety, and more often than not plenty of smart kids and top academic opportunities?

Who wouldn't want to be a smart, good looking and outgoing Greek guy or girl at an SEC, Big Ten or ACC school? What a time and place to be young.

Nothing in your blinkered world view acknowledges the importance of a pipeline to the Street. There are no Big Greeks in the back office. You and your knuckle-dragging Blutarski wannabe friends probably can't even spell B-U-C-K-N-E-L-L. Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I played baseball at a Big Ten School. My eldest daughter was a soccer player at SEC school and my youngest is now a junior at a top 20 school. My youngest is the one having the most fun. When I go back to alma mater for events or when I use to visit my oldest, there is this rabidity among the fanbase that borders on the level of ridiculous.

Except this DOES sound like fun. You've just gotten old and snobby and no fun. The "top 20" thing changed you. Don't let it!

Sounds fun to you.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Part of the problem, I think, is that many DCUM posters/mothers are so far removed from college -- they're typically in their 50s and not much younger -- that they can't remember what it's like to be young.

Sure, I wanted my kids to go to a reputable school and study. But I always wanted them to be happy, social, and to have a blast. When I read posts like "I love the quiet winter days of my remote SLAC" I'm like "what?? are you my grandmother??"

We're talking about kids, man! They have their whole lives ahead of them to be so damned serious. You people have lost your minds.

And all kids want exactly the same things all the time and conveniently, those are the things you think they all want.

Stop thinking as a grandma. Seriously, how old are you?

You mean your thinking isn’t as flexible as a grandma? Your brain is so calcified that you can only hold one idea of fun at a time?

+1. It's very strange thinking. People, including young people, find all kinds of things fun. It's weird to get bent out of shape about it. Lots of us had the chance to pick big state schools with lots of Greek life and big deal sports and didn't, at the age of 18, because we wanted something else. I'm not forgetting what it's like to be young, I remember deciding that wasn't for me when I was young. I've got no issue with people who did want that, but I didn't.

You decided it wasn't for you because it frightened you. But deep down you wanted it.

Do you use this argument about rape as well?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:How many times are going to post stuff like this? Please touch grass and heal.

Yeah, I don’t understand the purpose of these posts. Does OP just want everyone to jump on and agree? How many more posts at this topic are necessary? There’s just no value added.

Because OPs kid goes to a state university that accepts everyone and is trying to feel better about themselves.

LOL. Not only is this not true, I'm not the one being defensive. Which says a lot.

No one is being defensive but it's the only logical reason for why your post reeks of being a pick me.

Just stop. Everybody wants to be the cute and fun well rounded kid taking a break from their academics to pack the stadium with their school mates and cheer on the football team.

Nope. I’m the PP who went to Michigan and never attended a game. I regret nothing.

DP. And you are very much in the minority, especially at Michigan.

However, my existence proves the lie that "everybody wants to be the cute and fun well rounded kid taking a break from their academics to pack the stadium with their school mates and cheer on the football team."

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Part of the problem, I think, is that many DCUM posters/mothers are so far removed from college -- they're typically in their 50s and not much younger -- that they can't remember what it's like to be young.

Sure, I wanted my kids to go to a reputable school and study. But I always wanted them to be happy, social, and to have a blast. When I read posts like "I love the quiet winter days of my remote SLAC" I'm like "what?? are you my grandmother??"

We're talking about kids, man! They have their whole lives ahead of them to be so damned serious. You people have lost your minds.

And all kids want exactly the same things all the time and conveniently, those are the things you think they all want.

Stop thinking as a grandma. Seriously, how old are you?

You mean your thinking isn’t as flexible as a grandma? Your brain is so calcified that you can only hold one idea of fun at a time?

+1. It's very strange thinking. People, including young people, find all kinds of things fun. It's weird to get bent out of shape about it. Lots of us had the chance to pick big state schools with lots of Greek life and big deal sports and didn't, at the age of 18, because we wanted something else. I'm not forgetting what it's like to be young, I remember deciding that wasn't for me when I was young. I've got no issue with people who did want that, but I didn't.

You decided it wasn't for you because it frightened you. But deep down you wanted it.

Do you use this argument about rape as well?

Oh please. Such a weak response.

[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?

+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.

Sure. But what does being young and cute have to do with football? I could catch a dick anywhere, not just at the stadium.

Klassy. How typical.

Typical of what?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Part of the problem, I think, is that many DCUM posters/mothers are so far removed from college -- they're typically in their 50s and not much younger -- that they can't remember what it's like to be young.

Sure, I wanted my kids to go to a reputable school and study. But I always wanted them to be happy, social, and to have a blast. When I read posts like "I love the quiet winter days of my remote SLAC" I'm like "what?? are you my grandmother??"

We're talking about kids, man! They have their whole lives ahead of them to be so damned serious. You people have lost your minds.

And all kids want exactly the same things all the time and conveniently, those are the things you think they all want.

Stop thinking as a grandma. Seriously, how old are you?

You mean your thinking isn’t as flexible as a grandma? Your brain is so calcified that you can only hold one idea of fun at a time?

+1. It's very strange thinking. People, including young people, find all kinds of things fun. It's weird to get bent out of shape about it. Lots of us had the chance to pick big state schools with lots of Greek life and big deal sports and didn't, at the age of 18, because we wanted something else. I'm not forgetting what it's like to be young, I remember deciding that wasn't for me when I was young. I've got no issue with people who did want that, but I didn't.

You decided it wasn't for you because it frightened you. But deep down you wanted it.

Do you use this argument about rape as well?

Oh please. Such a weak response.

Maybe just eliminate "you know you want it" from your lexicon.

[Anonymous]

I was in a sorority at a big ten school in the early 90s. That scene was so dumb I didn't even make it a year. I went to one football game and was super bored, surrounded by whoo hoos. I liked drinking as much as any college student but the purpose of greek drinking wasn't connection (with friends or with guys) but an excuse to show off and feed their bodies - all I can say to explain is that beneath the whole thing was gluttony. I left greek life after a year but struggled to find a group of people till I met close friends/fellow students working at a nearby bookstore and coffeeshop.

You had greek life - never an interesting conversation ever. You had an active on campus Christian ministry - but I wasn't Christian. These were the biggest groups.

Not a great place for smart, wannabe interesting kids to meet others like them. I wasn't particularly academic though I made good grades- just smart and wanting something more out of college than this school could offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we all agree to this? I mean, so much fun, so much variety, and more often than not plenty of smart kids and top academic opportunities?

Who wouldn't want to be a smart, good looking and outgoing Greek guy or girl at an SEC, Big Ten or ACC school? What a time and place to be young.

Would it meet having to hang out with people like you?
If so, than no thank you.

-signed, having more fun than you, clearly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we all agree to this? I mean, so much fun, so much variety, and more often than not plenty of smart kids and top academic opportunities?

Who wouldn't want to be a smart, good looking and outgoing Greek guy or girl at an SEC, Big Ten or ACC school? What a time and place to be young.[/quoten

No, we can't all agree