Carnegie Mellon and Georgetown - why so low endowments?

[Anonymous]

Do grads not like these schools enough to give after they graduate?

[Anonymous]

I don't know the answer. I worked at GU for a while and the weak endowment relative to what it considers its peers was a major issue. Lots of projects had to be put on hold or scaled back bc of money. They had a major campaign going when I left, but I don't know how it went.

People at the school seemed relatively happy and presumably many went on to lucrative careers. You certainly had plenty who started with family money. I really don't know why they have been so much less successful in fundraising than other universities.

[Anonymous]

apparently their graduates are too smart to give to universities. only an idiot would give money to his college.

[Anonymous]

I think it has a lot to with community. Besides basketball, GTown doesn't really have much that bonds students together. Everyone I know that went there wanted to be president or a big shot on WS, so maybe there's an emphasis on individual goals?

[Anonymous]

I have observed that giving is not part of the fabric of everyday life at GU. Charitable acts are done on broad scale and very attention seeking. It's very much the "what's in it for me" mentality. Georgetown gives out awards for everything and anything, followed by a press conference. I have 2 kids in college, one in a Catholic private and the other in a public university. Both kids live in a culture where giving is organic. Both schools are well endowed.
It's interesting.
I don't know anyone who goes to or has gone to Carnegie Mellon.

[Anonymous]

DH went to Georgetown and hated it- would never give them a dime.

[Anonymous]

Is this a joke? They both have over a billion dollar endowments. That's well above average for schools outside of HYPSM/Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a joke? They both have over a billion dollar endowments. That's well above average for schools outside of HYPSM/Ivy.

It's not the size of the endowment that matters but the per student endowment. Schools like Williams and Grinnell don't have huge endowments but on a per student basis they're astronomical. GU and CMU both have <100k per student, a rarity for their rank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH went to Georgetown and hated it- would never give them a dime.

What did he dislike about it so much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a joke? They both have over a billion dollar endowments. That's well above average for schools outside of HYPSM/Ivy.

Small LAC Berea College in Kentucky has over a billion dollars in endowments.

[Anonymous]

Georgetown has a low enrollment because the Jesuits are terrible with money and never focused on it. The current president is the first non-Jesuit and that's why he was hired, but he's been playing catch up for the past fifteen years or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Georgetown has a low enrollment because the Jesuits are terrible with money and never focused on it. The current president is the first non-Jesuit and that's why he was hired, but he's been playing catch up for the past fifteen years or so.

This. And Georgetown invested a lot in attracting quality faculty in the second half of the last century.

[Anonymous]

I have yet to meet one person who graduated from GU that I have an ounce of respect for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have yet to meet one person who graduated from GU that I have an ounce of respect for.

It funny you say that because I have had similar experience - although I would say I have been underwhelmed.

[Anonymous]

My DD turned down CMU because the buildings were in such a state of disrepair. She thought the buildings were beautiful but falling down. Of course, it didn't help that the students seemed depressed and overworked. Her classmate enrolled and, while she likes the school, she is stressed. I know everyone rants about how the luxuries are a waste of money but when you turn off students because of a lack of upkeep, you are going to far in the other direction.