Everyone on DCUM should read Frank Bruni's recent book on colleges

[Anonymous]

("Where You go is Not Who You'll Be.")

It is a really valuable reminder that you don't need to go to "name brand" colleges -- and by extension, high schools -- to grow up to be a fantastically happy, prosperous, creative and successful human being. In fact, Bruni cites compelling evidence that the most "elite" schools do not reliably produce the most successful graduates.

I found reading it a great corrective to the anxiety on this board, and recommend it to all!

[Anonymous]

You do you, OP.

[Anonymous]

Wow, it took less than three minutes for the first sneering response to be posted. Probably not a DCUM record, but most impressive, PP. Please don't keep being you.

[Anonymous]

No thanks, Frank.

[Anonymous]

who's frank bruni? did he used to work at JPMorgan? or was that frank bruno?

[Anonymous]

He used to be the New York Times food critic, and had also covered the White House and been a movie critic, before moving to the op-ed side. In other words, hard to say that education is his specialty so I take his views with no greater credibility than any other journalist writing on the subject.

[Anonymous]

Of course, there is this thing called "research." Good journalists tend to be rather good at the whole research thing. Maybe consider reading the book before deciding you couldn't possibly learn anything from it?

[Anonymous]

The negative responses here are truly bizarre, but perhaps not for DCUM.

OP, I for one appreciate the book recommendation. I am sure each of us would benefit from having our assumptions challenged by an intelligent NY Times columnist who spent years doing research. I look forward to reading it.

[Anonymous]

I'm very happy with my child's private school. I also hope that one does not need a book to explain that there are happy and successful people educated outside elite institutions. I'll happily read the book, but I very much hope that this is not a foreign idea to very many people.

It would probably be excellent therapy during the college admissions season.

[Anonymous]

How do you know that he's a good journalist on education specifically?

[Anonymous]

I for one absolutely deny having any interest in learning anything from anyone. I already know everything.

Love,

Homo DCUMus

[Anonymous]

I for one take everything that I read as gospel and assume that it's all true.

Love,

DCUMypoia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know that he's a good journalist on education specifically?

Because. I. Read. The. Book.

It is well-researched and well-argued. I'm university professor and part of my job is evaluating research and scholarship by other people, and this struck me as a very solid and persuasive book, overall. FWIW, it also received numerous excellent reviews. Did I agree with every single statement in it? No, of course not. There were a few bits where I thought he needed more, or didn't ask questions he should have asked or discuss issues he should have discussed, etc. But as a product, myself, of several super-duper elite institutions (fancy prep school, fancy college, fancy scholarship to fancy foreign country, fancy professional school, and succession of fancy jobs at elite institutions and universities), and with kids at an expensive elite private school, I found the book thought-provoking and useful. It made me think somewhat differently about how to steer my own children when college frenzy begins.

Read it and judge for yourself. Maybe it will not change your views, but maybe it will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I for one absolutely deny having any interest in learning anything from anyone. I already know everything.

Love,

Homo DCUMus

[Anonymous]

I only look for ideas to reinforce what I already think.
Love, DCUMyEchoChamber