Any examples of your child actually using the resources at a ritzy college?
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Anonymous
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Speaking of resources-rich schools, it does not include UChicago:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/2/2/24059391/uchicago-rush-medical-center-layoffs |
Anonymous
Don’t tell that to the former Mrs Bezos who was recommended to Toni’s publisher while at Princeton and landed a book deal (prior to even knowing Jeff Bezos). |
Anonymous
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One kid went to a T10 and I was floored at the lack of student services. It was during COVID but from what i heard it's pretty typical - focus is on professional schools and research. My kid is an introvert and not a self-promoter. Only good was the name helped them land a good job.
My other kid went to a "lesser" state public (great fit and no shade on the school). Fewer resources, but this kid is a super go-getter and actively reached out to the president, dean of their major etc and worked what was available. Interviewing now, but suspect will land a good job. In the end, it's what your kid makes of the opportunities they have. |
Anonymous
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I have a child with special needs at a ritzy college.
He has a lovely single room with private bath in a nice dorm - because this college has the money to renovate and build modern dorms with central A/C that look like hotels, and make single rooms available to kids who need them. He also met with the director of the Disability office and received all the accommodations he asked for without the slightest difficulty. The professors understand his accommodations and the process has been very smooth so far. Since he has autism, it will be difficult for him to partake of the social perks of this college: the sports amenities, the socials, and even the career counseling, which is all within his reach...except he has difficulty in social situations. He has pushed him to belong to one club, which I was very happy about. Small victories! In short, we pay a ton of money (and get merit aid) in the hope that at some point he will use all those services. His academic advisor reviews his course choices and meets with him one-on-one frequently, so there's that for now. |
Anonymous
Except Toni Morrison died in 2019 so that's a tough call getting in her class now. |
Anonymous
This is absolutely true. One of the criteria top schools look for is whether the kid has the ability to take advantage of the resources they offer. Opportunities will not be handed to them just by breathing and sleep walking through the campus. Given the resources, will a student thrive there? Resource-rich schools are looking for go-getters who will seek out what the schools have to offer. To achieve, it's that much easier in resource-rich schools. That's not to say it can't happen at cash-strapped state universities. It's that much harder there. |
Anonymous
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It’s not that clear cut and depends on what you mean by resources. Some of the lower ranked schools I think have less of a resting on their laurels attitude, a lot really has to do with size - easier to take advantage of the resources that do exist at a smaller school, some of the publics actually have great facilities, dorms and gyms, so it really depends.
I went to an Ivy and I’m sure some things have improved since the 90s but the academic advising was basically nonexistent, there was little career support outside of the obvious consulting type path, professors were great lecturers but a mixed bag in terms of accessibility and interest in undergrads. There were always interesting speakers and events and I took advantage of some of it but certainly could have done more. |
Anonymous
I mean it’s kid specific but if it really makes a difference to you to know - summer abroad and spring break abroad last year all on the university’s dime ( with plenty of money left over, she was actually turning down money they were throwing at her because her budgeted projects were all covered), small in-person gatherings with various famous folk from different disciplines she’s interested in ( “ reach out if you’re interested in talking about a job someday” type of stuff, fancy dinners with faculty in her major/program. You could go to one of these schools and not access this stuff, but it’s so readily available and these ridiculously well resourced schools make it easy for kids to benefit from the resources. |
Anonymous
It's like asking what is the benefit of the smartphone over a flip phone. They both make and receive phone calls. They both do what phones are designed to do. That's what someone who's never had a smartphone would ask. A successful GED might question the value of a college education. A community college graduate likewise might question the value of a 4 year public university. A 4 yr public university grad might question the value of an ivy education. All I can say is PP doesn't know what s/he doesn't know. |
Anonymous
My DC gets credit from professors for going to speaker events held by the department he's majoring in. Often a course will request students go to at least two dept events per term. The events are full of kids seeking credit and/or seeking to brownnose. A handful of "gunners" go to every event trying to kiss ass and hog the mic. The rest of the kids are yawning. Meanwhile the speaker is mailing in a speech they've given 50 times and are paid $20K or whatever it is. It's a racket! |
Anonymous
| Nobody can detail the supposed resources because it's not about the resources at all. People are just status and prestige whores but want to dance around it and act like they're not. |
Anonymous
Yes, this is why 4 yr public university is overrated when they can go to a community college. It's not about the resources at all. People are just status and prestige whores but want to dance around it and act like they're not. |
Anonymous
You might want to read the fine print. You need to be poorest of the poor. Plus zero debt requires maximizing all work study job hours all school year, you are expected to get a summer job after freshman year to contribute, and you're expected to contribute more as you progress to upperclassman -- or you will have to take on some loans or parents have to cough up cash. |
Anonymous
| This whole thread is bizarre. The value of a high end item - any item - a car, watch, house - is intangible in many ways and unique to each person. What they get out of it may be different than someone else. You’re asking us to quantify these things but really it’s a bunch of small things that make the difference between a BMW and a Kia. As we list them, any one of you could be like, “I don’t care about dual zone AC!” or whatever…. If you don’t get it or don’t want to get it there is nothing we can say to convince you otherwise. And I guess if literally, all you want is coursework, a dorm room and a degree, yes you can get that anywhere, don’t bother paying up for the ‘ritzy college’. |
Anonymous
I assumed Harvard or maybe Princeton b/c of biotech and the VCs that are in Boston for the MIT/ resesrch expertise. |