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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Why is it so crazy to imagine that “fun” is different for different people? For some people, the big college experience is fun. For others, the SLAC experience is fun. To each, their own.

Let’s be honest: the majority of students who find themselves at small liberal art colleges selected them because at 17 they lacked the confidence to see themselves thriving at big schools. And in retrospect many regret it.

You really should take a break. You’re actually convincing people that big school boosters are myopic.

DP. This thread is really no different than the many threads blathering on about indistinguishable LACs, and insisting they're the only schools that could possibly offer "top" academics. Those threads convinced me that SLAC boosters are incredibly insecure - and yes, myopic.

So you have that in common. Convincing people not to want what you think they should want.

You're talking to different people (that's what DP means). I haven't tried to convince anyone of anything, but I will certainly speak up when SLAC boosters pretend they don't start their own booster threads ALL the time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think adults over the age of 25 that still think about college are pathetic no matter where they went.

So then, every poster on this forum?

Certainly the ones who open multiple threads about Greek life.

How about the ones who start and participate in multiple threads about SLACs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College is for learning.

You've missed the entire point of college, which is that you can experience excellent academics *and* great fun. The two are not mutually exclusive and it's so sad that you think otherwise.

NP it's also sad to think there's one "right" way to have fun. numbers in greek life is tanking. I like college basketball, but most kids never attend a college football game, even at "football" schools

PP here - not a proponent of Greek life. Some of you are really conflating Greek life with big, fun football schools. Many of our kids attend these schools and are not Greek. Most kids aren't.

As for your last sentence - what? That is such a bizarre and false claim.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College is for learning.

You've missed the entire point of college, which is that you can experience excellent academics *and* great fun. The two are not mutually exclusive and it's so sad that you think otherwise.

And fun comes in as many different forms as there are people, right?

Well, sure. But according to some on this thread, they/their kids chose schools "solely because of academics".

Anonymous wrote:the hazing thread was a rough read ...

the extraordinary makes news. the typical doesn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College is for learning.

You've missed the entire point of college, which is that you can experience excellent academics *and* great fun. The two are not mutually exclusive and it's so sad that you think otherwise.

And fun comes in as many different forms as there are people, right?

Anonymous wrote:the hazing thread was a rough read ...

Yup. No getting around the facts so the boosters gave up on that one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Why is it so crazy to imagine that “fun” is different for different people? For some people, the big college experience is fun. For others, the SLAC experience is fun. To each, their own.

Let’s be honest: the majority of students who find themselves at small liberal art colleges selected them because at 17 they lacked the confidence to see themselves thriving at big schools. And in retrospect many regret it.

You really should take a break. You’re actually convincing people that big school boosters are myopic.

DP. This thread is really no different than the many threads blathering on about indistinguishable LACs, and insisting they're the only schools that could possibly offer "top" academics. Those threads convinced me that SLAC boosters are incredibly insecure - and yes, myopic.

So you have that in common. Convincing people not to want what you think they should want.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College is for learning.

You've missed the entire point of college, which is that you can experience excellent academics *and* great fun. The two are not mutually exclusive and it's so sad that you think otherwise.

NP it's also sad to think there's one "right" way to have fun. numbers in greek life is tanking. I like college basketball, but most kids never attend a college football game, even at "football" schools

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think adults over the age of 25 that still think about college are pathetic no matter where they went.

So then, every poster on this forum?

Certainly the ones who open multiple threads about Greek life.

Anonymous wrote:

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 other posters seem to have an equally difficult time realizing that it is not the only “real” college experience.

Anonymous wrote:College is for learning.

You've missed the entire point of college, which is that you can experience excellent academics *and* great fun. The two are not mutually exclusive and it's so sad that you think otherwise.

^Too many BIG10 schools would replace Penn State and Iowa with Duke and USC.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The world does need worker bees. So please, stay in your lane.

Really making the case for those SLACs you boost... wow.
DP