Comments on: All the hand-wringing about getting into good colleges is probably a waste of time

By: L. C. Rees

L. C. Rees — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:32:32 +0000

Robert B. Laughlin, a Stanford University physics professor and Nobel Prize winner (1998), observed in an interview once that there was no difference between physics was taught at Stanford and physics taught elsewhere. The premium Stanford offered was the opportunity to network with other elites (real or aspiring). Basically an contemporary American aping of a bride show.

By: Wolfe Easton MD

Wolfe Easton MD — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 02:23:59 +0000

Read through Scott Alexander’s stuff, he hits the nail on a lot of it.
From personal experience, the “elite” colleges essentially buy you a few things:
-a GPA cushion for med school applications, which theoretically makes sense if you are curved against a higher ratio of “high achievers”
-Recruiters from Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, et al showing up to do case interview. Even “JV” firms like Capital One will hire differently based on schools
-He hits it right in that, for high achievers of the upper to upper middle class [my type], overall there is no difference except for the 200 thousand dollars. Really, I’m over 10 years out at this point, and the best part about going to one of those schools is telling people I went to one of those schools
-Most of the college admissions freakout is that schools that are traditionally “safety” are suddenly dipping in acceptance rates. USC is a very prominent example of one. For those stupid enough to care, we really do parse out tiers for the US News top schools in casual conversation. Our parents for that matter do too when they start comparing kids. Striver hell is a thing

By: McChuck

McChuck — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 12:47:49 +0000

The change ten years ago was when Obama nationalized student loans. Now you get a loan by checking a box that says “I intend to be a full time student.” A quarter of student loan recipients have no idea that they have loans. The money goes straight to the college.

By: Wilson

Wilson — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 11:44:39 +0000

Those schools with huge endowments can be cheaper though for families with less money. But, they may not provide very good training to earn money, which is something a Senator for example, never needs to do

By: Bob Sykes

Bob Sykes — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 11:18:49 +0000

If you want a major national career, a Senator or federal Judgeship, the Ivies are mandatory. But, if you want a good life practicing engineering, law, medicine, accounting, business management, any of the large state universities is an excellent choice. Nearly all of them are at least somewhat selective, and some are very selective. But none is as bad or as dishonest in their admissions practices as the Ivies. The state schools also cost only one-third to one-half a private school, and they have excellent faculties and resources. There is no need to apply to an Ivy or to any private liberal arts college.