What determines a "good" college campus?

[The Wench]

The Wench

I think it's taken for granted that Ender will find a college with a strong program. It seems he's asking how to pick between two equally strong programs, so he's asking what else he ought to look for.

I mean, he could go to a school with nice bike trials, but we know he's just going to find the one with the hottest student body(ies).

I suppose in my college career, those things just seemed irrelevant to me...maybe I'm just being a total jerk idealist...

I know a lot of people in my grad program are worried about job placement... though that might not be something you're worried about. Knowing a college's statistics regarding how many of their students go off and utilize their major can be important. For us, the people going off to be teacher's want to know how many past students are actually teaching. A lot of schools are hesitant to give out this kind of information because some of them have higher success rates. Our teachers have told us in the past that if a school is hesitatant to release that info (which a lot are, apparently), you should be suspicious of their abilites to adequately train you for the field.

[Ender]

The weakness of the GI Bill and the restrictions on the IVG program mean I'm going to an IL state school. From there I already determined the best schools for my program academically, it is picking between those that I am looking for.

[The Wench]

Well, Ender, I wish you better luck in IL state schools. If they're anything like CA state schools...well, let's just say I wish I'd had the finances to go to Stanford...even Berkeley, which are infinitely better than our state schools, and now cost about the same as Ivy leagues.

Well, what are YOU looking for? I'll be honest, when I walked my campus it DID have a gorgeous view of the entire bay area, from San Francisco all the way to San Mateo, which, right now with clear skies, would be fantastic if they hadn't started building across the skyline so now I can't really see it. And they removed the lawn that we used to sit on, so there's no place to relax on the grass and chill during breaks. Maybe you might want to consider if the school is planning on expanding and how that might affect you? I know they built a buttload of new student housing near us, but did it on the original parking lot. So we lost 1/2 of our parking...they also took a bunch of our funding to change the school's name, instead of investing in more teachers and academia in general...and the governer cut our funding on top of that, so our tuition rose from $600 for full time in '02, to $1000 full time in '05 (not including books.) If you're on a budget, that kind of stuff can be frustrating. It can also force you to take less classes than you intended, slowing down your progress.

[Knife]

Well, Ender, I wish you better luck in IL state schools. If they're anything like CA state schools...well, let's just say I wish I'd had the finances to go to Stanford...even Berkeley, which are infinitely better than our state schools, and now cost about the same as Ivy leagues.

Well, what are YOU looking for? I'll be honest, when I walked my campus it DID have a gorgeous view of the entire bay area, from San Francisco all the way to San Mateo, which, right now with clear skies, would be fantastic if they hadn't started building across the skyline so now I can't really see it. And they removed the lawn that we used to sit on, so there's no place to relax on the grass and chill during breaks. Maybe you might want to consider if the school is planning on expanding and how that might affect you? I know they built a buttload of new student housing near us, but did it on the original parking lot. So we lost 1/2 of our parking...they also took a bunch of our funding to change the school's name, instead of investing in more teachers and academia in general...and the governer cut our funding on top of that, so our tuition rose from $600 for full time in '02, to $1000 full time in '05 (not including books.) If you're on a budget, that kind of stuff can be frustrating. It can also force you to take less classes than you intended, slowing down your progress.

Wow, your local college in San Fran is cheaper than my local college in buttfuck Utah. Don't feel too bad about those tuition prices.

[Finagle]

I'm sorry, that is all friggin' rediculous. Undergrad, in the end, hasn't crap to do with chicks or food or cities nearby. Really? All that should matter is whether your potential major you're going to pursue has an accelerated department at that college.

The question wasn't about "how to pick a college," it was about what makes a good college campus. They're vastly different questions. Besides, unless you're going into a career in which you need a lot of very specialized college-level training, the most important thing you learn in a post-secondary institution isn't going to be what you learn in your classes. The most important thing that you learn is how to function independantly in an environment in which you are wholely responsible for your own success or failure.

[Wanderer]

Being near a city is not necessarily good. The weekends here at Stony Brook are usually devoid (pretty much becomes a ghost town) of anyone hanging around since New York City is just fifty miles away. Party Thursday night and go home Friday is what happens here.

If you're touring around campuses, you should try chatting up with the students there to get different impressions.

A high school spirit is a good indicator; SB's spirit is down the toilet.

Damn Davenport is mostly a Day School with little on Campus Living Accommodations. Most students are older adults and the Teachers are mostly Business Execs, Lawyers, Paralegals, CPAs, etc who have learned all the tricks, which means if you impress them you are going to get a good job recommendation upon Graduation

I personally just got done with the Paralegal Program and all my law classes were taught by License Attorneys with more than 30 years of experience except one, Computers for Paralegals, which was taught by a Paralegal with 20 years experience.

[The Wench]

the most important thing you learn in a post-secondary institution isn't going to be what you learn in your classes. The most important thing that you learn is how to function independantly in an environment in which you are wholely responsible for your own success or failure.

Don't you pick that up in life? Lots of people don't go to college and have that skill.

[The Wench]

Well, Ender, I wish you better luck in IL state schools. If they're anything like CA state schools...well, let's just say I wish I'd had the finances to go to Stanford...even Berkeley, which are infinitely better than our state schools, and now cost about the same as Ivy leagues.

Well, what are YOU looking for? I'll be honest, when I walked my campus it DID have a gorgeous view of the entire bay area, from San Francisco all the way to San Mateo, which, right now with clear skies, would be fantastic if they hadn't started building across the skyline so now I can't really see it. And they removed the lawn that we used to sit on, so there's no place to relax on the grass and chill during breaks. Maybe you might want to consider if the school is planning on expanding and how that might affect you? I know they built a buttload of new student housing near us, but did it on the original parking lot. So we lost 1/2 of our parking...they also took a bunch of our funding to change the school's name, instead of investing in more teachers and academia in general...and the governer cut our funding on top of that, so our tuition rose from $600 for full time in '02, to $1000 full time in '05 (not including books.) If you're on a budget, that kind of stuff can be frustrating. It can also force you to take less classes than you intended, slowing down your progress.

Wow, your local college in San Fran is cheaper than my local college in buttfuck Utah. Don't feel too bad about those tuition prices.

Word? Didn't know Utah was getting slammed. I think I'm also factoring in our high rent, rising gas prices, and all the other expenses on top of that. It's hard to work full time and pay for grad school out of your own pocket here. You have to do some serious financial juggling. Unless you're paying $1000 a month for one bedroom apartments, too. Then shit, you should get outta' buttfuck Utah. We have beaches!

[Phantasee]

$1000 a semester? Because, I swear, if it's $1k a year, I'm going to be hella pissed. It's approx $5000 a year in tution here for a basic Science or Arts Bachelor, about $200 more for Engineers. Although, U of A is one of the best schools all around in Canada...

[Ender]

If not for the IVG* I would have helled out $880 for the 10 credits of summer school I am taking. $2450 if I were out of district.

Back on topic, anyone have any other advice on what to look for beyond academics?


*Illinois veteran grant - if you were an IL resident for 6 months prior to enlisting and were a resident for 6 months prior to getting out, the state covers your tuition for a 4 year degree at any state school

[Knife]

Word? Didn't know Utah was getting slammed. I think I'm also factoring in our high rent, rising gas prices, and all the other expenses on top of that. It's hard to work full time and pay for grad school out of your own pocket here.

I'm not a kid and was well established in the first place so it's still tough but not impossible.

You have to do some serious financial juggling. Unless you're paying $1000 a month for one bedroom apartments, too. Then shit, you should get outta' buttfuck Utah. We have beaches!

Meh, been to Frisco and while not a bad place at all, it definitely falls into the category of 'nice place to visit, don't wanna live there.' The wife and I have our eyes on Portland actually.

Beaches in San Diego, Long Beach, and Santa Barbra are better than Frisco too.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

the most important thing you learn in a post-secondary institution isn't going to be what you learn in your classes. The most important thing that you learn is how to function independantly in an environment in which you are wholely responsible for your own success or failure.

Don't you pick that up in life? Lots of people don't go to college and have that skill.

The point is how to function. College is meant to teach you how to think, to go through the thinking processes, and to process data and finally act on that data.

[InnocentBystander]

If not for the IVG* I would have helled out $880 for the 10 credits of summer school I am taking. $2450 if I were out of district.

Back on topic, anyone have any other advice on what to look for beyond academics?


*Illinois veteran grant - if you were an IL resident for 6 months prior to enlisting and were a resident for 6 months prior to getting out, the state covers your tuition for a 4 year degree at any state school

Look for a school with a strong internship/coop program, and do whatever you can to get as much working experience as possible.

[Finagle]

the most important thing you learn in a post-secondary institution isn't going to be what you learn in your classes. The most important thing that you learn is how to function independantly in an environment in which you are wholely responsible for your own success or failure.

Don't you pick that up in life? Lots of people don't go to college and have that skill.

The point is how to function. College is meant to teach you how to think, to go through the thinking processes, and to process data and finally act on that data.

Yup. Saying "don't you pick that up in life" is kind of silly. The whole point of college is to prepare you for life. Sure, plenty of people don't go to college and end up with that skill, but then they have to learn it in the real world, usually making mistakes along the way that can cost them badly. College is supposed to teach you to avoid those mistakes by teaching you how to think analytically, and how to manage your own time and work.

[Knife]

Yup. Saying "don't you pick that up in life" is kind of silly.

No it's not. I'll explain below.

The whole point of college is to prepare you for life. Sure, plenty of people don't go to college and end up with that skill, but then they have to learn it in the real world, usually making mistakes along the way that can cost them badly.

Life prepares you for life. College is just a part of life for a lot of people. If you think the artificial environment of a class room or dorm is any different than the artificial environment of an office building or a factory floor, or even a military barracks, you're just being silly now.

As far as mistakes, if you are paying for college and make mistakes along the way, they indeed cost you heavily. You seem to functioning under the retarded assumption that all people in college are nothing but slightly older high school kids with mom and pops dime running them through. While there certainly is a large chunk of college kids in this category, there are plenty of others who don't fit that square hole.

College is supposed to teach you to avoid those mistakes by teaching you how to think analytically, and how to manage your own time and work.

College is supposed to educate you in a certain field. It's not supposed to teach you how to avoid mistakes or real life social skills in a protected environment. What it is, is a real life place with concequences where mommy and daddy aren't supposed to be on hand to wipe your tears and make everything alright. If you fuck up it is because you fucked up. That's life.

[The Wench]

$1000 a semester? Because, I swear, if it's $1k a year, I'm going to be hella pissed. It's approx $5000 a year in tution here for a basic Science or Arts Bachelor, about $200 more for Engineers. Although, U of A is one of the best schools all around in Canada...

$1000 a quarter, so if you go four quarters a year, then it's just a grand less than that. That's just full-time undergrad. Master's program is $1300 a year, base fee. This is a Cal State school, and they're sort of generic and not so great on the whole. But some departments can be outstanding. Cal State East Bay (formerly Hayward) used to have an exceptional English department, but academic cuts have eliminated the entire teaching department.