Ronnie Nelson (left) turned down all eight Ivy League universities to attend the University of Alabama this fall. Nelson also declined offers from Stanford, Johns Hopkins, New York University, Vanderbilt, and Washington University in St. Louis. Why? Alabama offered him a full-ride scholarship and accepted him into their Honors Program. The Ivy's don't offer merit scholarships, nor do several other prestigious universities, such as Stanford. What about need-based aid? The Ivy's offer to meet "100 percent of a student's demonstrated financial need," but they take a comprehensive look at a … [Read more...] about Student Turns Down Every Ivy League School for U of Alabama
Thriving at College
What’s the Point of a Professor?
Mark Bauerlein is a professor at Emory University and the author of an outstanding book entitled The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Don’t Trust Anyone Under 30 (see commentary here). In a recent NYT article, Bauerlein laments wants happened to the role of the professor when students are more instead in a credential than an education (and more anxious about grading than eager for learning): When college is more about career than ideas, when paycheck matters more than wisdom, the role of professors changes. We may be … [Read more...] about What’s the Point of a Professor?
Parents Saving 25% Less for College
According to a new report from Sallie Mae, the student lender, there's been a 25 percent year-over-year decline in the amount of money parents are setting aside for future college expenses ($10,040 from $13,408). And 60 percent of parents lack confidence that they'll be able to pay for the future price of college. HT: Inside Higher Ed … [Read more...] about Parents Saving 25% Less for College
The Importance of Our Early Years
J.C. Ryle: Youth is the seed-time of full age, the molding season in the little space of human life, the turning-point in the history of man's mind. By the shoot we judge of the tree, by the blossoms we judge of the fruit, by the spring we judge of the harvest, by the morning we judge of the day, and by the character of the young man, we may generally judge what he will be when he grows up. -J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men (available for $0.99 on Kindle) … [Read more...] about The Importance of Our Early Years
Designing the New American University
This new book from Michael M. Crow and William B. Dabars looks fascinating. Crow has served as the president of Arizona State University (ASU) since 2002. He was formerly executive vice provost at Columbia University and a professor of science and technology policy (a field I almost pursued after completing my bachelor's degree). Dabars is a senior research fellow in the Office of the President and a research professor in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies at ASU. Crow is widely regarded as one of the pioneering leaders in higher education. He speaks at workshops … [Read more...] about Designing the New American University
Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be
Frank Bruni's new book, Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania looks great, especially for upper and upper-middle class parents currently biting their nails over whether Junior will get into Princeton. For the rest of you, let me explain: Over the next few weeks, tens of thousands of "fat envelopes" (acceptances) and hundreds of thousands of "thin envelopes" (rejections) will be mailed all across the country to high school seniors hoping to get into a couple dozen of the most elite universities. The belief is that if you get into one of these schools, … [Read more...] about Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be