(SWTXBelle can follow up on this one.) :)

It is for just this reason that Southwest Texas State University had an uprising and over the arguments of the faculty changed the name of the school which had grown from a small college to a school of more than 25000 students. (It turns out that the alumni had raised something like $2million to change the name and the state found out that it would only cost about $400K to change the name and then they could re-license everything, so they did.)

Also - U. Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Northern Michigan are all good schools and like Texas State rated as good educational value for the cost schools.

Those schools are excellent examples of what I was saying...while they might be "good schools" for the people who thrive there, they still play second fiddle to the flagships. :)

I would string my daughter up by her toenails if she declared that she was staying in our town to go to college. The main reason being, I think that you should have to 'get away' some to truly experience living on your own and experiencing new environments. (I say that as someone who only travelled 30 minutes "away" to school).

My current city has several private high schools that can run upwards of $20K per year. The academics are truly outstanding, so I can see where it could be somewhat of an investment. Graduates of those schools consistently go on to succeed at the nation's highest rated universities.

However, I am shocked at how many families pay that tuition, only to have their children stay in town and attend the local branch of the state's university system. While the state flagship university isn't exactly on par with UVA, Michigan or Texas, it is still much better than the branch one here, which is consistently rated the lowest university in the system. I absolutely do not get the mentality behind that, but then again, I live in a town where when someone asks "Where did you go to school?" they don't mean college. :rolleyes:

Most of the rest of the state would be glad to give the southeast corner away.

I hope you don't base your dislike of the state of Michigan on Detroit and/or U of M. If you've never been here, there are some pretty gorgeous areas along Lake Michigan, especially the NW corner of the state. Parts of the Upper Peninsula are spectacular as well. :)

FYP




WATCH YOURSELF

Charlevoix is quite lovely! I grew up not far from Michigan and spent a lot of time there. I have actually never been to Ann Arbor except for one afternoon for a college visit- not enough to get a good impression of the area, I will concede, but even though I didn't go to OSU, I guess I still am a Buckeye at heart. ;)

Reading GC would probably cause me to feel the same way and it has nothing to do with the quality of the schools. After reading so many threads about recruitment, campus life, and life after college in the south, I feel like I would be setting my child up for failure by encouraging her to attend a southern school. We're Midwesterners through and through. She would be a complete outsider in every sense of the word with the teeny, tiny exception that she is a legacy (which will matter even less in another thirteen years). College is a challenging enough time without also needing to navigate an entirely different social paradigm.

So, great school or not, I wouldn't actively encourage her to explore a southern school, especially if she is really interested in Greek life. I would encourage her to stay in the Midwest. There are plenty of great schools to choose from in all shapes and sizes. Would I tell her she couldn't go to a southern school? Of course not. But I'd make sure she fully understood how much of the deck was stacked against her, especially if she wanted to be Greek at some of the schools down there.

That said, if for some insane reason she did end up Greek in the South, hubby and I would take a long working vacation down there and visit all the big southern schools around recruitment time. I'd truly like to see it all in action. ;)

I'm right there on the no for profit colleges bandwagon. I work in HR, and I hear the snickers whenever a resume comes in with Univeristy of Phoenix/Strayer/ ITT et. all listed for college.

Don't think an overly conservative relgious school would work either- so no BYU, Liberty, Oral Roberts, etc. We are catholic, but there are even some ultra-conservative catholic schools that I wouldn't be happy about either- Ave Maria and Stubenville come to mind.

And my kids COULD go to a Michigan or Miami U or another big rival school to either Ohio State or Ohio University - however I WON'T be sitting in the stands cheering on their school's teams! (and if my kids are playing sports for them, I'll cheer on individual accomplishment, but I don't think I could ever yell Go Blue! and the only Miami cheer I know is Muck Fiami...)

Oh the crazies I know who went to Fransiscan in the Steub.... lol.

UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATION BY PiKA2001
Any future kids of mine would be free to choose any Jesuit University, any academically solid state or private university, Oxford, Cambridge, or West Point. I might consider disowning any kid of mine who wanted to attend the Coast Guard Academy. I have always viewed the USCG as the best alternative to military service.

He who changes my words can meet me tomorrow at dawn. Pistols for two, coffee for one. I suggest you watch yourself.

Coasties are generally cool, Its the Air Farce I consider to be the best alternative to military service.

As far as football, yes. As to academic programs - not always. The Texas State Geography Dept., for example - #1 in the country, along with the fantastic Musical Theatre Dept., etc. As an undergraduate you will get a much better educational experience in many disciplines which, let us say, UT has. For example, the UT drama graduate school is very well-regarded. However, that means as an undergraduate you will not get much actual experience at UT. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYBP8qRIDas
All that said, the emphasis on getting to Division I has NOT IMHO been good for the overall educational programs, and I wouldn't currently recommend it.

As to the name change - when I attended Southwest Texas State University in the 80s, we had over 25,000 students. The real story behind the name change - the ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT did not want to have a directional name. They got ASG to support them, but the vast majority of alumni opposed the change. $250,000 in private funds were raised to pay for the change. I pointed out that if, as those who were for the change asserted, they were interested in advancing the academic reputation of the University, that money would be better spent on endowing a chair or bringing in excellent faculty, or even providing more scholarships. Alumni were told we would never be called TSU - which turns out to have been a lie. When I took my daughter to her dorm her freshman year, there on her dorm door was a bobcat paw with "TSU". Recently on the facebook page, they've referred to "TSU" - they have taken it down when I pointed out they were lying liars who tell lies. I am very torn. I received a top-flight education, but even my beloved English department has, to my way of thinking, gone down in quality. It pains me more than I can say - my parents went there, I was named for the 1962 homecoming queen who is my godmother, I have been able to share San Marcos and some of the best aspects of my college years with my daughter - but it is slipping away. Yes, they will be bigger, but will they better? No.

You mad about something?

Jesus Holy Christ you have got to be kidding me. It's the goddamn Air Force that lets your punk ass sit in front of a screen all day and type whatever the hell you want.

/:mad:
/extremely easily irritated these days

iGiggled @ USCGA. My sister went to Conn College across the street. She also giggles @ USCGA. Though I do love and appreciate me some Coasties.

:rolleyes: Get the hell over it, people. We don't all like the same things. Wooptywoodoodeedoo.

As for the Air Force "letting" anyone do anything...LOL....

One of my HS friends is super-duper Catholic (he became really religious sometime in college, he was liberal Catholic beforehand), and that's where he's getting his second Master's (in Catholic education). His wife was doing the whole Pampered Chef/Mary Kay/Avon thing and now she's getting her M.Ed from Liberty University! Since they're going to be teaching in Catholic schools forever it's not so objectionable to have degrees from those places.

He and his wife have been married for a little over 5 years, and their first kid was born 10 months to the day after their wedding. He occasionally sends me forwards about how T-Mobile supports Planned Parenthood. I'm like, do you know who I am?

His kids are cute and he's got great taste in music so I let it slide...for now.

Ok...I'm getting ready to duck and run:

As proud Trojans all (although my husband went to Penn) the University of Texas Austin is absolutely out!!! Not happening.....EVER.......for generations.

(But I must say we have been to Austin. It is a lovely city with really nice people. The only thing was....there was a party going on and they showed a replay of "the game" TWO years later. Pathetic.)

.......not that we hold a grudge or anything. :) (there is one name that is NEVER said in this house......almost gave up baked beans because of this guy)

........and they even have an AEPhi chapter there......still NO WAY!!!!!

Nope, just BSing. Actually what I'd rather be doing now would be getting on the outside of a cold pint or three of brew. I'll buy the first round, how bout you getting the second?

I think I would tell my child, if I ever had one, the same thing my parents told me. Because I could get in my flagship state university (University of Georgia) they would not pay out of state tuition to another state school. If it was an expensive private college it would have to be a very good one like an Ivy or something like Stanford, Duke, etc and I should be prepared to study hard to justify the expense. I did go private and do study hard.

Now that is an offer I can't refuse.

We get the Michigan tourism ads out here in Seattle, and they are beautiful! They really do make me want to go to Michigan, which is funny because my husband is from Michigan and he's the one that resists.

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Actually, my punk ass spent what would have been my L2 year commanding an Armored Cavalry Troop in Iraq. Recommend you check out the thread "AVE ATQUE VALE".

Dekeguy,
Captain (P), USAR, SS, BS(V), PH, MSM w/OLC, ACM(V)w/OLC, JSAM, AAM, etc.

===================================

I believe, Sir, that you are a gentleman and a scholar. If you are on the East Coast we need to lift a few. If elsewhere I raise one in salute to you!

Quoted for awesomeness.

Over my dead body would any child of mine go to HAHVAHD.

oh :o thanks for your service

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My face is now burning with embarrassment. Really not awesomeness, just got a little torqued at the suggestion my punk ass was throwing rocks at the Air Farce without paying my dues first. But, thanks for kind words. My guys did a really great job and I was a bit under impressed by the close air support (or lack thereof) provided by the best alternative to military service.

Now, please notice the tongue-in-cheek nature of my inter-service rivalry comments about the USAF who are also a pretty good bunch. (But please don't quote me!)

This thread is about preferences whether tongue-in-cheek or not. :)

I have negative opinions of all branches of the military but have the utmost respect and appreciation for the women and men who serve in the military--especially marines.

I didn't realize you were in the service. I was JUST reading the articles about the Marines inviting Mila Kunis or whatever her name is, Justin Timberlake and Betty White to their ball and everyone was commenting on how you have to be a blind idiot to be a Marine and I was piiiiiiissed, but I truly am embarrassed and apologize.

/off-topic

That's for sure. If it was MY choice, my very hypothetical daughter wouldn't even step foot to visit dUKe, UNC, Louisville, LSU or Florida. Same goes for a "Bob Jones' type place. But, as a mom who watched a son choose Ohio State (and is blissfully happy there) and another son choose a school 9+ hours away from home, I would want her to choose the place that *she* calls home and is excited and content to attend.

Unless it would be a "Bob Jones" type place, where she'd have to fund every last cent of her education. Seriously.

LOL at LSU...we haven't bothered you in basketball in a century! Geaux Tigers! Since I don't have a daughter, I couldn't care less.:D I just want my nieces to be AO-cutie-IIs!

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Please don't apologise and please don't be embarrassed. It really is quite a funny misunderstanding. Remember that inter-service rivalry is mostly tongue-in-cheek and we all serve the same Uncle Sam. If I heard someone saying you would have to be a blind idiot to be a Marine I'd be royally pissed as well. Check out the thread AVE ATQUE VALE if you are so inclined. It tells a bit about that time.

Peter

100% agree with any school that is "for profit" as well as any non-accredited school. There is no way in hell I would financially support my children attend those so-called universities nor would I allow them to if I could. As for religious type schools, Notre Dame would be acceptable as well as maybe a few others. Beyond that, absolutely NOT. No to schools like Bob Jones or those wacky seriously twisted Bible colleges.

Now, being in Southern California and an alum of Cal State Long Beach & the University of La Verne, I really don't have a preference as to schools they choose to attend (not including the ones mentioned above) since I don't have ties or allegiances to any particular school other than the ones I went to.

What about Notre Dame? Clearly a religious school.

*this* This is the main reason I am supporting my daughter in her Ivy dreams. If she can get that education with as little money as it would cost us, then she should go for it.

Umm.. if you think CMU, WMU and NMU are equal to U of M, you're mistaken. And that comes from an EMU grad... If you want a degree in partying, then CMU and NMU are great.

But would anyone chose to go there? :p

No comment on Michigan schools, about which I know little, but the "directional school" thing can vary widely by state. SWTXBelle is right that in some instances, the "directional schools" may be stronger in certain programs than the flagship schools.

HUMPH says the Irish fan whose great-grandpa played for Rockne! :p

Some schools you just don't go to for some programs, regardless of how good they may be in other programs. Having a good chemistry department doesn't in any way indicate having a good art department.

Just came across this: The 24 Most and Least Affordable Public Colleges. Several on the list were mentioned in this thread.

And also mentioned in the above article: Association of American Universities. This is a group of the leading research institutions in the US and Canada.

Ha Ha Ha. I haven't spoken with the Cedarville crowd since high school. I think they were locked away somewhere.