Comments on: On Elite Education http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/on-elite-education/ falling indelibly into the past Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:07:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: K http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/on-elite-education/comment-page-1/#comment-4423 K Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:18:06 +0000 http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=1216#comment-4423 The "$100K in student loans from an elite liberal arts education" idea was current when I was in school, 20 years ago; whether or not it was true then, it influenced my selection of a university. As I pointed out, I'm aware that this is no longer the case in many places, and appreciate the change. My suggestion about the dance major was based on (admittedly anecdotal) experience -- I have to wonder how many dance majors (as opposed to the more practical :-) English or philosophy majors) actually get into law school. I wish I had a real answer to the question asking in the original post, though. I mean, those who've never had money, may, as a point of pride, eschew the rat race for something more socially redeeming once they've achieved some measure of security. But having some family money or connections makes it that much easier to dabble in good causes and duck back out again later without being ghettoized. Sadly, the plural of anecdote isn't data. The “$100K in student loans from an elite liberal arts education” idea was current when I was in school, 20 years ago; whether or not it was true then, it influenced my selection of a university. As I pointed out, I’m aware that this is no longer the case in many places, and appreciate the change.

My suggestion about the dance major was based on (admittedly anecdotal) experience — I have to wonder how many dance majors (as opposed to the more practical :-) English or philosophy majors) actually get into law school.

I wish I had a real answer to the question asking in the original post, though. I mean, those who’ve never had money, may, as a point of pride, eschew the rat race for something more socially redeeming once they’ve achieved some measure of security. But having some family money or connections makes it that much easier to dabble in good causes and duck back out again later without being ghettoized. Sadly, the plural of anecdote isn’t data.

]]> By: “The Disadvantages of an Elite Education” « Prone to Laughter http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/on-elite-education/comment-page-1/#comment-4422 “The Disadvantages of an Elite Education” « Prone to Laughter Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:03:22 +0000 http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=1216#comment-4422 [...] Distracted, Planned Obsolescence, Uncertain Principles, Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Basketball [...] [...] Distracted, Planned Obsolescence, Uncertain Principles, Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Basketball [...]

]]> By: Dance http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/on-elite-education/comment-page-1/#comment-4421 Dance Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:27:56 +0000 http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=1216#comment-4421 If students are graduating from the elite schools with $100K in debt, something went wrong. Those schools are all need-blind and promise to meet your demonstrated need, and loan amounts were capped even before the shift away from them. Financial aid doesn't come up with calculations that demand $25K/year in loans, ESPECIALLY not for students from families with no money. I was a scholarship kid at an elite school. I came out with $13K in loans. Also, the point about going to elite schools is that the law school will accept the dance major, because they know you can't get through NameOfIvy without the writing and argumentation skills required in law. If students are graduating from the elite schools with $100K in debt, something went wrong. Those schools are all need-blind and promise to meet your demonstrated need, and loan amounts were capped even before the shift away from them. Financial aid doesn’t come up with calculations that demand $25K/year in loans, ESPECIALLY not for students from families with no money.

I was a scholarship kid at an elite school. I came out with $13K in loans.

Also, the point about going to elite schools is that the law school will accept the dance major, because they know you can’t get through NameOfIvy without the writing and argumentation skills required in law.

]]> By: K http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/on-elite-education/comment-page-1/#comment-4418 K Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:08:35 +0000 http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=1216#comment-4418 Well, with $100,000 in debt, I presume that the disadvantaged folks aren't gonna have much chance to pursue any career that doesn't pay right away. I think it's great that a number of schools are moving away from student loans to flat-out grants. Of course, the larger question is, how many disadvantaged students, after watching their families struggle financially, choose majors in an attempt to ensure that they won't find themselves in a similar situation? How many folks forgo that dance major for a degree that might look better on a law school application (or might result in an immediate job after graduation)? Well, with $100,000 in debt, I presume that the disadvantaged folks aren’t gonna have much chance to pursue any career that doesn’t pay right away. I think it’s great that a number of schools are moving away from student loans to flat-out grants.

Of course, the larger question is, how many disadvantaged students, after watching their families struggle financially, choose majors in an attempt to ensure that they won’t find themselves in a similar situation? How many folks forgo that dance major for a degree that might look better on a law school application (or might result in an immediate job after graduation)?

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