The Disadvantages of an 'Elite' Education *WARNING!! NON-COLLIN POWELL-FRIENDLY!*
- Thread starter sean69
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Let's Go, COLUMBIA!!!
Just kidding...
I think many people brought up good points in this thread, particularly the one about socially-inept middle and upper middle class persons attending Ivy league University that are very diverse and pride themselves on preparing one for global competitiveness, yet handicap persons in such a way when it comes to interacting with those of a different income bracket or SES.
But, I do echo the sentiments of other posters who feel that it's not necessarily the education (Ivy League or not) that puts alumni at a disadvantage. It's the perception, as well as the thinking of these parties, that puts them at a disadvantage...of interacting with others outside of their group.
I think he meant the generic as opposed to the specific...
And Michelle didn't go to Harvard.
Harvard Law School, kid.
No shit, really? Princeton University undergraduate. if Pton had a law school, I'm sure she would've went there.
PS Harvard sucks.
I believe Ivy League graduates are merely manufactured middle and upper class citizens that are molded into believers that they are truly the best and that the American capitalist society will always give them that second chance when they fuck up eventually.
They are indoctrinated and their egos soothed when they eventually have that Ivy League degree ready to take on anything regardless of the outcome. Always confident in their stride and abilities that they can do anything because someday they will become titans of industries, experts in their fields and articulate orators of the law.
Excellent read.
Bless up OP!
They are indoctrinated and their egos soothed when they eventually have that Ivy League degree ready to take on anything regardless of the outcome. Always confident in their stride and abilities that they can do anything because someday they will become titans of industries, experts in their fields and articulate orators of the law.
Excellent read.
Bless up OP!
Rightfully so. An Ivy League education is priceless, whether you become a "titan" or not. It's the best of the best. Only those who could never aspire to achieve at that level are complaining about it.
Why be satisfied to stay in the minors when you have the golden opportunity to play in the major leagues.
I agree Blunt! *hi-fives* *Looks down from Mount Olympus*
I know I've used this quote a lot, but it applies to the majority of articles like these. A statement by W.E.B Dubois;
"The function of the university is not simply to teach breadwinning, or to furnish teachers for the public schools, or to be a center of polite society; it is, above all, to be the organ of that fine adjustment between real life and the growing knowledge of life, an adjustment which forms the secret of civilization.
"The function of the university is not simply to teach breadwinning, or to furnish teachers for the public schools, or to be a center of polite society; it is, above all, to be the organ of that fine adjustment between real life and the growing knowledge of life, an adjustment which forms the secret of civilization.
A while back when I worked in a lab, my director, a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Indiana University, broke it down for me one day. A chinese immigrant who didn't know a lick of English when he came said that he had learned that everything in America is based on status and perception. He went onto talk about education. He said that a lot of Ivy League school graduates aren't as bright as those who may have gone to community schools. However, going to an Ivy League college is like having brand name clothing. It will get you noticed. It will open doors, etc. It's an investment.
And like any investment with variable inputs, diminishing marginal returns generally applies. Ceteris paribus.
Sean, regardless of whether the returns are diminishing or not, the ivy league stigma and bias will most likely always be in effect unfortunately. This culture that we live in it fascinated and infatuated with perception and image and often neglect substance.
The hype is slowly but surely fading. Especially, like I said before, in this age of designer degrees and cross-university-industry collabos.
Plus, in certain disciplines, the lack of substance is quick to be exposed. Perception and image can only take you so far. Especially in the applied sciences.
Sean, you got to look at it like this:
People that go into hard science aren't too concerned about money, because if that was the case then they would leave. Scientists, even those with years of experience, don't get paid nearly as much as they should compared to the assholes on Wall St. and in the financial sector.
I remember watching the new Michael Moore movie (Capitalism: A Love Story), and the economist William Black said something that was rather poignant. I'm paraphrasing here, but I believe he said something like, "The reason why our country is in the economic toilet that it is in is because the best mathematic and scientific minds are often pushed towards finance and economics because that is where the money is."
While I am thankful that I am in the position that I am in, it does make me wonder what kind of technological and medical advances these dudes that were molded to be the banking industries nightmare could have contributed scientifically if they were guided in that direction. To create the formulas and equations that those dudes are able to manipulate is a marvel in itself.
I might have diverged a bit from the main point but I think it is more of a grooming process than anything.
If I can pull enough money together by the time I'm 40, I would like to try to start a nationwide campaign to further push advanced math at younger ages. For the kids that have harder times with instruction I would invest more time and different techniques to teach them to be on the same level as the others. THIS and expansion of one's vocabulary is one of the reason's why the lower and even some middle class students aren't in the same positions as the upper middle class and upper class.
Never said anything about money. I'm talking about the diminishing returns on the hype/perception. Which gets old real quick when you have to deliver in industry.
I feel you Sean. But you can't deny that one is fueled by the other. I do feel that it is unfair that the same subjects are taught at different universities to relatively the same expertise and degree but yet one is given more weight over the other. But who said life was fair man?
Go Columbia!
Jo you're a nut!
Yup, I have smashed 2 girls from Columbia, 1 from Princeton, 1 from Penn, 1 from Yale, and 3 from Brown...
not bad, not bad...
Let's Go, COLUMBIA!!!
Just kidding...
But, I do echo the sentiments of other posters who feel that it's not necessarily the education (Ivy League or not) that puts alumni at a disadvantage. It's the perception, as well as the thinking of these parties, that puts them at a disadvantage...of interacting with others outside of their group.
agreed.
based on my experiences, there are many (well, at least blacks that went to the Ivies) that are about bettering the community from whence they came. while there are many students that go to ivies to get that money, there are just as many trying to make a difference.
going to an ivy is good, getting a degree from a Harvard means more in this society than getting the same degree from Montana State University, mainly due to the resources available. and yes, having a degree from a prestigious university, means that you're not only paying for the name "Penn".."Princeton"...but you're paying for the resources, and you're paying for the notoriety of said school.
but in the end, it's the choice of the student of what they want to get out of their education...
Free will, gotta love it.
Ivy League Pussy >>
Best of the bunch was Yale this summer tho.
Wait..thats not what this thread's about smh.
Best of the bunch was Yale this summer tho.
Wait..thats not what this thread's about smh.
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