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What defines a "good college"?

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OG_lock
Posts: 314 - Karma: 1,615
I feel like there is no clear definition to this. It seems to be similar to defining what a rich person is, everyone's perception is different....

Can anyone shed an light on this?
Jul 12 2014 10:49PM
14 24
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,676
booze
bud
babe
Jul 12 2014 10:50PM
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Spagett+
Posts: 3499 - Karma: 14,884
high quality education that u can get a well paying job with
Jul 12 2014 10:57PM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
Well, I don't think you will get a very specific answer for this. All you can really look at is the schools' academic ranking and the success of the alumni.

On paper going to a 'good' school may seem like the right thing to do, but it could also mean a significant amount a debt. And depending on what your goals are could be achieved at a school for much less with the same outcome.

Each school will have strengths and weaknesses. Some faculties will provide more opportunities than others.

But I believe every institution has something to offer and an experience to be gained. What you get from a degree is mostly dependent on what you do outside of the classroom. The connections you make are IMO the greatest asset to be gained in education. Take the time to volunteer, do research and immerse yourself and you will find something of value no matter where you study.
Jul 12 2014 11:05PM
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,676
The referenced post has been removed.


fckin rght
Jul 12 2014 11:07PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51738 - Karma: 163,438
homeless people

meth

high murder rate
Jul 12 2014 11:53PM
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,663
Download-My-AppsWell, I don't think you will get a very specific answer for this. All you can really look at is the schools' academic ranking and the success of the alumni.

On paper going to a 'good' school may seem like the right thing to do, but it could also mean a significant amount a debt. And depending on what your goals are could be achieved at a school for much less with the same outcome.

Each school will have strengths and weaknesses. Some faculties will provide more opportunities than others.

But I believe every institution has something to offer and an experience to be gained. What you get from a degree is mostly dependent on what you do outside of the classroom. The connections you make are IMO the greatest asset to be gained in education. Take the time to volunteer, do research and immerse yourself and you will find something of value no matter where you study.


recent college graduates have told me that your degree is just a piece of paper but the connections you make a long the way is what will really help you in the future
Jul 13 2014 12:06AM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
Well if you're wondering about the most general/common way people talk about schools being "good," it is done in the academic sense. So how good professors/departments are at the school relative to others, and how hard the school is to get into relative to others.
Jul 13 2014 12:17AM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
Chubz.recent college graduates have told me that your degree is just a piece of paper but the connections you make a long the way is what will really help you in the future


For the most part I agree. But for some jobs at least you need the specific piece of paper. Some programs for example Early Russian Literature mightbe less useful for finding a job compared to Civil Engineering. Unless you have a very specific job in mind like working in Russian archives...

I was more or less I fly on the wall in my undergrad, didn't really connect much with the university other than skiing.
My grades and experiences outside of school were just enough to get me into grad school. Where I see so many more advantages of connecting with the people in your program, specifically the professors. Down the road they may know someone within your specific industry that might lead to a job. Chances are your grades won't mean anything to them, but if you make a positive impression with your personality something could come of it.
Jul 13 2014 12:19AM
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acualywasdolan
Posts: 1172 - Karma: -747
Top 100 schools
Jul 13 2014 1:03AM
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ilikefood
Posts: 391 - Karma: 769
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omg do you go to harvard???
Jul 13 2014 1:55AM
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iH8pow
Posts: 1824 - Karma: 7,816
Chubz.recent college graduates have told me that your degree is just a piece of paper but the connections you make a long the way is what will really help you in the future


Exactly this. The key to success is developing an idea of what you want to do while in school, sticking to it thus "networking" and...profit!
And "networking" shouldn't be shallow conversations with people you are only associating with because of their knowledge. You don't need to be having deep conversations about the industry with them and sucking up to professors. Networking can be drinking, doing drugs with your classmates and creating bonds, as long as you graduate and they do as well you both will have made connections and will help each other get jobs down the line. It's not what you know, it's who you know.

So a "good" college is the college that fits your lifestyle. I'm guessing for a lot of people here, it would be one with a mountain nearby. I went to Minnesota-Duluth, and skied park in between classes.

but if you can't get into Harvard, you probably have no business even thinking about college obviously
Jul 13 2014 2:30AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
You learn essentially the same thing at every school. At least for the business program I went through at a pretty solid school (top 50 business school) there really was no difference between my school and Harvard.

The REAL difference is the connections you make, as well as the companies that recruit from campus. For example, I busted my ass to get into investment banking....took me rediciulous amount of effort, networking, had to maintain a +3.5GPA etc. Now I had some friends at some IVy's who did good in school, but had offers out the ass because they had "harvard" on their resume.

At least for business students, I think thats really where the main difference is. Hell, my international finance class we ended up using Harvard case studies instead of text books.
Jul 13 2014 1:33PM
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spaceghostpurp
Posts: 249 - Karma: 835
The only thing that makes a college good is the name. If you see yale or harvard on a sweatshirt then your probably like "ooh that sounds cool i wanna go there." but then when you see something like universal technical institute then you dont wanna go to a college that has the same initials as urinary tract infection
Jul 13 2014 2:43PM
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Edward.
Posts: 9366 - Karma: 445
If you dont go to princetin youre not smart. harvard is teh worst skoolz
Jul 13 2014 3:16PM
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.MASSHOLE.
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If you can go to Stanford, Cal Tech, or Oxford.
Jul 13 2014 3:50PM
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crotchvent
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Location to a ski hill.
Jul 13 2014 4:00PM
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lIllI
Posts: 1255 - Karma: 1,986
Target school v.s. non-target school.

Quality of professors. Some schools hire based on the adage "those who can't do, teach." Other schools find some of the top minds in that field and pay them enough money to leave their previous careers to teach. For instance, Western Washington's graphic design program has a lot of professors who sucked so much that they had to settle on a teaching job. At my current school, my accounting professor was responsible for pricing the original iPods at Apple headquarters. Hell, at a big school like Yale you get big names like Robert Shiller teaching your classes.
Jul 13 2014 4:51PM
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
There isn't a very good way to answer this in general, because most schools have some amazing programs, and some shitty programs. You're better off researching what schools have good programs for majors you're interested in that looking for a "good school in general."

That being said, connections and real work experience are way more important than where your degree is from for getting a job, but a "good school" will likely have more opportunities to help you make those connections.
Jul 13 2014 5:10PM
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