[Rally]

[quote author=jacketree link=topic=12483.msg123969#msg123969 date=1439237238]

Stanford has not cornered the market on good professors, students, classes, books, etc, etc. They really don't have top secret knowledge about the key to life.  Although perhaps that information was doled out at one of those 8:00 classes I learned to zombie through.....Dammit.

Frankly, I think you are all selling yourselves short a little bit.  Sure Stanford changed most of you and for the better it seems.  But you all did most of that yourselves. 

I suppose it depends upon how you define the question - and how much you're trying to be absolute versus comparative.

Most folks change a lot during college in a way that sets the stage for the next 40+ years. For those who attended Stanford, that almost defines choosing Stanford as a 40 year decision. It also means self-approval leads to folks looking back positively at their college choice. Private schools are particularly adept at turning this basic truism into gratitude for Dear Alma Mater and thus seeding the bed for future donations. Public schools are starting to try as state funding disappears, but most are rank amateurs at the game.

Stanford's excellence at this particular task is clearly shown in this thread.
[/quote]

Not just public colleges, either.  My wife graduated from a prestigious public high school a few seconds years ago :) and has recently be getting quarterly money pitches in the mail.  She swears if the phone calls ever start she is going to politely explain to the caller where the sun does not shine.  My sweet, innocent angel.

[Rally]

[quote author=jacketree link=topic=12483.msg123969#msg123969 date=1439237238]

Stanford has not cornered the market on good professors, students, classes, books, etc, etc. They really don't have top secret knowledge about the key to life.  Although perhaps that information was doled out at one of those 8:00 classes I learned to zombie through.....Dammit.

Frankly, I think you are all selling yourselves short a little bit.  Sure Stanford changed most of you and for the better it seems.  But you all did most of that yourselves. 

I suppose it depends upon how you define the question - and how much you're trying to be absolute versus comparative.

Most folks change a lot during college in a way that sets the stage for the next 40+ years. For those who attended Stanford, that almost defines choosing Stanford as a 40 year decision. It also means self-approval leads to folks looking back positively at their college choice. Private schools are particularly adept at turning this basic truism into gratitude for Dear Alma Mater and thus seeding the bed for future donations. Public schools are starting to try as state funding disappears, but most are rank amateurs at the game.

Stanford's excellence at this particular task is clearly shown in this thread.
[/quote]

Not just public colleges, either.  My wife graduated from a prestigious public high school a few seconds years ago :) and has recently be getting quarterly money pitches in the mail.  She swears if the phone calls ever start she is going to politely explain to the caller where the sun does not shine.  My sweet, innocent angel.