[PrinceLightfoot]

[quote author=garvin link=topic=7766.msg61185#msg61185 date=1365772979]

people used to joke that the campus included two schools: Stanford University and Leland Junior College, the latter of which involved a set of courses that even the most dedicated of athletes could complete with reasonable grades.

Has anyone ever actually heard this joke?

I've never heard that joke but, given how we do admissions for athletes, I'm quite confident that every university has a set of courses our athletes could complete with reasonable grades regardless of how dedicated they are to athletics.
[/quote]

Agreed. Criticism and critiques are essential when aspiring to remain "at the top". Thompson's article though smacks more of wanting to pander to fellow East Coast media elites (many who attended schools who compete or think they compete with Stanford academically) than to explore that criticism when applied to all schools of equal prestige.

I am sure that during their respective athletic season the courses taken by our athletes are less demanding than those taken out of season. I just do not buy the idea that any degree path offered at Stanford is a walk-in-the-park compared to the same major at another school of equal caliber. Considering that the graduation rates for our athletes is very high, it is obvious that admissions is not only selecting academically capable athletes but these athletes are also completing their education instead of just using Stanford as a stepping stone to the professional leagues.

This thought also applies to non-athletes who have more of an entrepreneurial bent as rudruff pointed out.

So somehow less than 1% of the student body leaving to do something is going to destroy the university?

::)

I know individuals who skipped 2 or 3 yrs of high school...should we label them high school dropouts because they passed it by? If Stanford students are ready to move on before graduation AND become successful in their endeavors, I do not see how that reflects badly on Stanford. Sometimes the system in place is not great fit for certain individuals who have a more unorthodox approach to their education or for those who apply their education more readily to the real world. Timing can be a critical component to learning, success, and reward, so I do not lament those who leave school before graduation to pounce on opportunity.

[PrinceLightfoot]

[quote author=garvin link=topic=7766.msg61185#msg61185 date=1365772979]

people used to joke that the campus included two schools: Stanford University and Leland Junior College, the latter of which involved a set of courses that even the most dedicated of athletes could complete with reasonable grades.

Has anyone ever actually heard this joke?

I've never heard that joke but, given how we do admissions for athletes, I'm quite confident that every university has a set of courses our athletes could complete with reasonable grades regardless of how dedicated they are to athletics.
[/quote]

Agreed. Criticism and critiques are essential when aspiring to remain "at the top". Thompson's article though smacks more of wanting to pander to fellow East Coast media elites (many who attended schools who compete or think they compete with Stanford academically) than to explore that criticism when applied to all schools of equal prestige.

I am sure that during their respective athletic season the courses taken by our athletes are less demanding than those taken out of season. I just do not buy the idea that any degree path offered at Stanford is a walk-in-the-park compared to the same major at another school of equal caliber. Considering that the graduation rates for our athletes is very high, it is obvious that admissions is not only selecting academically capable athletes but these athletes are also completing their education instead of just using Stanford as a stepping stone to the professional leagues.

This thought also applies to non-athletes who have more of an entrepreneurial bent as rudruff pointed out.

So somehow less than 1% of the student body leaving to do something is going to destroy the university?

::)

I know individuals who skipped 2 or 3 yrs of high school...should we label them high school dropouts because they passed it by? If Stanford students are ready to move on before graduation AND become successful in their endeavors, I do not see how that reflects badly on Stanford. Sometimes the system in place is not great fit for certain individuals who have a more unorthodox approach to their education or for those who apply their education more readily to the real world. Timing can be a critical component to learning, success, and reward, so I do not lament those who leave school before graduation to pounce on opportunity.