[jacketree]

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.

Ain't that the truth?

It would be interesting to see if there is any correlation between that self-approval and who paid full freight for the privilege. In rank economic terms, is it worth that hefty tuition when you have other (less expensive) options?  Stanford seems to rank really high in all those ROI lists, so the answer is probably "yes".  My nine months were on the house, although I worked like the TA dog I was.

[jacketree]

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.

Ain't that the truth?

It would be interesting to see if there is any correlation between that self-approval and who paid full freight for the privilege. In rank economic terms, is it worth that hefty tuition when you have other (less expensive) options?  Stanford seems to rank really high in all those ROI lists, so the answer is probably "yes".  My nine months were on the house, although I worked like the TA dog I was.

[Stymie]

[quote author=Stymie link=topic=12483.msg123940#msg123940 date=1439221348]
90+% of Stanford footballers are never going to even sniff the NFL.  The "40-year" question breaks down to:

"Do you really want to run a Lexus dealership in Akron/Mobile/Pasadena/etc. or do you want to spend the rest of your life trying to help change (even a tiny toty part of) the world?"

Is there something wrong with running a Lexus dealership anywhere?  The problem escapes me.
[/quote]

I've had three years in the trenches interviewing candidates for Stanford, and all of them wanted to go to the farm to help change the world, in various ways, for expected remuneration which ranged from megabucks to just a living wage.  None of them expressed any interest in running a car dealership.  I think that meme is one of the things that separates Stanford's "40 years" ptich vis a vis tUSO, US of C, Notre Mama, etc.  Capice? (insert serious smiley face here).

Stymie

[Stymie]

[quote author=Stymie link=topic=12483.msg123940#msg123940 date=1439221348]
90+% of Stanford footballers are never going to even sniff the NFL.  The "40-year" question breaks down to:

"Do you really want to run a Lexus dealership in Akron/Mobile/Pasadena/etc. or do you want to spend the rest of your life trying to help change (even a tiny toty part of) the world?"

Is there something wrong with running a Lexus dealership anywhere?  The problem escapes me.
[/quote]

I've had three years in the trenches interviewing candidates for Stanford, and all of them wanted to go to the farm to help change the world, in various ways, for expected remuneration which ranged from megabucks to just a living wage.  None of them expressed any interest in running a car dealership.  I think that meme is one of the things that separates Stanford's "40 years" ptich vis a vis tUSO, US of C, Notre Mama, etc.  Capice? (insert serious smiley face here).

Stymie

[Rally]

[quote author=ferrari link=topic=12483.msg123941#msg123941 date=1439221540]
[quote author=Stymie link=topic=12483.msg123940#msg123940 date=1439221348]
90+% of Stanford footballers are never going to even sniff the NFL.  The "40-year" question breaks down to:

"Do you really want to run a Lexus dealership in Akron/Mobile/Pasadena/etc. or do you want to spend the rest of your life trying to help change (even a tiny toty part of) the world?"

Is there something wrong with running a Lexus dealership anywhere?  The problem escapes me.
[/quote]

I've had three years in the trenches interviewing candidates for Stanford, and all of them wanted to go to the farm to help change the world, in various ways, for expected remuneration which ranged from megabucks to just a living wage.  None of them expressed any interest in running a car dealership.  I think that meme is one of the things that separates Stanford's "40 years" ptich vis a vis tUSO, US of C, Notre Mama, etc.  Capice? (insert serious smiley face here).

Stymie
[/quote]

I understand.  Io caprisco.  Tu capisci?  Without the "s" the Italian word sounds more like codpiece than capisci.  Insert serious wonky face here.). 😀

[Rally]

[quote author=ferrari link=topic=12483.msg123941#msg123941 date=1439221540]
[quote author=Stymie link=topic=12483.msg123940#msg123940 date=1439221348]
90+% of Stanford footballers are never going to even sniff the NFL.  The "40-year" question breaks down to:

"Do you really want to run a Lexus dealership in Akron/Mobile/Pasadena/etc. or do you want to spend the rest of your life trying to help change (even a tiny toty part of) the world?"

Is there something wrong with running a Lexus dealership anywhere?  The problem escapes me.
[/quote]

I've had three years in the trenches interviewing candidates for Stanford, and all of them wanted to go to the farm to help change the world, in various ways, for expected remuneration which ranged from megabucks to just a living wage.  None of them expressed any interest in running a car dealership.  I think that meme is one of the things that separates Stanford's "40 years" ptich vis a vis tUSO, US of C, Notre Mama, etc.  Capice? (insert serious smiley face here).

Stymie
[/quote]

I understand.  Io caprisco.  Tu capisci?  Without the "s" the Italian word sounds more like codpiece than capisci.  Insert serious wonky face here.). 😀

[winflop]

Speaking as a grad of one Jesuit institution, and the father of two Jesuit high school students (Bellarmine in San Jose), I'm sure they'll get a superb education.

My kid is a St Francis alum (his little brother is a sophomore).  And they went to local parochial schools for K-8 for some of the same reasons others have described - our local elementary school went through five principals in the six years my older one was K-5.

I went to public school for most of my K-12 life, but I had the benefit of going to a great high school where great teachers came and stayed for many years.  Most of my HS teachers retired after being there for at least 10 years if not 20+.  My calculus teacher won Illinois teacher of the year.

I felt prepared academically for Stanford, but not so much otherwise.  I struggled freshman year dealing with a lot of other stuff.  Sophomore year it started to get a lot better, and by junior/senior year I had found my groove and was asking myself why I struggled so much to adapt as a freshman.

Similar to what others have written, Stanford has opened a lot of doors that might not otherwise have been opened, but I still had to be willing to walk through the doorway and make things happen once I got in the room.

[winflop]

Speaking as a grad of one Jesuit institution, and the father of two Jesuit high school students (Bellarmine in San Jose), I'm sure they'll get a superb education.

My kid is a St Francis alum (his little brother is a sophomore).  And they went to local parochial schools for K-8 for some of the same reasons others have described - our local elementary school went through five principals in the six years my older one was K-5.

I went to public school for most of my K-12 life, but I had the benefit of going to a great high school where great teachers came and stayed for many years.  Most of my HS teachers retired after being there for at least 10 years if not 20+.  My calculus teacher won Illinois teacher of the year.

I felt prepared academically for Stanford, but not so much otherwise.  I struggled freshman year dealing with a lot of other stuff.  Sophomore year it started to get a lot better, and by junior/senior year I had found my groove and was asking myself why I struggled so much to adapt as a freshman.

Similar to what others have written, Stanford has opened a lot of doors that might not otherwise have been opened, but I still had to be willing to walk through the doorway and make things happen once I got in the room.