[Redrum]

Odd little, not-very-well expounded kick in the crotch to certain students and alumni of certain "elite" schools.  Subject needed a good half mile plus of runway to take off but only managed about 200 yards before it sort of sputtered out.  Takeaway: we are elitist snobs...but in a California vibe kinda way.

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/ar...es/581998/

[Redrum]

Odd little, not-very-well expounded kick in the crotch to certain students and alumni of certain "elite" schools.  Subject needed a good half mile plus of runway to take off but only managed about 200 yards before it sort of sputtered out.  Takeaway: we are elitist snobs...but in a California vibe kinda way.

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/ar...es/581998/

[burger]

There are not enough eye roll emojis in the world for this...not for the students but for the "researchers."  If you ask students at any school what they think of competing schools, you will get the same sort of answers.  I'll bet Ohio State students think Michigan is too stiff, or they drink too much, or whatever.  Heck, I'd bet that Google employees do plenty of shit-talking about Facebook and vice versa.

People create narratives to make themselves feel better about their decisions.  Using this to specifically indict Harvard and Stanford kids is beyond stupid.

[burger]

There are not enough eye roll emojis in the world for this...not for the students but for the "researchers."  If you ask students at any school what they think of competing schools, you will get the same sort of answers.  I'll bet Ohio State students think Michigan is too stiff, or they drink too much, or whatever.  Heck, I'd bet that Google employees do plenty of shit-talking about Facebook and vice versa.

People create narratives to make themselves feel better about their decisions.  Using this to specifically indict Harvard and Stanford kids is beyond stupid.

[Phogge]

Yeah, my life was ruined when I enrolled at Lake Merced 55 years ago.

[Phogge]

Yeah, my life was ruined when I enrolled at Lake Merced 55 years ago.

[qwerty49]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

I will say that the single factor that convinced me to turn Yale down was their custom of dressing in coat and tie for dinner at the dorms every day.  Of course I am a California boy from the Bay Area and had been on quite a few unofficial and official tours of Stanford in shorts and flip flops.

[qwerty49]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

I will say that the single factor that convinced me to turn Yale down was their custom of dressing in coat and tie for dinner at the dorms every day.  Of course I am a California boy from the Bay Area and had been on quite a few unofficial and official tours of Stanford in shorts and flip flops.

[2006alum]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

This. Average of 26 students per school. Approximately 7K students per school. And no info how whether they were randomly selected or voluntarily opted in, which itself might explain why they were especially invested in navel-gazing vis-a-vis other schools. This is junk social science of the highest order. 

I'll say this - I've either attended or taught at 5 of the US News top ten universities, and students are no where near as different at each campus as they think they are, with the exception of specific programs at specific schools (i.e., of course Wharton students are business oriented and overly preprofessional - that's the whole freaking point). For the most part, even to the degree they are different, my observation has been that it's behavioral cues rather than intrinsic personality differences - it's easier to slip into being "laid back" when it's 80 and sunny in February, easier to become careerist and finance-oriented when you're an hour train ride from NYC, and easier to find your artsy hipster self when you go to school in Manhattan.

[2006alum]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

This. Average of 26 students per school. Approximately 7K students per school. And no info how whether they were randomly selected or voluntarily opted in, which itself might explain why they were especially invested in navel-gazing vis-a-vis other schools. This is junk social science of the highest order. 

I'll say this - I've either attended or taught at 5 of the US News top ten universities, and students are no where near as different at each campus as they think they are, with the exception of specific programs at specific schools (i.e., of course Wharton students are business oriented and overly preprofessional - that's the whole freaking point). For the most part, even to the degree they are different, my observation has been that it's behavioral cues rather than intrinsic personality differences - it's easier to slip into being "laid back" when it's 80 and sunny in February, easier to become careerist and finance-oriented when you're an hour train ride from NYC, and easier to find your artsy hipster self when you go to school in Manhattan.

[lex24]

You should here what Cal students think of Stanford. ? As far as I can tell, the take of this story is students favor the school they attend over others. WOW! That’s quite a revelation.....

[lex24]

You should here what Cal students think of Stanford. ? As far as I can tell, the take of this story is students favor the school they attend over others. WOW! That’s quite a revelation.....

[CTcard]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

This. Average of 26 students per school.

In this case the issue isn't so much that the numbers are statistically insignificant. This is roughly akin to running a study to find out that Germans think Italians are disorganized and French think the Birts have bad food. I wouldn't necessarily doubt that the idea is out there, but I would doubt it reveals anything deep about the nature of an individual's psyche. 


… and I fear 2006 took math lessons from my 10 year old.

[CTcard]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

This. Average of 26 students per school.

In this case the issue isn't so much that the numbers are statistically insignificant. This is roughly akin to running a study to find out that Germans think Italians are disorganized and French think the Birts have bad food. I wouldn't necessarily doubt that the idea is out there, but I would doubt it reveals anything deep about the nature of an individual's psyche. 


… and I fear 2006 took math lessons from my 10 year old.

[2006alum]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

 

This. Average of 26 students per school.

 

… and I fear 2006 took math lessons from my 10 year old.

Pardon me, 28 - I was typing on the fly while commuting on the subway. But really, your ten year old is still struggling with the concept of dividing by 2?

[2006alum]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

 

This. Average of 26 students per school.

 

… and I fear 2006 took math lessons from my 10 year old.

Pardon me, 28 - I was typing on the fly while commuting on the subway. But really, your ten year old is still struggling with the concept of dividing by 2?

[CTcard]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

 

This. Average of 26 students per school.

 

… and I fear 2006 took math lessons from my 10 year old.

Pardon me, 28 - I was typing on the fly while commuting on the subway. But really, your ten year old is still struggling with the concept of dividing by 2?

not the concept, but often the carefulness to note the numbers correctly.

[CTcard]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

 

This. Average of 26 students per school.

 

… and I fear 2006 took math lessons from my 10 year old.

Pardon me, 28 - I was typing on the fly while commuting on the subway. But really, your ten year old is still struggling with the concept of dividing by 2?

not the concept, but often the carefulness to note the numbers correctly.

[2006alum]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

 

This. Average of 26 students per school.

 

… and I fear 2006 took math lessons from my 10 year old.

Pardon me, 28 - I was typing on the fly while commuting on the subway. But really, your ten year old is still struggling with the concept of dividing by 2?

not the concept, but often the carefulness to note the numbers correctly.

I'd say a better lesson for a ten-year-old is that sarcastically calling out obvious (and trivial) typos is a petty kind of point-scoring that fosters neither good will nor stronger community.

[2006alum]

Sorry, I just can't attach much validity to a "study" based on 56 interviews.

 

This. Average of 26 students per school.

 

… and I fear 2006 took math lessons from my 10 year old.

Pardon me, 28 - I was typing on the fly while commuting on the subway. But really, your ten year old is still struggling with the concept of dividing by 2?

not the concept, but often the carefulness to note the numbers correctly.

I'd say a better lesson for a ten-year-old is that sarcastically calling out obvious (and trivial) typos is a petty kind of point-scoring that fosters neither good will nor stronger community.

[Redrum]

Waiter!  Waiter!  Would you bring both these folks here a good strong cocktail or straight whiskey?  On second thought...make those doubles.

[Redrum]

Waiter!  Waiter!  Would you bring both these folks here a good strong cocktail or straight whiskey?  On second thought...make those doubles.

[2006alum]

Waiter!  Waiter!  Would you bring both these folks here a good strong cocktail or straight whiskey?  On second thought...make those doubles.

Is it 5 p.m. yet? ;)

[2006alum]

Waiter!  Waiter!  Would you bring both these folks here a good strong cocktail or straight whiskey?  On second thought...make those doubles.

Is it 5 p.m. yet? ;)

[Nan3cy]

Waiter!  Waiter!  Would you bring both these folks here a good strong cocktail or straight whiskey?  On second thought...make those doubles.

Is it 5 p.m. yet? ;)

Somewhere, it certainly is.

[Nan3cy]

Waiter!  Waiter!  Would you bring both these folks here a good strong cocktail or straight whiskey?  On second thought...make those doubles.

Is it 5 p.m. yet? ;)

Somewhere, it certainly is.

[CTcard]

I'd say a better lesson for a ten-year-old is that sarcastically calling out obvious (and trivial) typos is a petty kind of point-scoring that fosters neither good will nor stronger community.

How about this then: 
I apologize for mentioning the math mistake. 

I had thought it was kind of funny. Obviously you did not so I should be more careful.

[CTcard]

I'd say a better lesson for a ten-year-old is that sarcastically calling out obvious (and trivial) typos is a petty kind of point-scoring that fosters neither good will nor stronger community.

How about this then: 
I apologize for mentioning the math mistake. 

I had thought it was kind of funny. Obviously you did not so I should be more careful.

[martyup]

I sensed the author harbors resentment toward all of the "elite" schools.  Perhaps jealousy was a motivation for this article?

[martyup]

I sensed the author harbors resentment toward all of the "elite" schools.  Perhaps jealousy was a motivation for this article?

[BostonCard]

I'd say a better lesson for a ten-year-old is that sarcastically calling out obvious (and trivial) typos is a petty kind of point-scoring that fosters neither good will nor stronger community.

How about this then: 
I apologize for mentioning the math mistake. 

I had thought it was kind of funny. Obviously you did not so I should be more careful.

Will, if it makes 2006 feel better, I missed the mistake twice.  First when I read it, and then when I read CT's post noting a math error.  It was only on the third look that I saw it.  The mind really does play tricks.

BC

[BostonCard]

I'd say a better lesson for a ten-year-old is that sarcastically calling out obvious (and trivial) typos is a petty kind of point-scoring that fosters neither good will nor stronger community.

How about this then: 
I apologize for mentioning the math mistake. 

I had thought it was kind of funny. Obviously you did not so I should be more careful.

Will, if it makes 2006 feel better, I missed the mistake twice.  First when I read it, and then when I read CT's post noting a math error.  It was only on the third look that I saw it.  The mind really does play tricks.

BC

[2006alum]

I'd say a better lesson for a ten-year-old is that sarcastically calling out obvious (and trivial) typos is a petty kind of point-scoring that fosters neither good will nor stronger community.

How about this then: 
I apologize for mentioning the math mistake. 

I had thought it was kind of funny. Obviously you did not so I should be more careful.

Thanks man - appreciate it. And I'd probably have found more humor in it if I had been properly caffeinated. Perhaps your 10-year-old can also offer lessons on no Cardboard before Cafe!

Bygones!

[2006alum]

I'd say a better lesson for a ten-year-old is that sarcastically calling out obvious (and trivial) typos is a petty kind of point-scoring that fosters neither good will nor stronger community.

How about this then: 
I apologize for mentioning the math mistake. 

I had thought it was kind of funny. Obviously you did not so I should be more careful.

Thanks man - appreciate it. And I'd probably have found more humor in it if I had been properly caffeinated. Perhaps your 10-year-old can also offer lessons on no Cardboard before Cafe!

Bygones!

[jonnyss]

i just read the article. imo, the survey questions strongly biased the results. 

the structured questionnaire asked, why did you choose your school over others? so, the respondents were guided to say how their school was better. 

certainly, if you ask me, "why did you choose yale for undergrad?' i will tell you all that's great about yale. if you ask me instead a more neutral question, "how do you think you would have fared at another school," i would say, gee, if i'd been brave enough to go across the country to stanford at age 17, i might have had a amazing time. and, if i'd gone to a smaller school like amherst, williams, or swarthmore, i might have connected more with professors.

[jonnyss]

i just read the article. imo, the survey questions strongly biased the results. 

the structured questionnaire asked, why did you choose your school over others? so, the respondents were guided to say how their school was better. 

certainly, if you ask me, "why did you choose yale for undergrad?' i will tell you all that's great about yale. if you ask me instead a more neutral question, "how do you think you would have fared at another school," i would say, gee, if i'd been brave enough to go across the country to stanford at age 17, i might have had a amazing time. and, if i'd gone to a smaller school like amherst, williams, or swarthmore, i might have connected more with professors.

[lex24]

Am I missing something. Admittedly I didn’t go to an elite private Univ. I went to an elite public one. (You may consider that an oxymoron). But overall, isn’t the lesson here that kids prefer the school they chose over other Universities- even if those are also elite schools. Did we need a study to tell us that? 

I’m just some schmuck that went to one of those public schools that the students didn’t mention. But I don’t need a study to tell me that kids at Univ X are going to find ways to put themselves (or their schools) above a Univ Y and Z. So to me this is an incredibly stupid and obvious study. I sure hope they didn’t give them grant money to do it.

[lex24]

Am I missing something. Admittedly I didn’t go to an elite private Univ. I went to an elite public one. (You may consider that an oxymoron). But overall, isn’t the lesson here that kids prefer the school they chose over other Universities- even if those are also elite schools. Did we need a study to tell us that? 

I’m just some schmuck that went to one of those public schools that the students didn’t mention. But I don’t need a study to tell me that kids at Univ X are going to find ways to put themselves (or their schools) above a Univ Y and Z. So to me this is an incredibly stupid and obvious study. I sure hope they didn’t give them grant money to do it.