College

[wizard]

I don't understand what you mean by, "it's based on materials."? How is it like organized religion? What sciences do you refer to? The main reason I want to go to college is to study theoretical physics. I am considering stanford because it would be great to work at their particle accelerator.

Do colleges force you to work in groups? If not, I don't think it's really important who else is in the college.

Science is superficial, and similar to organized religion because those who declare it useless get nailed with the same blasphemy responses as though insulting a religion. Science holds so much faith in the modern man even though the average modern man doesn't completely comprehend it.

If what you plan to do is beneficial for mankind (and no, car engineers aren't necessarily useful or anything of the sort) then that is only when Science could be used. Other than that, Science and technology is the reason behind the current weakness and failure of mankind.

[Linnaeus]

But there exists a major difference between these pseudo-progressive sciences, like pharmacology and certain areas in physics that get plastered on the discovery channel, and something like botany or anthropology. Maybe the mark of a good scientist is one who doesn't flaunt his pathetic atheism, and the individuals use of his specialized knowledge for a common non-financial good.  

[Fallibilis]

There are many aspects I think one learns about the University experience and the ladder - it's all about time management. I have absolutely no idea what college was like in the past, if it was at all different. But by today's standards, all college teaches kids is time management. Most kids (I'm talking about those who aren't lowlifes smoking pot and drinking every day) are taking 15+ credit hours, spend countless more on homework and extracurriculars, and by the time the weekend arrives they indulge themselves in blackouts galore to forget all the headaches and knowledge they accumulated that week.

Many go in and out with the notion that the professional world is the only world, thus the serious students is he who enrolls in 6 science and math classes per semester, or he who takes 18 credit hours of commerce, literature, political science, and matriculates himself in several university groups related to his field of expertise. Such preset individuals never stop, pausing to explore the rest of the world, themselves, and their cause. Consequently, many are plagued with stress, abnormal insecurities, and a very closed perspective.

College life is definitely stressful. With that said, many do find healthy outlets for their stress. Some friends and I will venture of the city to hike through mountains, or walk along rivers, for instance. Many read, explore new philosophies and use it as a to analyze their own. Many play sports, which stimulates competition and other healthy forms of socialization. I am lucky at my university, which also has many opportunities to study abroad.

College is where a person can really define themselves. There are many paths to explore; you can chose to waste your time in college, applying your skills in subjects that do not truly interest you, or even at frat, making stories that you'll reminisce over tears and 10 shots of Jaeger twenty years later. Or, you can chose to engage in subjects that truly do interest you and challenge you. You can challenge yourself after class - pick up power lifting, or learn to cook (sparks creativity and works dexterity and care for the intricate). A word of wisdom - if you are interested in the sciences, do not deprive yourself of a liberal arts education. Those Shakespeare classes are what really builds a person.

[Incoherrant]

Whatever you do, don't go to a community college. Professors are forced to dumb down everything they teach in hopes of allowing maybe half the students to pass

This goes for Universities in general. Academics cannot fail everyone or they lose their jobs, so if they’re confronted with a bunch of apathetic idiots, they dumb down the curriculum and lower their expectations – no wonder employers take the institution into account. That said, 'prestigious' Universities will happily reduce a course to day-care if they can make a buck out of it (e.g. international students).

Everything you’ve heard about the dichotomous, liberal approach is probably true. Tutors often begin a semester by divulging their political allegiances – class 1: how to please. The more educated citizens are pc zealots for a reason – they’ve been indoctrinated by intellectual trends; conditioned for years by people they admire.

Teacher to student ratio changes substantially following introductory units, while tutorials, which are where the interaction happens, only have around 12-15 people from the beginning anyway. The bonus of a larger University is a larger audience.

This leads to an important point: University is what you make of it. It may appear that you are surrounded by idiocy (largely true), however if you get involved you should find some great people, both students and staff (to work with )

This may be relevant once/if you begin.

[Arctic Sun]

Ignore the melodramatic hype that a few people have wasted time posting.

College, like just about every other pursuit in life, ends up being what you make of it.  That said, I suggest taking a closer look at institutions that appear to offer exceptional programs of interest and outlets through which you can experience purposeful growth (intellectual, social, personal, ect.).  

The rest is just a matter of personal taste.  I'm enrolled at a very large university: general courses are impersonal, but I also attend classes that consist of less than 20 students; it's about half and half.

I also wouldn't overlook local community colleges for basic courses: if you have the ability to learn on your own, why not save a few thousand dollars by doing as much in a manner that most Universities don't frown upon?  Psych 1001 is not something that's worth hours and hours of time lost in a KRONOS punch card machine, imo.

Best of luck.

[Horrific Prophecies]

I have also started university today. Just out of curiosity, what do others here study? I opted for town/environmental planning sort of thing studying anthropology/sociology/history etc, where I will get easssyyy employment (where I can make some change) virtually anywhere worldwide. It's all about credentials really. I'm sure a few people here went for the philosophy/psychology/music ilk of course.
I can do that stuff in my spare time though  

The students there suck, obviously

Yep. Have you found any intelligent people? Universities have got to be the best places/opportunities for finding intelligent persons, even with the copious amounts of 'study/drink/tv' types about. I like the idea of leaving ANUS and CORRUPT fliers about (outside philosophy rooms?   , library books etc), perhaps with an email address so people can contact you to meet and discuss things.

[Dave]

Just out of curiosity, what do others here study?

I'm studying philosophy myself, but will most likely change my major. Right now I'm strongly considering enlisting in an officer candidate program for the Marines, and may switch to something that will be more useful for that. I love philosophy, but I just couldn't do that for a living (being a professor) like I originally planned. I was thinking some type of engineering, while keeping philosophy as a minor.

[kontinual]

I have also started university today. Just out of curiosity, what do others here study?

http://www.anus.com/metal/hall/YaBB.cgi?board=deathmetal;action=display;num=1196782424

[Goluf]

I'll be making a choice about college in about a month. Concerning what makes a college good, I only look for two things really: resources and at least one good teacher.

Is anyone here currently attending (or applying to) these schools?

Ithaca College
University of Rochester (Eastman School of Music)
New England Conservatory
Longy School of Music
Boston Conservatory
University of Hartford (Hartt School of Music)

[ASBO]

Aim high.

You get what you give.

It's a rare chance. Using it for the best is how you enjoy it.

You will meet inspirational people. Not all of them will appear so at first; many who do appear so at first will turn out to be so mundane you'll be embarrassed you ever looked up to them.

Everyone around you will be drinking, fucking, taking drugs, doing stupid shit. The innocence you save is yours forever.

You will never get another time like this: a place where people want to talk about ideas, learn from each other, and be as fearless as humans get in groups thinking together.

Enjoy it. Take the ideas seriously. Take the experience cautiously. Don't take the people seriously if they're under 30 (today's radical, tomorrow's banker). Don't do anything you cannot undo in a relative sense. Fall in love - with ideas, with people, with studies, with life. Do not drink the kool-aid. Fight.

[Shanti Andia]

Ignore spanish universities. They might be the worst of western Europe.

[Necrolust]

Fuck college.

[Raise_the_Dead]

Fuck college.

Well spoken.

[esoteric]

Paid research is the only full time job i'd consider doing and sadly, college was a prerequisite.

[beyond_godlike]

The purpose of this thread was to review colleges, not to criticize the establishment. But I guess by the way the discussion went that none of you think there is any college out there worth attending?

It was mentioned before about how classes should be taught through discussion and not lectures. Well I have found a college that claims to do just that. It is called St. John's College. I quote this straight out of an ad of theirs, "There is no college quite like it. There are no lecture courses, no textbooks, no written finals, no departments, no research professors. In place of these, St. John's College offers small discussion classes, books that are themselves original sources, conversational examinations at the end of each semester, individual conferences to assess a student's work, a single interdisciplinary program of studies for everyone, and teachers who are called tutors-one for every eight students." It also says that there are no "textbooks with convenient summaries and interpretations." I believe this was criticized before; I don't feel like checking. I really have no idea what to think of this college. Has anyone ever heard of it and have any useful information about it?