I applied to Harvard

[aries]

Plymouth is less than spectacular unfortunately... unless you really really like to drink.

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

College is what you make of it.  My husband went to Plymouth...he played a sport for four years, worked, took classes that challenged him, established personal relationships with a couple of professors in classes he really liked (would go to their homes for dinner, go out with them, etc.), did a cool internship, took a heavy class load and learned a lot.  Yes, there was a lot of partying (hey, it was the 70's/early 80's), but you gotta figure out what your priorities are...especially if you don't have a lot of money and your college choice is driven by the dollar.

Personally, I think too many parents, and, thus their kids, are obsessed with the prestigiousness of schools. <nose in the air> "I'm not going to go to UNH (or PSU or KSU) because I'm too good, too smart, too rich, too whatever..." The reality is that most of us are going to end up just average Joe's working in average jobs for average wages and it doesn't make a lick of difference where our degree is from.   

[aries]

^ I haven't found a single class here at PSU that isn't an easy A. If I have, it has been upper level, or the prerequesites are daunting. I've got an appointment with an advisor at an engineering school I've been accepted at, in fact, because it is so easy here. One more semester and I'd surely drop out, it seems like a waste of money doing all this busy work and "self exploration."

I almost envy those that can put up with easy, unrewarding work and not feel like quitting.

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

Congratulations on being such an intelligent young man and for being able to afford to go to an engineering school...(serious, not being facetious).  But, that doesn't mean that PSU is easy and a school just for drunks. It's not for you.  But, it's obviously a very good fit for lots of other people.  I don't think you should condemn the school just because it doesn't work for you.  And, like I tried to say in my earlier post, the college experience isn't just about the academic classes you take and the stuff you learn in the classroom - it's the whole package...and it's important to find organizations/events/research/teams/people that challenge you and increase/improve your "life knowledge" not just your "book knowledge."

[aries]

Congratulations on being such an intelligent young man and for being able to afford to go to an engineering school...(serious, not being facetious).  But, that doesn't mean that PSU is easy and a school just for drunks. It's not for you.  But, it's obviously a very good fit for lots of other people.  I don't think you should condemn the school just because it doesn't work for you.  And, like I tried to say in my earlier post, the college experience isn't just about the academic classes you take and the stuff you learn in the classroom - it's the whole package...and it's important to find organizations/events/research/teams/people that challenge you and increase/improve your "life knowledge" not just your "book knowledge."

Engineering school isn't very expensive when it's in Canada. All state schools are super subsidized. Unfortunately student involvement at PSU is extremely low. I joined 2 clubs hoping to meet people - the debate team and the campus republicans. The campus republicans shut down after the 2nd unsuccessful meeting and I became the president of the debate team because nobody else joined. There was the possibility of getting a new member this semester but she backed out upon hearing the team only had... me. I just wish there was more enthusiasm here. Nobody seems to want to do anything, a bunch of clubs shut down this year as they either couldn't get funding or not enough people joined in the first place. I guess someone might find the school okay even if their favorite pastime wasn't drinking/partying, I just don't know who.

[LiveFree]

I go to PSU as well, and I rather like it, mainly because I can commute from home and because it's a cheap degree.  That's right, I said it's a cheap degree.  Sure, we're not the most prestigious school, but I really can't see any possibility in the future of me being declined a job I might want because I went to PSU unless I'm up against someone vastly more intelligent or skilled than I am, in which case, my going to PSU really isn't going to matter a whole hell of a lot.

And most of the classes ARE an easy A, if you do the work.  The thing is, the reason a lot of people don't go very far in life isn't necessarily raw skill or intelligence, it's sloth.  People don't want to put in the time or effort to go as far as they could, and that's their choice.  I have no doubt that with my drive (when I want something) and my education, I'll have no problems getting what I want in life as far as jobs go, regardless of the lack of prestige PSU has.

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

Good points, Livefree. 

Aries:  Statements like "student involvement at PSU is very low" and "nobody seems to want to do anything" just don't hold water with me...As you know, my son is almost your age and I never had patience with my children when they made statements like this.  The debate club is floundering...then do something about it!  Same with the campus Republicans (by the way, Tyler is the chairman of the Grafton County Young Republicans...you and he should work together to raise awareness and get young people educated/involved). 

I don't think it's fair to assume that if PSU doesn't work for you, then it won't be the right fit for others.  I went to the public forum re defining adequacy in education last night at Plymouth High School.  The majority of speakers made the point that the education system shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all.  Same is true at the college level - what doesn't work for you may work for others and vice-versa.

[KBCraig]

And, like I tried to say in my earlier post, the college experience isn't just about the academic classes you take and the stuff you learn in the classroom - it's the whole package...and it's important to find organizations/events/research/teams/people that challenge you and increase/improve your "life knowledge" not just your "book knowledge."

Too many people confuse "knowledge" with "education". If you want "knowledge", you can get that for free at the library. The "education" at college comes from life outside the classroom.

Kevin

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

Kevin: You said that so much more succintly (sp?) than me!!

[error]

All I learned at college was how to drink. The classes were mostly a waste of time.

[error]

Kevin: You said that so much more succintly (sp?) than me!!

That's okay. Some people understand brief explanations. Others need the longer, more detailed explanations. Still others need examples to learn from. A few people probably learn by some other method.

[aries]

I don't think it's fair to assume that if PSU doesn't work for you, then it won't be the right fit for others. 

I think it's fair to assume that if it doesn't work for me then it won't work for others like me. I'm only here to offer a perspective.

And to be honest I'm way too introverted (as in, every fiber of my being is the furthest you can get on the introversion side of an intro/extraversion scale) to drum up participation in any fashion. I don't even like talking to my friends, let alone people I don't know. That's the reason, beyond all others, that when I say it doesn't work for me, it also means that it can't work for me, because there's a snowballs chance in hell that I'm going to try and influence other people. I'd rather go somewhere that didn't need changing in that respect. I can change some things but not participation.