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 | Bright | THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT
Imagine a large square that has been subdivided into four smaller but equal squares inside its parameter; those smaller squares representing the possible outcomes, in terms of personal satisfaction and educational success, a student is able to experience at any college (or university) that he or she could attend.The lower left square is the worst-case scenario: a miserable time; a poor education derived. The lower right box is where students whom had a pretty good time of it, but did not excel academically, lived. The upper left corner contains students who did well enough, grade-wise (perhaps because most were very goal-oriented and this kept them on track), but they do not remember their college years as being a very enjoyable time. The upper right square is the best of all worlds: those students whom acquired a great set of skills and learned to a considerable degree, that which they would need to get started on their chosen path, while experiencing what many of them will say later were “the best years of my life” [at least, to that point, perhaps]. I firmly believe that college is what YOU make of it: all four of the above cases (generalities to some degree, but true enough) exist at virtually any college you could name; NO school is truly “Happy Valley” {although those at Penn State might say otherwise}, but none are a “Devil’s Island”, either. Of course, it is also true that some schools are simply a “bad match” for certain students, so it pays BIG dividends to carefully research any/all colleges & universities which you are actively considering applying to, and, by all means, find a way {= “beg, borrow, or steal”, if need be . . . .} to VISIT those schools – if you have not already done so – which you get accepted to, before finally committing yourself to attend any one of them. You’ll thank yourself – and probably your PARENTS as well – later, for doing this. I’ve repeated this story to other parents – as well as to more than one prospective college student – of the mother & daughter, who traveled {by CAR} for hours and hours, from a small town in western Pennsylvania, to see Brown University [which the daughter had envisioned as her “dream school”] in Providence, RI. Upon arrival, however, the girl refused to even get out of the car, as she was completely “turned-off” by the somewhat drab setting within the city, which this Ivy League school is located. Moral of the story: VISIT the school; even before applying, if possible (and why waste the application $$, as well?). Just my thoughts, as a father of three children whom have gone – successfully – through “The College Experience”, with a fourth one now undergoing the selection process, as she nears her senior year in high school. Incidentally, I’m a UMass grad, class of ’75, who probably spent just a little too much time in the ‘lower right’ box from my example above, but I like to think that I’ve more than made up for it since that time ! | Starting Job: Lab Technician, Preparedness: -, Reputation: C | | |
| | May 23 2007 | Alumnus Male --
Class 2000 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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| Bright | If you are bright and intellectually curious, this is not the school for you. UMASS caters to the intellectually vacant, mediocre student. The faculty were good, but they were frustrated and bored with the students. The atmostphere was like an extension of the lowest level classes in my high school. If you can't afford to go anywhere else, then know that you will have to ignore the mainstream at UMASS, search out and find the tiny minority of bright, interested students, and try not too be dragged down by the prevailing attitude of ignorance. Also, as far as financial issues, I found that private universities, while higher tuition than state schools, have more money to give you. | Starting Job: secretary, Preparedness: F, Reputation: D | | |
| | Aug 16 2005 | Alumna Female --
Class 2000 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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| Quite Bright | This is a party school with a low intelligence student population. It's just an extension of a typical unchallenging high school. The faculty were bored, the students were there to be entertained. The University is large enough that, if you look for it, you can get a good education, but the bulk of the population is not there to learn, and you feel like an outsider if you are intellectually curious. If you are gifted or intellectually curious, don't go here. It's a waste of time. | Surrounding City: A, Education Quality: F | | | |
| | Aug 16 2005 | 4th Year Female --
Class 1971 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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