Gallaudet University

Date: Feb 18 2003
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
This is not a school where people go for the undergraduate education. It's a socially-oriented school. This is partly because it's the only liberal arts college in the world for deaf people. And many of them go simply because it is the next step in the deaf world after high school and decent-paying jobs are hard to get, especially if you are deaf. The historical problem of low-quality education for deaf people contributes to a cynical "who cares" mentality about higher education for the deaf. This lackadasical approach is apparent in nearly every facet of the school; from the apathy of the student body, to the poor quality of management of the university (mainly alumni-run), to the faculty's resignation to just making a living going through the motions teaching junior high level courses in what is supposed to be a university environment.

The president of the university spends little time focused on the quality of the education. Instead, his focus is on hobnobbing with corporate financial donors. He has pulled in millions over the last decade and spent most of it on extensive renovations and new buildings unjustified by enrollment numbers. Precious little of the money has gone to improving the quality of the education. He has squashed senior faculty members who point this out. And there is no research happening save for a bit of deafness-related genetic testing.

Gallaudet is also in a very run-down and dangerous section of Washington, DC. A hundred and fifty years ago, it was farm land. Now it is surrounded by slums, drug dealing, muggers, and bums. Gallaudet students are frequently robbed at gunpoint while walking in the nearby neighborhoods. There have been stabbings of students by intruders from off campus, as well as rapes, auto thefts, and even a car bombing.

In short, this is a school I will never send my kids to for an undergraduate degree. I benefitted socially in some ways. Educationally, it was a wash and no challenge at all. I graduated with a 3.77 GPA and almost never studied. I am now self-employed and make good money, but Gallaudet has nothing to do with where I am at today.