[quote=yamashi1][quote=deadzone]By the way, for most undergraduate majors, there is practically no difference between any of these large universities, big time football or not, in terms of curriculum, resources, etc.
For example, to suggest that a UMich undergrad is going to receive a superior education versus MSU is utter non-sense. UM may be more “prestigious” for whatever reasons and it is more competitive to get in primarily due to increased competition from out of staters (mostly east coast jews as a matter of fact). But that proves nothing about the actual curriculum or quality of education.
It annoys the hell out of my how much people overrate the value of higher education these days.[/quote]
Agree. Higher education means different things for different people. Personally, I studied a lot in HS and could have went to a more prestigious academic school (top 5 schools by US News) if I wanted to, but based on what I wanted to get out of college I couldn’t have made a better choice. For me college was learning about being away from my parents and having fun, but also able to get a job once I got out. Now that it’s been 15 years since, I’ve learned that success isn’t about what your undergraduate college was ranked (#27 vs. #52). Also to be honest with you, I don’t think it ever mattered. I got my first job from connections I made and have gotten each subsequent job based on referrals. Quality employees and employers don’t base merit on a # spit out by a magazine, they base it on you.[/quote]
yamashi1, I’m assuming here that you meant “I got my first job from connections I made [while in college]…”
My kid(s) did as well. To be frank, it was their “connections” made through business dept internships and their respective Greek organizations which landed them their first (and subsequent) jobs.
On another note: I browsed the OU Greek system web pages yesterday and noticed the gorgeous, well-maintained off-campus all brick behemoths which housed the entirety of their (upper-classmen/women) members (those not required to live on campus). All I can say is “wow!”
More than 5,000 current students have chosen to take advantage of the many benefits of fraternity and sorority life here at the University of Oklahoma and beyond. These benefits include academic assistance, leadership development, close friendships and community involvement. Each of our 58 active chapters is a member of one of our five Greek councils and each offers unique opportunities for personal growth and meaningful experiences to 25% of the University of Oklahoma student population.
Likely due to the prohibitive cost of land, for the most part, CA-based chapters of same organizations don’t have these fantastic benefits for their members … even where Greek organizations are numerous and well-entrenched such as at “Bezerkely” (Cal), UCLA and USC. CA’s frat/sorority houses are much smaller and tend to be more run down, typically housing just 8-20 members. Many of them I’ve seen online and in person are just garden-variety 3 to 5 bdrm tract homes turned frat house (with a paved over front yard for parking). In several CA jurisdictions (with antiquated zoning laws still left on their books) a “sorority house” is still considered a “brothel” and is therefore “illegal.” (Not so with frat houses, lol.) This causes the membership to be scattered over a large area surrounding the university as opposed to residing together (which I feel would be more cohesive).
I still have a few (older) relatives who live in Norman (or very near there). And yes, one had to recently rebuild their entire 10 AC homestead (with ins $) due to being decimated by the record tornado in 2013:
In spite of being partially in the path of the (infamous) “tornado alley,” Norman is a really nice city and the university is absolutely first-rate, inside and out and gorgeous to look at.
