College luxury arms race? - Page 2

Hanna · 09-28-2012, 06:54 PM

Speaking from personal experience, affiliation with world-class teaching hospitals and a superb medical school does not mean that a college has terrific student health services.

Catria · 09-28-2012, 09:25 PM

^^
What university is it that has world-class teaching hospitals and medical school and student health services that don't exactly measure up? Johns Hopkins?

europegrad · 10-09-2012, 04:07 AM

I think some of these programs don't really cost much (such a nutritionist on staff). Others, such as maintaining a private "concierge" laundry look very over the top. They are labor intensive, and costly - as any 24/7 stand-by service.

What I think is problematic is the way academics are falling down on the criteria many students select their schools. College Confidential is an exception.

Pizzagirl · 10-09-2012, 06:23 AM

Why is that problematic? For most hs seniors in the US, college isn't about the very highest and most rigorous academics - it's about getting a specific major, at a good cost, and being close to home. Why can't they have those priorities? Not everyone either has the capacity to be or wants to be a straight A student.

ucbalumnus · 10-09-2012, 05:32 PM

As far as luxuries go, it may depend on what is defined as a "luxury".

For example, consider the "classic" college dorm with rooms off a hall and one large multi-person bathroom per floor. Would most students and parents today see it as a "substandard" choice compared to a suite dorm? Is the suite dorm, probably seen as a mild luxury decades ago, now considered the baseline?

How about air conditioning in college dorms? Have views changed on whether it should be a standard feature, versus a luxury?

momofthreeboys · 10-09-2012, 06:11 PM

With all the good engineering school within a few hours drive in and around Michigan about the only reason to go to Michigan Tech (which is a good engineering school) which is in the far reaches of the UP...IS to be able to ski as much and as often as possible in the winter.

Hanna · 10-09-2012, 06:24 PM

Catria, I was talking about Harvard.

deb922 · 10-12-2012, 10:52 AM

Momofthreeboys, probably just being cranky but as having a husband and son (and S's girlfriend) proud graduates of Michigan Tech there are lots of reasons to go to Tech other than the skiing and reasons to pick Tech even when you can get into other downstate schools.

hudsonvalley51 · 10-12-2012, 11:00 AM

Since when is having a nutritionist on staff a perk? Most of the public schools in our area have nutritionists on staff.

Massmomm · 10-12-2012, 11:24 AM

At some colleges with luxury accommodations, parents pay more for their kids to be in the posh dorms. This isn't really all that different from living in the real world. Rich people have always had nicer places to live.

momofthreeboys · 10-13-2012, 10:36 AM

Deb no not cranky but when a college is a 10 hour drive from population centers and very good competitive schools there needs to be a compelling reason and proxmity to the state's better skiing is a compelling reason that is the point. I am certain kids choose schools for more than one reason

TomSrOfBoston · 10-13-2012, 11:10 AM

Quote:

At some colleges with luxury accommodations, parents pay more for their kids to be in the posh dorms. This isn't really all that different from living in the real world. Rich people have always had nicer places to live.

But in many cases it is not so rich parents and students borrowing to pay for these luxuries.