<p>Woodwork-
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<p>I am not sure I follow your statement. Is this a typo? Did you mean to say that the reasons for not having a core ARE those (not “or” those) you mentioned? I am wanting to be sure I understand you. I do appreciate your comments. And I believe that is what you meant. Please correct me if i am wrong.</p>
<p>It always entertains me to see what crtiteria are atop a student’s list for their best “fit” school. When I attended, in the 70’s, the lack of required classes, coupled with no greek life was important to me during the culture of those times. I am still happy with the choice I made for undergrad (Vassar), but I’ll never know what life would have been like for me if I’d accepted the U Penn acceptance instead. But with the lack of requirements at Vassar, I was able to saturate myself in classes in my chosen field, and by my second semester sophomore year was taking senior seminars, in classes with 5 students. That led me to other opportunities, to be a TA for several faculty in my junior year, to independent research, etc. </p>
<p>Sorry for the unfortunate timing for your visit to Duke. My older s. scratched Duke off his list in part because he spent 2 summers there without air conditioning. Ugh! That did it for him. My younger one will be there this summer. He is charged up by the fact that there is a McDonalds in the Student Center (well, he’s only 15-- I’ll give him time to get over that one). Ahh, priorities…</p>
<p>I love Dartmouth, and was chagrined that my older s. didn’t. He couldn’t wait to get out of there. Could it have been the dreary day we were there? The fact that he was sick that day? The fact that there had just been a big turnover in the Physics department that left the faculty in uncertainty? The fact that the professor cancelled the class he was supposed to sit in on without notifiying the secretary, so he (my s.) was relegated to a physics grad student and an astronomy prof for a meeting and tour of the labs? Or was it, all else considered, those pesky 7:30 am required language classes 5 days a week!!?? (Hard for the freshman to get the 5 pm classes, so he was told). That was a DEFINITE negative for him. The big article in the school paper that week about the recent student suicide was an observation for me. Not that it doesn’t happen all over. It was just the big article in the school paper when we were there. Timing is everything.</p>
<p>When we went to hear the admissions officer from Columbia speak locally, he went on and on, and on, and ON about the beauty of their core curriculum. Big turnoff for my s. who was interested in their Engineering program (which doesn’t have the same core requirements because of the heavy engineering requirements). Didn’t really hear squat about the engineering program. Just how important the core was, and how he (the admissions officer) was so glad to have found that he was accidentally born in Ga but was really a NYer at heart. (Great to hear from a family originally from NY now living in Ga). So, Columbia got scratched, much to his grandparents chagrin,as they still live in the 'burbs.</p>
<p>My s. has taken Philosophy, German Film, Economics and even a cooking class in addition to all the math/science/engineering stuff in his first yr of college. He has a long list of “fun” stuff he’d like to take, if he can fit it in. I am glad the lack of a core allows him the flexibility to do that. And I think, for the mostpart, most college students will enjoy their college experience better when they feel they have the freedom and flexibility to take what they choose. That said, we are having to “push” our younger s. to take classes in HS he might otherwise avoid. Too bad they don’t teach “The statistics of probablities as applied to Texas Hold 'em” in HS-- he’s sign right up! My younger s. will probably choose a college with minimal required courses so that he can major in Afternoon Classes… Nothing befor 11 at the earliest if he has his way… sigh…</p>