<p>[Low</a> enrollment leaves empty EIU dorms - chicagotribune.com](<a href=“http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-low-enrollment-leaves-empty-eiu-dorms-20110808,0,4119313.story]Low”>http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-low-enrollment-leaves-empty-eiu-dorms-20110808,0,4119313.story)</p>
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<p>There should be and will be a flight to quality. Why waste $$$ on a worthless degree from a 3rd tier school. Better off learning a trade.</p>
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<p>LOL. EIU is actually a pretty good school. But one major problem it has it’s there are a lot of education majors on that campus. School districts in Illinois are cutting teaching positions; not hiring them. </p>
<p>Most of my family are EIU alumni. The State of Illinois has screwed up the university in a big way.</p>
<p>barrons, I’m curious as to how you know about the quality of education at Eastern Illinois University, or about how an EIU degree is regarded in Illinois?</p>
<p>I’ve known a number of EIU grads - professionally and personally. They would not regard their degrees as worthless, nor would the employers who pay them. Some years ago, when I was making my living as a consulting programmer, a couple of the sharpest guys I’ve ever worked with were EIU computer science grads.</p>
<p>If anyone has figured out the difference between barrons and a ■■■■■, I’d like to hear about it.</p>
<p>But hell, I’m taking the bait anyway.</p>
<p>I agree that learning a trade is an increasingly attractive alternative to earning a non-first-rate bachelor’s degree, but that is no reason to impugn so-called directional state universities. They are full of hardworking and earnest educators trying to better our young people, and the value of the education they offer is more a function of the student’s intelligence and effort than it is of the institutions’ inherent worth.</p>
<p>Yes, and an elitist one at that; although how someone who claims to have graduated from UW can pass themselves off as elitist, I know not.</p>
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<p>But there are LOTS of professions out there where a “trade diploma” won’t get you hired. I went to SEMO which is very similar to Eastern Illinois and my degree is in athletic training. To practice as an athletic trainer, a Bachelors or higher in athletic training is mandatory.</p>
<p>I know several people who graduated from EIU and have done quite well professionally.(I grew up in Ill). Barrons - do you know anything about this school or even one person who graduated from EIU?</p>
<p>I always assumed I would go to EIU…liked the school a lot. Turned out they didn’t offer my major, so I went a bit north of there. Two of my BILs are EIU grads.</p>
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<p>When I think of a trade, I think of electrician, mechanic, medical technology, computers. I don’t mean any disrespect, but prospects in these areas are always strong because society in its current configuration can’t function without them.</p>
<p>A good friend of ours earned a bachelor’s degree as an adult in special ed from EIU and feels it was very worthwhile. He turned down UIUC because EIU felt more personal and understanding of the demands on a working adult.</p>
<p>I believe that EIU also has a pretty large contingent of Veterans returning to school after tours of duty overseas.</p>
<p>I am concerned that their enrollment is down as a result of horendous unemployment – parents just can’t afford to send their kids. Especially parents who themsevles have not been to college. My prayers are with them.</p>
<p>Well, it certainly meets the criteria of a 3rd tier directional school. It is what it is. I am sure there are some fine graduates but that really is not the point. I worked at a top Chicago firm for about 10 years and never met anyone from there.</p>
<p>kay - I was thinking the same thing.</p>
<p>Barrons - I was going to comment on your last post, but decided it was not worth my trouble.</p>
<p>So what then? Nobody should bother getting a college education unless their degree will catapult them into a “top firm”? Anything less is a waste of time? My kid goes to a third tier directional state u. as did I.
I never regretted my choice. Don’t think he will either.</p>
<p>Same here. (Didn’t actually have a geographic direction in the name, but same class of university. Doing great, thank you.)</p>
<p>I have fond memories of EIU after enjoying a number of successes there at the high school state track finals over 30 years ago. </p>
<p>I thought it an ideal, quiet rural place to avoid distractions and focus on the task at hand. This is why it is a nice venue for the state track finals, too - the school was and is genuinely interested in being a good host. Some of my competitors went to EIU and are happy and successful today. It was not the kind of intense academic experience I was looking for but what really matters is what one does at college as opposed to where they go. </p>
<p>But I am not surprised at their enrollment decline in this terrible economy. It is a rural place without a lot to do (Charleston is a midwestern farm town) and its calling card is the education school - a career path with limited employment options in the Midwest. It is much easier for a Chicago areas student (if they don’t obtain admission to UI Champaign-Urbana) to go to Northern or Illinois State; they are bigger, with more to do and are closer to home. Note that I am not saying that going to NIU or ISU is necessarily a better choice - it is just that EIU is a harder place to attract young people. Schools like EIU may be compelled to get smaller, but more focused in certain areas and “better”.</p>
<p>Anyone who does not think which college you attend matters now more than ever is just ignoring reality. Decades ago not as much although it still mattered. There were just many more companies growing and they needed people. Baby boomers you know. Now we are in a period of shrinking and declining companies–even once very successful tech firms and the like. How many companies even have major training programs for new hires in general mgt and other areas?
Sorry but just look at the company recruiting lists at top schools versus second and third tier and the facts are clear. There is a pecking order with the Ivies and similar at the top and then top state U’s and other good privates and on down to car rental companies and insurance agents recruiting at directional U’s. A few exceptions are accting firms which will go pretty much anywhere with an approved program and some engineering firms which will do the same for nearby schools. Teaching, nursing and public and non-profit sector also are more open to most colleges.</p>
<p>Here’s a typical example of the issue using UW which gets recruited by very good firms but not the tippy top ones as much in general.</p>
<p>[How</a> a Wisconsin undergrad landed 3 consulting job offers in this economy](<a href=“http://managementconsulted.com/consulting-interviews/how-a-wisconsin-undergrad-landed-3-consulting-job-offers-in-this-economy/]How”>http://managementconsulted.com/consulting-interviews/how-a-wisconsin-undergrad-landed-3-consulting-job-offers-in-this-economy/)</p>
<p>^^^
Who says I have the desire to work for a “tippy top” company?</p>
<p>AND also make sure to recognize that if I can save 50% by going to an Eastern Illinois instead of going to the Universtiy of Illinois for that possibility then it’s well worth going to EIU. Last I checked, it was about $25k a year to go to U of I in-state; EIU probably around $10-12k.</p>
<p>hops_scout, mantori, others:</p>
<p>Clearly, you and your friends have wasted $$$ on a worthless degree from a 3rd tier school. Better off learning a trade. If you can’t do better than Wisconsin, why try?</p>