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Prestigious Colleges
From e-mail:
Dr. Plume seems to say that the only good universities are the big, prestigious ones, but I'm at a small Christian college and I think I'm getting a good education....
I'm sure you are, and probably with far more personal attention than you would get at a large university.
"Dr. Plume" seems to be emphasizing what will look best on a resume in today's competitive job market and what environment would be the most stimulating in terms of ideas.
Maybe it's unfortunate in some respects, but to generate an extreme example, a "Stanford" or a "Harvard" carries much more weight on a resume than a "Casewell Christian College."
This difference can be important in landing your first job, especially if you go through normal personnel channels. It might be (rightly or wrongly) assumed that you simply didn't qualify to get into a more mainstream (i.e., prestigious) college.
Later, after individuals prove themselves, this will be less important. Even so, this issue may crop up later when equally qualified individuals vie for promotions to administrative positions.
It's also unfortunate that religious colleges and many small liberal arts colleges have the reputation of being less academically demanding than large, well-known universities.
In this regard, University Graduate Admissions Committee members who interview students for admission all have their favorite stories. Some time back I encountered a graduate of a Christian Bible College who informed everyone that the King James Version of the Bible (as opposed to other versions) was the only authentic record of Christ's actual words. The fact that Christ didn't speak English—even old English—was met with disbelief.
This student was not admitted to college. It's difficult to see how anyone who supposedly studied the Bible for several years could be graduated with this illusion. At the same time, there are undoubtedly similar "educational lapses" stemming from graduates of major universities.
"Survival potential" as viewed by employers should also be considered in deciding on a college.
According to some employers being able to survive the impersonal rigors of a large university is, in itself, a testament to a person's coping abilities. This is not the case with the friendly "hand-holding" and less rigorous demands typical of many small colleges.
It's unfortunate, but today's competitive business environment demands a definite "coping ability."
At the same time, many students desire or need the mentoring and personal attention that's generally available at a small college. Sometimes it can make a critical difference in completing a degree.
Although, as Dr. Plume points out, you may have some famous professors at a large university, it does little good if you never get to meet them and all your instructors are graduate assistants.
It used to be the case that professors at large universities spent most of their time and energy on publications and research and seldom interacted with their students on a personal level. But this has changed. Large universities (faced with retention problems) are now emphasizing personal interaction with students.
Next, there is the matter of personal freedom—or, maybe the issue of too much personal freedom.
Parents troubled by the lack of restrictions at large universities may worry that their son or daughter may "get into all kinds of trouble."
Thus, the choice of a small liberal arts, Christian, or Jewish college may be based on parental concerns. Even many young people worry about being exposed to situations that might compromise their personal values.
Of course, one can never learn to effectively deal with "temptation" by never confronting it; and confronting it sometime in life is inevitable.
Students who are sheltered from many of life's realities—especially if they are sheltered both in the home and in college—never develop coping skills. Suddenly confronting "the real world" can be unsettling, at the very least.
Finally, there is the issue of religious indoctrination that religious colleges offer. Many parents are willing to pay extra tuition to see that their own personal values are woven into the fabric of the education of their son or daughter.
The research on this is mixed.
It appears that students who do not have a "religious predisposition" to start with tend to resent, reject, and rebel against this type of indoctrination.
The resentment may build, especially in the religious schools that reject all information, attitudes, or behaviors that conflict with their views.
We've noted that after graduation some of these students subsequently flee from "all things religious."
Students who have a "religious predisposition" to start with, tend to find comfort in a religious college, where their views are reinforced and strengthened.
All this having been said, Dr. Plume's closing words on selecting a college or university are worth repeating:
...try to find the most challenging, stimulating and thought-provoking university you can attend. Not only is this what the university experience is supposed to represent, but it will provide you with the best return on your investment and the best preparation for lifelong success.
