Earlier quoted context omitted.
Actually though, no schools in the Ivy League give athletic scholarships [1], and most college sports are revenue neutral. 1: http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/information/psa/index
They do have systems of marking applications of prospective students approved by a coach.
Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
511–520 of 536 posts
Re: Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
#512Earlier quoted context omitted.
+1 I remember my mother speaking to some college admissions person at a semi-prestigious school in Pennsylvania, many years back when I was in the throws of applying. When speaking to some admissions confusion with respect to my high school, the guy said, "Well frankly, it's not called the Ivy League because of its academics." That's always stuck with me. Athletic scholarships? You betcha. Academic scholarships? What…
>"Well frankly, it's not called the Ivy League because of its academics." That's always stuck with me. Athletic scholarships? You betcha. Academic scholarships? What are those? What are you talking about? Ivy League schools do not offer athletic money and all (now, not when I was applying) are need-blind, giving tons of money to those who need it.
Re: Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
#513Earlier quoted context omitted.
+1 I remember my mother speaking to some college admissions person at a semi-prestigious school in Pennsylvania, many years back when I was in the throws of applying. When speaking to some admissions confusion with respect to my high school, the guy said, "Well frankly, it's not called the Ivy League because of its academics." That's always stuck with me. Athletic scholarships? You betcha. Academic scholarships? What…
Pedantic, I know, but it should be "throes of."
Re: Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
#514Earlier quoted context omitted.
Big problem with this. Particularly with dining plans, many of which don't refund at the end of the term/academic year and are required for the dorms. You want to be thrifty and only spend 600 or the 800 you had this spring? Too bad, you're going to have to splurge the last 200 somehow or you're not getting it back.
What is a dining plan?
Dining halls typically contain several stations with different kinds of food available at a buffet-style counter, and you can eat as much as you want. Some meal plans count entries; others are unlimited.
The system has its drawbacks, but keep in mind that:
- Dining halls primarily serve students who do not have access to (reasonable) kitchens. Forgoing dining halls would mean increasing the sqft/person ratio of the housing system.
- It is probably best that students with low discretionary income aren't in a position where they feel obligated to skip meals to save money.
- Dining halls are paid for by their customers. If you move to an off campus apartment (or even on-campus apartment-style housing), you are no longer obligated to pay in to the campus dining system.
The biggest offense, to me, is that dining hall systems are usually contracted out to huge corporations like Sodexo and Aramark. Dining plans can average to $12/meal, but the quality is several times worse than what I could buy at a restaurant for $12. My dining halls also employ (generally poor) adults from the neighboring community. While I guess this is nice, it's a little weird that we're the ones eating and they're the ones being served.
I'd much prefer that my university run its own dining halls, employ students to staff them, and not ask us to pay somebody's profit margin.
Re: Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
#515Earlier quoted context omitted.
The ICE shares tracks with freight trains as well. Only the TGV has completely dedicated tracks afaik.
Thanks for the correction; ICE trainsets are still way lighter right?
Re: Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
#516Re: Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
#517Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, but German universities are also surprisingly mediocre considering how good the Germans are at everything else.
The parent post was challenging the definition of "mediocre". Given that such "mediocre" universities are able to sustain one of the most powerful economies in the world, they must not be so mediocre.
Re: Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
#518Earlier quoted context omitted.
They do have systems of marking applications of prospective students approved by a coach.
This. Not outright. Not Ivy League, but I know Stanford does.
As for sports having an impact... They may not let in a 900 SAT football player, but 1200 may be enough for an Olympic rower.
Re: Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
#519Earlier quoted context omitted.
+1 I remember my mother speaking to some college admissions person at a semi-prestigious school in Pennsylvania, many years back when I was in the throws of applying. When speaking to some admissions confusion with respect to my high school, the guy said, "Well frankly, it's not called the Ivy League because of its academics." That's always stuck with me. Athletic scholarships? You betcha. Academic scholarships? What…
Actually though, no schools in the Ivy League give athletic scholarships [1], and most college sports are revenue neutral. 1: http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/information/psa/index
Re: Germany’s great tuition fees U-turn
#520Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Yet Germany has a very low number of working-class students, for whatever reasons. Usually I think it's the parents' influence (but don't ask me why). I think there are two reasons: 1. Three-tiered school system: German children are separated after the fourth grade and go to three different schools (Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium) and only if Gymnasium graduates can go to universities. In theory this should hap…
So wait, in 4th grade your destiny is basically decided for you? Fuck that
The early separation isn't the greatest thing (although there have also been people switching, or a friend of mine who changed from Gymnasium to Realschule and after 10th grade when Realschule finished he continued on the Gym and actually got his Abitur), but I actually think it helps because different students can learn at different levels and speeds.
Your criticism stands, though, and more recent attempts to reform the school system have introduced "Gesamtschulen", where all students learn together in one school, but pick different courses at different levels. The results are mixed (not as easy as black+white), but AFAIK not that bad.