College selection: factors to consider - Revision history

Vipul: /* More capable peer group */

2014-05-08T15:41:10Z

More capable peer group

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	====More capable peer group====		====More capable peer group====

	Having a more capable peer group can lead to better learning opportunities~~. Harvard student Ben Kuhn wrote~~		Having a more capable peer group can lead to better learning opportunities and give one access to better advice. Harvard student Ben Kuhn wrote

	~~<blockquote>By watching how more competent people work~~ and think, you can often pick up useful study habits and better techniques for the subject you’re studying. I’ve found this especially true in CS classes, where I’ve had this experience from both sides, e.g. teaching classmates how to use Git and picking up C coding style and tricks from better programmers.</blockquote>

	~~It can also~~ give one access to better advice: Ben Kuhn ~~also~~ wrote:

	<blockquote>By watching how more competent people work and think, you can often pick up useful study habits and better techniques for the subject you’re studying. I’ve found this especially true in CS classes, where I’ve had this experience from both sides, e.g. teaching classmates how to use Git and picking up C coding style and tricks from better programmers.</blockquote>		<blockquote>By watching how more competent people work and think, you can often pick up useful study habits and better techniques for the subject you’re studying. I’ve found this especially true in CS classes, where I’ve had this experience from both sides, e.g. teaching classmates how to use Git and picking up C coding style and tricks from better programmers.</blockquote>

Vipul: /* Core requirements */

2014-05-08T15:40:27Z

Core requirements

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	''In 1850, Brown's fourth president, Francis Wayland, argued that students should have greater freedom in pursuing a higher education, so that each would be able to "study what he chose, all that he chose, and nothing but what he chose." A century later, this vision became the basis for a new approach to general education at Brown: the open curriculum. Rather than defining a broad set of distribution requirements, the open curriculum gives students the freedom to choose for themselves.''		''In 1850, Brown's fourth president, Francis Wayland, argued that students should have greater freedom in pursuing a higher education, so that each would be able to "study what he chose, all that he chose, and nothing but what he chose." A century later, this vision became the basis for a new approach to general education at Brown: the open curriculum. Rather than defining a broad set of distribution requirements, the open curriculum gives students the freedom to choose for themselves.''

	By way of contrast, University of Chicago is known for its "Core curriculum," and has [https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/academics/core~~.shtml~~ many required courses]:		By way of contrast, University of Chicago is known for its "Core curriculum," and has [https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/academics/core many required courses]:

	''This famed Core curriculum, a model for American general education, is the University of Chicago student’s introduction to the tools of inquiry used in every discipline—science, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. The goal is not just to transfer knowledge, but to raise fundamental questions and become familiar with the powerful ideas that shape our society. Not only does the curriculum provide the background for any major and for continuing study after graduation, it also provides a common experience for all students in the College. All students have taken the same sorts of classes and read the same kinds of texts, struggling and triumphing over the same sorts of ideas. This gives every student a common vocabulary of ideas and skills, no matter his or her background before coming to the College. [...] The Core takes about 1/3 of your time at the College, but could be less depending on AP/IB credit and placement testing.''		''This famed Core curriculum, a model for American general education, is the University of Chicago student’s introduction to the tools of inquiry used in every discipline—science, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. The goal is not just to transfer knowledge, but to raise fundamental questions and become familiar with the powerful ideas that shape our society. Not only does the curriculum provide the background for any major and for continuing study after graduation, it also provides a common experience for all students in the College. All students have taken the same sorts of classes and read the same kinds of texts, struggling and triumphing over the same sorts of ideas. This gives every student a common vocabulary of ideas and skills, no matter his or her background before coming to the College. [...] The Core takes about 1/3 of your time at the College, but could be less depending on AP/IB credit and placement testing.''

Vipul at 14:54, 28 April 2014

2014-04-28T14:54:21Z

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 * '''Cost''': Colleges that offer very similar academic experiences can vary widely in cost for the student based on their prestige, location, and other factors. However, the apparent cost of a college can be very unrepresentative owing to the possibility of receiving financial aid, and colleges that are apparently much more expensive than others may cost the same amount for you.
 == The selectivity of the college that you attend ==
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 * There's [http://www.nber.org/papers/w7322 a study] giving evidence that going to a more costly college increases your expected future earnings (independently of the prestige of the college), with the effect possibly coming from making connections with peers of higher socioeconomic status.

Vipul at 14:45, 28 April 2014

2014-04-28T14:45:56Z

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	* '''Strength in a given academic subject''': Colleges of a given prestige level vary substantially in how strong they are in a given academic subject. If you have a very strong and specific academic interest, you should do research to find out which colleges have the best departments in that field.		* '''Strength in a given academic subject''': Colleges of a given prestige level vary substantially in how strong they are in a given academic subject. If you have a very strong and specific academic interest, you should do research to find out which colleges have the best departments in that field.
	* '''Cost''': Colleges that offer very similar academic experiences can vary widely in cost for the student based on their prestige, location, and other factors. However, the apparent cost of a college can be very unrepresentative owing to the possibility of receiving financial aid, and colleges that are apparently much more expensive than others may cost the same amount for you.		* '''Cost''': Colleges that offer very similar academic experiences can vary widely in cost for the student based on their prestige, location, and other factors. However, the apparent cost of a college can be very unrepresentative owing to the possibility of receiving financial aid, and colleges that are apparently much more expensive than others may cost the same amount for you.

	~~See also [[choosing between a large state school and a private school]] for an application of these considerations.~~

	== The selectivity of the college that you attend ==		== The selectivity of the college that you attend ==

Vipul: /* Do detailed research if you have a very strong and specific interest */

2014-04-28T14:45:26Z

Do detailed research if you have a very strong and specific interest

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	== Do detailed research if you have a very strong and specific interest ==		== Do detailed research if you have a very strong and specific interest ==

	In a given academic subject, colleges of the same general prestige level can vary substantially in quality. For example, George Mason University's economics department is stronger than economics departments at most colleges of a similar level of prestige~~. See [http://lesswrong.com/lw/is6/choosing_universities_based_on_their/ this blog post] for more information~~.		{{further\|[[college selection: deciding based on your intended major]]}}

			In a given academic subject, colleges of the same general prestige level can vary substantially in quality. For example, George Mason University's economics department is stronger than economics departments at most colleges of a similar level of prestige.

	If you're very passionate about a given field, to the point where you think that there's a very high probability of you studying it in college, you should do detailed research on which colleges are strongest in it. For example, you should ask several professors within the field about which colleges have the best departments.		If you're very passionate about a given field, to the point where you think that there's a very high probability of you studying it in college, you should do detailed research on which colleges are strongest in it. For example, you should ask several professors within the field about which colleges have the best departments.

Vipul: /* See also */

2014-04-28T14:44:55Z

Vipul: /* External links */

2014-04-28T14:44:05Z

External links

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	* There's [http://www.nber.org/papers/w7322 a study] giving evidence that going to a more costly college increases your expected future earnings (independently of the prestige of the college), with the effect possibly coming from making connections with peers of higher socioeconomic status.		* There's [http://www.nber.org/papers/w7322 a study] giving evidence that going to a more costly college increases your expected future earnings (independently of the prestige of the college), with the effect possibly coming from making connections with peers of higher socioeconomic status.

			==See also==

			* [[Choosing between a public college and a private college]]
			* [[Pros and cons of attending a large college]]

	==External links==		==External links==

	From Quora: [http://www.quora.com/Does-it-really-matter-where-one-goes-to-college-Or-if-you-go-at-all Does it really matter where one goes to college? Or, if you go at all?]		From Quora: [http://www.quora.com/Does-it-really-matter-where-one-goes-to-college-Or-if-you-go-at-all Does it really matter where one goes to college? Or, if you go at all?]

Jsinick at 19:47, 16 April 2014

2014-04-16T19:47:11Z

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	The following factors are worth taking into explicit consideration:		The following factors are worth taking into explicit consideration:

	* '''Prestige''': ~~In general, the~~ more ~~prestigious a~~ college is, the ~~better the opportunities you'll have in life if you go there~~.		* '''Prestige/Selectivity''': There are pros and cons of attending a more selective college, and what's best may depend on the individual.
	* '''Flexibility for students''': Some colleges offer students more freedom to shape their experience. The more freedom a college offers you, the better prospects you have for getting a lot out of the experience.		* '''Flexibility for students''': Some colleges offer students more freedom to shape their experience. The more freedom a college offers you, the better prospects you have for getting a lot out of the experience.
	* '''Strength in a given academic subject''': Colleges of a given prestige level vary substantially in how strong they are in a given academic subject. If you have a very strong and specific academic interest, you should do research to find out which colleges have the best departments in that field.		* '''Strength in a given academic subject''': Colleges of a given prestige level vary substantially in how strong they are in a given academic subject. If you have a very strong and specific academic interest, you should do research to find out which colleges have the best departments in that field.

Jsinick: /* The selectivity of the college that you attend */

2014-04-16T19:06:01Z

The selectivity of the college that you attend

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	== The selectivity of the college that you attend ==		== The selectivity of the college that you attend ==

	We list some pros of attending more selective colleges and pros of attending less selective colleges below. As a general remark, it should be noted that [http://lesswrong.com/lw/k0w/how_much_does_where_you_go_to_college_affect/ a large study] found (in rough terms) that amongst students of comparable ability and ambition, there was no difference in ~~future~~ earnings between those who attended more selective colleges and those who attended less selective colleges.		We list some pros of attending more selective colleges and pros of attending less selective colleges below. As a general remark, it should be noted that [http://lesswrong.com/lw/k0w/how_much_does_where_you_go_to_college_affect/ a large study] found (in rough terms) that amongst students of comparable ability and ambition, there was no difference in earnings between those who attended more selective colleges and those who attended less selective colleges.


	=== Pros of attending a more selective college ===		=== Pros of attending a more selective college ===

Jsinick: /* The prestige of the college that you attend */

2014-04-16T19:05:39Z

The prestige of the college that you attend

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	See also [[choosing between a large state school and a private school]] for an application of these considerations.		See also [[choosing between a large state school and a private school]] for an application of these considerations.

	== The ~~prestige~~ of the college that you attend ==		== The selectivity of the college that you attend ==

			We list some pros of attending more selective colleges and pros of attending less selective colleges below. As a general remark, it should be noted that [http://lesswrong.com/lw/k0w/how_much_does_where_you_go_to_college_affect/ a large study] found (in rough terms) that amongst students of comparable ability and ambition, there was no difference in future earnings between those who attended more selective colleges and those who attended less selective colleges.


	=== Pros of attending a more selective college ===		=== Pros of attending a more selective college ===

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	==See also==		==See also==

			===More college comparisons===

	* [[Choosing between a public college and a private college]]		* [[Choosing between a public college and a private college]]
	* [[Pros and cons of attending a large college]]		* [[Pros and cons of attending a large college]]

			===More on college selection===

			* [[College selection: deciding based on your intended major]]
			* [[College selection: getting reliable information about colleges]]

	==External links==		==External links==

	From Quora: [http://www.quora.com/Does-it-really-matter-where-one-goes-to-college-Or-if-you-go-at-all Does it really matter where one goes to college? Or, if you go at all?]		From Quora: [http://www.quora.com/Does-it-really-matter-where-one-goes-to-college-Or-if-you-go-at-all Does it really matter where one goes to college? Or, if you go at all?]