Forbes lists UF as a New Ivy

Less elitism in society is a good thing. Plenty of highly intelligent and capable graduates from state universities.

 

For some inexplicable reasons, FSU and Miami did not make the lists.

 

I’m outraged!

 

Schools that focus on too much on politics are losing their way in academics... Bring back learning to high learning institutions and drop the political nonsense. Everything in life should never be political.

 

Serious question, is it the schools focusing on politics or students being active in politics? I have both my boys in college, the schools don't seem to be trying to teach them politics.
Do you have this impression because you see a few schools on TV or in whatever news source you consume?

 

Maybe we can leave the SEC so we can play Harvard and Yale every year, I think we'd probably dominate

 

“Probably” doing a lot of work in that sentence

 

In broad strokes, I think university rankings as an indicia of graduate preparedness to contribute to your organization is BS. Obviously there specified exceptions for programs, or scam schools like Trump University, but I put almost no weight on that fact, standing alone

 

Thanks Ron DeSantis and Ben Sasse!

 

This will make two consecutive years where FSUcks can complain to the media and world about being omitted from a list that they didn’t belong on anyway. Must suck to be a victim all the time!

 

Most Ivy league kids that grew up with my daughter are no smarter than the better regarded state school kids that she also grew up with (she went to UNC where there were a ton of extraordinarily bright, well-grounded students).

In many cases its the Ivy league alumni network entrenched in our corporate and private sector infrastructure that gives their students an advantage (just look at judicial clerkships as one example), not necessarily their acumen.

 

If you think either has contributed to UF's success, start working the steps.

 

Amen! I've met some brilliant folks in my legal career, including more than a few clients who were born behind the eight ball and just couldn't catch a break. I have tried to live what my parents often told us kids: "NEVER judge a book by its cover!"

 

Uf just sent out an intellectual freedom survey to faculty and staff. One of the questions asked if I felt it was important to voice my political opinions on campus. I said no. I mean, this is my job. Does the rest of the world feel like they want to talk about politics at work? I want to focus on teaching, research, etc. that’s how most people are on campus. We just want to do our jobs.

 

the Ivy League alumni network is extremely powerful. Some big firms won’t even hire people outside of ivys. Some businesses have leadership programs just meant for Ivy League grads. It’s gross.

 

My fourth is in college now. He has not said anything relative to this topic but his siblings all had at least two professors that were overly and outwardly political and all in the same direction. I always told them to keep their heads down, their chins up and don’t let it become an issue. Get the A or B and get the hell out of there. It is an issue but I cannot say it is widespread based on personal experience.

My personal experience in hiring has shown that Ivy leaguers don’t come in better prepared than graduates of state universities, unless you are going to consider an attitude of entitlement being prepared. I’ll take an above average state university student who at least partially paid their own way through school over an Ivy leaguer any day. The state school graduates that have worked walk in knowing that they have a lot to learn and have to work hard. Many, if not most Ivy leaguers walk in wondering if they will have my office in two years or if they will have to wait for four.

I agree with what Sasse and UF have done WRT to this current round of “peaceful protests”. They were clear from the beginning on what was acceptable and what the consequences were for those that crossed the line.

 

Appreciate the response.
On the one hand we may think it is a bigger issue due to reporting. On the other hand I don't think it is an issue because I have a sample size of two at an engineering based school.

I am a huge fan of peaceful student protests, even if they protest something I don't believe in. I'll take that over rampant apathy anytime.

If my kids were at a school that was more political, I wouldn't be worried. I had 18 years to help shape their core beliefs, they can figure it out from here.

 

I think this is how most people are in all industries. But the handful who do inject politics are very effective at poisoning the pool. I can tolerate people talking about who their candidate is or on specific issues as long the conversation is civil, balanced and not intending to persuade. I appreciate and respect different viewpoints and expect the same in return.

 

I will also say we need to be careful in that (it seems to me) some are going overboard and bad mouth our universities as a whole.
One of the biggest economic advantages we have over the rest of the world is our top tier universities. Best and brightest from all over the world try to attend our schools.
We toured some of the best in the US with our boys, didn't see any politics, just a lot of stuff on boards that I couldn't understand. My oldest told me it was math, I'll have to believe him.