Higher Ed Struggles as Economy Falters

Get ready for change. Some college kid is going to figure out how to sell a college degree at half the price with twice the knowledge retention. College is a business ripe for reinvention.

of 1:28PM October 30, 2008

A small worldview is increasingly dangerous in an increasingly smaller world. Both Kathy and Agree seem upset that some of the student population on campuses they visited was made up of "others"; those who are different from them. By bringing "diverse" (yes, it's a pc word, but one that nonetheless has merit) populations together in a safe environment, these schools are creating an opportunity for us to learn that we aren't all that different, really. The college experience is so much more than one happens in the classroom, otherwise we'd all just stay home and earn degrees online. Learning to recognize the humanity of those who have different backgrounds from us is imperative if we are to have any hope of refraining from killing each other. The fact that there are diverse populations on campus, and yes, even foreigners (what a word!) is of enormous benefit to everyone on campus, especially "mainstream" (I take this to mean white & middle class, if I'm wrong please correct me) students.

I also believe it is especially damaging to young people to model attitudes of victimhood. "It's not your fault you weren't selected by this school; their priority is to take minorities" is a crippling attitude. It takes power away from your child. Really, it doesn't matter if foreign children or minority children are getting scholarships or spots in school. There's plenty of money and places available to mainstreamers as well, IF they work hard and dedicate themselves to finding them. To focus on what others are getting has never been a good strategy for getting anything yourself. Rather focus on what your child CAN control: attitude, effort, service to others. If they don't get something they wanted, they can then start thinking "maybe my essay could have been better" or "I need more practice for scholarship interviewing" - things that will eventually lead to success.

Once they start thinking "I didn't get it because they like brown people better (or people with funny accents)" they are done. All that is left is more failure and excuses, and you have unwittingly contributed to that.

Dave of CA 7:31PM October 28, 2008

Xenaphohia? Really? I am one of the student of whom you speak - an American-born graduate student with years of near 4.0 grades and lower middle class parents who were unable to contribute to my education. I was refused anything but student loans to pay for school, even when wealthier Americans and international students received them easily. My debt is about $70,000 at this point. I struggled by with lousy, dangerous and poorly paid work that challenged my ability to complete my studies, stretching my undergrad degree out to 8 virtually intolerable years - with a raise in tuition at the end of each one. When I graduated I was faulted for "taking the easy way" out of education by doing it so slowly. I was also criticized sharply for not availing myself of career-related internships and jobs which would have given me insight and connections within my chosen career.

Meanwhile, friends who were international students received full aid, scholarships and all sorts of specialized workshops, internships and hiring assistance. Why? Most of them were good students, true, but so were many, many others who did not receive such treatment. I hardly think that if I were to attend school in India, China or Russia that I would receive preferential treatment or specialized assistance over local students. And if I did, it would be grossly unfair. It would be robbing from the tax rolls of the local population. The U.S. is the only nation I can think of which does such a thing, and much to its detriment. It is one of the reason why we are quickly losing ground in the world. And for the record, my parents were European immigrants. They came here and worked crappy jobs for low pay. My father was able to attend college only on the GI bill - for fighting in a world war. I would say he earned it.

The backlash against preferential treatment for international students has nothing to do with cultural insensitivity or racial discrimination for most people. It has to do with being disenfranchised in your own country. NO country should do that to its own.

AT of CT 7:09PM October 27, 2008

We've just completed our 16th college trip with our daughter. Every other word out of the mouths of university guides was 'diversity'. That's fine to the point where you walk across campus and don't even feel that you're in the US. These are Tier 1 schools, boasting a diverse student population of up to 50%, quite out of line with the population at large. For her 'crime' of being an all-American kid (and super student, BTW) my daughter's chances of admission are diminished. And, most of the schools had the same price tag for foreign students as for out-of-state American students. Enough already! Well-educated,non-xenophobic American parents are tired of remaining silent. Schools would be well advised to begin understanding what's on our minds, although not usually on our politically correct lips. There are still enough of us with 529 plans in cash that will be watching.

LT of NY 5:52PM October 25, 2008