Are you happy with your university education?

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Jon Miller


In my Undergrad all classes were taught by Professors..

Do you find that that is necessaily an advantage?

While some brilliant academics are also great teachers, many of the high-level folks seem to me to be a bit bored if they are teaching the into level materials. I have found some of the best first year lecturers are grad students teaching as lecturers

[Flubber]

Oh and I find it difficult to assess the quality of my education. I enjoyed the experience and found my professors ranged from brilliant to bumbling. I did obtain the credentials I needed for the workforce but since I attended only two universities ( both in Canada) I find it difficult to make a broader comparison

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

I have to say experience is much more important than any book learning in university. I went to a good engineering school and had very high marks. But what was most important was the first 5 years on the job.

[Jon Miller]

At a Liberal Arts institution, the Professors are there because they want to teach. As such, most of them are generally good lecturers, care about the students, etc. The professors at my Undergrad were my freinds... They had my over to their houses, did activities with me (and others), really seemed to care.

There were very few Professors at my University who seemed to care about general physics grad students. Only a couple cared about general physics students, and I don't think any care about general students.

Caring does matter.

Jon Miller

[DanS]

Originally posted by Flubber
Oh and I find it difficult to assess the quality of my education. I enjoyed the experience and found my professors ranged from brilliant to bumbling. I did obtain the credentials I needed for the workforce but since I attended only two universities ( both in Canada) I find it difficult to make a broader comparison

I realize that this question will elicit subjective opinions.

[Jon Miller]

As far as being scientists go, the relatively less successful scientists at my Graduate Institution are probably more successful scientists then the the successful scientists at my undergraduate institution.

Jon Miller

[Kuciwalker]

I'm extremely satisfied so far at Carnegie Mellon.

[Arrian]

You don't count, freshman.

-Arrian

[Kuciwalker]

[Odin]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
My undergraduate institution was Gustavus Adolphus College, in Minnesota.

[Odin]

Minnesota State University Moorhead has a really good Biology program for a small, "regional" Liberal Arts college (it pays to go to school in the same state as the Mayo Clinic ). This spring I'm planning to get some credits with doing cancer research.

[Odin]

Originally posted by Arrian

I went to Trinity College. At the time, it was ~$30k/year in tuition + room & board. It's higher now and still climbing.

OMG, that's obcene, my tuition is around $5,500/yr..

[Pekka]

I'm very happy. It's in the level where the only thing that matters is what YOU do yourself. More resources wouldn't make any difference to me at this point. I'm getting all that I need.

[asleepathewheel]

Undergrad: Ole Miss. Happy, had a fantastic time, got what I wanted, into a decent law school, zero student loans, met wife, enjoyed life. fun place to go to college.

My wife is currently on the job market looking at various universities, so many of the above points are salient to us right now. (phd poly sci, may 2007) She is focusing primarily on a research school vs a teaching school, but who knows where the future will lead.

[pchang]

Yes and Yes. If you want good value, go to a good public school for undergrad and then the best graduate school you can get into. Typically, someone else is paying the bulk of graduate school.

The competition to get into Cal is so high now, that I'm not sure I would get in if I were applying now.