Comments on: Are the most expensive colleges really the “best” colleges? http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/09/are-the-most-expensive-colleges-really-the-%e2%80%9cbest%e2%80%9d-colleges/ Working adults and the new world of higher education Thu, 20 Jan 2011 03:48:27 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mike Offerman http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/09/are-the-most-expensive-colleges-really-the-%e2%80%9cbest%e2%80%9d-colleges/comment-page-1/#comment-14680 Mike Offerman Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:14:05 +0000 http://www.theother85percent.com/?p=200#comment-14680 Paul, thanks for your comment and for offering an interesting scenario. Mike Paul, thanks for your comment and for offering an interesting scenario.

Mike

]]> By: Mike Offerman http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/09/are-the-most-expensive-colleges-really-the-%e2%80%9cbest%e2%80%9d-colleges/comment-page-1/#comment-14679 Mike Offerman Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:12:32 +0000 http://www.theother85percent.com/?p=200#comment-14679 Thanks for your comment, Sooner 66. Like you, I think reporting learning outcomes could be most interesting. Mike Thanks for your comment, Sooner 66. Like you, I think reporting learning outcomes could be most interesting.

Mike

]]> By: Paul http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/09/are-the-most-expensive-colleges-really-the-%e2%80%9cbest%e2%80%9d-colleges/comment-page-1/#comment-14548 Paul Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:11:30 +0000 http://www.theother85percent.com/?p=200#comment-14548 This issue addresses a serious pitfall I think most students still fall into when choosing a college. As with anything, you have to do your homework. Case in point, when my wife was going through her RN program many of her colleagues chose to attend the local university (it's a big one) over taking credits at the community college and graduating through the CC program. As it turns out, those that attended the university graduated with a degree that the hospitals in the area regard as lower quality compared to my wife's CC-obtained degree. In this case the CC route not only cost many thousands less, but its reputation was worth more in the minds of those doing the hiring. My wife thus has a "better", or at least more respected degree as a result, and one whose full credits are accepted in most places if she seeks to add to her education later. This scenario is probably not too common, but it is an example of quality education coming from sources typically seen as less than or below standards. There's still the nagging reputation component, but at least it's tied to something material. Not only should prospective students consider all possible routes, but going with the best university they can get accepted to might not even fit with their lifestyle and impose undue hardship and cost. This is why I think Capella and similar institutions are forcing change in higher education. Also, money doesn't have to be spent on buildings with other peoples' names on them, or necessarily in maintaining physical resources that technology can otherwise alleviate. This issue addresses a serious pitfall I think most students still fall into when choosing a college. As with anything, you have to do your homework. Case in point, when my wife was going through her RN program many of her colleagues chose to attend the local university (it’s a big one) over taking credits at the community college and graduating through the CC program. As it turns out, those that attended the university graduated with a degree that the hospitals in the area regard as lower quality compared to my wife’s CC-obtained degree. In this case the CC route not only cost many thousands less, but its reputation was worth more in the minds of those doing the hiring. My wife thus has a “better”, or at least more respected degree as a result, and one whose full credits are accepted in most places if she seeks to add to her education later.

This scenario is probably not too common, but it is an example of quality education coming from sources typically seen as less than or below standards. There’s still the nagging reputation component, but at least it’s tied to something material. Not only should prospective students consider all possible routes, but going with the best university they can get accepted to might not even fit with their lifestyle and impose undue hardship and cost. This is why I think Capella and similar institutions are forcing change in higher education. Also, money doesn’t have to be spent on buildings with other peoples’ names on them, or necessarily in maintaining physical resources that technology can otherwise alleviate.

]]> By: Sooner66 http://www.theother85percent.com/2009/09/are-the-most-expensive-colleges-really-the-%e2%80%9cbest%e2%80%9d-colleges/comment-page-1/#comment-14546 Sooner66 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:52:05 +0000 http://www.theother85percent.com/?p=200#comment-14546 Mike, The boat is really going to be rocked when traditional colleges are expected to report concerning quality. After all, reputation is everything and large donors prove the quality, worth, and reputation of an institution by their giving (and having their name on a building). To call for and pursue this type of "reporting" is truly groundbreaking and I hope it works out. Can you imagine seeing a list of colleges reporting quality outcomes where Capella University is side by side with Harvard, Yale, and Columbia? Oh my my!! Thurston Howell III would absolutely turn over in his grave!! Can't wait for it to happen!! Sooner 66 Mike,

The boat is really going to be rocked when traditional colleges are expected to report concerning quality. After all, reputation is everything and large donors prove the quality, worth, and reputation of an institution by their giving (and having their name on a building). To call for and pursue this type of “reporting” is truly groundbreaking and I hope it works out. Can you imagine seeing a list of colleges reporting quality outcomes where Capella University is side by side with Harvard, Yale, and Columbia? Oh my my!! Thurston Howell III would absolutely turn over in his grave!! Can’t wait for it to happen!!

Sooner 66

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