> when I was brought up, the image of what a successful student was, was a very well rounded one. I think this idea is dead, or close to it. Almost all the peo

> when I was brought up, the image of what a successful student was, was a very well rounded one. I think this idea is dead, or close to it. Almost all the people I knew in college were there for a simple reason: to get a piece of paper that says they can now participate in the work force. Being educated was more of a side effect. Plenty of people complain about gen eds or other requirements for degrees that are not explicitly related to the major. > For non-Americans reading: private school = good, public school = bad, This really depends on the university, the professors there, and the field. My school (USC, no, the other one) is #1 for international business, etc. Athletics is extremely emphasized, though. I understand that colleges have to discriminate somehow to give people scholarships, and that sports make an insane amount of money for colleges, but it always struck me as odd that getting a full ride for being excellent at a sport is even a thing.