3 ms·

Than Rhodes scholars? Than Stanford’s incubator? Than the MIT media lab? Obviously Thiel is unique, but he’s only paying $100k vs the much larger sums from all

Than Rhodes scholars? Than Stanford’s incubator? Than the MIT media lab? Obviously Thiel is unique, but he’s only paying $100k vs the much larger sums from all these other programs. I think it’s worth debating the merits of the discussion whether than just saying “Thiel magic, college is still better and nothing else matters.” If it’s really just Thiel’s network then is the right move to make him the president of Harvard since that will have a greater reach?

marcinzm 3y ago
> If it’s really just Thiel’s network then is the right move to make him the president of Harvard since that will have a greater reach? Networks don't scale like that. As in the people in the network have finite time and mental capacity to take on new relationships.
mjhay 3y ago
> Than Rhodes scholars? Than Stanford’s incubator? Than the MIT media lab? Yes. You're essentially talking about academic organizations there, with diffuse industry involvement. That's a world away from direct access to a tech billionaire's network.
- morelisp 3y ago
  They're also not that much bigger - Rhodes is perhaps 2x larger when you restrict it to the anglosphere. And it naturally doesn't include the investment money you're basically certain to also get from Thiel alongside the $100k award.
NovemberWhiskey 3y ago
Look, turn the question around: how many of Thiel's "graduates" turned out to be university chancellors, notable academics or leaders in government or civil society?
SamBam 3y ago
You keep mentioning Rhodes scholars. I think you have a very different idea about the purpose of a Rhodes scholarship than most of the scholars.
- smelendez 3y ago
  Yeah, most aspiring entrepreneurs don’t want to pause for graduate study at Oxford. It’s like saying Y Combinator has failed to produce a single National Book Award nominee, or judging Juilliard by how many future dentists studied there.
- NovemberWhiskey 3y ago
  Current criteria for Rhodes Scholarship selection, which I think rather makes the point: # literary and scholastic attainments # energy to use one's talents to the full # truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship # moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings

marcinzm 3y ago

> If it’s really just Thiel’s network then is the right move to make him the president of Harvard since that will have a greater reach? Networks don't scale like that. As in the people in the network have finite time and mental capacity to take on new relationships.

mjhay 3y ago

> Than Rhodes scholars? Than Stanford’s incubator? Than the MIT media lab? Yes. You're essentially talking about academic organizations there, with diffuse industry involvement. That's a world away from direct access to a tech billionaire's network.

morelisp 3y ago
They're also not that much bigger - Rhodes is perhaps 2x larger when you restrict it to the anglosphere. And it naturally doesn't include the investment money you're basically certain to also get from Thiel alongside the $100k award.

NovemberWhiskey 3y ago

Look, turn the question around: how many of Thiel's "graduates" turned out to be university chancellors, notable academics or leaders in government or civil society?

SamBam 3y ago

You keep mentioning Rhodes scholars. I think you have a very different idea about the purpose of a Rhodes scholarship than most of the scholars.

smelendez 3y ago
Yeah, most aspiring entrepreneurs don’t want to pause for graduate study at Oxford. It’s like saying Y Combinator has failed to produce a single National Book Award nominee, or judging Juilliard by how many future dentists studied there.
NovemberWhiskey 3y ago
Current criteria for Rhodes Scholarship selection, which I think rather makes the point: # literary and scholastic attainments # energy to use one's talents to the full # truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship # moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings