4 ms·

This is the problem with “branding” and ranking in the American university system. People believe Caltech is a good school, so they automatically assume it is w

This is the problem with “branding” and ranking in the American university system. People believe Caltech is a good school, so they automatically assume it is worth the high price. Maybe a solution is to be clear if a class or program is taught by an FTE instructor, or if the program is outsourced? There’s nothing wrong with trying new things to make more money (student enrollments are declining), but be clear about who is teaching the course and how they are affiliated with your brand.

AlbertCory 2y ago
There's a pretty clear delineation between courses that lead to a degree, and "extension" courses that don't. > automatically assume it is worth the high price Data needed: what do "regular" bootcamps cost and is Caltech's cost any higher?
- blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
  Is there really a difference? Most of these universities outsource the actual teaching to grad students.
  - galleywest200 2y ago
    Grad students who are technically under the employ of the University...that is not outsourcing.
    - blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
      To me the difference is just a technicality. My point is you’re not getting taught by who you’re paying for.
      - Cupertino95014 2y ago
        > who you’re paying for Only ignorant people think that all beginning courses are taught by real professors. That hasn't been true for generations.
        blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
        Right but what you’re paying for is still not a random grad student of unknown reputation for whom teaching the class is a way to build favor with the professor
        AlbertCory 2y ago
        Aside from the fact that you've got your negatives confused: Grad students' assistantships often require them to teach classes. It's not "a way to build favor with the professor," it's required for them to stay in grad school. As for whether they're "random" or not: how would you know how they assign classes? I doubt it's by lottery.
- whimsicalism 2y ago
  at least at harvard you can get a degree in “extension studies”

AlbertCory 2y ago

There's a pretty clear delineation between courses that lead to a degree, and "extension" courses that don't. > automatically assume it is worth the high price Data needed: what do "regular" bootcamps cost and is Caltech's cost any higher?

blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
Is there really a difference? Most of these universities outsource the actual teaching to grad students.
- galleywest200 2y ago
  Grad students who are technically under the employ of the University...that is not outsourcing.
  - blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
    To me the difference is just a technicality. My point is you’re not getting taught by who you’re paying for.
    - Cupertino95014 2y ago
      > who you’re paying for Only ignorant people think that all beginning courses are taught by real professors. That hasn't been true for generations.
      - blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
        Right but what you’re paying for is still not a random grad student of unknown reputation for whom teaching the class is a way to build favor with the professor
        AlbertCory 2y ago
        Aside from the fact that you've got your negatives confused: Grad students' assistantships often require them to teach classes. It's not "a way to build favor with the professor," it's required for them to stay in grad school. As for whether they're "random" or not: how would you know how they assign classes? I doubt it's by lottery.
whimsicalism 2y ago
at least at harvard you can get a degree in “extension studies”