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You're completely missing the point of private universities. The value proposition isn't in a better education: they offer a marginally, if it all, better educa
by OkayPhysicist 2y ago
You're completely missing the point of private universities. The value proposition isn't in a better education: they offer a marginally, if it all, better education than equivalent tier public schools.
What they offer is connections. Those rich kids whose parents bribed their way in? Extremely valuable connection to make. That's why private universities do the whole "eye-watering ticket price, but most students have some level of merit-based scholarship" setup. Mingling the talented and the well-connected is an extremely valuable proposition for everybody involved. If you're looking for a school made of exclusively meritocratic gifted scholars, that's what elite public schools like Cal are for. But if you want a school that creates the most opportunities for success, private schools are where that's at.
- djur 2y agoYes, this is why the elite private schools must be forced to admit by lottery.
- ywvcbk 2y agoWouldn’t that destroy their whole value proposition (both for the poor but talented and the rich but not as gifted)? At that point you might as well abolish private universities altogether, because what’s their point?
- lazide 2y agoYup. Hint: most of the people pushing for these things would be perfectly fine with that. But won’t admit it.
- djur 2y agoI'll gladly admit it. Harvard and Yale are antidemocratic institutions and their power needs to be shattered.
- djur 2y agoIf the only point of private universities is to create and maintain a permanent ruling class, then absolutely they should be abolished. But I don't think that's the case. There are many non-elite private universities in the US.
- musicale 2y agoSince when do public universities not practice donor admissions?