A motivated student at a state university will get a far better education than at Berkeley or Stanford. Teachers have time for students -- because there are relatively few really interested students and because the more elite professors often have many other priorities than teaching.
At the elite universities, good students -- meaning students who are enthusiastic about the program -- have more good students to draw upon.
On Sat, Jan 21, 2006 at 11:46:39AM -0800, Chuck Grimes wrote:
>
> I had the fortunate experience of going to four different schools,
> starting with a community college, then a state college, and finally
> two different universities. I found they all had their virtues. By far
> the most difficult was the community college, probably because I
> wasn't prepared. But at state college (now called state uni) I
> consistantly had great professors. They were interesting, committed to
> their subjects, and enjoyed their students---at least back then.
>
> However, there was a distinct difference at university level, which
> was really external to education. The teaching may not have been all
> that inspirational, but when I wanted more than education--- to be
> exposed to the `real' field, there were professors who did their
> subject as well as teach it. Just working around them was its own form
> of education.
>
> But nevermind all that. The worst thing about US higher education is
> the US political economy. Getting a good education in this country is
> like getting all dressed up with no where to go.
-- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu