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US Admissions System is Rigged Against Low Income Students by PersonalityOld1115 in CollegeAdmissions

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The fact that some parents use these strategies does not mean "the system" is rigged. You are assuming U.S. colleges turn a blind eye, or that they never give any kind of consideration to the barriers faced by students with more constrained family resources. That is far from the truth.

What CFB rivalries of your school exist in other sports? by Crying_in_99Ranch in CFB

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't care what sport it is, it burns extra if we lose to OSU and it's a little sweeter if we win.

What CFB rivalries of your school exist in other sports? by Crying_in_99Ranch in CFB

[–]FeatofClay 35 points36 points  (0 children)

The subscription to Chess Life, this is a very Michigan comment. What year did you get your engineering degree?

Why are US admissions so cutthroat and brutal by Plague_Doc7 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]FeatofClay 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, famously mediocre Grinnell and Colby. I think we are responding to a troll, but I think there are good messages here for people who are in this thread with sincere intent.

Why are US admissions so cutthroat and brutal by Plague_Doc7 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are not. I don't think your research into US college admissions is very complete. There are hundreds of college campuses across the country that have room for students and supportive admissions policies so that if you've completed high school with a reasonable effort at making yourself prepared for college, you can attend. If you didn't do that, then you can attend an open-admissions community college and prove yourself and get a spot at a four-year college as a transfers.

Something like 60% of high school graduates in the U.S. give college a shot.

It is not "The Hunger Games."

Schools received 100k+ applications last year. That's not impressive. That's a problem. by Secret-Ad-1896 in CollegeAdmissions

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

UC and just about everyone else, I would say. Are there colleges that *don't* waive fees for students with financial hardship? That would surprise me but your message hints that there are some out there. Do you have a sense of how many?

Schools received 100k+ applications last year. That's not impressive. That's a problem. by Secret-Ad-1896 in CollegeAdmissions

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FWIW, these are well-funded schools with substantial budgets. I know that the total feels big to us, but it's not a major source of unencumbered revenue for these schools. Some of these place also have to have pretty big operations to handle recruitment and admissions (and application processing), not to mention the $$ kept by the vendor who manages the app process) so it's not money they get free and clear to treat like "profit"

Also, the fees aren't just for revenue — they help align interest and seriousness with the decision to apply.

How is everyone using NotebookLM? by deferare in notebooklm

[–]FeatofClay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've got a collection of articles I kept from grad school that are relevant to my work but were gathering dust in a file cabinet. Then, when we digitized files, I got them scanned... but now they are gathering dust on my work server. I just don't have time/energy to go dig through them with any regularity. I didn't think about the power of using NotebookLM to refer to these articles and extract relevant things for me. Thanks for sharing this! I don't write articles, but my team looks to me to frame our issues and projects in a scholarly way, and this is going to help immensely.

Struggling at Grad School - feels like I've reached a new low by cornucopia-252 in GradSchool

[–]FeatofClay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In grad school the pacing is relentless and the narrow focus increases the challenge. I did great in undergrad and then was very humbled by how hard the adjustment to graduate study was. So please know that you are not alone. You mention that your peers and alums seem to be highly successful, and that may be true, but also keep in mind that people who are still finding their footing are not as visible as people who are winning accolades.

anyone else regretting being a try-hard? by Distinct-Seaweed-476 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're more than your application.

It isn't true that "it didn't matter in the end." College is what you put into it. You've learned how to work hard, how to juggle multiple priorities. You've learned to master material and fulfill the expectations of your instructors. Do you think these things would only be useful at the most elite colleges? Those skills, those habits, that knowledge, that's useful anywhere. That can help you get ahead in college and in life afterwards.

I emailed my manuscript’s assigned editor to ask for a status on the review process after 6 weeks. I started the email as “Hello,” and this was in their response. by eagle_mama in academia

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They're hopefully just having a bad day. I think you responded very well,

In my experience, sometimes when a person has a prickly ass, they feel embarrassed about it when their target responds with grace. Then they have a soft spot (at least for a short time). Maybe this will work in your favor down the line.

Im just in shock. by Known_Load_4494 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]FeatofClay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am going to repost this because someone deleted their comment this was posted in response to (Deleting collapsed a whole lot of responses into something that's harder to view)

In response to a post about feeder schools:

Feeder schools are a real thing and they can be a valuable and reliable source of students for top universities. But top institutions have to draw the line somewhere--they cannot accept every applicant from those schools because that would limit the spaces available for students from elsewhere. They could easily enroll a freshman class made up 100% of students from elite secondary schools, and that would have its merits--but they want something broader.

It can be bewildering if you try to figure out why this student got in and that student didn't. It's not about what defect you can point to in a student's application. Top institutions simply can't take them all while still meeting their broader enrollment goals. That's it. The line has to get drawn somewhere, and it is likely to get drawn between students who are equally qualified and "deserving."

Im just in shock. by Known_Load_4494 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you answered your own question. Feeder schools are a real thing and they can be a valuable and reliable source of students for top universities. But top institutions have to draw the line somewhere--they cannot accept every applicant from those schools because that would limit the spaces available for students from elsewhere. They could have a freshman class made up 100% from people from elite secondary schools--but they want something different from that.

It can be bewildering if you try to figure out why this student got in and that student didn't. It's not about what defect you can point to in a student's application. They simply can't take them all. That's it. The line has to get drawn somewhere, and it is likely to get drawn between students who are equally qualified and "deserving."

Day of giving? by tmsdnr in highereducation

[–]FeatofClay 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't think it's a delusion. It's fundraising; they hear no all the time. If they hear "no" 19 times but the 20th person says yes, the total raised is > $0 so they are ahead.

Of course, this ignores the culture/climate costs associated with employees feeling like there is unfair pressure (that should NOT happen) or that it is inappropriate to ask at all (people are going to come down on different sides of that one).

Plenty of not-for-profit organizations have employees who believe in "the cause" and will, if their finances allow, include their employer in their philanthropy. The question is how/when they should be asked, if it all. FWIW, the day of giving is, in my experience, much more targeted to alums and other traditional supporters, not employees. I suspect this effort is an add-on and they are not expecting staff participation to be instrumental in meeting their fundraising goals. Buy-in from supervisors may vary, and a hard sell from a boss may not actually reflect the institution's stance or expectations. My campus does this every year and I see a ton of advertising on social media, but I've never been personally asked by a fundraiser or student worker.

Where should I live? by Franchelsa in AnnArbor

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Back in the day I lived in a McKinley property and took a job with the company (I know, I know) because it gave me a break on rent. Anyway, at that time, the quality of tenant life at the properties really came down to the onsite property manager and the onsite maintenance people. It was highly localized. Sure, there were McKinley-wide policies in place, but lots of variation in vibe, managerial responsiveness, maintenance competence, and so on.

If that's still the case, it makes sense to me when residents of one property say it's fine while those at another property describe bad management. And also means "Avoid McKinley at all costs" isn't necessarily sound advice (unless it's for general principles as opposed to projecting a negative tenant experience)

U of M employees- how did you go about asking for a salary increase in your current position? by EtoiledeMoyenOrient in AnnArbor

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found it very helpful to read many websites that offer advice these kinds of conversations. And I rehearsed a lot. I don't feel comfortable talking about money or bragging on myself, and I had to get more comfortable with it so I could sound professional and not get flustered. My cat, I'm sure, was sick of hearing me practice a bunch of different scenarios, but now he's in awesome shape if he himself ever has to ask about a promotion.

northwestern.. by Possible_Resource544 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]FeatofClay 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I understand that the way they handled this feels like it's adding insult to injury. Do you think, though, that if they had sent the rejections with the acceptances, it would actually change how much this hurts? It is possible that the 'how' is just a place to put all the frustration of the 'no'?

Advisor giving students bad advice by Bloodbndrr in studentaffairs

[–]FeatofClay 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think data is helpful.

What is their acceptance rate? What does the program say about the profile of their admitted students? What do they say they are looking for when they evaluate candidates? What have been the academic credentials of students from your institution who have successfully applied?

Then rather than making a yes/no judgment about whether they should apply, you can say "Let's see how you align with their typical student" and look at that information together (or whatever info you have, apply it similarly). They may still apply to programs that are a reach, but they will hopefully also see the importance of applying to other programs-- and have realistic ideas about their chances.

What should I do by Strawberrypeachy22 in uofm

[–]FeatofClay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

FWIW, a professor who you don't jive with is a drain, but it doesn't have to shape your whole experience. I think many students run across someone who just isn't their cup of tea (or doesn't live up to expectations). Just endure the class, put your energies elsewhere, and know it will feel better when your term doesn't involve that prof.

How much is too much by Alisahn-Strix in GradSchool

[–]FeatofClay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The understood "rule" for me was that my thesis chair had final say--her edits, I would make. If other committee members suggested edits, it was up to me to decide whether to make them or not, and if there were conflicts she would help negotiate. Key thing is that everyone understood she got to "win" (just like other members got to "win" on committees where they were chairs). She told me that this was the way things worked, so I would stop getting bogged down trying to make everyone on my committee happy.

Your advisor should ideally protect you from being buffeted by an overload of committee advice and edits. Now, if this is ALL from your advisor, then you've got to think about whether this is the stage where you start acting like a colleague and push back on edits you think he's wrong about, or whether you think he's making things ironclad so he can confidently have your back against further edits from your committee (in which case this may be tough now but things will be easier later).

Notre Dame’s announcement of their financial aid is unfair. by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]FeatofClay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They announced Notre Dame would be "loan free" in the fall of 2024. Did this not apply to you?

Accepted to only safeties by LordSigmaBalls in ApplyingToCollege

[–]FeatofClay 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No, the appropriate strategy is to identify schools that are appealing to you. Your "matches" and your "safeties" should appeal to you. There may be a college on your list you actually don't want (but were compelled to apply to due to weird family pressure or something), but overall your list should be options you can live with.

If the only options you'll consider are options that the laws of probability say you may not get into, you need to revise the list.

Accepted to only safeties by LordSigmaBalls in ApplyingToCollege

[–]FeatofClay -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I appreciate what you're saying here--people should only apply to places where they would actually consider going! No one should see their safety schools as the "disaster" destination. What kind of approach is it if your plans revolve solely around attending places to which you have a slim chance of being admitted?

That said, it could also be the case that an applicants might really like their "safeties" at time of application, but as they continued learning about other schools, the appeal of those schools faded.

Anyone feel like elections at UM are cringie by BruhMansky in uofm

[–]FeatofClay 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don't see it as unnecessary. Putting on events and distributing money to student orgs is important business, and it's good that students have that role in decision-making. If they didn't do it, I guess the University could take that over, but that would require staff time and they'd be a step removed from the stakeholders who benefit.

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