Success Despite College Rejection

selan writes "Are those who are rejected by prestigious schools destined to lead mediocre lives? Or are great people more likely to succeed if they were rejected by top universities? An inspirational column in the Washington Post discusses the "Spielberg Effect", a theory that it really doesn't matter where you went to school."

Since

[Anonymous Coward]

it's coming up to the start of a new academic year I thought I'd take this opportunity to explain how lucky you Americans are to have a fraternity system.

English Universities are so dull by comparison. Like most students in England I had to rent private accommodation for my second and third years, but it never occurred to us to build a whole culture around collectively renting a rather dilapidated house in Clapham. It wasn't even single sex accommodation, so we couldn't engage in the fun and games of para-homosexual activities - Girls just don't have the same grip on your loyalties as your Greek brothers ;-). And while cliques certainly form in English Universities, the are all much too boring to come up with the idea of hazing. I fondly recall diving off a weir and almost drowning when I was 12 because everyone said I was chicken. If only it had been possible for me to gain respect in later life through similar tests, and if these tests could have been combined with pseudo Masonic rituals culminating in the awarding of a little badge, then that truly would have made my time at University worthwhile. And while I still have friends from University, these friendships seem so hollow compared to bonds of fraternal brotherhood since they are not based on solemn vows of fellowship, mutual sacrifice, group solidarity and owning the same poxy little badge.

Then there's sheer joy alcohol seems to bring fraternity members.. By the time I went to university the delights of getting dangerously drunk at parties had started to seem mundane. But to American students in fraternities, the bravado of excessive alcohol consumption is a an exciting new and illicit game where you can prove yourself worthy to all your male friends and simultaneously circumvent college alcohol policy - thereby proving what a rebel you are too. Gosh.

I am also rather fond of the references to ancient Greece. It reeks of a history far nobler and grander than anything a British University can instil its students with, and the wearing of togas must make it seem as authentic as a ploughman's lunch.

I think what I am trying to say is that Fraternities give young Americans the chance to grow up in their own time, and that it is regrettable that no similar opportunity is afforded to European Students. In particular, I find it sad that even some American students forego the opportunity to wear togas and claim to be Greek. Really this should be mandatory, so every graduate will be secure in the knowledge that they have gained something much more valuable than a degree from an American University - a little badge with some Greek letters on it.

Although I am not American, I admire the system so much that I would dearly love to become an honorary member of a fraternity. I have set my heart on becoming an alumni of Theta Omicron Sigma Sigma Epsilon Ro Sigma. I do so hope this is possible

Re:Since

[Anonymous Coward]

nice teeth, idiot.

Think about it this way

[TobyWong]

Get a new job?

Nobody is forcing you to work there for that amount. That's like saying "I'm the king of spain and I'm stuck shovelling pig shit for a dollar a day, boy being king sure sucks!"

You are equating university degree with your crappy job and let me assure you, it's also possible to find many crappy jobs without a degree as well.

Re:six figure high school drop out

[jone1941]

uh huh...and when I was in highschool I realized I had "spidey powers" and I have been defending NYC ever since.

Re:Since

[fellini8.5]

I guess another thing lacking in UK Universities is the ability to communicate directly without humour, wit, or sarcasm... we Americans are apparantly are unencumbered by such subtlies.

:)

Re:for my PhD...

[anthony_dipierro]

It is nonsense to judge a college by who they ADMIT.

Judge a college by who they PRODUCE.

I hear NYU has a high rate of student pregnancy. Guess they PRODUCE a lot of our country's best.

C'mon. Colleges don't produce people. Sex produces people.

It only "really doesn't matter..."

[callipygian-showsyst]

It only "really doesn't matter where you went to school" if you didn't get into a "prestigious" one.

Otherwise it matters!

Besides, I thought the /. party line was that school is irrelevant. Or did that notion die with the dotcoms?

Re:Since

[smithmc]

In the U.S., the partying buffoons are allowed to expose themselves, have a good time, burn out, and eventually become used-car dealers and fast-food restaurant managers

...or President of the United States, even.