Wilfred of Ivanhoe

A member of the Philip Greenspun's Homepage community since February 11, 1999

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February 11, 1999, on Tuition-free MIT:
here are a few random points; 1) the discussion concerning the motivational level of paying students versus "free ride" students is interesting, but I don't think you can come to a conclusion without looking at external factors. one is the effect of the inherently hostile university environment; I suspect that the "free riders", particularly those on scholarships, have gotten used to good treatment by the various schools up to college. the pay-as-you-go crowd, not having been accorded any respect during middle and high school, may be better prepared emotionally for the slings and arrows of outrageous academia. another factor is the end result of those hard years; for Europeans in particular, I have read that post-graduate success has more to do with socio-economic status than academic performance, so why kill yourself studying? 2) I find it increasingly ironic that, as the American economy becomes faster-paced and more competitive, that 17-year-olds are ex...