The Cure For High School Cheating: Better Teaching, Less Ego

Cheating is in the news again.  No surprise there, really, considering that two-thirds of high school students admit cheating.
The hot spots?  Highly competitive high schools located in college towns.  This quote from Jim Kenyon, the father of a student named Nicholas who is accused of cheating at his Hanover, New Hampshire high school, says it all:
“We live [...]

Free College Education For All–Or Getting Closer To It

This is a very cool time for those who are intellectually curious. 
It’s not just that you have Google at your fingertips.  Now, you can sit in on some of the best lectures by top professors at elite universities–for FREE.  All you need is an internet connection.
No credit.  No grades.  No degree.  But the CONTENT is [...]

Finally! Top Universities Consider Making College More Affordable

Since Harvard announced its plan to offer more grants and scholarships to students from middle-income families, other universities are jumping on the bandwagon.
This is great news!  I’ve felt for a long time that all it would take is one or two universities offering more aid to trigger a shift in the way top private universities [...]

Sizzling Discussion: Are Elite High Schools And Ivy League Degrees Worth the Sacrifice?

First off, let me say that if you have the money and/or the leverage (legacy, prof, whatever) to get your kid into a top private high school or Ivy League college AND–this is important–your kid is totally into it and really, really, really wants to go, then by all means, go that route.  That’s your choice.
But [...]

Avoid Getting Hosed By Grad Schools

Last night, I was at a gathering of expats here in Buenos Aires.  I met a young man who is studying at the law school here for a semester through a program sponsored by his Ivy League law school back home. 
Or, well, it is supposed to be sponsored.  I mean, he is paying the Ivy [...]

Whew! Acadia Strike Appears To Be Over: Are Students Transferring to Dalhousie?

After 60 hours of mediated talks, the faculty and administrators at Acadia University appear to be close to signing an agreement, ending the three-week-old strike. 
We’re hoping for an announcement that classes will resume on Wednesday or Thursday.  Fingers crossed!
 Much of the discussion over at the ASU strike blog is centered around the rumor that a [...]

The Folly of the Ivy League–Malcolm Gladwell Pokes Fun At Harvard, Yale and Princeton

Well, I’ve been focusing on the strike at Acadia University for the last couple of weeks, and I’m happy to report that both sides are still “in talks” this weekend and we’re all hoping that papers will get signed and kids will start classes again by Wednesday.  Fingers crossed.
Today, let’s head south of the Canadian/US [...]