Earlier this year, I took my son (HS Senior) on a road trip and we visited Ohio State and Purdue.

He wanted to see University of Georgia, which Michael Jordan's Geography would tell you that's a big deal for one school. So....we did looked at NC State, Clemson, and Georgia.

His new rankings
1. Georgia
2. Purdue
3. NC State
4. Clemson

My rankings (which don't matter)
1. Clemson
2. Georgia
3. Purdue
4. NC State

Maybe this should have been in the brag about something nobody cares about threads. Still....it was a fun time and I was able to see some great campuses. I'd be thrilled if he went to any of them.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Oddly as much as my parents stressed higher education, my only real college was to West Point. I've never been to Pepperdine, but it's hard to say that there isn't a more beautiful campus than the USMA.

And my parents were horrified at how in love with the place I was. And then I got shipped to the armpit of the Big 10.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Depends what the goal is; if it's educational merit, big-ass flagship southern universities top out at the level of directional midwestern universities. Purdue, Illinois heads and tails above any SEC/southern ACC school for quality of book learnin'. And if you're talking STEM or finance you'd have to go to MIT or CalTech or Carnegie-Mellon + a handful of others on the coasts to get access to a better regarded education in those fields than Purdue or Illinois.

But if you're looking to crush puss and pound brews without the distraction of rigorous course work, definitely head south.

Georgia has nice girls with a trimmed hedge. Reader, Air Force Academy better simply for scenery.

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Elections have consequences.

Scenery maybe, but that campus was amazing. It was like walking in a living museum for a full week.

But telling a kid that on day one of junior year you could pick out virtually any American car out didn't hurt either.

Or the mammoth platters of steaks.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I did not know you went to Purdue.

BigW you have always been one of my favorite posters. It is sad to see your rankings. I guess even the best guys have moments of bad.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

STEM for him.

So you're telling me a degree in Chemistry from Georgia is about as useful as a degree from Northern Illinois University. ok

Even if that was the case....he'd have the experience of life in a completely different part of the country, enjoy college football saturday life, and I'd have a kick-ass place to visit. All that and I'm almost certain when everything nets out, cost is going to be comparable to the "great" University of Illinois.

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I've long believed that Bloomington is a beautiful campus, and only stopped in West Lafayette once, for gas. It seemed like a mid level suburb.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

You are a smart man RR, I have always said that. SMART Man.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Are you an IU alum or something?

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Actually I think that it's really cool that you took the time to go on an extended trip with your son BigW. Probably a good thing that you didn't go on a football Saturday.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Agreed. I've been following the journey on Facebook.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I took a trip out East with a group and looked at a bunch of schools. Loved some of those old campuses but was denied on my application so in the end it didn’t matter. I think when I hit my acceptances I had only visited NU for hanging out with my brother and UIUC for an academic competition but truthfully.. not sure that wasn’t actually after the college process. It was kind of a mad scramble to visit the others to make up my mind.

The two small campuses I visited in Maine were very pretty but for the wait lost at the one I applied to and didn’t bother accepting the place as the other schools seemed a better option. Maine cold, unlike tropical Illinois or Minnesota.

THESE

I had a great time a year ago this week visiting schools out east with Young Crest.

Fabulous memories that will last a lifetime.

He ended up going to school at a place we never visited in Texas.

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The FB posts were only to shut up my extended family. I don't really like doing much of that.

Mother of the year is taking him to Michigan State and Madison this weekend I hope it's during a football game

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Hey, take it easy.

In all seriousness, and I mean this because it concerns a young person and their future, UofI is a fantastic and well-respected Engineering College. That's not me being "UofI Guy". I honestly believe that and know many successful professionals that went to the UofI College of Engineering and have 2 kids there myself right now.

Purdue is also an excellent Engineering school.

Obviously the others you mentioned are excellent. My oldest applied to Georgia Tech also but chose Illinois with no (honestly) influence from me. He could choose anywhere.

I loved Pepperdine. It was beautiful but my parents and I -

1 - Didn't think I had any chance of affording it
2 - Couldn't go that far away

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You know me like that.

It's funny but I honestly think that now I look back on the visits with my sons more fondly than they do. But I suspect that will change as they get older.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Best trip I have taken with my oldest son was to Vanderbilt. Hit the Titans/Seahawks game and toured the campus on Monday. He's a Seahawks fan because they were good on Madden about 8 years ago on the Super Bowl runs.

Beast Mode.

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You know me like that.

It's funny you mention a Cali school. Mine was Stanford. After my parents said no to West Point, they then turned around and said no to my next choice. They didn't think that I'd come back (I wouldn't have) and didn't think that I was mature enough to be so far away (I probably wasn't).

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I really felt bad that my second oldest couldn't do any trips last year or two because of COVID. The campuses were basically closed.

But, he'd been to UofI many times, MANY, on scholastic competition finals and just trips that we'd take down there so he felt very comfortable and it is well-suited for his major.

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You know me like that.

I'm reminded of a visit to the College World Series were we stayed at the Vanderbilt alumni hotel. A few kids asked me if college was like that. I laughed and told them that there was a lot of work and possibly money to see that happen.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Different era but my mom was first of her family to go away but also the youngest kid. She wanted to go to Washington but her dad said no and said she had to be within x amount of miles of Oaklawn. She took out a compass, drew a circle and went to the school furthest away that she could afford.

I went to Yale for an aunt's graduation in the early seventies. I got one of those ceramic glazed mugs that had me stuck on the school. Until I was filling out the application and stumbled across the reading list.

But I still have the mug.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Well Doc, our visit to U of I was cancelled due to “staffing issues”. How much would it cost to get a Doc led tour? (Note: jk)

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

The thing that was interesting about Vanderbilt, and something I did not know when I was in HS, they just flat-out give you a lot of money.

So, yes, it's like $80k/year, but in the orientation visit they give you a scale based on your family income that tells you how much money they will give you if you are accepted.

My wife and I make a pretty good buck, but we would have gotten like $50k a year from college grants, discounts, whatever you want to call them to make it where it would be pretty much the same cost as UofI, more, but reasonably close.

I knew universities with large-endowments are their own countries but I just guess I didn't understand they give the money to everybody that goes there.

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You know me like that.

I'd settle for a double bacon burger with fries at Murphy's.

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You know me like that.

Was that the place with Little Kings Thursdays? If so I loved that place. And the pizza place next door.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I feel like this is a setup for another chance for you to tell me how much UofI sucks.

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You know me like that.

Same is true Doc about Ivy League schools.

Unless your parents are very wealthy, they through the money at you if they want you. A good friend of mine paid less at Dartmouth for two kids then he spent on Notre Dame and Resurrection High School for them.

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