Snobbery in education.

steddyeddy wrote: »

Out of interest Cramcycle how are IT grads lab skills? I'd wager they can be nearly better than those with a bachelors.

Generally yes, particularly in certain subject areas but it is very institute and course dependent.

steddyeddy wrote: »

I think the poster meant very few people in Ireland actually apply to Harvard. As Cramcycle said you can't compare the Irish and US system.

I know people who contemplated it but when you look at the fees, it is just not practical for a majority of irish people. Their undergrad system is different than ours. Can you compare Harvard against any of our 3rd level institutes, not at all. I have no doubt that the expected standards for entry are far higher, dictated mainly by cost. The US system also allows alot of room to maneuver within your undergrad. Do I think alot of Irish would get into Harvard if they started applying? Probably not, our education system is not built for it either, there is generally not enough extra there and the LC is to diverse. It's not impossible but it would realistically be something a student would have been planning for early in their secondary school cycle and is dependent on far more than just their education.

Shelga wrote: »

Could it be that this type of language is what's winding certain posters up? Dare I say, snobby? I wouldn't call DCU a 'backwater' institution. Not sure why they get quite so upset about though- the basic idea that Harvard is more renowned than DCU is undeniable.

I think people take this so personally and are desperate to prove they're just as intelligent and hardworking as someone from Harvard, when the chances are, they're not. Important point is in bold. I'm not as innovative and intelligent an engineer as an MIT graduate. Most of my friends would admit likewise about themselves- why is is such an issue for people on this thread to do similar?

You are completely right, to get into Harvard you have to have been hard working before you arrived, the Irish education system doesn't require that. i didn't do a tap for my leaving, looking at my daughters leaving last year, I have no doubt that the way i am now, I could pick up a good score in the leaving currently with minimal work outside of my job. DCU is not a backwater institution, considering the way we have to balance our undergrad numbers to get finance, it is an impressive feat that any Irish institute if in the top 400 at all. Considering the thousands of verified 3rd level institutions in the world, to get on the top 800 list at all is an achievement in itself. People think being down the list is bad but they miss the point that getting on the list in itself is good.

At a postgraduate level it is a different story, for most colleges, it very applicant dependent not where they got their degree.

The thread, I thought was academic snobbish between Irish institutions, along the lines of "how many graduates from the following institutions does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

TCD - one to hold it in the air and let the world revolve around them
UCD - two, one to change the bulb and another to explain how they done it every bit as well as someone from TCD
AIT - one to unscrew it and the other to break it, sniff the gas and get high
ITT - five, one to change the lightbulb and four to give out to someone that if they were in a better college it wouldn't have went out
DIT - 30, one to change the lightbulb and then the rest oof his class to throw a party for doing it correctly.
IT Sligo - All of them, not that they are at anything anyway.

Basically, between irish institutions it is pointless, every institution here as strengths and weaknesses, different courses of different calibres. For every employable situation, I could make suggestions for the most likely institute to look at if that's what you were doing but truthfully I would sooner call in the ones with the better CVs and then see which one has the right attitude and personality.