Pat Juras's valedictorian speech

[Col Crunch]

Originally Posted by Ikenator

Depends where you look for rankings:
http://www.topuniversities.com/unive...il-engineering

Also, rankings are just one thing to look at. Even if U of I technically is better academically, it doesn't have the same wow factor. Every where you go in the world ever, people will be impressed that you went to MIT for some sort of engineering.

At cocktail parties, sure; but those who matter (fellow engineers) would be just as impressed by a good performance at U of I. But frankly, no matter where you went, your engineering degree won't get you laid.

That being said, if he wants to experiance east coast living and college in Boston, by all means go do it. Academics are a big part of college, but not the only thing. The chance to get away from home and meet more people with varied backgrounds is fun and worthwhile.

[kmatus]

Originally Posted by Col Crunch

At cocktail parties, sure; but those who matter (fellow engineers) would be just as impressed by a good performance at U of I. But frankly, no matter where you went, your engineering degree won't get you laid.

That being said, if he wants to experiance east coast living and college in Boston, by all means go do it. Academics are a big part of college, but not the only thing. The chance to get away from home and meet more people with varied backgrounds is fun and worthwhile.

Boston vs Champaign?.....No contest!

[Swoosh13]

Originally Posted by Tony RIS-E'

Yikes!!! Purdue or U of I's great programs couldn't land him huh?

MIT has a little bit more of a ring to it

[TheNewTrickster]

Originally Posted by kmatus

Boston vs Champaign?.....No contest!

i hope that was a joke... Boston>>>>>>>>

[SitN'Kick]

Originally Posted by kmatus

That's all they have at MIT

I was referring to U of I......

[Illinoisprepster]

Originally Posted by Swoosh13

MIT has a little bit more of a ring to it

Getting a solid job out of college has the ring that I'm most concerned. Both schools provide that

[Ikenator]

Originally Posted by Col Crunch

At cocktail parties, sure; but those who matter (fellow engineers) would be just as impressed by a good performance at U of I. But frankly, no matter where you went, your engineering degree won't get you laid.

As a professional with an engineering degree from a top school (not MIT or UofI), I disagree with both statements

I still think MIT holds more weight in the minds of a lot of people in industry. Fellow engineers often aren't the ones doing the hiring. It's the HR folks and operations managers, who probably don't have strong technical backgrounds. And while in theory they should know which schools are the best, they are strongly influenced by their own biases and misconceptions.

I'm not saying it is right. I'm saying it happens.

And I think the fact that MIT has "more of a ring to it" combined with the fact that its an incredibly good school is a pretty compelling reason to choose it if you get in.

[jpac511]

The craziest thing to me though is that he'd be giving up running.

[runoholic]

Originally Posted by jpac511

The craziest thing to me though is that he'd be giving up running.

Yeah, kinda surprising, but not unheard of. It's natural to take an interest in other things and then lose interest in running (at least competitively) simply from "growing up". Or sometimes it's the case of runners just "burning out" from working very hard since high school or earlier, which make them tired of it completely. Not saying this was the case with Pat Juras. I'm sure he would be a great runner in college if he continued. But we must recognize that it's humanity for us to change interests, and distance running is no exception to these array of interests we all have.

Just look at Verzbicas, who arguably is one of America's best runners during his high school career. Yet he decides to commit to Triathalons and quit cross country. Now his case is different from Pat Juras for many reasons, I know, but that still goes to show that you never know what decisions people will make in their lives.

Another good example of a phenomenal runner all through middle school and high school who is no longer running (at least competitively) is Tom Pacey of PBL, as many 1A posters are aware. Word came to me a couple months ago from some Paxton residents I met (they weren't runners, but PBL is a small enough town where everyone knows everyone) that he goes to U of I, which granted if he wouldn't have been able to qualify as a varsity runner in the U of I cross country team, there exists arguably one of the best (if not the best) running clubs in the nation who would gladly coach talent like him. But because of working extremely hard all through middle and high school to the point of getting tired of it, he's lost interest in running.