Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with alternativeeducation

Grad school with no undergrad?

crickets — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:33:12 -0800

My sister would like to go to grad school, but didn't finish her undergrad. Impossible? She doesn't have a degree because, like me, she's an experiential learner, and we both hated college. That having been said, she's finally decided what she really wants to do with her life, and is jazzed about the idea of grad school. She'd like to study international relations, or something similar, and is hoping to end up working for some sort of NGO.

Factors that might apply:

-- She's 30
-- She's had plenty of real-life experience. (lack of a degree hasn't held either of us back)
-- She's uber smart and way more motivated than anyone I know
-- She's currently in the Peace Corps

Any thoughts?

(Bonus points for thoughts about schools in NYC.)

Did you go to crazy hippie school? Awesome!

InnocentBystander — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:55:07 -0800

Did you go to a Sudbury school? Do you have contacts with a Sudbury school? Can you help me? I am doing an undergraduate research project on Sudbury schools and their students, particularly Sudbury schools in rural or semi-rural locations. As part of this, I'm going to be traveling up the east coast in May/June and observing/comparing different Sudbury schools. My intent is partially to figure out what I do and don't want to do when I found my own school in the future -- something my friends and I have been discussing doing for about ten years and change -- and partially to score some sweet, sweet research dollars while doing something I like.

My question is whether any of you lovely Mefites have gone to a Sudbury school, and if so, do you have contacts there that might help me get in more easily for visiting/observing/etc.? If you have experience working at or attending a Sudbury school, what was their policy on visitors like? Would there be a place to stay if I visited, like a homestay? I'm intending to send out emails very soon about all this to the schools I plan to visit, but if you know for a fact that such-and-such school hates visitors with an insane passion, I'd like to know in advance.

Waldorf/Steiner Schools

hazyjane — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 06:04:09 -0800

Waldorf/Steiner schools - good, bad or ugly? Any personal experiences with this type of school that you can share would be very much appreciated! I've been dating someone who is going to be transitioning to become a teacher in one of these schools. His training is completed and he should be starting teaching next fall. If things get serious with this guy, and it's looking as though they might, this school is going to be a part of my life as well. Many people in his social circle send their children to this school and consider themselves "anthroposophists." If this guy and I have children he would certainly expect them to attend a Steiner school.

I've been doing research on Rudolf Steiner and on Waldorf/Steiner schools and trying to learn as much as I can, but the information I'm getting is mixed. Anything you can share with me would be greatly appreciated!

Alternative Places Of Learning

divabat — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 04:02:15 -0800

Alternative colleges, universities, and other forms of post-secondary learning worldwide - any suggestions? I'm looking for suggestions for alternative colleges/universities/post-secondary-school educational places around the world.

By "alternative" I mean having any combination of the following attributes:

(a) Nonconventional method of studying and/or structure of courses (e.g. colleges with independent degrees, courses aligned by topic [like Evergreen]), etc

(b) Nonconventional method of evaluation (e.g. colleges that write detailed evaluations as opposed to grades)

(c) Just nonconventional period (e.g. Semester At Sea, Up With People)

I've already got a ton of names for places in the USA so I'd really appreciate places from other countries too. Do explain how they're unconventional/alternative/out-of-the-box.

Thank you!