Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with university and highereducation

Educate me (and mine).

mds35 — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:05:15 -0800

Which colleges or universities still offer free tuition to children of employees who get accepted to the school? I once worked at a university where an employee's child (provided the parent was at a certain job level/rank and had been in the job long enough to qualify) could go to any of the undergraduate divisions for free if they were accepted to them. If the child went to another college, the university would pay half of the tuition.

Pretty sweet deal.

I know that schools are doing away with this kind of benefit, but what schools do you know of where this is still offered? My career is such that I can work in the academic setting, so where should I look for employment if I want my kids to get a free education?

This regards the US

Test-in or backdoor into research and/or higher education?

loquacious — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 05:28:45 -0800

As an "outsider", how do I find a back door in to a school or institution of research? Is there any way to "test in" to such a program - or to a degree? I've heard a rumor that MIT and/or Media Laboratory has a back door somewhere where you can test in and interview to apply as a sort of guest or probated student. Does it? Do any other similar schools or institutions have such progams?

Or, to sum: Is there any way for a self educated outsider to enter post-grad level work, experimentation or research without grinding through the undergrad gristmill?

What advice do you have for a new PhD candidate?

k8t — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:29:54 -0800

PhD advice! I am starting a PhD program in Communications this fall. I'd like some general advice from those who have survived. I'm looking for ideas on wise steps to take as far as department politics, TAing, getting published, attending conferences, funding, trying to survive on no money, being in a relationship with a non-student, etc. More specific details: I already have an MA in International Relations and Development and my BA is focused on a specific area of the world, for which I have gained extensive language skills. (I also spent the last 5 years working in either tech jobs or international development with a tech focus.) I chose my PhD program because the university has a multi-discipline institute for Technology and Society with a PhD focus in Technology and Society in developing countries. This is exactly what I want to study.
I was offered only a TA-ship for my first year. (Boo.) I've applied for a Fulbright next year.
Thanks!

How many students will be enrolled at colleges and universities in the U.S. this year?

fugitivefromchaingang — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:35:08 -0800

How many students will be enrolled at colleges and universities in the U.S. this year? The U.S. census bureau only seems to have numbers up to 2004. Thanks in advance.

How good is the reputation of Swinburne University in Victoria, Australia?

ranglin — Mon, 15 May 2006 19:29:41 -0800

How good is the reputation of Swinburne University in Victoria, Australia? Are they more focused on teaching or research? As mentioned in previous AskMe's, I'm looking into moving to Melbourne and their might be an opportunity for an Academic position at the Hawthorn campus of Swinburne in Victoria, Australia. Therefore, I'm looking for opinions from the AskMe hive mind on:

a. Swinburne's reputation (and a link to websites detailing its ranking relative to some other vic/aussie uni's)

b. their focus (teaching, research, both)

c. living arrangements for Hawthorn (distance from city etc)

d. Personal anecdotes about the campus and/or the university.

Many thanks to you all in advance! I'm getting closer! :)

Dressing past the interview...

srah — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 10:41:17 -0800

What should I wear to work in a higher education student services setting? Interview attire is one thing - I'm all set with that. But once I get the job, what should I wear to work? I want to build up my professional wardrobe and I want to do it right. There's plenty of information on the web about what's appropriate or inappropriate to wear to a job interview, but much less about what's appropriate to wear once you get the job. What information there is (I've read JT Molloy's New Women's Dress for Success) seems to be angled towards the corporate world, rather than higher education, and I feel like the rules are probably slightly different.

Background: It's my first professional job after back-to-back college and graduate school. I want to look professional to my co-workers/supervisor, but I thought that wearing a suit every day might be overkill in this setting. I want to be approachable by students but not look like one of them (I'm a petite and young-looking female, so this is a concern).

Please let me know what works/doesn't work for you!