Go to ISU. I never knew them until they moved in. Nice family (and smart kids going to ISU!).
ISU Student Enrollment
- Thread starter BigJCy
- Start date
lol, we got another scheduler/planner around here? Thought I was the only one!
I've been screaming into the void for years that a four-year degree is great, but a degree in the trades is also great. If we combined the two, well, now, we've really got something. What I cannot stand is one side denigrating the other, and I certainly cannot stand parents/family/friends pushing a kid one way when he/she ought to be doing something different.
Isn't the fact that the town is getting older a sign that the town is drying up?
This is the norm for most Iowa towns. Population has been steady or maybe slight decline over the past couple of decades, but the schools are significantly smaller.
It's correct that we're not seeing a bunch of mass exodus from all these towns, but they're drying up. It's just going to be a multi-decade process.
But in a roundabout way they do, or at least in-state students as a whole get the short end of the stick at ISU.
State funding for universities does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. U of I gets way more state $ per in-state student than ISU, despite the fact that state funds are intended to subsidize the education of in-state students.
So, yes, both schools charge more for out of state students, but ISU, both because of location and areas of study gets a far higher percentage of in-state students. Instead of rewarding ISU for fulfilling that core mission of the Regents universities, the state does not.
Some might recall about 15 years ago when the proposal to adjust funding on the basis of in-state students seemed like a done deal, as it had support from Branstad and the Regents. But our stupid legislature shot it down.
You aren't screaming into the void. If looking at my old home town and area papers when they ask students what they plan to do after graduation, it's like 25% just get a job, 70% say they are going to a two-year to get a trade education, and like 5% actually intend to go to a four-years school.
This might not be representative, but in rural areas it seems the pendulum has swung and there seems to be a large percentage of people that think the ROI for a 4 year education is poor. Granted, a STEM field at an in-state school like ISU still has a great ROI. Probably as good a long-term ROI as any path.
It could. The town's population is consistent to slightly lower in the last 10 years. A bit of optimism is when the older folks have moved out they've been replaced by families.
Seems there could be an opportunity for a population bump once they move on. But in the short term the district has seen that big drop.
Across the street we went from 1 old guy to a young family and the ****** is an economic anchor. So maybe there's hope.
I've not read the whole thread, but beyond Iowa and small-town specifics, the entire US birth rate is way way down. It's been below replacement rate for almost 20 years. And its an exponential thing, so if it doesn't go back up soon...
Kids just aren't having kids.
Economist Pop Shrink
I always recommend ISU to coworkers when their kids are looking for schools because I enjoyed my time there and it is an easy drive from Minnesota while also offering enough distance for kids to feel like they are on their own. By my count so far only 2 kids didn't end up going to Iowa state. 1 went to Nebraska and 1 went Iowa (her dad told me the ISU tour/campus was much better than Iowa so he was shocked that she picked iowa)
Honestly ISU should cut me some cash because i think I am responsible for getting like 8 kids to Ames.
Honestly ISU should cut me some cash because i think I am responsible for getting like 8 kids to Ames.
I still think, regardless of profession, it is important for someone to know how to read and write well. If a person goes into a trade and never takes a reading or writing class past what was required in high school will that person be able to do anything different than that trade? Eventually some won't want to be in that trade and will want to do something different, or just move up within the business to a managerial position, and if so will that person have the reading and writing skills to do that? Developing those reading, writing, and communications skills are so important and the beauty of a four-year degree.
There were a couple legislators from Eastern Iowa that were hard chargers on that. One from Iowa City specifically I remember emailing and his responses told me he was 100% looking out for U of Iowa and nothing else.
several of the trade classes still require some basic communication classes, like public speaking and technical writing.
Btw, my 3 kids only ever had to take one reading/writing/speaking class in college because their HS classes counted for the ones at ISU. Many of their classmates who are doing technical schools are also in these classes.
We will put up a statue outside the UDA.
The trades still require this. DMACC’s auto program requires at least one communication class, and I had many STEM students take that single course you reference. It is a real shame. Not saying your kids are but there are many functioning illiterate people in the world and AI certainly isn’t going to make it better. End old man rant.
They require English 302? That’s pretty good. So they require everything that ISU does. Are you saying that there should be more English classes in college?
My brother-in-law's daughter is taking a class in 12th grade called Home Repair, and it focuses on basic electrical repair, plumbing repair, and drywall. That could be the most valuable high school course she'll ever take.
Yes, I am saying more ought to be required. I understand that may not be practical from a scheduling standpoint but the need is there imo.
