(01-16-2009 04:53 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  And as for Belmont, we aren't even close academically, don't bring that argument up. There's a fair amount of ETSU students that couldn't make it at Belmont, major for major.

We'll agree to disagree. ETSU Performance Score Tops for Tennessee Public Universities

"THEC examined student performance on standardized tests of critical thinking and knowledge in the major field, pass rates on licensure exams, employer satisfaction with recent graduates, results of accreditation and academic program reviews, retention and graduation rates, and programs to assist students transferring to ETSU."

By the way, Belmont's tuition is $20,700 per year, ETSU's is $4,300.

Not meant to be a slam to Belmont, but a small private just can't be compared with a research university. Belmont's academic peer in this area would probably be Milligan or Tusculum, although Belmont offers more graduate programs than do Milligan or Tusculum. That said, Belmont has some program accreditations that are light years ahead of Milligan or Tusculum.

Nuf said...

Actually, Belmont's academic peer would be closer to maybe Butler U. in Indianapolis(?) - that's off the top of my head, but those two seem pretty similar. That one comes to mind as similar as well because of b-ball familiarity, and both are privates in metro areas. I think they are a bit ahead of Milligan & Tusculum because of what you brought up, Doctor - Belmont does have more grad programs than those two. Heck, I would still put Milligan ahead of Tusculum - any time I see a transfer coming in from Tusculum they are typically poorly prepared - Milligan is much stronger academically.

Saying that ETSU students would not cut the mustard at Belmont is ridiculous. Our best students are as good as the students from Belmont on any day. Why? They have more real world experience in their major, and in the sciences (something I'm very familiar with) they have research experiences that Belmont students need to go to Vandy to get, and they rarely get that opportunity. Belmont's a liberal arts school, as are most of our other ASun colleagues, save maybe North Florida. Their focus is on undergraduate education but they come at it from a different angle than a public university like ourselves; their student body is made up of the richies - the rich kids, the kids that can afford that $20K/year tuition, or pay the loans to pay it back. How many of those BU students are from Tennessee? I wonder. Certainly, most of our kids are from, ironically, East Tennessee, much like our name. They really are nothing like us academically, and man, I would love to put a hurting on them on the court.

Let's not make the analogy that since Belmont has beaten us in basketball in the past, that they can also beat us in the classroom. Simply not true.

Belmont wins the academic trophy every year. Their guys don't major in Interdisciplinary Studies and underwater sorority girl dating. I'm very familiar with what Belmont is and it should be changed to Curb Records U.

Well said GobucsGo. Thanks.