The Class of 2006 brain drain
The accomplishments of the students profiled in the annual Academic Leaders section of our Community supplement Wednesday can match those of high school graduates anywhere. They've given to their communities as well as to their schools. They've set the bar high in their academic life and plan to push it higher in college as they pursue engineering, medicine, international relations, etc.
But New Jersey college recruiters should be concerned that only 15 of the 59 students profiled - 25.4 percent - will attend college in state. More of these high achievers are going to Penn, MIT, Virginia, Brown, NYU, Lafayette and other top-notch colleges than are going to Rutgers. The College of New Jersey did the best job by luring five of these top students. Rutgers got only two.
This out-migration of New Jersey students is nothing new. Not only are these bright minds not learning in state, but they're not likely to return here. Our economy and scientific communities will be the losers. Every state college and university has to study its admissions process to determine what they could have done better to keep the "best and brightest'' where they belong, in New Jersey.
But New Jersey college recruiters should be concerned that only 15 of the 59 students profiled - 25.4 percent - will attend college in state. More of these high achievers are going to Penn, MIT, Virginia, Brown, NYU, Lafayette and other top-notch colleges than are going to Rutgers. The College of New Jersey did the best job by luring five of these top students. Rutgers got only two.
This out-migration of New Jersey students is nothing new. Not only are these bright minds not learning in state, but they're not likely to return here. Our economy and scientific communities will be the losers. Every state college and university has to study its admissions process to determine what they could have done better to keep the "best and brightest'' where they belong, in New Jersey.
posted by Larry Benjamin at 9:37 AM
3 Comments:
Perhaps that say's it best in " they're not likely to return here"...I don't know what comes first the chicken of the egg, but N J has been getting the short end of the stick in elected officals for some time now .Do you think all the good talent sees what a mess the state is in and just leaves and never comes back?...just look at the trash we are stuck with ...gutless politicans ....well don't let the door hit ya'in the ass on the way out ....I'll be right behind you
Where do the best and brightest really "belong"? At Rutgers, or at MIT? Why? MIT, Brown and the rest are simply better schools. Attracting better and brighter students would require a costly improvement in the quality of education at our state-run colleges, as well as far greater selectivity in the admissions process. There is no political support for either of these basic reforms.
I guess spending more to educate students in New Jersey then any other state is really paying off for the good ol taxpayer.
Post a Comment
<< Home