May 2008 Archives

Twenty years ago, I graduated with an MBA from the Wharton School. I went there because it was the best school I could get into.  Also, I was impressed with some of the people I had met from there.

The fact that I would have to reside in Philadelphia was a drawback. I paid to live in the dorms there because I did not want to have to brave the rough neighborhood that surrounded the school. Homicides occurred at the dormitory door. It might be best to consider having to live in Philadelphia as part of the cost of attending.

Universities are going through a tough time financially. People no longer have to attend them to get the credentials they need. People inside universities think they are selling an experience and that people are turning away from that. I think universities were always selling credentials.

They're just not the only place to get them any more.

(n.b., this essay was inspired by a conversation with Patricia Anderson)

Three weeks ago, Linda Girard and Catherine Juon over at Pure Visibility convinced me to start Tweeting on Twitter. It's been sort of fun, but I find I mainly do it when I am extremely busy otherwise. If I'm not busy, I do it less.

A few general observations about Twitter's utility:

• It's been a great tool for keeping up with happenings around Ann Arbor. I've certainly learned a lot more about the people at Pure Visibility who are all on Twitter.
• I've managed to reach out to other people who I knew in past lives, and that has been fun.
• In the preceding two cases, I'd categorize everyone as part of the digerati. My personal trainer is not on twitter. None of my gym pals are on Twitter. The Dean of the school where I teach is not on Twitter, nor will he ever be.
• The chief question on my mind is the extent to which twitter's mainly digierati crowd can provide me with generally applicable information. One point in favor of twitter is that I have learned alot of things about Ann Arbor I never knew, and I've been here a decade. So, it's been at least a little worth it.