Why are “good colleges” often the ones that accept the fewest students? Exposing the harmful consequences of society’s obsession with highly rejective (and expensive) universities, educator Cecilia M. Orphan asks us to rethink what makes institutions “prestigious” and consider directing funds and attention to where they’re needed most: regional public universities that serve all students. A call for schools to be judged by the opportunities they create — not the ones they stifle.
If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:
Follow TED!
Twitter:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
Watch more:
TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at
#TED #TEDTalks #college
Andrea Mcmahon
May 25, 2023 at 7:26 am
BRILIANT talk,thank you for opening my eyes
adamsj35
May 25, 2023 at 7:26 am
Interesting subject. Although I will say, the speaker did go to University of Pennsylvania for their PhD (a highly rejective college). Not saying she shouldn’t take the opportunity. Anyone should. But they are kind of part of that club. I’m sure a PhD from UPenn probably carries a lot of credentialism.
Let's Go Brandon
May 25, 2023 at 8:47 am
Don’t get caught up in what a PhD or any degree from an Ivy League can provide in terms of credentialism or even proficiency. Look at what the “ genius” Harvard (B.A.) credentialed marketing Vice President at ABInBev unilaterally did to Bud Light with an ill conceived campaign. Killed a brand and cost a company billion$.
Georgia LoSchiavo
May 25, 2023 at 9:24 am
Grad degrees are different – they rarely provide as much upward mobility as undergraduate degrees. For one thing, the number of people who get grad degrees is exponentially less than those who get undergrad. People don’t tend to go for grad degrees unless they need them for a specific career path, while undergrad at this point is just, “everyone has to get one, and the major doesn’t really matter”. Secondly, depending on the specific grad degree, it’s going actually be beneficial to go to a selective school because graduate have different focuses in a way that undergrad programs don’t. For example, a biology BA is going to be similar across the country; a PhD biology program will vary dramatically between schools because some schools focus on human health, others on microbes, others on extremophiles, others on astrobiology… etc, etc… you don’t just get a PhD in bio, you get a doctorate in biology from University of Washington’s astrobiology program, for example. She is clearly an academic (a college professor), so she probably studied something very specific. She might have chosen UPenn because it best fit her interests and her career path. In short, her having a grad degree from UPenn in no way diminishes her point.
anakaddo
May 25, 2023 at 9:37 am
@Georgia LoSchiavo Very well said
Sean Tran
May 25, 2023 at 1:08 pm
@Georgia LoSchiavo that actually strengthens her point imo, because it means she’s experienced both!
M Yoshimoto
May 25, 2023 at 2:59 pm
I think you are missing the point.
She had two choices for undergrad, RPU or no college at all. because of the education she got at the RPU, she got into UPenn. I can see why she has a lot of pride in her RPU.
I grew up in southern california and really, the CSU system gets a bad wrap. However i know many of my friends got opportunities that they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise by going to CSULB, CSUDH, and eventually get accepted at a highly rejective university for their masters/phD
.
Dhananjay Singh
May 25, 2023 at 7:35 am
Well drafted,well crafted and excellently orated, Rich college are made fatter in all senses and RPU are made poorer by all means and ways
daheikkinen
May 25, 2023 at 7:38 am
Hillsdale or bust.
mr d
May 25, 2023 at 7:40 am
Good effective knowledge should be free for all. We as humans will most likely advance quicker (think working together like a group of ants). Unfortunately, greed, capitalism, slows, hampers, funnel-effect overall human advancements. When zoomed out into the galaxy, we humans are very insignificant in the vast infinite space. Thank goodness I’m Christian ✝️. I’d rather live forever with my heavenly Creator and create galaxies of my family tree. ❤
marivic veloso
May 25, 2023 at 7:42 am
What make’s a Good College it never existed
daheikkinen
May 25, 2023 at 7:43 am
Tuition has increased primarily because equity officers have bloated the administrations of state universities. The University of Michigan spends 18 million dollars annually (!) on equity administrators. How about admissions be based on merit and not diversity quotas, which are unconstitutional and about to be struck down by the Supreme Court.
Westwoods
May 25, 2023 at 8:58 am
Source?
Sean Tran
May 25, 2023 at 12:51 pm
admission based on merit would still be inequitable, colleges would again be skewed more to white upper class families with resources and money. someone always loses, and even with diversity quotas today there really isn’t as much representation as you think.
Haromnny D. Corporan C.
May 25, 2023 at 7:51 am
Inspiring Speech ❤🤗
Kevin Rushing
May 25, 2023 at 8:01 am
Interesting talk. To me, the primary reason to go to college is to get a job. I also believe the reason schools are expensive is not primarily due to lack of funding, it’s primarily due to the fact that the government subsidizes the administrative side and gives irresponsible student loans with no income and no collateral. Due to almost no barriers for these loans, anyone can pay virtually any price for college. There’s a reason why the tuition inflation rate is somewhere in the 7-8% range. A side note, using terms like “Latinx” is absurd.
daheikkinen
May 25, 2023 at 8:19 am
That wasn’t the original purpose of the university or education, which was to free the mind from its shackles, to “lead out of” (educere in Latin). Your model is the more recent Prussian model, to create capable workers. A trade school or boot camp can teach you how to be a capable worker. Our universities have lost their original telos. I agree with you on everything else.
Kevin Rushing
May 25, 2023 at 10:14 am
@daheikkinen I agree with you that was the intended purpose of universities, but I don’t agree that it’s still their purpose today. In today’s world, educational resources are endless between the internet, public libraries, etc. College is the most expensive form of education and a rather impractical and insufficient method in my opinion. Given that almost all corporations and many other companies either require or heavily emphasize a college degree, the best use of a college degree is to get a job. I’m definitely an advocate for regional public colleges and trade schools for my kids. I’d love for my kids to be highly-educated, well-read, successful people without a college education lol
La Porta D
May 25, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Interesting point of view. I think (truly) is become (or start to at least) become a good, self fulfilled adult in your region then the world. Friends, career connections, living on your own/handling money etc. It all contributes.
Let's Go Brandon
May 25, 2023 at 8:38 am
A good college is one that is neither right nor left but encourages students, faculty and staff to ask questions and think on their own. Too many colleges today are left leaning and impose their thoughts and values on others who disagree.
Sean Tran
May 25, 2023 at 12:58 pm
i definitely agree with the first part, but the problem is that when you delve deep and think critically about society’s history, most ideals will tend to lean left because that’s how they’re aligned. take CRT, for example. Most people who’ve actually taken the time to learn about the atrocities committed and the truth about the creation of america would likely agree with how important it is to educate, but many from the right are simply that: anti-education which lies the problem… higher education exposes the fact that a lot of right wing ideals only make sense on a surface level and quickly fall apart when examined with an academic and fuller lens… but yes i agree that thinking on your own is valuable and students shouldn’t stick themselves to just one side, but question everything
karolgrabarski
May 25, 2023 at 9:07 am
great talk❤
sharon albright
May 25, 2023 at 9:32 am
Cecilia, so sorry about your mom 😓 Thank you for your research and speech.
Rafael Marcos
May 25, 2023 at 9:51 am
Despite the economic crisis, this is a Still a good time to invest in Gold and Crypto
RR bhoo
May 25, 2023 at 10:07 am
Investing in these economic crisis will be one of the best thing to do
Heather C. McKernan
May 25, 2023 at 10:12 am
@RR bhoo You’re right I think Gold and Crypto are the best to invest right now☺️
Henry Moulton
May 25, 2023 at 10:13 am
I wanted to trade crypto but got confused by the fluctuation in price
Keith Paul
May 25, 2023 at 10:15 am
@Henry Moulton That won’t bother you if you trade with a professional like Mr Brian Walter
Henry Moulton
May 25, 2023 at 10:17 am
I heard his strategies are really good
?
Matt Bergamin
May 25, 2023 at 9:53 am
Consequences from schools like Harvard? Lol please go on 🫠😂
RJRJ RJJ
May 25, 2023 at 11:07 am
thank you Ceciliam Orphan~, u are amazing
难知如阴
May 25, 2023 at 12:13 pm
In China，the high-school students who are poor get a chance to the college despite it only continues two days and will decide almost your whole life left.
Kevin VanGelder
May 25, 2023 at 12:47 pm
College is almost universally worthless.
Ralph
May 25, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Wonderful! Brilliant! Thank you for shining a light on this topic!
Christopher Lynch
May 25, 2023 at 12:57 pm
Proud graduate of Central Washington University. CWU, go Wildcats!
Solofunk
May 25, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Powerful and well said!
Aldo Valkovich
May 25, 2023 at 2:36 pm
To be carved in marble.
Seongjin Park
May 25, 2023 at 3:42 pm
❤ Awesome 👌
Mike Hatalovsky
May 25, 2023 at 4:50 pm
Everything you described in this talk is spot on. Especially when you pointed out how funding and endowments are allocated in favor of wealthy elite universities. And the fact that it isn’t a bug in the system, but an intentional feature. Just another systemic way the elite keep the money, privilege and power closed up within their ranks.
Samuel Zev
May 25, 2023 at 7:47 pm
A good college in my opinion is an institution that gives students the freedom what they want to learn, how much they are willing to pay for courses and giving students the freedom how they are going to learn. Let’s be honest, most colleges fail all of these criterias, at least in the US. Most students don’t need to be in colleges but rather in other learning institutions like a private school or mentoring program
Nata Lya
May 25, 2023 at 9:42 pm
wow… well said!
聽賓狗學英文
May 25, 2023 at 11:39 pm
Wow! this speech gives me a whole new perspective, and I’m moved to tears every time the speaker’s voice cracked. So beautifully delivered, thank you!
Sayian Jacob
May 26, 2023 at 1:26 am
Very true. Thanks for making nus aware of this.
S M
May 26, 2023 at 4:08 am
If you want to learn, we want to teach!
– Should be motto of a university.
Van Thawng
May 26, 2023 at 4:31 am
quite inspiring
Nishit Verma
May 26, 2023 at 4:34 am
Very inspiring and motivated speech ❤
Denis Ripley
May 26, 2023 at 4:47 am
Good point about ‘educating’ the masses – improving upward mobility etc. ‘Research’ seems to be the main thrust of the so called ‘prestigeous’ unis and, ultimately, increased ‘spin-offs’ from these unis. Funding for research projects is paramount to these institutions and teaching undergrads seemingly secondary. Reputation too has an enormous impact upon potential employers and relative ‘worth’ of various degrees from various institutions.
radman ebrahimi
May 26, 2023 at 4:55 am
Foxify is best trading plat
Razan Abudoleh
May 26, 2023 at 5:08 am
You know, we have the same problem in the Middle East.
They always support the most famous universities and forget about the others. It’s so sad 😢
Meenakshi
May 26, 2023 at 5:36 am
Brilliant talk. Changes one’s perspective.
HEROX YOUTUBER
May 26, 2023 at 8:14 am
Wonderful speech👍👍
sony kumari
May 26, 2023 at 12:34 pm
❤️
Theingi Tun
May 26, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Good point!
SCI-FI Lover
May 26, 2023 at 2:32 pm
There is no such thing as a good college, period.
Ghost Er
May 26, 2023 at 4:06 pm
From the video above I can conclude;
-the university that you dream of most becomes the university that refuses the most, because there are not enough places andregional university is the university that accepts us the most,
-if you are rich then donate your money to a regional university
and the last word that the native speaker said was the most motivating
“that do not carewhere were you born Or how much money your parents have You should have the opportunity to attend college”
Angel ANG
May 26, 2023 at 5:31 pm
You are describing Europe’s universities. But USA doesn’t believe in public welthness. The same in hospitals….
M. M
May 26, 2023 at 7:07 pm
why does she talk like shes slurring
victor noagbodji
May 26, 2023 at 8:54 pm
Excellent and thought provoking talk.
paul The Gnostic
May 26, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Colleges are anti-free thinking, its either their way or out you go. The Illuminati Agenda riules now, all colleges are anti-creative thinking. Just follow the rules and you will graduate. Try free speeching at any U,, see what happens, The campus Police will quickly grab you and off you go,,, never to be seen/heard from ever again..= Bot Brains. Truth is not permitted on campus.
Paul The Gnostic
Anastasiya Zmeyova
May 27, 2023 at 3:31 am
Nice speech, with tears on my face😢. The system with higher education for all people( and medicine as well) calls socialism. Wish it for all countries
Igwe Ogba
May 27, 2023 at 12:32 pm
Let everyone in. Anyone can get in, but can everyone graduate?
Dog Farm
May 27, 2023 at 8:50 pm
Best topic for all people❤️
Robert Riggs
May 27, 2023 at 10:58 pm
I would like to see a study of how efficient Regional public universities are compared to bigger state schools or ivy league schools. I image RPUs have to be educating more people for less money
Olivia Rose
May 30, 2023 at 12:35 am
I just started a YouTube channel for cash management and entrepreneurs , and I have so much ideas. Do you want to hear them
je nu
May 28, 2023 at 8:14 am
fresh and nice idea.
Francesco S
May 28, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Love this woman and respect her .I appreciate her however my anger but I don’t know people loves you however ahahaha.
Tuyet Trinh
May 28, 2023 at 9:02 pm
video changed my mind❤
Khurshed Abdurazokov
May 29, 2023 at 10:47 am
Excellent speech
The Mix-upz
May 29, 2023 at 1:44 pm
This video beautifully explores the concept of what makes a “good college” and why it matters. It goes beyond mere rankings and highlights the importance of finding the right fit for each individual. The discussion on factors like academic programs, resources, campus culture, and opportunities for personal growth provides valuable insights for prospective students. Choosing a college is a significant decision, and this video emphasizes the significance of considering various aspects beyond reputation or prestige. It encourages viewers to prioritize their own goals, interests, and values when making this important choice. Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking and informative content. It’s definitely a must-watch for anyone navigating the college selection process. Well done!
Dr. Sha Talks
May 29, 2023 at 8:25 pm
Welldone
Minhazur Rahman Mafin
May 30, 2023 at 12:57 pm
Yes…Rights…