Brain drain? Not in Montana but Montana universities should set bar higher

Recent articles complain that Montana’s brightest students leave Montana to pursue higher education and those who attend our universities at taxpayers’ expense leave to find jobs. Both of these assertions are best viewed by analyzing the facts.

In the class of 2010, four Montana students earned perfect scores on the ACT. Two of those students are entering the Montana University System, taking advantage of the Montana University System Honors Scholarships. The 201 students who accepted Honor Scholarships for 2010-2011 had an average ACT score of 31, and 87 percent earned high school GPAs of 3.9 and above. This scholarship is a four-year renewable tuition waiver for use at any of Montana’s University System campuses. Recent changes in the criteria for earning these scholarships have put more emphasis on rigorous high school preparation and test scores. As a result, they are more competitive and prized by our top-performing students.

By: Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns

Full Opinion: http://www.mtstandard.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_0c0422a8-b629-11df-af4f-001cc4c03286.html

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Montana universities should set bar higher

In reading the August 26 front page article, “State’s brightest leave for college,” the answer to why students leave Montana is in the article itself.

According to the article, Montana Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns says, “Montana’s universities and colleges want to attract a diverse student body…and even students who received poor grades in high school but who have a desire to go to college.”

If I was a bright student with good grades, I’d choose a university which sets high standards for scholastics over one who would let in any “student” who simply desires to go.

College is supposed to be challenging to get into and succeed at – that’s what makes a college degree meaningful.

Paul Stafford

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_46423892-b5fc-11df-8e12-001cc4c002e0.html