Collegiate Gothic

Why do some American colleges look like they came out of the Middle Ages? The oldest American university is Harvard, established in 1636, which was technically  during the Renaissance, but the buildings the school built or bought were sturdy yet functional examples of American architecture of their time. A couple of hundred years later, as colleges proliferated in the US, universities deliberately built to make themselves seem older and more established. The styles reached even further back, to the Middle Ages.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? While it may be deceptive for Princeton to have "added a thousand years" by appearance, the look can inspire students to to a classically scholarly life. While there's nothing wrong with being inspired to do ones best, prospective students should look beyond appearances when judging the education they might get at a particular school. (via Digg)