DAILY DIRT: Got a kid that’s looking to go to college? Good luck!

I sure am glad all of my kids are done with their college years … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 416 of The Daily Dirt.

1. If you have kids — or grandkids — who are beginning the process of selecting a college, you may want to steer them clear of the following schools, whose tuitions (before any scholarship assistance) are the highest in the nation.

The following numbers were provided by CBS News and were updated prior to the 2022-23 school year:

• 1. Harvey Mudd (Calif.) College: $77,339. About 70 percent of Harvey Mudd students receive some form of financial aid. Make that a lot of financial aid. 
• 2. Penn: $76,826: Home to the business school that is regarded as No. 1 in the nation. Penn is one of three Ivy League schools in the top 10.
• 3. Amherst (Mass.) University: $76,800. The college banned fraternities in 1984, six years following the release of “Animal House.”
• 4. USC: $77,479. This is the only legit football power on the list. It’s also a premier school for film and photography.
• 5. Tufts (Mass.) University: $76,492. Tufts’ art studies are legendary. For this much money, each graduate should be the next Picasso. For thus not aware, the nickname for Tufts athletic teams is the Jumbos.
• 6. Dartmouth (N.H.) College: $76,480. The school has an 8 percent acceptance rate, plus the strangest football helmets in the Ivy League.
• 7. Brown (R.I.) University: $76,476. Another Ivy League school, Brown has a strong reputation for its English studies.
• 8. Northwestern: $76,317. Most recognized for journalism and communications studies, but not football.
• 9. University of Chicago: $76,302. Chicago is the No. 3-ranked university for studies in economics. 
• 10. Wellesley (Mass.) College: $76,220. Wellesley is considered the finest women’s college in the country, and for that price it should be.

2. This week’s awful food selection from around the world:

In China, the dish is called “Dragon in the Flame of Desire.” What that means is “yak’s penis.” The Guolizhuang restaurant in Beijing’s is best known for this entree, which is simply a yak’s penis roasted and served in elaborate fashion on a large platter.

3. I realize the current MLB season is not been put to bed, but let’s look ahead to what should be an exciting offseason in terms of free agents.

Here are the top 10 free agents expected to hit the market:

• 1. Aaron Judge: Realistically, there are only about a handful (a very small handful) of teams capable of taking on what will probably be an annual salary of close to $50 million. My pick: Ultimately, Judge remains with the Yankees.
• 2. Jacob de Grom: There’s no way de Grom leaves the Mets — unless the Mets steal Judge from their crosstown rivals, and then watch the Yankees empty their coffers and try to snatch de Grom. My pick: Once a Met, always a Met.
• 3. Trea Turner: If the Dodgers win the World Series, Turner re-signs with Los Angeles and is the Dodgers shortstop for next five or six years. If the Dodgers find a way to screw up another offseason … well, the Yankees need a shortstop. My pick: The Yankees, because you and I both know the Dodgers are not prone to excelling past game 162.
• 4. Carlos Rodon: The Red Sox always have plenty of money and desperately need to reshape what has been a disastrous rotation. My pick: Rodon will be in Red Sox livery in 2023.
• 5. Justin Verlander: No way he is leaving Houston. Verlander will again be the ace of the Astros’ deep and talented staff.
• 6. Carlos Correa: The Yankees need plenty of infield help, and if they stumble in the playoffs money will be no object. My pick: If Turner stays with Dodgers, I think New York goes to Plan B in the form of Correa.
• 7. Xander Bogearts: Bogearts wants play shortstop for the Red Sox. I think there will be some gamesmanship, but in the end he’ll return to Fenway Park.
• 8. Dansby Swanson: Same situation here, Swanson is a lock to be back in Atlanta as the Braves’ shortstop.
• 9. Chris Bassitt: The No. 3 starter for the Mets, Bassitt may want show he’s capable of being a No. 1 or No. 2. My pick: He seems to be a good match for the Twins, who unlike most teams in the AL Central, are not afraid to occasionally spend big.
• 10. Edwin Diaz: Admittedly, this is a bit of a reach, but Kenley Jansen is on a one-year deal in Atlanta and he has hardly had a dominant season as closer. Plus, he’s getting up there in closer years. Diaz in his prime, and if the Braves could seriously wound their chief NL East rival why not for go for it? My pick: Diaz goes to the Braves.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Wouldn’t Edwin Diaz look good in a uniform that has Birds on a Bat on the front?

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Who the hell is Harvey Mudd and why is his school so damn expensive?