I know most of the parents on the forum are young, nevertheless college is looming in the horizon.
Co Workers and I were comparing how much we each spent on our BA/Masters.
There were a group that said hey look we’re all in the same positions at work; so the people who went to better schools where the loosers.
“What did you get for paying $50/k year vs my community school” Its not like a better school will secure a job for you, and not like you’ll get a sign on bonus or even help paying off your student loans.
I beg to differ.
I feel like smaller classes; more specialized programs definately make a difference.
Similarly, they argue that getting an MBA now (while working) will not increase you pay rate but add the burden of loans.
Hmmm thats something to think about - but won’t it make you more marketable for the next position?
My niece attending a private university which is considered to be the Ivy League of the South. It cost about $42,000/yr. She graduated a year early because she was an IB graduate from her high school/private school and had done dual creidt so she came in with 24 credit hours. After all that, she’ll be the first to say that it wasn’t worth it and that she would have landed the same job in her industry had she attended one of the other universities in our area. In fact, my nephew will also be graduating high school in the next year or so and will be coming to the US for college, and my sister and brother in law have already decided that he’ll be applying to the State schools only. Now I must admit, I do live in a state that has a very strong, and excellent network of public universities, so that does count for something.
I don’t know if it’s about being a brand whore or just paving your path for the future. Afterall you’re not alone are you?
Ultimately it depends on your aspirations. Are you aiming for a SVP or C level job? Have you planned a career?
All of that becomes critical when making a decision about which college to attend (i.e. where to invest your education and “marketability” dollars).
Oh I thought you would share tips on how to save for college for kids
I honestly won’t care where my kids to to school as long as they graduate doing what they love and secure jobs. I would hate to see them graduate with do much loan that they pay for the rest if their lives.
For my bachelors, I sent in application to Harvard and the state school.. How silly but I did that.. I didn’t have a bank balance to support Harvard so I graduated from a state school but I had the option of taking classes at 5 best private schools in the area paying the state school tuition and I took full advantage if that. For my masters, I got admitted in an Ivy League university but state university offered me the teaching assistantship for two years covering my tuition and dorm . I chose that over the Ivy League and graduated with zero loans. It meant a lot to me because i didn’t have to think about paying loans and was able to afford a career break to stay at home after working for four years because I have no loans to pay as an added extra expense for us.
I secured the govt job with just as much ease as my friends who graduated from John Hopkins and Princeton with the same degree in public health.
So I guess I really don’t care what they choose for school as long as the school has a good reputation for the major the choose for themselves.
Ps.. My phone isn’t letting me scroll up to edit or re read so I hope it kind of made sense.
my nephew is doing his Veterinary Medicine Program at Cornell University, an Ivy League institution.
for non New Yorker state residents, the tuition fee is much higher…$29K for New York state residents and $45K for non residents for one academic year…his total cost of staying in Cornell is over $65K a year.
very expensive but the degree is worth it…very prestigious. some of the Vets make as much as a neurosurgeon…those who specialize in poultry, large commercial animals like horses, large zoo animal Vets [elephant, rhino, giraffe etc].
my nephew will be doing specialization in Exotic Birds of the amazon…he is going to al Wabra Wildlife Preservation in Qatar for his rotation program.
I graduated from the best place in the country; but i’m a stay-at-home mom who hasn’t worked in the last three years . My husband on the other hand graduated from a university that is considered a “joke” by many. And he works for the most prestigious company with a highly desirable job title in the tallest flashiest building downtown.
I guess what i’m saying is that you can go to the best university and get nothing out of your degree , and go to the worst place and get everything out of it.
I won’t care where my child goes as long as he gets something out of his education… something worthwhile that is.
Well, in the bigger picture I guess it holds more importance how “well” you do in your degree compared to whether you went to Ivy college or States. I mean if you’re barely making it in an Ivy college, I doubt you’re going to be able to land a good enough job later on to pay of the loans. Does it make sense? ..
one of my cousin did his PhD from a very average university in Canada and now he is teaching at Harvard. my own big brother did his Master’s from a very ordinary university in India and he is teaching in Canada at a university. it all depends what kinda grades you get and how much potential you have.
my brother studied in a village school with no electricity, no running water and no easy life.
-I think if your thinking is to get a college degree JUST to get a job, then you probably don’t need to go to the best ranked and most expensive schools.
-I do agree that college is what you make of it.
-Many people find themselves and find success after college. It really doesn’t define everyone.
-In addition to all of that, I do think that for many people there is something special about being at an institution filled with others with the same intellectual drive and enthusiasm, something that goes beyond just landing the right job/career, but is more about personal fulfillment and growth. It’s harder to create that sense of community at vocational schools, or even at large state schools, though it definitely can be done.
-And unfortunately, college tuition at private colleges and universities is getting so ludicrous, that many people really can’t afford to send their children to these famous schools simply due to some abstract ideals about an intellectual life. Still, I will do everything I possibly can if that is what my child wants. That was what my parents did for me.
I also think that a strong education adds a lot to a person’s sense of self, sense of dignity, etc. A good school doesn’t have to be the one that is always well-ranked or the most expensive. Regardless of what field my child would want to go in, I would emphasize education and the right kind of school to help the child develop as a person and not just as someone with a job in a particular field.
