My son doesn't have to go to college, but wants to anyway:

[Anonymous]

My son will be graduating high school in May and wants to be a computer coder. Unfortunately, academics have never been his strong point. None of the universities he's been accepted to are very well-known, and if he does go to college, he'll be going a nearby state college, living at home to save money on a room and board. The thing is, though, that in order to achieve his dream, he doesn't have to go to college at all. There are bootcamps that teach people how to code in a matter of weeks, after which he could be making serious money https://www.bestcolleges.com/bootcamps/guides/salary-potential/#:~:text=Hack%20Reactor's%202019%20online%20software,a%20median%20salary%20of%20%2460%2C000.

You'd have thought that when I pointed out to him that he could start a serious career in coding after a matter of weeks instead of 4 years, he would've felt relieved and excited. Only he didn't. He said that he wants to actually accomplish something, and not going to college would rob him of that satisfaction. Graduating from a lackluster college is really not an accomplishment. If he were going to be attending Harvard or Stanford or Yale or Berkeley or Princeton or UCLA or MIT, then I would more than understand his desire to go to college, as extremely few people graduate from schools like that, and those who do become highly respected worldwide afterwards. But graduating from a college like the one my son's been accepted into is the easiest thing in the world and hundreds of thousands of people do it every year.

When I explained this to my son, he responded by saying that graduating from a bad college would be better than never graduating from college at all. So then I told my son that I would be happy to pay for the coding bootcamp, but if he wanted to go to the state college, he would have to take out loans and would likely be in lots of debt by the time he graduated and started his career. He said he would be willing to do whatever it took to pay off his debt. I just don't understand why anyone would want to take 4 years to do something that can be accomplished in 12 to 24 weeks.

[Anonymous]

You sound like a peach. Can't imagine why your son doesn't listen to you and respect your opinions. "Unfortunately, academics have never been his strong point"? Graduating from a lackluster college is really not an accomplishment"?

[Anonymous]

This has to be a troll post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son will be graduating high school in May and wants to be a computer coder. Unfortunately, academics have never been his strong point. None of the universities he's been accepted to are very well-known, and if he does go to college, he'll be going a nearby state college, living at home to save money on a room and board. The thing is, though, that in order to achieve his dream, he doesn't have to go to college at all. There are bootcamps that teach people how to code in a matter of weeks, after which he could be making serious money https://www.bestcolleges.com/bootcamps/guides/salary-potential/#:~:text=Hack%20Reactor's%202019%20online%20software,a%20median%20salary%20of%20%2460%2C000.

You'd have thought that when I pointed out to him that he could start a serious career in coding after a matter of weeks instead of 4 years, he would've felt relieved and excited. Only he didn't. He said that he wants to actually accomplish something, and not going to college would rob him of that satisfaction. Graduating from a lackluster college is really not an accomplishment. If he were going to be attending Harvard or Stanford or Yale or Berkeley or Princeton or UCLA or MIT, then I would more than understand his desire to go to college, as extremely few people graduate from schools like that, and those who do become highly respected worldwide afterwards. But graduating from a college like the one my son's been accepted into is the easiest thing in the world and hundreds of thousands of people do it every year.

When I explained this to my son, he responded by saying that graduating from a bad college would be better than never graduating from college at all. So then I told my son that I would be happy to pay for the coding bootcamp, but if he wanted to go to the state college, he would have to take out loans and would likely be in lots of debt by the time he graduated and started his career. He said he would be willing to do whatever it took to pay off his debt. I just don't understand why anyone would want to take 4 years to do something that can be accomplished in 12 to 24 weeks.

Oh.

[Anonymous]

I think that you need to reframe your thinking. First, your son wants a degree. For a lot of jobs, it doesn't matter where you went to school, it just matters that you have a degree. I'm not talking nuclear physicist, investment banking, etc. I'm talking jobs for regular people in the real world, not the dcum world. Second, very few people in the U.S. go to the 7 or 8 schools you listed. If you only think people who get into those schools should go to college, you have a very limited world view. I know plenty of people who were not motivated academically in high school who are doing very well 30+ years later. Grades and study skills don't mean everything. Since he needs to take out loans and will be living at home, you may suggest that he start at a community college to save money and then transfer his credits to a four year school. Good luck to your son. He sounds like a great kid. Plus, if he decides that college isn't for him, he can always enroll in a boot camp later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Second, very few people in the U.S. go to the 7 or 8 schools you listed.

That's exactly what makes it an accomplishment. An accomplishment means you've done something that very few people have done. If millions of people have done it, it's not an accomplishment.

[Anonymous]

Sell your mansion and pay for school. He needs a degree.

[Anonymous]

Your son is much wiser than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Second, very few people in the U.S. go to the 7 or 8 schools you listed.

That's exactly what makes it an accomplishment. An accomplishment means you've done something that very few people have done. If millions of people have done it, it's not an accomplishment.

NP. What are you talking about? Millions of people can accomplish the same thing. I think you mean, it's not an unusual accomplishment. Or a unique accomplishment. But being unusual or unique in and of itself is not an accomplishment.

Now, OP, there is more to college than just the degree. There is the socialization, the safe playpen for practicing adulting, the friendships, the possible romantic relationship(s). Sounds like your son could experience all this, and then with a quick snap of the fingers in some fast program, turn around and make some money. He could go to college and do the program in the summer.

[Anonymous]

JFC I hope this is fake.

However, seeing some of the manipulation parents admit to on the college boards, perhaps not. "The school I want! The major I want! Or you pay!"

As someone who works in high-level tech recruiting, no one who graduates from a coding bootcamp is getting hired by anyone of substance.

That said, if he's not already coding, he's way, way behind the curve.

Let him attend whatever "rinky dink" college he wants and be happy that he'll graduate with a degree. He'll be much better off in life with a degree of some sort than none at all.

Hell, I've even successfully placed nut jobs from Bob Jones University and Liberty University in high-level, successful tech careers. Tech is as much about BSing and charisma as it is skills in many disciplines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your son is much wiser than you.

+1

If he wants to be college educated, he should go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Second, very few people in the U.S. go to the 7 or 8 schools you listed.

That's exactly what makes it an accomplishment. An accomplishment means you've done something that very few people have done. If millions of people have done it, it's not an accomplishment.

No. An accomplishment means that you set a goal, achieved that goal, and/or learned something from the process.

The son sounds great!

[Anonymous]

As a computer scientist who helps with hiring at a small company: boot camps don’t really teach you how to architect software and graduates of them tend to have sloppy code both of which will impact your son’s earning potential in the long run. He’s right to insist on college and many colleges have good CS programs not just the ones you listed.

[Anonymous]

Somebody was drinking 2/2/22 much yesterday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a computer scientist who helps with hiring at a small company: boot camps don’t really teach you how to architect software and graduates of them tend to have sloppy code both of which will impact your son’s earning potential in the long run. He’s right to insist on college and many colleges have good CS programs not just the ones you listed.

I am assuming that OP is a troll, but I am an IT professional and agree with PP. Honestly coding can be outsourced overseas. For job security and advancement a college degree is important. I do not think OP's son needs a degree from a prestigious university.