College in hindsight

[Anonymous]

If your child went to a regional university, not top 100 school, community college...Do you think it hurt them in life at all? Trying to get perspective on all this from people with older children.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. What a weird question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. What a weird question.

What a thoughtful and insightful comment -- not to mention kind and generous. You have yourself a lovely day, sad and mean person.

(btw, I'm not OP; just somebody who is tired of the mean people who are ruining DCUM.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. What a weird question.

What a thoughtful and insightful comment -- not to mention kind and generous. You have yourself a lovely day, sad and mean person.

(btw, I'm not OP; just somebody who is tired of the mean people who are ruining DCUM.)

NP here. Is it really sad and mean to call OP's question "weird"? Instead of weird, how about: insulting to these colleges and offensive to their students? We're not talking about for-profit colleges so "hurt them in life" is excessive, don't you think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. What a weird question.

What a thoughtful and insightful comment -- not to mention kind and generous. You have yourself a lovely day, sad and mean person.

(btw, I'm not OP; just somebody who is tired of the mean people who are ruining DCUM.)

NP here. Is it really sad and mean to call OP's question "weird"? Instead of weird, how about: insulting to these colleges and offensive to their students? We're not talking about for-profit colleges so "hurt them in life" is excessive, don't you think?

I am op. To be clear my kids will likely take one of those paths. That is why I am asking. Sometimes I second guess myself because everyone around us is so competitive.

[Anonymous]

Seen parents decide on community college for several wrong reasons: They haven't saved. They spent too much money on an older kid. They buy a second new car or do a kitchen renovation and, surprise, don't have money for college. They put their kid into too advanced classes and the kid ends up with a gpa that is unacceptable to the parents - so therefore the parents think the kid isn't ready for college (wrong). They think the kid isn't ready for college based on -not much- but ordinary teen behavior. Those are the wrong reasons, imho. You may have very good reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seen parents decide on community college for several wrong reasons: They haven't saved. They spent too much money on an older kid. They buy a second new car or do a kitchen renovation and, surprise, don't have money for college. They put their kid into too advanced classes and the kid ends up with a gpa that is unacceptable to the parents - so therefore the parents think the kid isn't ready for college (wrong). They think the kid isn't ready for college based on -not much- but ordinary teen behavior. Those are the wrong reasons, imho. You may have very good reasons.

The question was about lived experience and not reasons for said experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child went to a regional university, not top 100 school, community college...Do you think it hurt them in life at all? Trying to get perspective on all this from people with older children.

I see mixed results but yes a hard working, smart and outgoing student can absolutely go places without a top 100 school.

For an average student, a top school would be a better choice.

[Anonymous]

I see so many students who couldn't even get into state flagships, let alone a top 20 college but they made it to some MD/DO school or got hired by famous companies one would assume only admitting or hiring high IQ high achievers.

Dedication and hard work can get you where you want to go.

[Anonymous]

After the first one or two jobs, where you went to college is not as important. Also depends on major….nursing, accounting etc are examples where you will be marketable regardless of college choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child went to a regional university, not top 100 school, community college...Do you think it hurt them in life at all? Trying to get perspective on all this from people with older children.

I see mixed results but yes a hard working, smart and outgoing student can absolutely go places without a top 100 school.

For an average student, a top school would be a better choice.

My ds is a great student and a well-rounded person (sports, music, very outgoing, makes friends everywhere he goes, leader...) His scores are not good enough for a top school though, and we don't qualify for financial aid. Because of budget it cannot be a $$$ big college, it rules out our flagship (scores are hugely important). So it leaves those options.

[Anonymous]

Knowing community college can take you to any place you want to, I wouldn't make my kid go to one to save money. Only if he can't get admitted anywhere and I don't have money to pay for a state school.

[Anonymous]

I don't know but I'm not worried. My DS currently attends a regional college and is having a great experience. He is engaged, happy, and learning a lot. I think he will be a successful adult - obviously I don't know that yet, but I have confidence.

I also think he is learning a lot about the soft skills that college students learn - living independently, making new friends, making choices about academics, professors, etc. I don't think he is any worse off than his older sibling at a higher ranked school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child went to a regional university, not top 100 school, community college...Do you think it hurt them in life at all? Trying to get perspective on all this from people with older children.

I see mixed results but yes a hard working, smart and outgoing student can absolutely go places without a top 100 school.

For an average student, a top school would be a better choice.

My ds is a great student and a well-rounded person (sports, music, very outgoing, makes friends everywhere he goes, leader...) His scores are not good enough for a top school though, and we don't qualify for financial aid. Because of budget it cannot be a $$$ big college, it rules out our flagship (scores are hugely important). So it leaves those options.

Then it makes complete sense to send him to the best affordable option he can get admitted to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Knowing community college can take you to any place you want to, I wouldn't make my kid go to one to save money. Only if he can't get admitted anywhere and I don't have money to pay for a state school.

We can easily pay for state schools, but it'll have to be a regional university due to scores. I was really asking more generally and not so much about community college per se.