College in hindsight

[Anonymous]

Sadly community college highlights that you weren't good enough to get admitted or get scholarships at any four year university and it doesn't play greatly in social life, even if you manage to do well later.

[Anonymous]

I know this is a sample size of two families, but we know a couple who are both Ivy grads. He has a science PhD and she is CS. He stopped working to raise their 4 kids and she works for the government. They are fine and happy people but not doing anything spectacular. Compared to my husband and I who went undergrad to a school people scoff at - he’s a scientist and I’m a doctor, both working for the government. We are doing just as well as they are (monitarily) - prob better since we are both working.

Not quite sure how the $$ spent on the Ivy puts them in any much better position than we are.

[Anonymous]

Our kid who went to an instate school has been more successful in his career than any of his friends who attended more prestigious schools. I think his hard work, soft skills, and cooperative attitude have helped him succeed more than the name of the school. Schools should teach students those skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a sample size of two families, but we know a couple who are both Ivy grads. He has a science PhD and she is CS. He stopped working to raise their 4 kids and she works for the government. They are fine and happy people but not doing anything spectacular. Compared to my husband and I who went undergrad to a school people scoff at - he’s a scientist and I’m a doctor, both working for the government. We are doing just as well as they are (monitarily) - prob better since we are both working.

Not quite sure how the $$ spent on the Ivy puts them in any much better position than we are.

I think this is super common, so why such emphasis on top schools when they often don't correlate with more success? It's an interesting phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Any four year college is absolutely fine. Don't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a sample size of two families, but we know a couple who are both Ivy grads. He has a science PhD and she is CS. He stopped working to raise their 4 kids and she works for the government. They are fine and happy people but not doing anything spectacular. Compared to my husband and I who went undergrad to a school people scoff at - he’s a scientist and I’m a doctor, both working for the government. We are doing just as well as they are (monitarily) - prob better since we are both working.

Not quite sure how the $$ spent on the Ivy puts them in any much better position than we are.

I think this is super common, so why such emphasis on top schools when they often don't correlate with more success? It's an interesting phenomenon.

Its more about an experience to be with high achievers or kids of high achievers and social bragging rights than future income.

[Anonymous]

*and off course collective class rigor and diversity of experiences is very high so a different academic experience than a state school in Mobile, Alabama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a sample size of two families, but we know a couple who are both Ivy grads. He has a science PhD and she is CS. He stopped working to raise their 4 kids and she works for the government. They are fine and happy people but not doing anything spectacular. Compared to my husband and I who went undergrad to a school people scoff at - he’s a scientist and I’m a doctor, both working for the government. We are doing just as well as they are (monitarily) - prob better since we are both working.

Not quite sure how the $$ spent on the Ivy puts them in any much better position than we are.

I think this is super common, so why such emphasis on top schools when they often don't correlate with more success? It's an interesting phenomenon.

As someone who went to a top school, academics is like a hobby for me. I wanted to be around people who really loved academics. It wasn't about the money.

[Anonymous]

My son went to an Ivy and my daughters to state schools. He went on to medical school but my daughters have done very well with their college desires.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a sample size of two families, but we know a couple who are both Ivy grads. He has a science PhD and she is CS. He stopped working to raise their 4 kids and she works for the government. They are fine and happy people but not doing anything spectacular. Compared to my husband and I who went undergrad to a school people scoff at - he’s a scientist and I’m a doctor, both working for the government. We are doing just as well as they are (monitarily) - prob better since we are both working.

Not quite sure how the $$ spent on the Ivy puts them in any much better position than we are.

That is exactly why people work for the government - smart! Great benefits, work from home, and most government couples can easily bring home $300k+ in their 40's. I know government employee couples who own three houses.

[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 OP said NOT community college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a sample size of two families, but we know a couple who are both Ivy grads. He has a science PhD and she is CS. He stopped working to raise their 4 kids and she works for the government. They are fine and happy people but not doing anything spectacular. Compared to my husband and I who went undergrad to a school people scoff at - he’s a scientist and I’m a doctor, both working for the government. We are doing just as well as they are (monitarily) - prob better since we are both working.

Not quite sure how the $$ spent on the Ivy puts them in any much better position than we are.

I think this is super common, so why such emphasis on top schools when they often don't correlate with more success? It's an interesting phenomenon.

Its more about an experience to be with high achievers or kids of high achievers and social bragging rights than future income.

There are high achievers and kids of high achievers at regional colleges. People have all kinds of reasons for choosing the schools they choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a sample size of two families, but we know a couple who are both Ivy grads. He has a science PhD and she is CS. He stopped working to raise their 4 kids and she works for the government. They are fine and happy people but not doing anything spectacular. Compared to my husband and I who went undergrad to a school people scoff at - he’s a scientist and I’m a doctor, both working for the government. We are doing just as well as they are (monitarily) - prob better since we are both working.

Not quite sure how the $$ spent on the Ivy puts them in any much better position than we are.

I think this is super common, so why such emphasis on top schools when they often don't correlate with more success? It's an interesting phenomenon.

Because extreme success often does correlate. Go look at people who work at VC or P/E firms...people who have net worths that exceed $500MM up to multi-billions. Go look at the top hedge fund managers. Go look at the most successful tech entrepreneurs in this country.

Nobody expects to just have a median life, even though that is where most people end up.

[Anonymous]

No, unless you are an academic superstar, going to a regional university is probably going to get you to a similar place as many of the non super stars who go to Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a sample size of two families, but we know a couple who are both Ivy grads. He has a science PhD and she is CS. He stopped working to raise their 4 kids and she works for the government. They are fine and happy people but not doing anything spectacular. Compared to my husband and I who went undergrad to a school people scoff at - he’s a scientist and I’m a doctor, both working for the government. We are doing just as well as they are (monitarily) - prob better since we are both working.

Not quite sure how the $$ spent on the Ivy puts them in any much better position than we are.

I think this is super common, so why such emphasis on top schools when they often don't correlate with more success? It's an interesting phenomenon.

As someone who went to a top school, academics is like a hobby for me. I wanted to be around people who really loved academics. It wasn't about the money.

So you can only find people who love academics at a top school? News to me.