College in hindsight

[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.

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.

Not all people go for hours and benefits. Purpose and inspirations factor in as well and obviously those people work long hours even if they don't have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yes, like may be 10% compared to 80% of class.

[Anonymous]

Also depends on regional college. Not all are equal. You should look at how many people graduate in 4 years and which grad/professional school/companies they go to.

[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.

If kid is going for pre-med and can actually get in any med school in US, their college wouldn't matter. If he can't make it or develops interest in something else, college name and quality could matter but nothing a few internships or a good grad school can't fix.

[Anonymous]

As an anecdotal example a cousin's kid is finishing up Yale Law, she couldn't get into Ivies but got a named full ride scholarship at her regional state school so she went there. She did well there and got many paid non-academic opportunities as the top dog at that school and glowing letters for law applications.

If someone else uses his example to judge that college, that wouldn't be a valid comparison as average student's experience is very different there.

[Anonymous]

I went to Northwestern, which my mother says was a mistake as I am a SAHM. She said she liked bragging about the brand name but I didnt do anything with the degree.

[Anonymous]

*this example

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Northwestern, which my mother says was a mistake as I am a SAHM. She said she liked bragging about the brand name but I didnt do anything with the degree.

You are SAHM with young kids, not dead. Even if you never go back, you are the person you are due to college experiences and your kids would benefit too. Your communication would and your husband does. Also, probably without your Northwestern experiences, you wouldn't be married to someone who can afford to support his wife become a full time mother.

[Anonymous]

*your community would

[Anonymous]

We can help with more info. Doesn’t need to be identifiable. Grades/scores, junior or senior, region, extra curriculars, jobs, overall disposition, what’s his passion, is he artistic, musical, tech, athlete, extroverted, strengths/weaknesses other than academic, what you can pay for college. You’ll find posters here are great with recommendations in this forum. Probably better than college counselors. Trust!

[Anonymous]

This is a good question, OP. My DC will probably end up at Towson. How do Towson grads do? I would imagine most eventually get jobs, maybe not the high paying ones, but they get a job, and some will move up the ladder and make good money.

I went to a low rated B/C no name state u, and I did well for myself, eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Northwestern, which my mother says was a mistake as I am a SAHM. She said she liked bragging about the brand name but I didnt do anything with the degree.

I mean...there are losers everywhere. You chose to do nothing with your degree, but I am sure you could have used it to open doors.

Also, how old are you? I mean, did you get married and start popping out kids at 21?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We can help with more info. Doesn’t need to be identifiable. Grades/scores, junior or senior, region, extra curriculars, jobs, overall disposition, what’s his passion, is he artistic, musical, tech, athlete, extroverted, strengths/weaknesses other than academic, what you can pay for college. You’ll find posters here are great with recommendations in this forum. Probably better than college counselors. Trust!

Junior. Very outgoing, has a job at a food server. His passion is fitness, sports in general. He is on two varsity teams. He is rarely not being active, loves the gym, being at the park with friends playing football, golf, climbing, biking, skateboarding, basically any sport. He's also been in band since 6th grade (but doesn't want to continue in college) His score is a 1250 so not high (he will retake). He is an A student in everything but not the top student at anything, not into any academic subjects at all, though he really loves his History class (great teacher) and likes anything environmental. He doesn't know what he wants to do in life at all, aside from not a desk job. He needs to move and be active to be happy. We can pay up to 45k/year but would prefer paying less as we also have another dc going to college soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We can help with more info. Doesn’t need to be identifiable. Grades/scores, junior or senior, region, extra curriculars, jobs, overall disposition, what’s his passion, is he artistic, musical, tech, athlete, extroverted, strengths/weaknesses other than academic, what you can pay for college. You’ll find posters here are great with recommendations in this forum. Probably better than college counselors. Trust!

Junior. Very outgoing, has a job at a food server. His passion is fitness, sports in general. He is on two varsity teams. He is rarely not being active, loves the gym, being at the park with friends playing football, golf, climbing, biking, skateboarding, basically any sport. He's also been in band since 6th grade (but doesn't want to continue in college) His score is a 1250 so not high (he will retake). He is an A student in everything but not the top student at anything, not into any academic subjects at all, though he really loves his History class (great teacher) and likes anything environmental. He doesn't know what he wants to do in life at all, aside from not a desk job. He needs to move and be active to be happy. We can pay up to 45k/year but would prefer paying less as we also have another dc going to college soon.

Nursing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Northwestern, which my mother says was a mistake as I am a SAHM. She said she liked bragging about the brand name but I didnt do anything with the degree.

I mean...there are losers everywhere. You chose to do nothing with your degree, but I am sure you could have used it to open doors.

Also, how old are you? I mean, did you get married and start popping out kids at 21?

Rude