Required student to stay within a certain driving distance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reason I'd put this stipulation on a kid is the flight costs. Even then, I think I'd be more inclined to say, "Look, if you want to come home at every break, you earn the money yourself." I hate the thought of saying that, but reality is, college is so expensive already that a few $1000 round-trip flights a year could be totally cost prohibitive.

Depends where you go. My kid's flights are typically $250-300 and the bus to the airport is $7. So it's not a big deal.

For many families, the extra $1K to bring your kid home 3 times a year is a lot of money. I'm glad it's not a big deal for your family, but for many families that's a lot of money.

For a kid like mine (I'm the PP with the kid with the potential for suddenly serious medical issues), we'd be looking at about a flight a month to travel for specialists visits if things are going well. $3K extra in travel expenses is a lot on top of tuition and room/board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's wrong. College is a time to go off and explore, and if a kid needs to do that by going across the country so be it. You can drive for five hours or fly for five hours.

You don't "need" to fly 5 hours to explore. Unless a kid wants some kind of very specific education (e.g. a specific service academy), you can find pretty much every kind of option within driving distance of DC. If you live in Alaska, it might be different.

I found going to college in the Midwest to be eye opening. While I was well traveled and had lived outside the US I had not lived outside the Bethesda/NW bubble in the US. It's good to get out and experience something different.

There are plenty of colleges within driving distance in communities that are very different from Bethesda/NW. There are rural communities, communities with very Midwestern (parts of WV, and PA), or Southern environments, urban communities, etc . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only reason I'd put this stipulation on a kid is the flight costs. Even then, I think I'd be more inclined to say, "Look, if you want to come home at every break, you earn the money yourself." I hate the thought of saying that, but reality is, college is so expensive already that a few $1000 round-trip flights a year could be totally cost prohibitive.

Depends where you go. My kid's flights are typically $250-300 and the bus to the airport is $7. So it's not a big deal.

For many families, the extra $1K to bring your kid home 3 times a year is a lot of money. I'm glad it's not a big deal for your family, but for many families that's a lot of money.

For a kid like mine (I'm the PP with the kid with the potential for suddenly serious medical issues), we'd be looking at about a flight a month to travel for specialists visits if things are going well. $3K extra in travel expenses is a lot on top of tuition and room/board.

Good grief, no I am not talking about your situation with an ill child. Obviously someone that ill should not be going away from his or her network of care providers. I was responding to the PP who mentioned $1000 flights. Even flights to CA aren't that much, and college schedules (NOT for kids who have emergency medical needs of course) are pretty set and allow advance purchases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's wrong. College is a time to go off and explore, and if a kid needs to do that by going across the country so be it. You can drive for five hours or fly for five hours.

You don't "need" to fly 5 hours to explore. Unless a kid wants some kind of very specific education (e.g. a specific service academy), you can find pretty much every kind of option within driving distance of DC. If you live in Alaska, it might be different.

I found going to college in the Midwest to be eye opening. While I was well traveled and had lived outside the US I had not lived outside the Bethesda/NW bubble in the US. It's good to get out and experience something different.

There are plenty of colleges within driving distance in communities that are very different from Bethesda/NW. There are rural communities, communities with very Midwestern (parts of WV, and PA), or Southern environments, urban communities, etc . . .

I have a kid in college in central PA. It is mighty depressing there. Makes coming home seem like such a treat.

[Anonymous]

I remember my friend's parents ~ took out a compass and drew a circle around "home". Kid had to pick out a school within the circle.

hahahaha

I'm a little more sympathetic now that I'm a parent. But when does it stop? Do you guilt the college graduate for not looking for employment back home? Really. When. Does. It. Stop.

[Anonymous]

There was a funny thread on College Confidential, something like,

"Need a good college for an average student that you can reach on Southwest Airlines"

Poster liked their policies re: ticket changes/one way fares

Hey, there could be worse ways to decide.

[Anonymous]

If $1000 really sways the decision-making or your kid has health issues, then sure, limit their choices. Otherwise, let them decide for themselves. Geez.

[Anonymous]

Rich people problems. I lived at home and went to State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that is bizarre. Barring a medical emergency, why would u need to get to your kids college? College choice should be based around a parents weird anxiety issue.

Meant to say should NOT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rich people problems. I lived at home and went to State.

And in your kids college search are you expecting them/requiring them to do the same?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If $1000 really sways the decision-making or your kid has health issues, then sure, limit their choices. Otherwise, let them decide for themselves. Geez.

In this country, there are far more families for whom $1000 is enough to sway decision making than than there are families for whom it isn't. If you're in the latter category, then let your kid go as far as they want, but please refrain from judging other families who may have different circumstances.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid in college in central PA. It is mighty depressing there. Makes coming home seem like such a treat.

I think my kid is at the same college in central PA!!

He is learning a lot about people who don't have extra thousands laying around to take flights ANYWHERE for any reason. Yes, you don't have to travel far to have an eye opening experience. This college is only about 3 hours away. But worlds away really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rich people problems. I lived at home and went to State.

And in your kids college search are you expecting them/requiring them to do the same?

I will highly encourage them to do the same. Not because I'm overly attached to them, but because it's a complete waste of money to go away to college when we have fantastic schools in our own backyard. Contrary to popular belief, employers don't care where your degree comes from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If $1000 really sways the decision-making or your kid has health issues, then sure, limit their choices. Otherwise, let them decide for themselves. Geez.

In this country, there are far more families for whom $1000 is enough to sway decision making than than there are families for whom it isn't. If you're in the latter category, then let your kid go as far as they want, but please refrain from judging other families who may have different circumstances.

Chill out lady. There's zero judgment in the first statement. We're in DCUMland. Let your kid go where your kid wants to go (unless you're the pp with the kid with the health issues or $1000 makes your college decisions for you).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rich people problems. I lived at home and went to State.

And in your kids college search are you expecting them/requiring them to do the same?

I will highly encourage them to do the same. Not because I'm overly attached to them, but because it's a complete waste of money to go away to college when we have fantastic schools in our own backyard. Contrary to popular belief, employers don't care where your degree comes from.

Ha ha, you clearly haven't been through the college process recently. I have "average" for the area kids with fully paid-up 529 plans. So, for us, we were thrilled when they both got into top 50 private colleges (but probably would have been rejected from Va Tech). And I'm not sorry that they didn't want to go to JMU or GMU (not saying there's anything wrong with those schools, just not where my kids wanted to go). So may be a waste of money for you; not a waste of money for us. People are different, you know?