Why can't folks that send their kids to average colleges ever admit it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because some kids actually prefer to go to Virginia Tech over UVA.

Yea, said no one ever.

I would choose Virginia Tech over UVA for any engineering discipline every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I would choose UVA for pretty much any other discipline.

[Anonymous]

I don't know, OP. DH and I both attended a fairly average school (#32 according to US News). And we make 7 figures between us now. I mention this *only* because money seems to be the one thing that DCUM respects, as gross as that is.

[Anonymous]

I want to agree with you, OP, but the truth is always more complicated than a sneering and condescending generalization.

Some programs at otherwise mediocre universities really are stellar.

And the reality is that basic courses at second-tier colleges are usually taught by dedicated professors instead of being fobbed off on overworked teaching assistants while Mr. Nobel Prize does his research.

Try to see beyond your snobism, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in average colleges, mostly because they got great merit scholorships. I'll even proudly name the schools...

DS (27) went to Ole Miss. ROTC scholarship. Plus National Guard.
DS (25) went to Colorado. ROTC Scholorship
DD (24) went to Florida. National Merit Scholar. Full ride.
DD (21) at Georgia. Partial merit scholarship.
DS (17) High school senior. Wants to go to Florida. We'll see who offers the most money.

Super proud of all five. My oldest is married with a baby. They own a business together. He is also a Captain in the Army National Guard. My second is a Captain in the Army - 82nd Airborne. My third is a teacher in DC. My fourth is majoring in nursing. She wants to be a nurse practitioner. My youngest thinks he wants to be an engineer.

Average colleges. No student loan debt. Great kids.

Actually in the real world (not DCUM) UofF and UGA would be considered above average (maybe the others as well, but I'm not as familiar with them.

Wow, well done, Mom and Dad! You have raised a smart and accomplished group of kids. Thank you for sharing their success!

Thanks! I'm very proud of them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, OP. DH and I both attended a fairly average school (#32 according to US News). And we make 7 figures between us now. I mention this *only* because money seems to be the one thing that DCUM respects, as gross as that is.

William and Mary?

[Anonymous]

It's not that people won't literally name the college; it's how they bend over backwards defending and rationalizing the 'decision'. It's desperate.

[Anonymous]

OP seems like the most insufferable person on DCUM and that is no small feat.

My kid goes to a National University that is in the top 125 (She was admitted to schools in the top 60-70). Average student with good test scores. She liked the school and the program and wanted to get far away from this area and people like OP. I'm not ashamed of her - far from it.

[Anonymous]

No amount of posts taking the OP at face value is ever going to make him feel better about himself.

Maybe a warm bubble bath would help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not that people won't literally name the college; it's how they bend over backwards defending and rationalizing the 'decision'. It's desperate.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, OP. DH and I both attended a fairly average school (#32 according to US News). And we make 7 figures between us now. I mention this *only* because money seems to be the one thing that DCUM respects, as gross as that is.

William and Mary?

Go Tribe!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I think it's great when people are happy with and appreciative of the educational and other opportunities that college has to offer their kids! By contrast, I think people who see their kids' colleges as markers of their rank in some kind of social pecking order are really messed up.

My guess is that people in the latter camp tend to initiate the kinds of conversation OP described with parents of kids at "average" schools and are pissed off when those parents are excited about their kids' college experiences. How dare they be? Because, of course, everybody knows college isn't about the kids' experiences or education -- it's about parental bragging rights and social status.

Seems so unfair to posters like OP, who find themselves forced to bow down to like-minded parents with kids that got into even better schools yet unable to pull rank over sane parents whose kids are at schools that are merely "average."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents were quite proud of the normal colleges my siblings and I attended. I wouldn't say we were "average" we just attended schools that had things we felt were important. For myself, I wanted a small school that had my major, a non-division 1 sport so I could make the team, a hobby I enjoyed immensely, and something that wasn't too far.

+1000
These were all the things I wanted in a college too (plus, no Greek system). I chose Mary Washington, which I suppose is an "average" school to some, but it was the perfect fit for me. I flourished there. Best years ever. I'd be thrilled if my kids chose it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They always bend over backwards to say it doesn't matter what college you go to (or only graduate school matters), or how it has a great honors program (proven to be a marketing scam), or how some low-status niche major they offer is world class, rattle off a couple rich alums of the hundreds of thousands that are just regular Joes, blah blah blah. It's all so desperate.

Why can't they just admit they raised an Average Eddie who goes to a normal college? ¯\_(?)_/¯

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in average colleges, mostly because they got great merit scholorships. I'll even proudly name the schools...

DS (27) went to Ole Miss. ROTC scholarship. Plus National Guard.
DS (25) went to Colorado. ROTC Scholorship
DD (24) went to Florida. National Merit Scholar. Full ride.
DD (21) at Georgia. Partial merit scholarship.
DS (17) High school senior. Wants to go to Florida. We'll see who offers the most money.

Super proud of all five. My oldest is married with a baby. They own a business together. He is also a Captain in the Army National Guard. My second is a Captain in the Army - 82nd Airborne. My third is a teacher in DC. My fourth is majoring in nursing. She wants to be a nurse practitioner. My youngest thinks he wants to be an engineer.

Average colleges. No student loan debt. Great kids.

You really do win. Congrats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the big issues with OPs statement is that there doesn't seem to be a clear definition of an "average" college as opposed to an "above average" college. OP, what's your definition of an "average" college? I'd say that the top 50 national universities (as ranked by USNWR) are above average. The same goes for the top 50 LACs. Would you accept that definition OP?

No. Average to below. Top twenty: above average. Top ten: excellent.

Out of the top fifty: don't even bother. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.

Yeah, those people should just go work at Jiffy Lube. How dare they?