Is it really worth the money for your child to choose a college away from home?

[Anonymous]

Odd how there are lots of college graduates doing HS level jobs. That degree just ain’t what it used to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Living at home deprives the child of a real college experience which may or not matter to you.

Meh. I had "the real college experience." It consisted of a lot of boozing and sharing a 10 x 10 room with someone who snored a lot and exiled me when she wanted to have sex. Overrated.

Thank you for the reality check.

[Anonymous]

Does your kid’s college keep the statistics on alcohol poisoning? It happened to my friend’s daughter - who nearly died. Thank God people had called 911.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Living at home deprives the child of a real college experience which may or not matter to you.

Meh. I had "the real college experience." It consisted of a lot of boozing and sharing a 10 x 10 room with someone who snored a lot and exiled me when she wanted to have sex. Overrated.

Thank you for the reality check.

Right and she’s on this website why?

[Anonymous]

My DD had a tough time in high school and wanted to get a fresh start and get away from some very mean girls. She is now OOS at a lesser ranked school than the VA state schools she got into. She did get a merrit scholarship, and with this the cost is about $5K more than what we'd pay in state (plus a bunch of plane tickets). Well worth it for her happiness. She is in nursing school and will end up with the same income and opportunity of kids attending better rated schools. We saved more than enough for her to go wherever she wanted to so to us it's well worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College costs are unsustainable.

It's smart to consider the costs and evaluate the type of salary you anticipate your kid will likely get in their chosen field.

VA has a great program where the student can do to 2 years at NOVA and then transfer to another VA school. To me that's pretty savvy on the part of the student and the parents to take advantage of this and not take out a lot of loans to cover the costs for 4 years.

I also see where that takes discipline on the part of the student and it's not ideal, but I've long thought my kids won't have the same college experience I had.

This exactly.

+1.. And not only have costs outpaced inflation by x3, but the expectation today is that most of the students of DCUM types will go on and get a graduate degree. That was not the case when many of us went to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College costs are unsustainable.

It's smart to consider the costs and evaluate the type of salary you anticipate your kid will likely get in their chosen field.

VA has a great program where the student can do to 2 years at NOVA and then transfer to another VA school. To me that's pretty savvy on the part of the student and the parents to take advantage of this and not take out a lot of loans to cover the costs for 4 years.

I also see where that takes discipline on the part of the student and it's not ideal, but I've long thought my kids won't have the same college experience I had.

This exactly.

+1.. And not only have costs outpaced inflation by x3, but the expectation today is that most of the students of DCUM types will go on and get a graduate degree. That was not the case when many of us went to college.

Good point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Odd how there are lots of college graduates doing HS level jobs. That degree just ain’t what it used to be.

Most analyses suggest that as more people get degrees, the impact of having a degree vs. not has decreased BUT there's still a sizeable income benefit to having a degree and a greater likelihood to remain employed in economic downturns. The people who are really stuck are those who take on big loans and don't complete their degree. Worst of both worlds.

[Anonymous]

Is this a parent who doesn’t want to pay for college and is looking for support to convince their child to live at home?

[Anonymous]

RE: Out of state college

I think it's a really neat luxury we're lucky enough to save for for our kids. But it really depends on the college. I wouldn't pay a premium for a mediocre out of state that is 75% or more in-staters, as those are dominated by provincial high school cliques. But there's tremendous value in being an 'exotic' kid and exploring a different part of the country.

[Anonymous]

I would never let DC go to an OOS third tier toilet like Michigan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Living at home deprives the child of a real college experience which may or not matter to you.

Meh. I had "the real college experience." It consisted of a lot of boozing and sharing a 10 x 10 room with someone who snored a lot and exiled me when she wanted to have sex. Overrated.

Thank you for the reality check.

If you think some random anecdote is a “reality check” then you’re dumber than the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never let DC go to an OOS third tier toilet like Michigan

As if your spawn could get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With these incredibly high college costs, is it really worth the money for your kid go somewhere other than a college/university near home?

Wouldn't you get a bigger bang for your buck by sending them to a local university and having them stay at home instead of paying the exorbitant room and board fees?

It's not like they couldn't go out with their friends at night or the weekend!

UMD is the only school in MD I would even consider for my child. My DD is at a college in NE on a great scholarship that comes in 2K above all total UMD costs. Then next year off campus apartments run about $400-500 a month where at UMD they are about $900-1100/mo (to live in freaking College Park, MD!) The cost for her travel is about $600 a year. And personally, I like it much better. The area, the people, that she is far away from home and learning how to be independent. Not living at home with mom and dad. Plus, I do not want my kids setting up roots in the DMV. I don't even want to be here. Hoping husband's job relocates him in less than 5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I plan to insist on my kids going out of state for college (we’re in Maryland, so anywhere in the state is “close” IMO). To me, part of the college experience is getting out from under your parents and starting to make your own way in the world. I also want them to get out of the DC metro bubble and meet people from other parts of the country. If we are only an hour or two away, it’s too easy for them to rely on mom and dad as plan B.

Same.