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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We are lucky   I can afford to gift my kids a college education.  My DD is going to a selective school.  It’s not about ROI but learning how to think critically, learn to learn, grow, all that jazz.  If she ends up in a $150k job out of school, I would be super surprised - that is not the type of kid she is.  She may never be a high earner.  But she will have an impact over her lifetime.  That I can feel in my bones.  [/quote]

+1000

This is how my middle class parents looked at it in the late 80s, and they were 100% correct. My college experience broadened my thinking and my worldview in endless ways, both big and small. Also, I learned and connected with brilliant and caring classmates and friends, many of whom are still dear to me 30 years later.

Could I have had this experience at a less selective/elite school? Probably. Because that’s who I was for those for years of my life. It wasn’t always easy, but I was very motivated to get outside my comfort zone and take some risks - with both my academic interests and in substantive conversations with classmates (and, to a lesser extent, professors.)

To me, that’s what the college experience is all about - exposure to new people and ideas, challenges both academically and socially, and the space to absorb and reflect on it from time to time as you grow. (My journals from those four years are epic - and hilarious to look back on now.)

And yes, my career has been fruitful and fulfilling, for sure! But for me, it was never about making the most money possible in my first job out of college. I needed to support myself, of course, and I did! But my career and earnings were things that evolved over time, no doubt propelled by phenomenal college education.

You do you, OP. Given your POV and values, I can see why you’re disappointed. And I’m sorry - it’s a lot of money to spend on something that is a poor fit for your goals. But these rigorous schools do offer a ton of value to certain types of students. Perhaps your DC can transfer to a school that is a better match for your goals? [/quote]

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