Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many posters are caught in a bubble. I recently switched doctors, and my new doctor mentioned that one of his kids didn’t go to college at all and is instead doing an apprenticeship. That surprised me, since you’d assume a doctor’s child would be aiming for a top college. Another one of his kids did get into highly ranked schools but chose to start at Montgomery College because he didn’t think paying $80–90k per year was justified.

Outside of the DCUM bubble, it seems like more people are making practical, level-headed decisions as college costs continue to skyrocket. A lot of the school snobbery you see is really just people trying to justify the expense and feed their own egos.

Correct. Those who think 80-90k/yr is justified need to get their head examined. Unless they feel it’s fair to be overpaying so that others can attend at lower/no cost — because that is how this works.

How to advertise that a) you didn't have a good college experience, b) you didn't go to a private college, and/or c) you don't have money.

Stop telling people what to do. I'm sure you are making many life decisions and spend money on things that I would question. But what do I know?

Yes, a lot of us who read here are obsessed with getting our kids into good colleges. A lot of us went to good colleges and we want our kids to do even better than we did. I don't think it's ego - just anxiety that causes us to direct a lot of energy into setting our kids off to a good start. I agree with the PP that it's crazy since the top people at my firm also went to "no name" schools and are making 7 figures.

Anonymous wrote:I think many posters are caught in a bubble. I recently switched doctors, and my new doctor mentioned that one of his kids didn’t go to college at all and is instead doing an apprenticeship. That surprised me, since you’d assume a doctor’s child would be aiming for a top college. Another one of his kids did get into highly ranked schools but chose to start at Montgomery College because he didn’t think paying $80–90k per year was justified.

Outside of the DCUM bubble, it seems like more people are making practical, level-headed decisions as college costs continue to skyrocket. A lot of the school snobbery you see is really just people trying to justify the expense and feed their own egos.

Correct. Those who think 80-90k/yr is justified need to get their head examined. Unless they feel it’s fair to be overpaying so that others can attend at lower/no cost — because that is how this works.

Don't generalize. People choose to go to school and to particular colleges for very different reasons that are not just about money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all of us, but there are a disproportionate subset of people here that seem dead set committed on justifying spending 5 years to curate perfect kids so they can pay large sums to attend a school that impresses their friends.

What’s worse is paying large sums of money to attend schools not in the top 25.

I wouldn't go into deep debt to do so but if I had the resources I don't see anything wrong with it. Not for me to tell others how to spend their money when they have plenty of it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people here who feel entitled to do so.

Yes, I think the majority of posters on this sub-forum are school snobs, myself included. But I will say that my views have changed significantly over the years. My older kids went to top and tippy top schools. They’ve done great, but I don’t necessarily feel like the grind was worth it, and the education wasn’t more impressive compared to mine at a lower ranked school.

My much younger youngest got a 1510 on his junior year PSAT, so will presumably be a NMSF. He asked what I thought about him going to Alabama on a full ride and investing the 529 funds we’ve saved for him vs. trying for an elite school. I do not dismiss this idea out of hand at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all of us, but there are a disproportionate subset of people here that seem dead set committed on justifying spending 5 years to curate perfect kids so they can pay large sums to attend a school that impresses their friends.

What’s worse is paying large sums of money to attend schools not in the top 25.

It depends on what you consider “large sums of money”, and also “not top 25”

What’s the “right” amount to pay for school? So everyone who doesn’t get into an ivy should go to community college because it’s the cheapest option?

This is like housing or job choices, not everyone does what I would do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not all of us, but there are a disproportionate subset of people here that seem dead set committed on justifying spending 5 years to curate perfect kids so they can pay large sums to attend a school that impresses their friends.

What’s worse is paying large sums of money to attend schools not in the top 25.

Oh they will just invent some ranking that lists their school in the top 25. LAC ranking, Engineering school ranking, New ivy ranking, Public ivy ranking.

Everyone wins. Schools are the biggest winners.

Bubbles are suffocating. Pop the one you're in and get some fresh air.

I know families where there are kids who don't go to college, where kids who go press pause and drop out, and those that eschew prestige for convenience (state school near home). DCUM seems to have swallowed whole what brand name universities have been selling to them.

I work at a company where colleagues have gone to colleges spanning schools I've never heard of to well known R1 and private/ivy league schools. But we all ultimately report to our CEO that went to Penn State (not U Penn, but Penn State). The Harvard guy reports to the Penn State guy. Once you're out in the work world years and decades, your job title matters much more than the logo on your BA/BS degree.

Anonymous wrote:Not all of us, but there are a disproportionate subset of people here that seem dead set committed on justifying spending 5 years to curate perfect kids so they can pay large sums to attend a school that impresses their friends.

What’s worse is paying large sums of money to attend schools not in the top 25.

Not all of us, but there are a disproportionate subset of people here that seem dead set committed on justifying spending 5 years to curate perfect kids so they can pay large sums to attend a school that impresses their friends.

You’re just in a bubble. Middle class, working class, and lower income families may not go to college or start at a community college. That’s typically how the U.S. works. Not everyone goes. Be proud your children are no matter what school it is.

Anonymous wrote:I think many posters are caught in a bubble. I recently switched doctors, and my new doctor mentioned that one of his kids didn’t go to college at all and is instead doing an apprenticeship. That surprised me, since you’d assume a doctor’s child would be aiming for a top college. Another one of his kids did get into highly ranked schools but chose to start at Montgomery College because he didn’t think paying $80–90k per year was justified.

Outside of the DCUM bubble, it seems like more people are making practical, level-headed decisions as college costs continue to skyrocket. A lot of the school snobbery you see is really just people trying to justify the expense and feed their own egos.

Idk, seems like you have are doing your own rationalization.

Or to win the parenting war as someone said on here a couple of weeks ago.

I think many posters are caught in a bubble. I recently switched doctors, and my new doctor mentioned that one of his kids didn’t go to college at all and is instead doing an apprenticeship. That surprised me, since you’d assume a doctor’s child would be aiming for a top college. Another one of his kids did get into highly ranked schools but chose to start at Montgomery College because he didn’t think paying $80–90k per year was justified.

Outside of the DCUM bubble, it seems like more people are making practical, level-headed decisions as college costs continue to skyrocket. A lot of the school snobbery you see is really just people trying to justify the expense and feed their own egos.