Anonymous wrote:This is the most singularly stupid post I’ve ever read on so many levels. Who cares about your anecdote. A life time of college debt is debilitating.

So true. An uber to CVS is so much cheaper than SLAC debt after four years. If you can easily pay that tuition, have at it but if your kid would struggle with loans, no way. I'm eternally grateful that I went to my state flagship and came out with no undergrad loans. I did pay for law school and can't imagine what life would've been like had I paid for both undergrad + grad.
Uber to CVS all the way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - are you really just patting yourself on the back for being able to send your child to the SLAC compared to the neighbor? Or trying to justify your choice?

I noted above - smaller communities are able to adapt better in these types of crises. It's not private vs state or "getting what you pay for" - it's small vs large.

OP here - Why is it acceptable for the large university boosters to discuss the irrelevance and lack of ROI of SLACs, but it isn't acceptable for those who see the value of an SLAC to point out the benefits of that academic community? My neighbor's child didn't have access to a COVID test on campus even though the university has the resources to do so. It is a lack of prioritization. My child ("grown adult") was able to take a test on campus within an hour. One campus is moving to online instruction, the other is (at least for now) not.

Within a COVID context, I believe access to healthcare and in-person instruction is important. My child's SLAC wouldn't pass the "ROI" test of many DCUMs but I believe there is more to the college experience than ROI.

Omg who cares. Op, you are crazier than a loon. Who in their right mind wastes hundreds of thousands of dollars for a faster covid test??????

This is the most singularly stupid post I’ve ever read on so many levels. Who cares about your anecdote. A life time of college debt is debilitating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first-year college student is at a selective SLAC; has been sick, called health center this morning and was tested for COVID within an hour. (Thankfully it was negative.)

A neighbor's first-year college student is at a large flagship often discussed on this board. Child was sick last week. Couldn't get test on campus. My neighbor had to find a CVS where the child could test, had the child Uber to the CVS, thankfully that test was also negative.

This isn't about snowflakes. This is about some college settings right now prioritizing all needs of the campus community, including rapid testing to contain COVID. This SLAC is fully in-person right now and it seems like they are taking active steps to maintain that opportunity.

ROI is important, but it isn't the only factor to consider when evaluating colleges.

the devil's in the details, whatever you're trying to describe it's worth paying 50-75k per year, keep telling that to yourself in the mirror

You don't get it. The first poster doesn't seem to care about whether it is $50k or $70k. I get it that it is important to YOU but you need to understand that the $20k difference is nothing to a lot of people in the DMV.

TBH, my parents were the same way with us. My dad was the first in his family to go to college, and he worked his butt off to pay his own way to earn a 4-year degree at a commuter college. It was with great pride that he told each of his children that we should attend the school we wanted regardless of cost because he and mom were able to afford any school we wanted. It meant a lot to him and it meant a lot to my siblings and me. Some of us attended very prestigious (and expensive) universities and some of us attended in-state colleges. We each attended the school that was the best fit for us.

You could go public and subscribe to a concierge physician's practice and STILL come out WAY ahead.

And that's assuming your one piece of data is repeatable, which is doubtful.

Anonymous wrote:OP let your kid figure it out as far as COVID testing and everything else college. A somewhat functioning 18-19 yo college freshman can make their own doc/Covid-19 testing appointments and get their own Uber. Did you see a video from a VA Tech football game this past weekend? No one was wearing masks and no one cared. College kids just want to party and enjoy college, most of them do not care about COVID or getting sick. You care about COVID and your ROI should be measured on how employable your kid is after getting their ...key word is FINISHING their degree. If they're working as a barista after attending a selective SLAC, your ROI is crap!

After raising for 18 yrs + college tuition, the most I expect from my kid is a nice lunch after her first job out of college. For 22+ years, she was a resource sink. If you are counting ROI on your kid, you are a cookoo kaka insanyo.

OP let your kid figure it out as far as COVID testing and everything else college. A somewhat functioning 18-19 yo college freshman can make their own doc/Covid-19 testing appointments and get their own Uber. Did you see a video from a VA Tech football game this past weekend? No one was wearing masks and no one cared. College kids just want to party and enjoy college, most of them do not care about COVID or getting sick. You care about COVID and your ROI should be measured on how employable your kid is after getting their ...key word is FINISHING their degree. If they're working as a barista after attending a selective SLAC, your ROI is crap!

Well my DD at UVA woke up yesterday feeling "like death", made an appt at the student health center for 3 PM, went, was tested, got her results back at 3 AM. I think that's pretty damn good.

Because the one with the most toys at the end wins.

Anonymous wrote:OP - are you really just patting yourself on the back for being able to send your child to the SLAC compared to the neighbor? Or trying to justify your choice?

I noted above - smaller communities are able to adapt better in these types of crises. It's not private vs state or "getting what you pay for" - it's small vs large.

OP here - Why is it acceptable for the large university boosters to discuss the irrelevance and lack of ROI of SLACs, but it isn't acceptable for those who see the value of an SLAC to point out the benefits of that academic community? My neighbor's child didn't have access to a COVID test on campus even though the university has the resources to do so. It is a lack of prioritization. My child ("grown adult") was able to take a test on campus within an hour. One campus is moving to online instruction, the other is (at least for now) not.

Within a COVID context, I believe access to healthcare and in-person instruction is important. My child's SLAC wouldn't pass the "ROI" test of many DCUMs but I believe there is more to the college experience than ROI.

OP - are you really just patting yourself on the back for being able to send your child to the SLAC compared to the neighbor? Or trying to justify your choice?

I noted above - smaller communities are able to adapt better in these types of crises. It's not private vs state or "getting what you pay for" - it's small vs large.

Anonymous wrote:OP’s point is very obvious but is getting lost among ROI people. Not everything in life is about ROI.

Having a kid is the worst ROI experience, ever. They are a resource sink. If all you care about is ROI, your best decisions are, 1) not getting married; and 2) not having kids. Life’s ROI problem solved.

I am not a "ROI person" and I think OP is using a very, very dumb example to make her point.

Anonymous wrote:OP’s point is very obvious but is getting lost among ROI people. Not everything in life is about ROI.

Having a kid is the worst ROI experience, ever. They are a resource sink. If all you care about is ROI, your best decisions are, 1) not getting married; and 2) not having kids. Life’s ROI problem solved.

This.

OP’s point is very obvious but is getting lost among ROI people. Not everything in life is about ROI.

Having a kid is the worst ROI experience, ever. They are a resource sink. If all you care about is ROI, your best decisions are, 1) not getting married; and 2) not having kids. Life’s ROI problem solved.

I went to an expensive small private for undergrad and a large public university for law school. Absolutely one of the things you pay for at the private college is handholding. That’s not new. It’s worth it to some people, and it’s not to others.