Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seeing/hearing from neighbors, acquaintances & relatives that their 2024 kids are graduating next month instead. WHY? You’re only young once! It’s crazy to me. There’s no way this is a money thing. It’s so sad. And these kids probably stifled their professional prospects due to not having time to do multiple internships. Why such a rush to grow up?

Because it's time to grow up. Have your own salary, own apartment, and a great time with your friends. Meet interesting people at work. Land the helicopter.

But most of college grads are going back home to live with their parents.

At any decent college? No not really. Most are getting cheap apartments and developing their careers in a new place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seeing/hearing from neighbors, acquaintances & relatives that their 2024 kids are graduating next month instead. WHY? You’re only young once! It’s crazy to me. There’s no way this is a money thing. It’s so sad. And these kids probably stifled their professional prospects due to not having time to do multiple internships. Why such a rush to grow up?

Because it's time to grow up. Have your own salary, own apartment, and a great time with your friends. Meet interesting people at work. Land the helicopter.

But most of college grads are going back home to live with their parents.

There’s no way you know whether or not it is a “money thing.” People are losing their jobs right now. If the kid has credits to graduate & doesn’t want to take on loans, that’s their choice.

This.

Anonymous wrote:All the AP classes taken in MCPS and going to OOS publics where they accept the APs makes it super easy to graduate in 3 years, saving tens of thousands of dollars, which in our case, can then go toward grad school

DC plans to co-term - he’ll still get the full undergraduate experience over 4 years but with the added bonus of an MS when all is said and done.

I graduated from college a year early and didn’t regret it for one minute. Gave me a head start on retirement savings, career, and I owned my own home at 22 years old (completely unaided).
My daughter is also graduating a year early with her sights on medical school. Why waste time?
Saves a ton of money.

12 APs and rigorous STEM magnet program from MCPS meant that my kid earned 3 semester worth of credits. They could be out in 2 and a half years from UMD.

Instead, they are doing double major at UMD for all 4 years, easily adding on paid internships in summer, unpaid research assistantship through the academic year in the university labs. Also, lots of socialization and friendships, clubs and travel too.

My kids will be foolish to not get the full college experience for 4 years.

My kid is doing this and we keep telling her not to. Even though we are footing the bill for college she knows it will save us a ton of money (and that she’ll be left with more money in her 529 for grad school.)

In Europe, it's normal to graduate in three years. Why is four years the only way?

I liked grad school more than college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School just isn’t fun anymore. It’s not about exploration or making friends. From one year before they start tracking math in your neighborhood, it’s about executive function and taking all the right classes. And it never ends. You might as well stop spending money and start making money, because you’re not having fun anyway.

+1

There isn’t a lot of room for creative exploration in school any more, either at the college or HS level. It is all about the grade grind. That makes it boring and if you are going to grind you might as well get money for it.

Are the kids happier once they start working?

Yes. Working 9-5 with no homework is 100% better

Then why even bother going to college in the first place? Why not just start working at Starbucks right out of high school?

Mine came in with 55 credits due to AP and classes from MCPS magnet. Told him he needs to stay at college for 4 years and not rush so will probably graduate in 4 years with double major BS and MS.

Anonymous wrote:Seeing/hearing from neighbors, acquaintances & relatives that their 2024 kids are graduating next month instead. WHY? You’re only young once! It’s crazy to me. There’s no way this is a money thing. It’s so sad. And these kids probably stifled their professional prospects due to not having time to do multiple internships. Why such a rush to grow up?

When you could pay for a year of college tuition life-guarding over a summer, sure, take your time. But at these ridiculous prices and the usury via student loans, you have to calculate the opportunity cost. And mature kids are over undergrad immaturity and some podunk college town by the time they turn 21. Eager to move onto a career or master's/law/medical program.

My kid (UMC, Asian American male, stem magnet public hs) had 1.5 yrs of credits in UMD. Decided to do all 4 yrs in gemstone honors program and has doubled up on the majors (CS and Physics). Greenshirted kid so he is youngest. Merit covers the tuition, so he is not in a hurry!