Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:48     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Zero college debt is the best financial step-up you can offer your children. It will make their lives less stressful, allow them to look for employment that fits (rather than taking the first thing offered), and allow them to live on the crap wages young people are supposed to make.

It is more important to choose a college you and they can afford than the "best fit." A "good enough fit" and zero debt will serve them better in life.
+1


I was flabbergasted to hear the hosts on a popular parenting podcast (the Slate one) basically pooh-pooh the idea that you should flat-out tell your children how much money there is for college, how much the colleges they are interested in cost, and the ramifications of attending a college you can't afford.

Instead, there were conversations about "considering what's possible" and not ruling anything out ... well, why not? If you already know you aren't going to qualify for significant financial aid, or the living expenses or too great even if tuition is lowered, or if 1/2 price is still more than is reasonable, why not have that conversation with your child?

Unless you're planning to subsidize their post-college life, too, to make sure they never have to make disappointing choices, what is the issue with having a frank financial conversation with them about what an unaffordable college education, no matter how much they reeeeaaaallllyyyy want to go there, would do to their life?


That’s because the hosts are either upper middle class or have a hook that will lead to $$$.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:43     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody gives a shit that you went to an "elite" university.


Only the legal profession does.

Your law school, yes. Your undergrad...hell no.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:37     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody gives a shit that you went to an "elite" university.


Only the legal profession does.

Your law school, yes. Your undergrad...hell no.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:23     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Zero college debt is the best financial step-up you can offer your children. It will make their lives less stressful, allow them to look for employment that fits (rather than taking the first thing offered), and allow them to live on the crap wages young people are supposed to make.

It is more important to choose a college you and they can afford than the "best fit." A "good enough fit" and zero debt will serve them better in life.
+1


I was flabbergasted to hear the hosts on a popular parenting podcast (the Slate one) basically pooh-pooh the idea that you should flat-out tell your children how much money there is for college, how much the colleges they are interested in cost, and the ramifications of attending a college you can't afford.

Instead, there were conversations about "considering what's possible" and not ruling anything out ... well, why not? If you already know you aren't going to qualify for significant financial aid, or the living expenses or too great even if tuition is lowered, or if 1/2 price is still more than is reasonable, why not have that conversation with your child?

Unless you're planning to subsidize their post-college life, too, to make sure they never have to make disappointing choices, what is the issue with having a frank financial conversation with them about what an unaffordable college education, no matter how much they reeeeaaaallllyyyy want to go there, would do to their life?
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:17     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody gives a shit that you went to an "elite" university.


ONLY non elite with status-envy say this.


And only unsuccessful elite college grads are still talking about where they went to college 5+ years later.


True....I can guess which you are.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:16     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:Zero college debt is the best financial step-up you can offer your children. It will make their lives less stressful, allow them to look for employment that fits (rather than taking the first thing offered), and allow them to live on the crap wages young people are supposed to make.

It is more important to choose a college you and they can afford than the "best fit." A "good enough fit" and zero debt will serve them better in life.
+1
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:12     Subject: Re:Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One's college room-mate can make all the difference. DC got a real dud and is depressed and hating school.


A lot of truth to this.


That’s why kids do Greek life. Greek life kids don’t give a sh-t about dorm social life.


Not true, generally. First year is dorm, even for those who later go greek. After that you pick your roommate(s).


Not everywhere. A lot of places do rush week before school starts, and other places let you move out of the dorms. This is most often in places where the dorms are crowded and they have waiting lists.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:11     Subject: Re:Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One's college room-mate can make all the difference. DC got a real dud and is depressed and hating school.


A lot of truth to this.


That’s why kids do Greek life. Greek life kids don’t give a sh-t about dorm social life.


Not true, generally. First year is dorm, even for those who later go greek. After that you pick your roommate(s).
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:04     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody gives a shit that you went to an "elite" university.


ONLY non elite with status-envy say this.


And only unsuccessful elite college grads are still talking about where they went to college 5+ years later.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:03     Subject: Re:Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One's college room-mate can make all the difference. DC got a real dud and is depressed and hating school.


A lot of truth to this.


That’s why kids do Greek life. Greek life kids don’t give a sh-t about dorm social life.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 12:03     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Zero college debt is the best financial step-up you can offer your children. It will make their lives less stressful, allow them to look for employment that fits (rather than taking the first thing offered), and allow them to live on the crap wages young people are supposed to make.

It is more important to choose a college you and they can afford than the "best fit." A "good enough fit" and zero debt will serve them better in life.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 11:54     Subject: Re:Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:One's college room-mate can make all the difference. DC got a real dud and is depressed and hating school.


A lot of truth to this.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 11:01     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Anonymous wrote:You sound very angry and jelly OP. What? Your little Republican snowflake didn't get into Wash + Lee?


Given that OP explicitly said athletes, legacies and URMs, he/she insulted a rainbow coalition of races.

I've never come across an adult who used jelly instead of jealous. Are you a kid?
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 11:01     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

Extracurriculars/activities/sports don't matter one bit. Grades and test scores are the only thing most schools really look at.
Anonymous
Post 11/27/2018 10:59     Subject: Controversial opinion: College and University edition

You sound very angry and jelly OP. What? Your little Republican snowflake didn't get into Wash + Lee?