Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the big issues with OPs statement is that there doesn't seem to be a clear definition of an "average" college as opposed to an "above average" college. OP, what's your definition of an "average" college? I'd say that the top 50 national universities (as ranked by USNWR) are above average. The same goes for the top 50 LACs. Would you accept that definition OP?

No. Average to below. Top twenty: above average. Top ten: excellent.

Out of the top fifty: don't even bother. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.

Yeah, those people should just go work at Jiffy Lube. How dare they?

I wouldn't send them to Jiffy Lube, but I won't clear out my savings, retirement, home equity to send my children to a low ranked undergrad. And I most certainly wouldn't bend over backwards to spin that the college is some great place — which every parent of average kids does. Just give it a rest.

In my view, a "great" school is one that is great for my child. There is no school that is objectively "great" unless it will provide my child with the environment and opportunities he needs.

My college sophomore scored 2380 on his SATs and is at a school that OP would deem "average." It is the perfect fit for him, and it is affordable for us - he'll graduate with zero debt.

It is a great school for him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the big issues with OPs statement is that there doesn't seem to be a clear definition of an "average" college as opposed to an "above average" college. OP, what's your definition of an "average" college? I'd say that the top 50 national universities (as ranked by USNWR) are above average. The same goes for the top 50 LACs. Would you accept that definition OP?

No. Average to below. Top twenty: above average. Top ten: excellent.

Out of the top fifty: don't even bother. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.

I don't hink you know what the term "average" means.

Some students attend "average" schools because that is what they can afford.

The really great truth that none of us really wants to admit is that we have very little influence on how our children turn out. It's some random mix of genes and peers, as long as we don't do too much to screw things up. It's more luck than anything else. My DC happens to be an academic ace with a pick of the top 10 colleges. Yes, I'm proud of him but I'd be proud of him if he wasn't as smart and accomplished too. Love is not conditional.

But, I would be ashamed if he wasted his time trying to rank everything in the world and was too immature to understand how little those rankings matter. I wonder why the poster who thinks colleges outside the top 50 are "not worth the paper it's printed on." (I don't know any colleges that are printed on paper). If she truly believed that statement, she should encourage her children to write that worldview/value statement in their college essays. I'm sure Princeton will be really interested in a student who thinks that way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the big issues with OPs statement is that there doesn't seem to be a clear definition of an "average" college as opposed to an "above average" college. OP, what's your definition of an "average" college? I'd say that the top 50 national universities (as ranked by USNWR) are above average. The same goes for the top 50 LACs. Would you accept that definition OP?

No. Average to below. Top twenty: above average. Top ten: excellent.

Out of the top fifty: don't even bother. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.

Yeah, those people should just go work at Jiffy Lube. How dare they?

I wouldn't send them to Jiffy Lube, but I won't clear out my savings, retirement, home equity to send my children to a low ranked undergrad. And I most certainly wouldn't bend over backwards to spin that the college is some great place — which every parent of average kids does. Just give it a rest.

Wow. You are truly a terrible human being. Why do you even care if someone is excited about a low-ranked school? How does it hurt you?

It doesn't hurt me. It's just embarrassing your family. Sorry you lack self-awareness.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the big issues with OPs statement is that there doesn't seem to be a clear definition of an "average" college as opposed to an "above average" college. OP, what's your definition of an "average" college? I'd say that the top 50 national universities (as ranked by USNWR) are above average. The same goes for the top 50 LACs. Would you accept that definition OP?

No. Average to below. Top twenty: above average. Top ten: excellent.

Out of the top fifty: don't even bother. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.

Yeah, those people should just go work at Jiffy Lube. How dare they?

I wouldn't send them to Jiffy Lube, but I won't clear out my savings, retirement, home equity to send my children to a low ranked undergrad. And I most certainly wouldn't bend over backwards to spin that the college is some great place — which every parent of average kids does. Just give it a rest.

Wow. You are truly a terrible human being. Why do you even care if someone is excited about a low-ranked school? How does it hurt you?

How else could she be a trolly wench for 5 pages? You don't get those kind of hits by posting photos of kitties.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the big issues with OPs statement is that there doesn't seem to be a clear definition of an "average" college as opposed to an "above average" college. OP, what's your definition of an "average" college? I'd say that the top 50 national universities (as ranked by USNWR) are above average. The same goes for the top 50 LACs. Would you accept that definition OP?

No. Average to below. Top twenty: above average. Top ten: excellent.

Out of the top fifty: don't even bother. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.

Yeah, those people should just go work at Jiffy Lube. How dare they?

I wouldn't send them to Jiffy Lube, but I won't clear out my savings, retirement, home equity to send my children to a low ranked undergrad. And I most certainly wouldn't bend over backwards to spin that the college is some great place — which every parent of average kids does. Just give it a rest.

Wow. You are truly a terrible human being. Why do you even care if someone is excited about a low-ranked school? How does it hurt you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But unless a child wants to learn a trade (which I'm all for), he's going to need a BA to get a job. So yes, going broke to pay for a mediocre private college would be a poor choice. But taking advantage of in-state tuition (the horror!) or transferring CC credits to a 4-year would not be.

Look, it's fine, do what you gotta do; just shut up about how your average to above average kid is doing so wonderful at some AMAZING (!!!) . . . commoner college.

Yeah, those pesky commoners. How dare they have any pride?

Anonymous wrote:
But unless a child wants to learn a trade (which I'm all for), he's going to need a BA to get a job. So yes, going broke to pay for a mediocre private college would be a poor choice. But taking advantage of in-state tuition (the horror!) or transferring CC credits to a 4-year would not be.

Look, it's fine, do what you gotta do; just shut up about how your average to above average kid is doing so wonderful at some AMAZING (!!!) . . . commoner college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the big issues with OPs statement is that there doesn't seem to be a clear definition of an "average" college as opposed to an "above average" college. OP, what's your definition of an "average" college? I'd say that the top 50 national universities (as ranked by USNWR) are above average. The same goes for the top 50 LACs. Would you accept that definition OP?

No. Average to below. Top twenty: above average. Top ten: excellent.

Out of the top fifty: don't even bother. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.

Yeah, those people should just go work at Jiffy Lube. How dare they?

I wouldn't send them to Jiffy Lube, but I won't clear out my savings, retirement, home equity to send my children to a low ranked undergrad. And I most certainly wouldn't bend over backwards to spin that the college is some great place — which every parent of average kids does. Just give it a rest.

But unless a child wants to learn a trade (which I'm all for), he's going to need a BA to get a job. So yes, going broke to pay for a mediocre private college would be a poor choice. But taking advantage of in-state tuition (the horror!) or transferring CC credits to a 4-year would not be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the big issues with OPs statement is that there doesn't seem to be a clear definition of an "average" college as opposed to an "above average" college. OP, what's your definition of an "average" college? I'd say that the top 50 national universities (as ranked by USNWR) are above average. The same goes for the top 50 LACs. Would you accept that definition OP?

No. Average to below. Top twenty: above average. Top ten: excellent.

Out of the top fifty: don't even bother. It's not worth the paper it's printed on.

Yeah, those people should just go work at Jiffy Lube. How dare they?

I wouldn't send them to Jiffy Lube, but I won't clear out my savings, retirement, home equity to send my children to a low ranked undergrad. And I most certainly wouldn't bend over backwards to spin that the college is some great place — which every parent of average kids does. Just give it a rest.

Ummm I don't think so. This whole area is populated by the military or the exmilitary. We are generally conscious of the advantages they have in skills and discipline as well as envious of their income. So, if by poors, you mean people who want to climb the ranks literally, then yes many people here are the poors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in average colleges, mostly because they got great merit scholorships. I'll even proudly name the schools...

DS (27) went to Ole Miss. ROTC scholarship. Plus National Guard.
DS (25) went to Colorado. ROTC Scholorship
DD (24) went to Florida. National Merit Scholar. Full ride.
DD (21) at Georgia. Partial merit scholarship.
DS (17) High school senior. Wants to go to Florida. We'll see who offers the most money.

Super proud of all five. My oldest is married with a baby. They own a business together. He is also a Captain in the Army National Guard. My second is a Captain in the Army - 82nd Airborne. My third is a teacher in DC. My fourth is majoring in nursing. She wants to be a nurse practitioner. My youngest thinks he wants to be an engineer.

Average colleges. No student loan debt. Great kids.

Wow, well done, Mom and Dad! You have raised a smart and accomplished group of kids. Thank you for sharing their success!

+1

Any of us on DCUM would count ourselves lucky to raise 5 kids that did this well.

Y'all are sweet! Thank you. They chose the schools. I only mentioned the schlorships because we encouraged them to pick schools that would pay them. We wanted them to be in a school that was a good fit for them as well. None of them would have done well at a highly competitive college and we knew that. Four of them would never have been accepted. My national merit scholar probobly would have, but she has anxiety issues so I think she would have been miserable in that environment. I'm proud of them for choosing service oriented careers. My daughter teachers middle school ESE to profoundly disabled students. I'm convinced it has to be a calling. She absolutely loves it!

I think it is amazing if your kid gets into an Ivy or any highly competitive college, especially if you can afford it. I also think kids at community college and average state colleges can do great things. I also love to hear about kids who have chosen to enlist in the military before going to college and kids who choose a trade school over college. The thing we need to remember as parents is that once our kids finish high school, it's time to back off a little and allow them find their own path. I know too many really unhappy adults who went to college and chose careers based on what their parents wanted. I did not want to be that parent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in average colleges, mostly because they got great merit scholorships. I'll even proudly name the schools...

DS (27) went to Ole Miss. ROTC scholarship. Plus National Guard.
DS (25) went to Colorado. ROTC Scholorship
DD (24) went to Florida. National Merit Scholar. Full ride.
DD (21) at Georgia. Partial merit scholarship.
DS (17) High school senior. Wants to go to Florida. We'll see who offers the most money.

Super proud of all five. My oldest is married with a baby. They own a business together. He is also a Captain in the Army National Guard. My second is a Captain in the Army - 82nd Airborne. My third is a teacher in DC. My fourth is majoring in nursing. She wants to be a nurse practitioner. My youngest thinks he wants to be an engineer.

Average colleges. No student loan debt. Great kids.

Wow, well done, Mom and Dad! You have raised a smart and accomplished group of kids. Thank you for sharing their success!

+1

Any of us on DCUM would count ourselves lucky to raise 5 kids that did this well.

Sadly, DCUM is full of jerks who think military service is for "poors."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in average colleges, mostly because they got great merit scholorships. I'll even proudly name the schools...

DS (27) went to Ole Miss. ROTC scholarship. Plus National Guard.
DS (25) went to Colorado. ROTC Scholorship
DD (24) went to Florida. National Merit Scholar. Full ride.
DD (21) at Georgia. Partial merit scholarship.
DS (17) High school senior. Wants to go to Florida. We'll see who offers the most money.

Super proud of all five. My oldest is married with a baby. They own a business together. He is also a Captain in the Army National Guard. My second is a Captain in the Army - 82nd Airborne. My third is a teacher in DC. My fourth is majoring in nursing. She wants to be a nurse practitioner. My youngest thinks he wants to be an engineer.

Average colleges. No student loan debt. Great kids.

Wow, well done, Mom and Dad! You have raised a smart and accomplished group of kids. Thank you for sharing their success!

+1

Any of us on DCUM would count ourselves lucky to raise 5 kids that did this well.