Anonymous
Post 01/23/2026 19:07     Subject: Are we all school snobs?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


What about those of us who don't even notice $90K/yr. I don't need to justify it because it's a minor expense. And, sense we have been paying for private school since DC was 5 the incremental isn't enough to even be noticed. Are we not making a practical decision based on our circumstances?


Or those who have chosen to save in case their kids want to attend an elite school (and/or grad school). It's not that difficult for many to save to have $400K+ at age 18. If you start when they are born and use the tax free 529, you only need to invest $125-150K at most to achieve the $400K by end of college (or well before) As long as you are not in debt/are not complaining you cannot retire because of the cost of college, I don't care how you choose to spend your money. Some spend on fancy vacations, some on cars, some on $50/day on coffee and eating out, etc. But don't complain later that you are financially strapped if you don't choose to make good choices along the way


THIS! You choose to have kids, start.saving asap for their future, I have to admit I do judge subcontiously those that can't afford and then go to Aruba and Cancun, your priorities don't equal mine if you can't support your kid. Can't help it, but you do you. I don't think I could sleep at.night if I wasn't prepping my kid for a solid future.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2026 18:39     Subject: Are we all school snobs?
Anonymous wrote:We are paying for UMiami full pay and have no regrets. DC actually got into schools "higher ranked" too but they wanted UM. Sorry if that bothers you.


My kid is full pay at a school in the 30-40 range. They had $42K/year in merit from a school ranked 45-50. They liked the 2nd school, but not nearly as much. So they are attending the full pay/$90K/year school. Because we told them to pick which they liked better.

Now they know their privilege and recognize that 99% of kids would be at the 2nd school because money doesn't grow on trees. But for our family, we have plenty and education has been saved for (with no impact to rest of our life or theirs) so they get to pick where they attend college and grad school
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2026 18:36     Subject: Are we all school snobs?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


What about those of us who don't even notice $90K/yr. I don't need to justify it because it's a minor expense. And, sense we have been paying for private school since DC was 5 the incremental isn't enough to even be noticed. Are we not making a practical decision based on our circumstances?


Or those who have chosen to save in case their kids want to attend an elite school (and/or grad school). It's not that difficult for many to save to have $400K+ at age 18. If you start when they are born and use the tax free 529, you only need to invest $125-150K at most to achieve the $400K by end of college (or well before) As long as you are not in debt/are not complaining you cannot retire because of the cost of college, I don't care how you choose to spend your money. Some spend on fancy vacations, some on cars, some on $50/day on coffee and eating out, etc. But don't complain later that you are financially strapped if you don't choose to make good choices along the way
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2026 18:33     Subject: Re:Are we all school snobs?
Anonymous wrote: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.


Nor should you! If that is what your kid wants, they should get to choose. Smart kid to want to save money and get a good education still.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2026 18:31     Subject: Are we all school snobs?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


And ultimately, it depends upon what your family can AFFORD. If you can pay $90K and not be in debt and still be adequately investing for retirement and everything else, that is your choice for how to spend. It doesn't make it wrong.

Personally, I wouldn't pay $90K for T25 schools unless I could easily afford it. I'm smart enough to realize any kid who can gain admission to a T25 school can attend many schools in the 25-80 range with great merit, so I'd go that route and save the $$ for grad school or beyond.

Anonymous
Post 01/23/2026 15:23     Subject: Are we all school snobs?
OP, you aren’t this sheltered. Be serious.
Anonymous
Post 01/23/2026 15:22     Subject: Re:Are we all school snobs?
It has boiled down to elite cognitive dissonance.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 19:55     Subject: Are we all school snobs?
Anonymous wrote:
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'd love to hear why 25 is the magic number? Is there something lacking in:

UNC
UVA
USC
NYU
Tufts
BC
BU?

Why is 25 the magic number? And you didn't mention the top SLACs, at least 10 of which are as good as or better than any school in the top 25? Does that mean the number should be top 15?

Out of 4,000 schools in the country?


Personally, I don’t care whether a school is in the top 25 or not. I would be happy to send my kids to any of the schools listed above. I don’t think there is much difference in the caliber of students at those schools compared to the top 25.

With so many rankings from different publishers, each defining the top 15, 25, or 50 differently—rankings have become less meaningful.
USNews is no longer very reliable, and the college landscape has changed.

I focus on many factors beyond rankings, and only a handful of schools truly fit our preferences.


Anonymous
Post 01/21/2026 01:24     Subject: Are we all school snobs?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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'd love to hear why 25 is the magic number? Is there something lacking in:

UNC
UVA
USC
NYU
Tufts
BC
BU?

Why is 25 the magic number? And you didn't mention the top SLACs, at least 10 of which are as good as or better than any school in the top 25? Does that mean the number should be top 15?

Out of 4,000 schools in the country?



Many of the above are comparable or even better han the bottom of the 25. Stern and UVA for example.


OMG, no. Please stop.


You stop. It’s 100% fact.


they are just pissed at uva is held in equal or in many cases higher regard. especially relative to ucla, michigan, washu or emory
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2026 23:39     Subject: Are we all school snobs?
Where the college degree comes from does not matter.
What kids do with the degree is what matters.