RE: College Decision For Son
Just my two cents, and a slightly different take on it. And I know it is working out for K2's son, and I am sure it is the best decision for all. I wish him great success in college.
My daughter attended Mizzou as her first choice because of the best and oldest journalism school in the nation being there. We both fell in love with it after visiting several other schools, including DePauw, TCU, and SMU where she turned down a completely free, $30,000 a year ride. Mizzou was her choice because it had great Midwestern values and down-to-earth students and very good academics, not to mention the gorgeous campus. We were told when she graduated, the only competition she would have in the journalism career world would be her own classmates. And that turned out to be true.
Her time there was wonderful and led right into an amazing career. Since it was out-of-state for us, she was left with $40,000 in student loans, and I was left with about $15,000 in parent loans, all money well spent, we consider, for the great job she got right out of school and the memories she has of her college life and the great time she spent there. The experience, for her, was priceless. She has no regrets and will be proud of her college until the day she dies.
It concerns me that today colleges are so expensive and so many people base their decision solely on what is the cheapast path toward getting a job. What has happened to the desire for a world-class liberal arts education that will equip one to understand the world in all its complexity and instill a lifelong desire for learning? What has happened to the desire for a well-rounded and rich college experience in an environment that will fully engage the student and where the student earnestly desires to spend 4-5 years? To me, this type of education is not a luxury but an indispensable path to not only being truly and deeply educated, but also to propelling one on to an enriching and evolving career, not just a "job."
There are literally dozens of ways to pay for whichever college one chooses, with the most expensive colleges having the most aide available and often, like the Ivy Leagues and Vanderbilt, a completely free ride for any admitted student who needs it. And there ARE vast differences in the education one receives at different colleges; vast differences in the quality of faculty, facilities, students; academic programs, including overseas opportunities, in-town internships and mentoring, special honors programs and "colleges", and tutoring, and even enriching experiences in the location of the school, whether it be a great city, like Chicago or New York or Atlanta, or a wonderful region to explore like the Northeast or the Northwest. Many things to consider when choosing a college. Great state universities, wonderful small and large private schools, and affordable, excellent junior colleges. You would have to visit several of each type to understand the amazing and varied opportunities that exist in education today.
I would hate to think one of my children would rather go to a lesser college and graduate with less debt just so he or she could have a mega-wedding. Au contraire, it would seem wiser to graduate from the best college, get a great job, and then you would have enough money for the wedding of your choice or a house downpayment, even factoring in student debt. My daughter had no trouble purchasing a house seven years after she graduated, despite owing thousands in tuition loans.
I do think it can be very important when looking for a job or applying to grad school as to where you attended undergraduate school. I know Vanderbilt certainly weighs the academic strength of your undergraduate school for admission to their grad schools. I also know many companies hire employees from favorite colleges; Autozone loves U. of Miss graduates. Ironically, my daughter got hired at a local company mostly on the strength of her high school education here in Memphis and the fact her bosses attended the "brother" school. The private school tuition really paid off there!
There are big differences in colleges in this country and the education you receive there. There are ways to afford them all. The "fit" for each student is different and important. Ideally, the best path might be to study real hard in high school, and obtain a free ride to one of the very best universities in the nation.
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