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I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

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Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#41

Post by helen___keller »

toolslive wrote: post #11

What I don't understand is: why don't they go to a university in Europe? I just checked for my alma mater: tuition fee is ~500 euro for 1 year. You pay about 4k in rent per year (this is probably too high an estimate). The level of education is high, and the programs are available in English.

They don't market nearly as effectively. They don't appear on rankings for top colleges. They don't send leaflets and no one you know goes there.

The only European Uni I knew was oxford, and I had no idea that I could save money on a similar education in Europe. In the first place I just assumed I would need to know a foreign language for any non-UK European school.

Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#42

Post by esotericn »

xwdv wrote: post #15
toolslive wrote: post #11

What I don't understand is: why don't they go to a university in Europe? I just checked for my alma mater: tuition fee is ~500 euro for 1 year. You pay about 4k in rent per year (this is probably too high an estimate). The level of education is high, and the programs are available in English.

Because most European universities are crap compared to American ones. Crude, but the truth.

Ever heard of a little kernel known as Linux?

Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#43

Post by refurb »

llampx wrote: post #23
xwdv wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because most European universities are crap compared to American ones. Crude, but the truth.

Strong words. What do you learn in American university that you don't learn in, say, a German one? I know I could have done without two years of basic education in the form of GenEds.

You have to understand the American mentality.

I’ve talked with parents who told me how unfortunate that their kid can’t go to a good school. The school has a score of 9.2/10 versus the school they wanted which scores 9.5/10.

Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#44

Post by bdcravens »

vidanay wrote: post #12
vsskanth wrote: post #4

Serious question: how does a parent deal with their high school kids wanting to pursue college in a field with a low probability of high lifetime earnings (art, theatre etc.) ? Especially when they are middle class without generational wealth to insulate themselves

Drop the "follow your dreams" rhetoric and have a serious discussion with them about the costs of life and lifestyles. If they want to live in a 6000 sq ft house in Malibu, then they shouldn't get a degree in 5th Century Aerobics.

Or even a modest 2000 sq ft house in the midwest for that matter

Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#45

Post by nugget »

refurb wrote: post #37
non-entity wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If they want to live in a 6000 sq ft house in Malibu, then they shouldn't get a degree in 5th Century Aerobics. I mean if that's what they want, you might as well tell them to be born into another family because you'll never enough for that as a wage worker regardless of the degree.

Doctors and lawyers could afford a house in Malibu and they are wage workers.

The white collar professionals who can afford these types of areas are usually much more like entrepreneurs than individual practitioners of their craft.

Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#46

Post by commandlinefan »

rayiner wrote: post #16

These parents are heroes. > A couple months ago, my 17-year-old daughter’s guidance counselor called her into his office to ask pretty much the only question that adults ask high school seniors: “What colleges are you applying to?” When Ella tossed off a handful of universities, he said, “Have you thought about going to art school?” This is goddamn malpractice. > Like most parents, who save on average $18,000 for the…

> $75,000 annual sticker price

Dear lord, that's insane. UT Austin estimates $26,000/year (in state), including room and board.

Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#47

Post by criddell »

hajile wrote: post #25
vsskanth wrote: post #4

Serious question: how does a parent deal with their high school kids wanting to pursue college in a field with a low probability of high lifetime earnings (art, theatre etc.) ? Especially when they are middle class without generational wealth to insulate themselves

Does art school make a person a better artist? I would argue not really -- especially in a day in age where so much advanced art instruction is available for free. When a company or person wants to commission you, do they look at your degree or your portfolio? The only real benefit of art college is more contacts to sell on your personality. $300,000 for that $75,000/yr college is a huge marketing budget for someone…

> Does art school make a person a better artist?

It certainly isn't automatic but a motivated student can get a lot out of the experience.

Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#48

Post by seattle_spring »

crmrc114 wrote: post #19
toolslive wrote: post #11

What I don't understand is: why don't they go to a university in Europe? I just checked for my alma mater: tuition fee is ~500 euro for 1 year. You pay about 4k in rent per year (this is probably too high an estimate). The level of education is high, and the programs are available in English.

This is why many doctors in the US get their basic medical schooling outside of the US. (Often in the Caribbean https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medical_schools_in_the... )

Caribbean schools are even more expensive than US med schools. A contact of mine is graduating from Ross University with $550k of debt.

Students go there because their bar for incoming students is lower, and not at all because they're cheaper.

Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#49

Post by jseliger »

rayiner wrote: post #16

These parents are heroes. > A couple months ago, my 17-year-old daughter’s guidance counselor called her into his office to ask pretty much the only question that adults ask high school seniors: “What colleges are you applying to?” When Ella tossed off a handful of universities, he said, “Have you thought about going to art school?” This is goddamn malpractice. > Like most parents, who save on average $18,000 for the…

College, for most people, is a joke

College is great for the right people but we should be emphasizing vocational education and apprenticeships for many more people. Someone who doesn't want to do the reading or do abstract symbol manipulation is a poor fit for universities: https://seliger.com/2017/06/16/rare-good-political-news-boos.... I know because I've taught many students who don't want to be in school and aren't getting much out of it.

Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams

#50

Post by themagician »

abnry wrote: post #40
rayiner wrote: post #16

These parents are heroes. > A couple months ago, my 17-year-old daughter’s guidance counselor called her into his office to ask pretty much the only question that adults ask high school seniors: “What colleges are you applying to?” When Ella tossed off a handful of universities, he said, “Have you thought about going to art school?” This is goddamn malpractice. > Like most parents, who save on average $18,000 for the…

There is a place for encouraging students to go to art school... the catch is that they need to have obvious signs of world class talent.

You can be completely average talent wise, get a job at an ad agency and 5-7 years later be a creative director making bank.

Art school can actually be a great investment if you want to do creative work for hire.

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