You saved your daughter from a life of debt slavery. Now she can have a life, children and maybe even become a painter.
I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
21–30 of 463 posts
Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
#22What 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.
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Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
#23What 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.
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.
Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
#24What 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... )
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Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
#25Serious 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 not proven to be a success. That money would be much better spent establishing an art studio and working on a portfolio. At least if they aren't very successful, some of the loss can be recovered.
The same idea goes for most art degrees in one form or another.
Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
#26What 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.
Do you have any evidence to back up this rather broad claim?
Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
#27Serious 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
We are in this now. First year in college, still undecided what to do, but interested in something design/art/writing.
Our suggestions to choose something that might be profitable was a huge stress factor that pushed her towards depression and we decided to back off.
She had always surprised us in a good way, and she has proven to be very good a connecting with people, organizing, making things work.
I think she’ll be fine eventually.
We are not generationally wealthy, but tech has made us rich enough afford the college tuition without too much pain.
Not everyone can or wants to be an engineer.
Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
#28What 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... )
That generally is not why US born doctors go to medical school outside of the US.
Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
#29Serious 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.
> 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.
Re: I killed my teenager’s fancy college dreams
#30What 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.
A neighbor's kid is at St. Andrew's in Scotland. But I don't know of many who have chosen that route.