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Don't Send Your Kids to College

jamesaltucher.com

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Re: Don't Send Your Kids to College

#31

Post by Supermighty »

unignorant wrote: post #7

Over-generalizations like this are as predictable as they are annoying. Sure, it makes sense for some people to skip college. And maybe someone could even make the case that most people would be better off abstaining from higher education. But what if you want to be a researcher? A scientist? Someone working on the outer boundaries of knowledge in some particular discipline? Self-study is all very well and good, but…

If you need a professional certificate to practice, such as law, or medicine, then of course college is the only route.

But there are many degrees out there that I see as not very necessary to get. English, Art, History? If you want to be a teacher sure you need these, but you can get by on your self learned skill and knowledge alone.

People just need to make sure they're going to college for the right reasons. Because it will further their career not just delay them from it.

Re: Don't Send Your Kids to College

#32

Post by alexsherrick »

This article is practically pointless; congratulations on parroting Peter Thiel on this matter.

To be honest, my college experience was pretty easy for me, but I did learn something that I would have never learned by starting a business. That is communication. College is the best place to learn about yourself and become comfortable with talking in social settings.

Also, through college, I met some of the smartest people I know, and I hope that in the future we can build a business. Without school, I would have never had the opportunity to engage with such minds.

Re: Don't Send Your Kids to College

#33

Post by jonsmock »

jgoewert wrote: post #14

The flaw in his logic that I see is that somehow the $104,000 that was supposed to pay for going to college will somehow magically appear the first year that the kid will not go to college so that they can start a business. This is instead of how it normally appears with select education loans. I highly doubt lenders are itching to lend $104,000 to multitudes of fresh 18 year olds that dream about owning their own bu…

Agreed, the math here is way off. No mention of amortization to either side of the argument: the "saved" $104,000 OR the expected $800,000. Perhaps I invested the $800,000 (or what's left after I pay my student loans)? Depending on how the $800K is distributed over my lifetime, that investment could be well over $1.4mil when I retire.

Re: Don't Send Your Kids to College

#34

Post by phamilton »

I go to a university (BYU) with annual tuition of 5k. My wife also attends and is on full-tuition scholarship. I work part time, get Pell Grants, and will graduate in 4 years with zero debt. Total monthly cost of living (for both of us) is $1200-$1500.

It's not MIT or Stanford, but it's a good school with plenty of opportunities.

Re: Don't Send Your Kids to College

#35

Post by yock »

wigren wrote: post #20
yock wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to over-simplify, but I don't think one's social circle is enough of a justification for the astronomical cost of higher education. One can just as easily get involved in their community doing public service, attending shows, even just frequenting local businesses can provide opportunities to meet new and interesting people. $60,000 to build my social club? No thanks.

"One can just as easily get involved in their community doing public service, attending shows..." This route gets harder when all of your smart friends are gone to college.

The point to which I replied indicated that you meet your smart friends at college, generally leaving behind most of your high school relationships. If you just happen to go off to school with one or two of those "smart friends" then likely you too are a reasonable candidate for college. You didn't go to college to build a social circle, you just happened to do so whilst you learned.

Re: Don't Send Your Kids to College

#36

Post by kevin_morrill »

unignorant wrote: post #7

Over-generalizations like this are as predictable as they are annoying. Sure, it makes sense for some people to skip college. And maybe someone could even make the case that most people would be better off abstaining from higher education. But what if you want to be a researcher? A scientist? Someone working on the outer boundaries of knowledge in some particular discipline? Self-study is all very well and good, but…

Tell that to Thomas Edison.
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