The Middle Class Life Style Is Putting You In Debt?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Weird I've met people who never leave the neighborhood they grew up in. What do you think the chances are they've been exposed to as many different people as they potentially might meet in college? Yes you can meet them working as well. But i think college of any sort outside of the neighborhood school where you went will give people opportunity to meet others seeking higher education.

I know several people who would gladly give their degrees and debt back, even with the "experience" of meeting different people. You don't need college to do that, period, if it's so important to you.

[amastewa93]

I think that there are plenty of people who do regret the debt they accrued from attending college. However, I do believe that people who choose to go to college should do research on their degree and whether or not the career path for that job will actually be worth the debt they accrue. For instance, getting a degree in communications instead of pottery would be more useful, every company has a communications department. Getting a degree that you can do multiple things with is more wise than picking something that is a "dead end."

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I don't think meeting people the purpose of college. It's a byproduct of getting out of your comfort zone. It pushes you into experiencing different things. Kind of like joining the military, americorp, peace corp, it pushes you out of your comfort zone. I don't think those are bad ideas in lieu of college out of high school.

And college can be cheap ie community college then traditional 4 year.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I don't think meeting people the purpose of college. It's a byproduct of getting out of your comfort zone. It pushes you into experiencing different things. Kind of like joining the military, americorp, peace corp, it pushes you out of your comfort zone. I don't think those are bad ideas in lieu of college out of high school.

And college can be cheap ie community college then traditional 4 year.

I have no problem with CC's and recommend them whenever I can. That I will agree with, also military, americorp, peace corp.

But as far as I know, you won't spend decades in debt from military, americorp or Peace corp. With "college" (at least traditional 4 year kind) you may. With nothing to show for it other than a piece of paper.

Goin thousands in debt to get a degree in feminist literature just so you can "go outside your comfort zone" and "be educated" is the apex of stupidity in my opinion.

[corn18]

Would it be ok to spend 4 years at a state school getting an engineering degree that is paid in full? That's our plan for our youngest daughter.

We had the same arrangement for our oldest daughter but she didn't hold up her end of the bargain (stopped going to class). She is now finding that higher paying jobs are difficult to find without checking the box on her job application that she has a college degree. While she has skills, not checking that block is limiting her options.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Would it be ok to spend 4 years at a state school getting an engineering degree that is paid in full? That's our plan for our youngest daughter.

We had the same arrangement for our oldest daughter but she didn't hold up her end of the bargain (stopped going to class). She is now finding that higher paying jobs are difficult to find without checking the box on her job application that she has a college degree. While she has skills, not checking that block is limiting her options.

Your plan for your daughter sounds great. I wish her luck.

As for your oldest... I'm assuming she had a full ride too? That's your money so whether it's worth it is up to you.

A lot of kids today don't have the full ride. Totally different scenario. Will getting a "degree of lesser value" (aka feminist studies, etc. etc.) make being able to check that box worth it? I guess it depends on how much you borrow, but to me, if it's over 4 figures I'd balk.

This isn't an imagined scenario on my part, search the web. People complaining about student debt and worthless degrees isn't something I made up. They are real and there are many, many of them.

And this all just feeds into making college more expensive, because it's essentially subsidized by the government, it just make it more and more expensive.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I have no problem with CC's and recommend them whenever I can. That I will agree with, also military, americorp, peace corp.

But as far as I know, you won't spend decades in debt from military, americorp or Peace corp. With "college" (at least traditional 4 year kind) you may. With nothing to show for it other than a piece of paper.

You diminish the quality of the Peace Corps when you speak of it this way. Peace Corps' founding structure provided a means for college graduates to give technical aid and other professional level aid in other countries. It is not an alternative to college. Peace Corps might be very glad to enroll tomhole's daughter when she completes her engineering degree, for example.

One of the most notable features of Americorps is that it pust student loans on hold for an extended time and/or gives tuition aid for college. A huge chunk of participants complete their bachelor degrees within a short time of completing their Americorps enrollment.

I'm sure you must know that a good many people have enrolled in the armed services in part for the possible college tuition benefits.

These institutions are not seen by others so much as alternatives to college, as they are places of useful, honorable serving & learning. By their very policies and requirements they underscore the value of college learning.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

No you don't but my example of those place was to show that you broaden your horizons just getting out of the zone.

And I too know quite a few people who went back after not going to college because they can't check the box as Tom has mentioned for his older daughter.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

No you don't but my example of those place was to show that you broaden your horizons just getting out of the zone.

How much debt is that worth to you?

[JoeP]

And I also agree that not everyone can or should go to college. We need tradespeople - electricians, plumbers, roofers, masons, etc. We need barbers and hair stylists. We need construction workers and retail clerks and butchers and bakers. Not everyone needs a college degree.

Truer words have never been spoken! We keep hearing "get an education" and immediately most think of a college degree. Some of those trades make very good money, but the physical labor aspect is not for everybody.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

http://madamenoire.com/595428/im-drowning-student-loan-debt-dont-know/

Hey at least she met people out of her comfort zone right? She can check that box!

[amastewa93]

I live in Pennsylvania and the high schools here actually offer a "tech program." I grew up in North Carolina, but my little brothers are getting to take advantage of this program and I think more states should implement it. My brother is attending "tech" for the first time this year and is studying welding. He has no plans on going to a four-year university. He will leave high school and enter a job that will make him plenty of money. They have programs for nursing, graphic design and other things as well.

But, I also think that it depends on the child and what they want in life. I couldn't do welding everyday. It would bore me to death, but I know it excites him. I think college is a "case by case" kind of thing.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

No, I didn't say you had to go to college to meet people. There are other options, just it's one reason to go. NOT for indoctrination. And usually being outside your comfort zone challenges people whether it be in college or otherwise. Just college happens to be an easy place to broaden ones horizons.

[dawnwes]

Would it be ok to spend 4 years at a state school getting an engineering degree that is paid in full? That's our plan for our youngest daughter.

We had the same arrangement for our oldest daughter but she didn't hold up her end of the bargain (stopped going to class). She is now finding that higher paying jobs are difficult to find without checking the box on her job application that she has a college degree. While she has skills, not checking that block is limiting her options.

How do you ensure that your daughters will get an engineering degree? What if they want to get a degree in something else?

[Singuy]

How do you ensure that your daughters will get an engineering degree? What if they want to get a degree in something else?

1. You can provide your kids with a full ride ONLY if they pick the degrees you agree to.

2. You discourage college if the degree is in something useless

Of course you can't force anything down a person's throat but parenting is key. You have to establish a belief system before they head to college(as in reinforce the notion that x,y,z degrees are useless since youth, use real life examples, encourage child to engage more in math and science).

Too many parents just let the schools do their thing and have their child pick what they "like".

If your child is bad at school(terrible grades, skipping classes, smoking, drinking, partying) then you are SOL and just let it go. Perhaps sending this child to a third world country is a good option.