I think if you are going to college thinking it’s mind or life altering you are setting yourself up to be disappointed. It’s all part of a journey. I went to an essentially no name school and was pretty much wasting my time until I woke up and decided to really attack my courses and learn everything I could in every class. It was like I transferred to an Ivy from that point forward.
I will take that bet. $1000? $10k? You’re “sure,” so give me odds?
IMO, the idea of an “easy A” class. I usually don’t get an A in those types of classes. 
I had exactly ONE option for college - attend the local cc , then transfer somewhere inexpensive. I decided that I would enjoy the one option I had and I did. I actually had a great time at cc, met lots of people I liked, did a lot socially, got involved in EC’s and enjoyed my classes. Found an inexpensive (but decent) private school to transfer to and enjoyed that even more. The “bloom where you are planted” worked for me.
Ironically my kids had tons of options, we were/are able to pay full cost for them to attend any school of their choice. Both are strong academically and both ended up at their first choice schools. Neither was as happy as I was and S ended up transferring after freshman year.
“If money is a problem why didn’t you just apply to schools you would get full rides to like …” goes on to name schools I would definitely not have gotten a full ride to
I think this is the case more often than not. For those living away from home, but not needing to work during the school year, they can have the freedom of being an adult with little in the way of adult responsibilities. It’s usually easier to develop and maintain a social life during college than after graduation.
@FallGirl , I think that’s where luck came in for me. My intuition of what would be the best fit for me was correct, but I could have been wrong. As I said, I was unhappy in grad school, but I did not go with my intuition in that case. I chose with my brain and ignored fit.
I know “you bloom where you’re planted” works for some and it sounds like it worked out great for you, but not for your son who transferred, and not for me in grad school.
That it’s all a done deal after you pick the school and the major, and that 4 years later you’ll have a college grad.
I know so many kids who transferred after a semester or year that I almost consider the senior year pick ‘round one.’ My daughter was visibly relieved when I told her she could change her major (meant giving up a small scholarship) because she just felt stuck. She won’t finish in 4 years and I’m okay with that too because she is just a kid who needs more time. Her initial major had her taking 17+ credits per semester and it was too much for her.
I’m wondering if how happy you were with college has some dependence on how miserable (or happy) you were in high school. I had friends in high school that I enjoyed doing things with, but I didn’t like high school. Too many cliques, too much peer pressure, and a lot of immaturity. College was the first time I felt like I really fit in.
But “best four years of your life” is stretching it for a lot of people. There’s just so much to experience after graduation.
Lie: “Going to an Ivy (or equivalent) well set you up for life.”
Lie: “Ivies (and equivalents) aren’t anything special.”
I just copied this and sent it to one of mine in college and my HS senior. Post of week (pow) honors in my book. 
I can’t agree enough. When I was applying to schools, my dad held the firm belief that I could get “good money” virtually anywhere. (He was also convinced that every school had “secret” merit aid even if they only offered need-based, but that’s another story.) In the end, I wasn’t able to convince him otherwise until I got zero financial aid from all but my safety schools. It’s been years and he’s still reeling from it.
Also, I have to volunteer the misconception that anyone can pay for college as long as they hold a job through their four years. I have older relatives who claim to have covered full tuition at name-brand schools as lifeguards and fast food cashiers. While students can certainly work while studying, it’s no longer feasible to cover all expenses making $9 an hour.
Oh yea, couldn’t agree more–I’ve had this conversation with so many folks from the older generation who don’t understand how much this landscape has changed.
I agree with the “best four years of your life” thing- it can lead to a lot of disappointment for some, especially those who particularly enjoyed high school. It is a very tumultuous time with a lot of growing; it certainly brings a lot of lows with the highs for many.
That being said, I’ve never interpreted it as adults “warning” me that the rest of life is going to suck. I’ve always kind of taken it as “you’re only young once”. Honestly, the mindset has helped me to do a lot of fun things and have crazy stories and experiences I know I’ll never forget. I don’t think everyone necessarily needs to be reminded to have fun, but a lot of students (like many/most on CC) work their tail off in high school and can forget to take it easy sometimes.
@KateFitz My mom was also convinced that schools offered merit aid to the kids they really wanted even if they claimed they didn’t give out merit scholarships! Not sure where that one came from.
That the amount of money you actually “need” to pay for college is in some way related or comparable to what the college thinks your “need” is.
Colleges that claim to meet full need. OK, I realize that their definition of need may be different than mine. BUT, when running one in-state LAC that claims to meet full need, the results came back that we are expected to pay about two-thirds of our net income. We are solidly middle class, and there is no way anyone with our net income can pay two-thirds for college. Heck, my mortgage payment isn’t even half that figure.
Your major doesn’t matter, especially if you have no plans for graduate or professional school.
The whole, I worked my way through college so my kids can too. It will build character.
Then there is the whole definition of middle class by CC standards.
I don’t look at this as a lie or misleading. Even if your child is smart, are outside scholarships easy to come by?
However, there are a plethora of mid tier state schools that throw money at top students to get them to commit. Off the top of my head, Alabama, Mizzou, Howard, Clemson, FGCU, LSU.