<p>At the end of the day, am I willing to pay for the college my child gets into ... public or private? What is my return on investment? Is another year of experience and maturity going to change the equation? These are questions for next spring!</p>
<p>There is a college spot for everyone but at what cost?</p>
<p>I have a son coming up to the college process in two years. I don't think waiting one more year is going to make much difference at all. </p>
<p>College is not like gas which is either high or higher. One could always find a place they could afford if you are not fixed on only one or two schools.</p>
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What is my return on investment?
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<p>What do you expect? Are you looking for monetary return?</p>
<p>There are literally hundreds of excellent four-year colleges, with fine faculties, good facilities, etc. that are begging for students. It has never ever been easier for a student to get into and attend college - if one can pay for it. By 2015, more than a few of these will be out of business.</p>
<p>No not a literal monetary return. If I am going to be spending $100,000 - $200,000 on my child's education I want to make sure she has the potential to come out of it with a confidence, focus and direction that exceeds expectations. Now granted this is up to her and you can not predict the future but I think we all have a sense our kids and here they are likely to thrive. I am not going to spend the money for a so so situation. She can find a job until she gets into the right place.</p>
<p>The "right" place to me does not mean ivy which we are not considering. Life is too short and money too precious to waste either on a situation where your child will not thrive/grow/mature. For 1/5 the cost, you can send them abroad for a year and I guarantee they will have an unforgettable experience!</p>
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If I am going to be spending $100,000 - $200,000 on my child's education I want to make sure she has the potential to come out of it with a confidence, focus and direction that exceeds expectations.
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<p>Just because your kid attends a school that you deem is "worth" your 100-200g doesn't necessarily mean or guarantee that they will come out with the attributes that you are looking for. By the same token, there are students who finish at their state U "full of confidence focus and direction that exceeds expections." </p>
<p>I remember poster Jyber209 who wrote
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It is my belief that some kids are like marigolds - would bloom in just about any soil - and others are like orchids - need more specific environments to flourish. And I do not believe that the "orchid" kids are any better - would prefer the ease of marigold kids! - but my point is that some kids would flower better in particular settings. </p>
<p>College</a> Confidential Discussion
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<p>You would be suprised to find that your kid may end up being more of a "marigold" than you give her credit for and will be able to grow/thrive in a number of places if it is truly her desire to do so.</p>
<p>She believes she is an orchid and is learning to be a marigold. My point is the cost of education is so high, I am not inclined to take risks with the money. </p>
<p>She will be just fine anywhere but is that the goal for college to do just fine?</p>
<p>I am not making any judgments about private or public ... In state California for four years costs $100,000 ... the reason for my spread. </p>
<p>I just think the right fit is really important and it is not worth spending the money or time for a less than right fit ... the state U or a very expensive LAC ... </p>
<p>I say wait for the right fit.</p>
<p>Right fit is the best approach if family can afford it. In case when Grad. School is unavoidable (Med., Law....), the best is to save as much $$ as possible in undergrad and help them with some financial support thru grad. I know the family with D. who has gone to Duke for undergrad (parents paid roughly $45,000/year), still had hardest time getting into Med. school - her Ivy undergrad education did not help her with acceptance, and was told by her parents that they cannot help her to pay for Grad school, they have contributed enough. I told my D. to apply to in-state, work hard to keep her Merit Scholarships, and we will help her thru grad. school. Well, we are paying $6000/year nowhere near $45,000.</p>
<p>As you indicate, spending $45,000 does not mean life will be any easier down the road. </p>
<p>The right fit could also be the least expensive. Our area has great CCs where the honors students matriculate to the top schools in the country. The CCs are also used by newly arrived immigrants from all over the world trying to get in-state status. Our CC has the most incredibly diverse population from any college campus I have visited. On a quick walk, you can hear languages form the Orient, Africa, Europe, etc.</p>
<p>MQD ... I agree about fit and frankly I can imagine OKing my kids taking a gap year to get another chance to go to a school they feel would be a much better fit. That said I'm having trouble tying your current comments to the posting #1 ... are you saying youmight OK a gap year to increase the chance of a better fit because there will be less applicants next year? If so, for my family that would be a poor reason for a gap year ... the delta in the # of applicants will be in significant ... while there are tons of other bigger magnitude issues to consider.</p>
<p>Good point ...</p>
<p>Mombot says it very well.
Depending on the level of competitiveness, your daughter's "preferred" schools may always be tough. Better, in my very humble and certainly not infallible opinion, for her to research less competitive schools that she may actually end up loving than to plan gap years.</p>
<p>Whoops! Didn't realize this was a three page, not a one page, thread. I try to NEVER post without reading the whole thing. I see where you are not necessarily targeting Ivies. My apologies.</p>