NYT-parents should worry more about college choice

[momofthreeboys]

<p>I think we’d “like” to believe that the majority of kids that don’t graduate in 6 years do so because they weren’t “college ready.” I suspect that actually the majority don’t graduate because they can’t afford it and within that group probably some do complete it at some point in life. I know plenty of kids like this that did end up graduating (two magna/summa) who finished at 26 and 27…8+ years after they started. Also I agree that probably 10% of the colleges in the US are “selective.” They fill their classes and reject students making admissions “selective.”</p>

[BobWallace]

<p>

What happened to the working-class students you studied?</p>

<p>On our floor, not one graduated from the university within five years. Most of the less privileged students left and went elsewhere, either to a regional branch campus or bumping down to an associate degree. Their reasons for leaving were never just one factor. They’d talk about cost, the boyfriends back home, their trouble finding a major that would lead to a good job, or wanting to get away from those rich girls. It was difficult for them to be confronted with a social world they were excluded from and didn’t have the resources to keep up with. Often, the ones who transferred out were more successful than the ones who tried to stick it out.

</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/education/edlife/elizabeth-a-armstrong-on-her-book-paying-for-the-party.html?emc=edit_tnt_20130802&tntemail0=y[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/education/edlife/elizabeth-a-armstrong-on-her-book-paying-for-the-party.html?emc=edit_tnt_20130802&tntemail0=y&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[cptofthehouse]

<p>Dad II, look at how many selective colleges there are. Not that many. But they all charge. The info is not any news to me. It’s only those playing the selective college game or are eyeing selective programs that have much concer on “will I get in”. I know many kids who just show up and enrolll for a local school here. Not even an application or selection process here. But they have to have the funds to pay for it or it’s not a go. That’s almost always the stressor. Along with transportation options. Gotta have money for that too if commuting and often there is no decent public transportation available and getting a ride to the school and to work and back is an issue if there isn’t a extra car or someone willing to drive in the family.</p>

[Madaboutx]

<p>The article lends weight to the idea that some schools are worth getting into debt over. I think there is so much negative media on the student debt that some people forget that its like a business start up. Huge start up expenses with the potential for a huge return on investment.</p>

<p>Not all majors are equal either too as much as not all colleges are equal.</p>

[pugmadkate]

<p>I want to live where Dad II lives…where divorce is rare and I’m so far removed from the average person that I truly cannot grasp what their life must be like.</p>

[jym626]

<p>LOL, pugmadkate.</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>Geezus.
I am proudly blue collar & both my kids are smart enough to admitted to schools that meet 100% need.
Oldest attended such a school btw.
I have never before had it spelled out for me so clearly that some families- apparently the families who have children who are intelligent enough to be admitted to the schools that only offer need based aid, only their parents haven’t quite gotten the hang of managing their income to live the lifestyle they wish- those families apparently are in denial that kids whose parents didnt attend college, kids whose families always travel by automobile, kids who never had straight a’s in their life- are being admitted to schools that are happy to give them large grants to attend & support them with resources they may need to graduate.</p>

[Agentninetynine]

<p>Emerald: Does meeting the need mean loans? Or are you saying your kids’ schools offered very generous packages?</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>Yes, meeting need except for the most endowed schools like Harvard, means subsidized Stafford & Perkins loans and work study as well as a $30,000 grant.
This brought it down to the cost of an instate public university, albeit still 1/4 of our before tax income.
But a college education seemed worth borrowing $6,000-$7,000 a year for.</p>

[Kennedy2010]

<p>IMO it is always dangerous to stereotype. Yet stereotypes do tend to be based in fact. I am the “victim” of many stereotypes and have learned not to let them affect me.</p>

[omedog]

<p>You can follow the money and make simple assumptions about which kids will graduate on time. Why does the U of Alabama offer such generous scholarships to NMS? Because it is an easy bet that that kid will finish on time and under budget. I’m sure some actuaries or oddsmakers could easily come up with a system that would accurately guess whether or not a kid would complete college successfully in 4 years, I would not be at all surprised to hear that it already existed.</p>