<p>^I think that going into the military is perfectly legitimate, if that’s what you want to do. I personally don’t think I could do so, but I have the utmost respect for those who do.</p>
<p>Anywho…this article is ridiculous. Let it be noted that he attended Cornell and CMU, and probably wouldn’t have the job he has now if he hadn’t gotten his own education. </p>
<p>Many have already pointed out the economic flaws in his argument (then again, he advocates legalizing insider trading, so perhaps he sees economics in a different way than the rest of us), so I won’t start on those. Also the fact that basically all of the math he has in the article is incorrect, which completely ruins his credibility for me. Although I’d love to print this out and show it to my old stats teacher as an example of “how not to use statistics correctly.” His “selective number usage” reminds me of Bjorn Lomborg’s.</p>
<p>For me, the most fail-worthy assertion is the idea that the “smart, motivated, ambitious kids (the ones who get the most out of college)” (his words exactly) are the ones who SHOULDN’T BE ATTENDING COLLEGE. Um, okay. Let the smart, motivated kids who have the potential to change the world do <em>other</em> things instead of learning what they need to in order to actually make scientific, economic, artistic, mathematic, etc. contributions.</p>
<p>One last thing - I find it really funny that on his “alternatives to spending $200,000 for 4 years of their lives” he actually says that you should travel the world, an education that is “much cheaper” (though still pricey, I’d imagine), and THEN send your kids to college “with a much more mature view of the world.” So basically, he’s advocating paying for your kid to travel around the world - which is quite the pretty penny to begin with - and THEN spending $200,000 on college. Okaaaaaay.</p>
<p>I agree with the idea that maybe not all high schoolers are “college material” and it is certainly not worth it to send them to college if all they will carry away is the degree with no learning (it is colleges like that that devalue a college education).</p>
<p>But, I wholeheartedly disagree with every point made in the article. The idea that parents would avoid paying for their kids’ education simply for money is nonsense. That shows they have no respect for learning and do not care about their children’s potential/success. The author actually kind of disgusts me…</p>
<p>I’d like to meet the parent who would just give their kid $20K to allow them to do whatever with their life. Most people are very lucky to have parents pay that much for college in the first place, let alone being able to give them money just because.</p>
<p>Why would you ever spend $200,000 on college?!?!?! Unless maybe if you’re a med. student. If you think college would cost that much for the average person then you clearly do not know anything about colleges!</p>
<p>With scholarships, I’m spending a grand total of about $2,000 on all four years of college, all of which I’m earning back from paid internships. So, let’s see, if I invest the $0 my parents handed me in a business that should fail [so I get experience], then I’ll make a grand profit of…</p>
<p>Okay, that’s just me. But is anyone else convinced he’s just trying to get the smart kids to drop out of college so HIS kids have a better chance?</p>
<p>Just let it be known I wholeheartedly agree with you guys, thought you’d all get a kick of the article. </p>
<p>The $200,000 part IS the most RIDICULOUS part of that article. Okay, so let’s say your family is poor, and the 4-year university you wish to attend is too expensive. But you want a degree… simply go to community college for 2 years, work your butt off, save your money, and then do your major/finish your degree the last 2 years. With the money you saved from working, you shouldn’t be in too much debt after graduation… especially if you live at home/commute. Just be smart with your money.</p>
<p>One of the problems is that he talks about college graduates as a whole while using only the cost of the most expensive private schools (50k a year). And many people are on financial aid at top private schools so …</p>