@MiddleburyDad2, I didn’t say elite LAC; I said elite liberal arts. I didn’t attend a LAC either. I was a humanities major at Penn. And law school (my intended next step) wasn’t realistic financially because I’d already accumulated more debt than I’d originally planned for, due to the elimination of the NDSL by the Reagan administration my junior year.
I don’t know what you majored in as an undergrad, so perhaps I misunderstood what you meant, but in the context of this thread, where the OP is weighing whether ND is worth $100,000 (give or take) more than SMU for business, it sounded like you were suggesting that it’s a mistake to focus on preparation for a chosen career, aka going the “trade school” route (i.e., business, engineering, nursing, etc.). That the ideal is to receive a true liberal arts education and that too much focus on that first job is selling yourself short. But how is the undergrad hoping to go to law or medical school, with the goal of becoming a lawyer or doctor, any different than going into undergrad hoping to become an engineer or nurse? None of these goals precludes getting a well-rounded education (well, as well rounded as anyone can get in four years).
You mentioned earlier that you graduated from Stanford and Penn Law and could afford to send three kids to elite colleges, like Middlebury and Pomona. So of course you would want to promote that as an ideal and want to reinforce that those have been smart investments. We all try to justify our choices to ourselves and others.That’s all I meant by a “mite self-serving.” And, yes, condescending, because it implies that your kids are headed to graduate or professional schools after they complete their undergraduate educations, with no debt. As if we all can provide that for our kids. That would be a dream education in my world too, believe me. But not everybody wants that or can afford it.
Given your impressive education and acknowledged preference for elite schools (the more elite the better, I gather), you likely live a very rarefied and privileged life compared to most parents facing college costs and worried about whether or not their children will be gainfully employed sooner rather than later. Heck, I live a pretty privileged life too, compared to the vast majority of people out there. And having been a poor kid at Penn, I get it. In your world, it’s all about an elite imprimatur. But do recognize that lots of very well-educated people, and many extremely successful ones too, wouldn’t place the same value on these prestige brands as you do. For many of us, it’s about value. How much more is the better education or brand worth, given our financial situations.
You say you “understand the economic pressures” out there. I’ll take your word for it, but I’m not really getting that. And, sorry, your reference in another thread to the “nearest southern state U football factory” probably colored my interpretation of your comments too. My kid goes to one of those schools (best value for our buck and his choice in the end), and there are plenty of impressive kids there too. Some actually get into elite grad and professional schools, believe it or not. And it’s the debt they didn’t accrue as undergrads that enables them to be able to afford them.
