<p>Keep in mind that Taxguy is one of the group that thinks an elite education is never worth the money. </p>
<p>Thank goodness we’re still allowed to have such choices and choose for ourselves. </p>
<p>I guess some of us believe that not having a few more Lexus to drive, investing the funds in our kids’ intellectual capital is worth doing. And we understand that, even at its best, a UMD does not offer the same intellectual experience that a Yale, Chicago or Stanford offer. But I suspect the folks that have not seen the difference in environments, in faculty quality, in opportunity for the students, would not understand this. </p>
<p>I think taxguy also does not understand (lack of direct knowledge, perhaps) that these “few Wall Street Jobs” don’t just go to the “stars”. No, I’m sure he does not, because he never would have spent the funds to learn firsthand through any of his kids. I did spend the funds (D is June 08 grad). I do know. </p>
<p>Perhaps part of the misunderstanding stems from trying to compare a UMD grad to a Chicago grad. It is true that the UMD grad must do “very well” at UMD “which is no easy guarantee considering all the top kids there” because of all these scholarships…in order to have any chance at a decent WS job. But that’s because UMD is NOT an elite U. Different standards apply at elites.</p>