If I Have A Child Someday Who Wants To Go To College

[MainerMikeBrown]

If I had a teenager who wanted to go to college after graduating high school, I would not be thrilled about spending tons of money for him to go to college if he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life after earning a degree.

Most teens don't know what they want out of life. So instead of shelling out big money only to have my child decide that he didn't want to work or didn't like working in the field he majored in, I'd have him do volunteer work in the field(s) he was interested in before going to college. The reason is that the only way my child would know if he was going to enjoy working in a particullar field or not would be to actually work in that field. And volunteering is generally the easiest way to enter a field.

 

[Niamh]

A gate is also a good way to enter a field.

 

[KLD1019]

now days its hard to get into any job/field without a degree/experience or knowing the right person! not too many places i know let people 'volunteer' for something. besides, volunteering means no pay. how do you expect them to earn a living!?

and there are things call scholarships, grants, etc. tell them early on that if they want to go to college, work hard and apply to get scholarships!

 

[HK]

What if your child is interested in being an author and would like to do a creative writing degree?


Bit of a tricky one to volunteer in, that.

 

[pjbleek]

If I had a teenager who wanted to go to college after graduating high school, I would not be thrilled about spending tons of money for him to go to college if he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life after earning a degree.

Most teens don't know what they want out of life. So instead of shelling out big money only to have my child decide that he didn't want to work or didn't like working in the field he majored in, I'd have him do volunteer work in the field(s) he was interested in before going to college. The reason is that the only way my child would know if he was going to enjoy working in a particullar field or not would be to actually work in that field. And volunteering is generally the easiest way to enter a field.

what is wrong with a junior/community college? two years of education and maybe a path to a future? and at the cost is good too....and if they do good there they may get a scholarship for their bachelor's degree.

 

[Panacea]

what is wrong with a junior/community college? two years of education and maybe a path to a future? and at the cost is good too....and if they do good there they may get a scholarship for their bachelor's degree.

I echo this. Go to a low cost community college to get the general education out of the way. The kid can volunteer or snoop around getting ideas for a career, then finish off somewhere else.

People do change their minds, though. No point putting off school too long, it only wastes time.

 

[dancingpotato]

I only ever wanted to do what I do now. I was so adament that my parents helped me work my ass off to do it. I volunteered in nurseries when I was 14, quit when I had exams and from then on in only ever worked in childcare. My CV has a lot of shit on it. I personally dont understand people who dont know what they want to do because I have never been in that postition. I think if you are unsure volunteering is good but not necessarily after they have completed school and are waiting to go to college cos like someone else said, how do they earn a living? Surely they would be living off you as parents or the state??

 

[Kyle B]

I'll probably wind up paying about 20k for my entire college education. I'm in my third year and went to community college first and am now in a state school. So, I'm HOPING that I'll have no debt when I'm done. I've been paying the tuition as I go, and it's worked fine so far.

Some people have their lives all planned out, some don't. I think it's stupid to not go to college because you don't know what you want to do. If you don't go to college when you're young, there's a chance you might decide not to go at all. Also, lots of people think they know what they want to do in college but then change their minds. What about them?

Combine this with the fact that few college majors directly lead to a job. This exacerbates the view that people have of college as a trade school. Yet at the same time, lots of employers require a degree for lines of work that normally wouldn't require one.

Basically, it's a complex issue and everyone needs to decide on college for themselves.

 

[Darrell]

I'd have him do volunteer work in the field(s) he was interested in before going to college. The reason is that the only way my child would know if he was going to enjoy working in a particullar field or not would be to actually work in that field. And volunteering is generally the easiest way to enter a field.

Good idea IMO.

 

[dancingpotato]

Holy crap 20k?!

 

[pjbleek]

Holy crap 20k?!

you do know the USA has the highest university/college rates, right?

 

[dancingpotato]

you do know the USA has the highest university/college rates, right?

Well given I have no idea how much mine was.....and I got paid to go there....

 

[Kyle B]

Holy crap 20k?!

you do know the USA has the highest university/college rates, right?

That's just tuition by the way. I don't live on campus, so that saves a ton.

Also, I wasn't eligible for any grants from the government or the college.

 

[dancingpotato]

That is mental. I couldnt summon up that money if I tried!! I'd have to sell my kidney or something

 

[pjbleek]

Well given I have no idea how much mine was.....and I got paid to go there....

best education of all!!!!

 

[dancingpotato]

Lol, it wasnt much but it saved me from getting into ridiculous debt.

 

[Zorak]

My degree will cost about £9,800 altogether. Not including accomodation. But I've loved every second of it, so I can't complain.

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

I had a friend who spent thirty thousand dollars per year to go to a four-year college.

Then, a few years after graduating, she donated some money to her old college.

If I had spent that much to go to school, that college would not be getting an extra penny out of me! I could see someone donating to a community college like the one I went to, as it was far cheaper to attend. It's the most economical college in Maine. But to donate to a college like the one she went to was crazy in my view, especially since she's broke.

 

[Johnfromokc]

Holy crap 20k?!

you do know the USA has the highest university/college rates, right?

And the most expensive healthcare too - and we're sooo much smarter than you Euro - Socialists - just ask us. :jk

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

Many fields that require at least a Bachelor's degree don't even pay so great. It's one thing if your going to shell out $30,000 or more per year to go to school and earn a degree in which you can make $75,000 per year or more. But to end up being in debt tens of thousands of dollars for a job that only pays 10-15 bucks an hour, yikes!