Also, garbage collection used to be a readily available job that paid well. Of course, the high pay was to get people to do the job that required contact with garbage. Now, with automated garbage trucks and matching garbage cans, fewer garbage collectors are needed, and they need less contact with the garbage.
30k is what a lot of state schools are approaching, private university tuition is running in the 50’s on up (I was shocked when a neighbor, whose son started college this year, told me the schools he applied to and the tuition alone and I was like wow, and many of these were schools that were good but not exactly a name school.
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30k is instate COA at public. OOS like 50+.
Private without FA or merit are 70+…
I believe part of the issue with topic on this thread that many parents do not realize what a price tag for college they will face until their kids get acceptance letter, and then everyone look at numbers in disbelief…Students start to cry that their friends go to top schools and parents promised to pay, and parents are just speachless or say that they expected bigger merit, FA etc.
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This is I think very true. This is perhaps a reason that some of us like to point out actual worse case numbers from time to time.
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Or they hear it up front and figure they’ll find a way - until the absolutely punch in the gut comes - and they realize they have to find the money.
Colleges are business - and too many forget that.
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Also I have seen so many parents of HS students who truly believe that if their kid will have top grades he/she will go to top colleges. This is specially true for immigrant families. They genuinely believe it…
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There are many paths that may, or may not, include college that are rarely discussed on CC, but may be great for many students, save on tuition, and also provide a good living. These include:
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Joining the military out of HS. This is a great option if a student doesn’t really know what they want to do, needs some discipline, needs to escape a bad situation (dysfunctional family, poverty, gang influence, etc.), or wants to broaden their horizons. The military is also a great way to pay for college via the GI Bill and public university tuition waivers (I got my masters at UIUC without paying a dime in tuition). If a student scores well on the ASVAB they can select an MOS where they get amazing techincal training (think the Navy’s nuclear program, or maintaining cutting edge equipment ranging from radar systems to jet engines). Some branches, especially the Air Force, also encourage service members to work on their degree while on active duty, and help pay for it. Very few service members are front line combat fighters and while they may get deployed, the chances of getting shot at are approaching zero. The final benefit is that many employers love - I’m using the word LOVE - veterans.
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Get credits at a local community college or second tier public college near home, then transferring to the big-name school to finish off the degree. We know a gal who was accepted at Purdue’s material logistics program, but she took all her pre-reqs at Harper College while living at home and working part time. She graduated from Purdue and saved tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and living expenses, and likely helped her GPA by taking some classes at a less competitive school. She was very organized and confirmed with Purdue what credits would transfer before going this route.
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Go into a skilled trade. In SE Michigan a machinist easily makes over $100k/year after a couple years training. We know a 23 year old machinist who earns $60/hour, or $125k/yr before overtime. If he saves/invests while young, avoids the siren call of $100k pickup trucks (which is a thing around here), moves up to shift manager, and eventually business owner, he will be better off financially than all but the most successful college grads I know. The trades and college are not mutually exclusive; I worked with a MechE who was a pipe fitter before going back for his degree.
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We saved as much as we could for college. It has amounted to our two kids being able to go to a state school without loans and a private school with a scholarship and a minimal loan. Our oldest was extremely upset that the financials for his top pick didn’t work out, but we were adamant that we would not sign off on any loans. He got over it quick.
I know so many parents who don’t even think about how they’re going to fund college until it is upon them. They end up taking on so much debt. I also know many parents who will not pay for college at all. Not my circus, not my monkeys.
What I do find is that people with a lot of money, talking about having a pool of money to pay for tuition or a new car or help with a new home, are out of touch with most folks.
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We know a couple who did not attend college and are doing very well financially (the husband owns a fabrication company). They have two daughters who are doing very well in school and college isn’t even on the menu for when they graduate high school.
In contrast, we know a couple who both went to college, and they appear financially successful - big house in a nice neighborhood, vacations, expensive foreign cars, etc. - but they did not save for their kids’ education. One day the wife was bending my ear about how expensive college was when her first son was applying, and she didn’t know how they were going to pay for it. I knew her well enough to ask if they had saved for their kids education, and she looked at me like I was crazy when she answered “no”. Her son went to THE Ohio State because of a big merit award, but with his grades and test scores he would have been competitive for more prestigious schools like Northwestern.
And guess what? Ohio state is a great school. It is top 50. That lady did something right so her kid got merit there. Not easy to get. Our friend pays OOS for Ohio.
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Agreed. Her son will do just fine graduating from Ohio State. My point was that they limited their son’s options by not saving. Again, they were not worrying about putting food on the table. Doing simple things like buying a Honda and driving it until it died rather than a new Audi every three years and investing the cost delta would have helped a lot. Just a case of different priorities.
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I agree with everything but #1.
We have a family member who got to military thinking that way. Well, he end up in Afghanistan. Came back with injuries and PTSD. Never finished education.
I would not recommend anybody to join military unless it is their true calling.
It is actually very high probability to end up in war zone with current world situation. Military purpose is not vacational training. It is to protect our country.
One of my kids was approached by National/State guards. Kid got very excited with many promises. Kid was under impression that National guards will serve only in the US. I instructed kid to Google and let me know results. Guess what, I was correct, National guards served in both Iraq and Afghanistan…
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I work with a veteran’s group (they are a client) and if people saw the aftermath they wouldn’t be so quick to suggest it. Those who have decent jobs are hardly raking in the $$ - they are lower middle class and many rely on the veteran’s food pantry to help feed their families.
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I think if you decide to join the military you need to be aware of all the possible outcomes.
That said, the military has been a way out of poverty for many many Americans. There are many people in my family who are examples of this.
Just one story, we have a family friend who grew up in foster care, joined the military because he didn’t have any other options. When he took the initial test for the army, they said he had a talent for languages and sent him to college through his masters for free. He’s worked in embassies around the world and is extremely successful. His mother was a crack addict and he grew up in a foster home with something like 10 other kids. It’s amazing what he’s been able to do with his life.
It is very easy for many of us on CC to look down on the military as an option but for many kids it is a solid option.
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Did your family member who ended up in Afghanistan enlist in the Army or Marines? I am going to venture a guess that they did. The MOSes that took the brunt of the fighting were the combat arms (infantry mainly, artillery, EOD, combat engineers), attached specialties (corpsmen, air controllers, etc.), and motor transport (convoys were targeted).
If a kid enlisted in the Navy or Air Force and entered a technical MOS they would almost certainly avoid combat, and there is a good chance they would not end up in Afghanistan (especially if they went Navy).
I agree that going into the military purely for the benefits is a bad idea (though many do). Certainly avoid the Marine Corps if you are not all in.
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I don’t look down on the military - I’m actively helping veterans as part of my work . It can be a good choice for the right person. Two close friends of ours are ex-military and they’ve had successful careers that might not have been possible otherwise. However, since working with veterans groups I’ve seen the other side and I think it is important that folks go in with their eyes open.
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This is exactly my view. Many people do not understand a lot of intricate details (including myself) and believe that serving in military is a golden ticket for success. It may work for some but will not for everyone.
This wasn’t addressed to me, but since the, “pile method,” with unused leftovers for certain things like a car/down payment on a house was my suggestion, I want to address this comment.
I would have used the, “pile method,” regardless of the amount we had to offer. Because I think it works well. It lets the student know exactly what they are working with in terms of what the parent is willing and/or able to do. I think that is as realistic as one can be whether it’s $500 or $500k with the, “Must be used toward education first,” condition. Reality is the amount you will contribute. Too many parents fail to effectively communicate this, IMO.
I also think it works in other scenarios. If and when ds ever gets married, we will offer a, “pile,” that can be used as the couple sees fit - be that toward wedding, reception, honeymoon, or savings.
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The US military considers less than a quarter of young people in the US eligible for US military service, so that may not be an option for everyone.
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