The reality is you will never know what the “right” choice is. After 4 years at one of the 3 schools you won’t be able to compare outcomes as apples to apples because everyone’s situation is unique. If you can afford it and it’s your child’s dream don’t let others narratives about finances sway yours or your child’s decision.
I read the same things when my child got into UVA (OOS),UNC (IS) and Carroll at BC. The typical comments were UVA and UNC didn’t have a direct admit to their undergrad business program and BC did. Then I heard UVA/UNC are equal from a reputation standpoint but significantly different from a cost perspective.
The reality is UVA was her dream and the money was saved in a 529 so cost wasn’t an concern. From an outcome perspective she didn’t get into McIntire (UVA’s undergrad business program) so she majored in Economics. Upon graduation last year she landed a job in finance making over $100k/yr as the only non McIntire student and has no UNC or BC students in her cohort.
Does that mean the right choice was made from an outcome perspective? Who knows…but she loved her 4 years there and was successful upon graduation but most importantly there were no what ifs…
This is correct. You’ll never know. Even Harvard vs Hofstra, or Stanford vs Samford - no one can say what will happen.
Others would have correctly pointed out that you could study what you wanted vs maybe being able to. That’s why people would have said what they did.
She put a school above major. In her case it’s had a happpy outcome. Congrats to her. Another might not have been happy with Econ. I personally believe in major over school but everyone is different.
Things have a way of working out if you’re a grinder, a tail busting individual. And obviously she is.
I don’t think we know major yet but my nephew had access to big 4 at UNLV. I agree.
Just my opinion - if you’re not at a pretty elite undergrad b school, you’re better off going accounting. It’s a great foundation and I’m not convinced the undergrad finance kids have anything on the undergrad accounting kids. But the accounting kids do have something on the finance kids.
At a place like Wharton, Haas, Ross, etc. finance works. At the undergrad level I’d be wary of majoring in things like marketing or “international” business. Accounting and Finance are core, but finance can be limiting as an undergrad major without a big name.
I didn’t even consider rankings. For accounting it really just doesn’t matter.
@Longshot22 did I miss - do we know the discipline ?
As far as major, it’s not accounting but not 100% sure on what it will be - thinking possibly management or maybe finance. Excellent point about the reputation of the school as a whole in case there’s a change in major!
General management not really a strong major.
I’ll disagree with @cquin85 on finance. If you’re not IB, I don’t think the school matters. For IB, I think you can get from all three, but there’s certainly a pecking order.
I do think accounting is a fantastic degree - but obviously not for all - and not for OP.
I’ll also disagree on regional hiring - unless one only applies for jobs regionally. My kid is proof positive - with 20 interviews and 5 offers, and almost exclusively out of the south, where he went to school…yes, engineering, but if you apply to jobs in x area, then that’s where you’ll likely be offered.
Several things that most people can agree on:
- There is no singular path to career success and a determined and talented kid can get there regardless of the school they attend.
- There is a difference amongst reputations, experiences, alumni networks, career opportunities, etc amongst schools. Elite schools do tend to offer more, attract statistically superior kids and as a cumulative result produce more “successful” kids in terms of $ and prestige (if that matters to you).
- For some people the financial decision is paramount because they don’t have the financial flexibility to choose. Thankfully there are great options for these people.
- Some people are financially blessed such that the incremental costs of these decisions are largely irrelevant.
Congratulations as you seemingly have raised a very impressive kid and find yourselves in the enviable position of having adequate resources to be full pay but are questioning whether or not it’s “worth it”. Worth is arbitrary and personal so as others often do I will share my perspective but remove my kids specific narratives because frankly they are irrelevant to your situation.
I think you are confusing “popularity” with most vocal. You typically won’t see a parent whose kid went to an elite school boasting that things turned out great because it simply is expected and or would be obnoxious. I fully appreciate those who went “thrifty” and had it work out but that is hardly a universal experience and ultimately comes down to personal perceptions of success. In my experience, most people regardless of where their kids went to school and their outcomes exercise a degree of humility in the frequency and detail in which they share their kids stories. Consequently, I take with a grain of salt those that seem boastful and whose stories are often repeated.
Personally if confronted with the decision to choose between vacations, ski trips, new cars, etc, I would prefer to allocate financial resources to giving my kid the freedom to choose their academic shot without their having to be concerned about paying for it. I view that as the sort of selflessness that comes with being a parent. I don’t think I could enjoy personal indulgences at the expense of my kid fulfilling their dream.
I don’t think poorly of those that would choose differently. It is highly personal.
I take great pride in the sacrifices and planning we made so that our kids would not have to worry about being forced to choose the lowest cost option. For our family it was the absolute right decision. Thankfully our kids took full advantage of the opportunities they had and have grown into appreciative, independent, and self aware adults who value education and hopefully will instill these values when they have children.
Your kid will undoubtedly be successful regardless of where they attend. As a parent however, I can’t think of a greater gift than being able to offer them the flexibility to choose schools amongst the amazing options they have earned so that they never have to wonder “what if”. Good luck!!
Congrats! If your kiddo is planning to major in USC/Moore’s International Business , it’s got a wonderful reputation.
I don’t entirely agree with this - I would also add where you would want to potentially live after college to any college decision. For example, IU Kelley primarily recruiting for Big 4 Chicago office.
This is true, my nephew went to Baylor, and PWC recruited him for the Dallas office.
Probably overplayed my hand. Regional schools will have an easier time getting into the offices in those areas. No question. And the national offices are a different matter as well. Having said that, the Seattle offices of the Big 4 are loaded with kids from regional state schools. They are starving for applicants and have never been (during my career) picky about schools. If you want to work at a Big 4 in Seattle, you can attend Western Washington University or Seattle Pacific University and get there with no problem whatsoever. Same is true of Portland and other offices with which I’m familiar.
I am a CPA as is my H and my S. All worked for Big 4. This is not the case. The Big 4 recruit on campus and, assuming you pass the initial interview, you indicate which office you are interested in and that office will do the follow-up recruiting. My H and S both interviewed out of a Midwest school and both had zero issue landing jobs in the NYC area.
BUT the OP has no interest in accounting so there is no reason to continue this discussion on this thread.
Overall, I still believe that where you go to school can influence where you live after college and can make finding a job in desired location easier/harder and should be taken into consideration.
Back to the OPs question.
If affordable I’d let your child choose. H and I sacrificed new cars, big vacations, and things along those lines so we could send our kids full pay to the colleges of their choices. It wasn’t a matter of seeking out the most prestigious school they could get into, but rather it was about allowing each child to attend the colleges that seemed like the best fit. Both of my kids were transformed in the best way possible during their four years at college and we’d do it again in a heartbeat. But it is a personal decision. I will add that ND is a special place in our household – H went there and S got a MS there.
If possible you can always re-visit the top choices before making a decision.
Congrats on the wonderful options.
I never thought of it this way but you’re right. And I’ve seen on many different boards where anyone who does this get flamed! We did the same as some here, ‘sacrificed’ big vacations, new cars, splurging, etc to save for college. So many of you are right, this really does come down to a personal choice.
Indeed it does. But you run the risk of getting a TVOM lecture on this forum if you declare your personal choice to spend the money.
The thing is, there are many families who didn’t vacation, drove beaters, kids shared bedrooms, never ate out, etc., and still couldn’t afford expensive colleges, or even in state publics. I also know folks who live very large and have no problem paying great amounts for college. Everyone has different starting lines.
Sure odds are better but in this day and age, not really. At least with national firms.
If one picks a school for this reason they might end up severely disappointed.
In fact I think you’ll see more companies recruiting virtually - even those on campus (will do virtually - just that school ) - more and more each year.