It’s like you are living in my head - such a similar dialogue going on over here! Thanks for sharing!
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@happy1 and @Gatormama - I hadn’t thought about being careful to not put too much emphasis on transferring. That makes so much sense. This mostly came into the picture when he did not get accepted to the main campus of OSU because @Hanna is right - he has so many friends that will be there and is going through those feelings of “missing out”, etc. I think it’s a blessing in disguise that he won’t be going to OSU with seemingly half of Cleveland. This is a great reminder to recalibrate the approach and lead with the intention to commit and stay.
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Excellent point @Gatormama - and we saw that North Carolina State cut their PGM program right after we visited. So the vulnerability of the program is a real consideration. That answer is categorically NO. And @tsbna44 I am with you - the more expensive option means sacrifice for everyone, including him. No extras unless he can pay for them with this own money. No one want to live like that just for the brand of PSU.
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@twoinanddone has a point - Nebraska isn’t terrible by plane. This has been one of our talking points with him - Nebraska though geographically further, is actually easier logistically. It’s 4 hour travel time to Lincoln that includes the layover (assuming no flight disruptions). In his mind, I think he is comforted by the fact that he or we can jump in a car and be there in 4 hours if it’s PSU. And Omaha is definitely a cheaper option and still doable.
Both Nebraska and PSU have a nearby course - it requires carpooling with students who have a car. Nebraska gives kids free access to public transportation which has a bus that will take them there too. The rest of the training happens in on-site facilities (golf simulators, equipment workshops, etc.).
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He looked at Ferris State virtually - felt it was too much of a commuter campus and smaller than what he was looking for. I think if these PGM programs were that important to him, he’d be open to more than just two. So, as you and many others have pointed out, I think we help him see how he can also accomplish his interests through a more general track like sports management if he’s not going to choose Nebraska.
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The check definitely cannot be written without a second thought which basically tells us all we need to know, right? You bring up a good point to be realistic about the industry - I do think they are seeing more demand post-COVID but your daughter’s experience is telling. And according to my son, right now he is interested in the business side of golf - like working in marketing or sales for a company like Titleist. While I’m sure these programs will give him exposure and connections, I agree that he can work his way into the industry through other routes. I think we need to spend some time helping him explore how he can apply other majors to his same interests.
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@ethome02 here is my suggestion. If you think you can contribute say $2000 a month towards college costs, start putting that amount in a savings account right now. See if it’s sustainable. You have almost 3 months until your son needs to make a decision. I would think you will have a good idea if this amount (or whatever amount) is a sustainable amount for four years.
With regard to discretionary spending, in the Thumper family, the kids were expected to have jobs to pay for those extras. Having a job while in college is a good idea.
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Same page! We just set this up on Friday - a direct transfer into savings to basically pretend we are paying a college bill. As for a job, we absolutely expect him to contribute but are a little nervous about first semester/first year and his ability to balance academics and all the newfound freedom and fun he will have. Having some financial breathing room would give him a little more grace in his runway to learning how to balance academics/social/job.
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I think another conversation you may want to have with your son, is what is he willing to give up in a college experience to be able to do the PGM program? More generally put - what trade offs is he willing to make in this college search?
Coastal Caroline has a PGM program, it has year round golfing, great academic support and could be cheaper than either Nebraska or PSU. The only thing it doesn’t have is Big State School energy. Is the Big School energy worth less golf and more money? Does an in state option start to be more attractive at that point?
I’m not sure there are any quick, easy answers here but those are the questions I’d be asking.
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I have the Coastal Carolina website up right now! I think he was so focused on North Carolina State initially, we didn’t explore that one. Now that they have eliminated the program, I hadn’t revisited this one. I need to ask him if there’s a reason he did not want to pursue it. The clock is ticking, but worth a discussion!
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Apply…he has a Feb 1 deadline to apply to Coastal. That keeps that option open to explore. It doesn’t mean he has to attend, but the option will be there.
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You dont need to answer it here but consider if you could afford to get him a used car if he goes to Nebraska (maybe after his first year) to make it easy to get to the golf courses.
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Coastal is $46k. It can give $18k a year (or less) but doesn’t seem to lay out how. Easy to get to - SW Airlines flies there. Merit link below. Ps their football program has been big time the last - at least 5 years. And Myrtle has tons of golf. I have a friend who moved there for that reason. And affordability.
Ms State is harder to get to although does have a nearby airport with Delta. It’s big time, big school - SEC conference. Cost of Attendance is $39k but merit - attached - can take it to the teens. So a huge savings. Depending on students stats, you can crush Nebraska. Merit link below.
FGCU is at a golf course Mecca.
Its cost is $43k but could get $15k off if merit money remains if has these stats.
Blue & Green Scholars Award
$15,000 per year up to four years
Non-Florida Resident; 3.9 weighted GPA and 1320 rSAT(Evidence Based Reading and Writing plus Math) or 28 ACT; Higher test scores may be considered if submitted after admission; subject to scholarship availability and posted deadline
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When I said he could transfer if he doesn’t like Nebraska, I didn’t mean that should be the goal. My goal for both my kids was to spend 4 years at the same campus since they’d had to transfer high schools twice and both kids just wanted to settle in somewhere. However, one kid picked a school that was pretty expensive and we were paying for it with a lot of scholarships and grants, and she knew that if she lost any of those that she’d have to transfer. We thought it was worth the try, and she did keep the scholarships and did graduate in 4 years.
I think it would be worse to start at a school that is really too expensive and then have to transfer because you don’t have the money to pay for years 2-4, especially if the student loves the school.
I think you have to look at PSU not in comparison to Neb but on its own. Can you afford it? If the answer is no, then PSU gets crossed off. If he doesn’t want to go to Neb., then cross that off. It might get down to the regional Ohio school or an entirely different major, or an entirely different plan. IMO, don’t pick an unaffordable school because it is the best of the schools he got into. If you can’t afford it, cross it off.
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WOW - he considered Mississippi State early on but then didn’t pursue it due to feeling that it was really hard to access geographically. The out of state tuition is remarkably low! I may reopen this conversation with him to see what he thinks. Thank you for posting all of this!
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MS State has a very small airport and only 2 flights a day in and out, and everything connects through Atlanta. My kid hasn’t had any problems except for the recent snow issues. It’s a short flight to Atlanta.
My child really liked the school, and decided to go, and so far, so good. Also now has enough money left over to pay for grad school, if that is something they want to pursue. It’s a very pretty campus and everyone there was super friendly, which was one of the deciding factors for my kid.
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I haven’t read the whole thread but have indirect knowledge about Professional Golf Management at Nebraska. A very good friend of mine has a son who went through it. Her son was on the golf team with my son (though younger) and looked at many programs.
When this young man expressed an interest in golf management (he had caddied and worked in the pro shop) I talked with my friend about selecting such a specific major. They went in with their eyes open concerning career path, salaries, etc. My friend is VERY outgoing and talked with many people.
Her son is in his mid-20s and really enjoyed his time there. He is an extremely focused and hardworking young man. The kind of person who doesn’t complain and will work long hours to “pay his dues”. He is also outgoing enough to introduce himself and talk to others in order to network. His college summers were spent at golf courses. I believe he got his first internship through his high school connections. Then he interned at Essex and Shinnecock. Through hard work he then got offered a job at Seminole, where he would spend half a year in FL, the other half in the northeast. He recently changed his summer months job to be closer to his gf. He seems happy.
The only thing I’d say to your son is to seriously consider what the golf management jobs entail. I know my friend’s son has had early mornings and late evenings, as well as working weekends. He’s had to share living quarters to save money. He’s organized and taught golf classes. He’s worked in the pro shop. Also the pay isn’t good.
Some of the perks have been great. He has met influential people in the sport. He got free tickets for his parents to Augusta. He’s caddied for very famous people. He’s sponsored by a major apparel brand and got a lot of free stuff. He’s also been able to play a lot of golf and participated in the PGA Assistant Championship. Right now there seems to be little downside, but as he and his gf have gotten even more serious I’m not sure how the golf management lifestyle will work for them…but that could be true of many professions.
So what I’m trying to say is golf management at Nebraska seems like it is a solid program with opportunities for the motivated person. (Sorry for rambling, I’m watching the KC/BAL game.)
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Wow, that seems like a lot of debt to me. 
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What great insight - thank you! At this moment, my son lives and breathes golf, so the environment that you described really energizes him (and keeps his attention). BUT… more and more he’s been talking about not wanting to be boxed in and how if he does this program, he wants to be sure he can steer his career into the business side of golf. He does not see himself teaching or working at a golf club. He’s thinking sales/marketing/operations at an apparel or equipment company, etc. So this gives us a good launching point to talk about more general business/sports management tracks (and more affordable) should he take Nebraska off the table. Hearing about this experience is so helpful. Thank you!
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