Re: Education
northlima dawg
09/27/26 01:45 AM
I am out of the college cost loop.
I just know it is very expensive. In 1970 you could pay for tuition with a summer job. You can't do that today.
Education has changed. You don't need classrooms to learn.
How does one address the high cost of college? Either high schools change or there are more ways to pay for college.
IMO college today is a waste of money and time unless you are in something specific like medical.
A liberal arts degree gets you a job waiting tables.
With our two kids, myself and my wife came to a conclusion before my daughter (the oldest) was out of high school.
We overheard some of her friends talking about the time of high school graduation and they didn't know what they wanted to study-but they talked about going away to school to wherever their best friends went-it was an extension of high school with some of the same friends-only with room and board and a meal plan added in-our plan was to have the kids go to college local-they are good kids and are studious and we told them they can live with us as long as they wanted to.
My daughter went to college remote (which was good because about half her time was during covid)-she got some scholarships and we put money into her 529-she graduated with a high GPA in computer science and is working as a IT administrator.
My son went local to Youngstown State-Got so many scholarships that he basically went to school last year for free. He already has a BS in Mathematics and is getting his 4-year in Electrical Engineering this year-he has worked an internship in Aerospace and two summers worked with me in Electrical Construction-and he is working part time with me now and already has been told he will have a full time offer in May-my son my get his masters-but only if his job will pay for it
Both of our kids got thru all 4 years with total loans of 20-25k each. We paid off about half of my daughters with her 529 and she has paid off the rest. We should be able to do the same with my son. Actually, we have already paid off some of his student debt.
College is right for some-the trades are right for some others-but it will be hard pressed to get a livable wage if you don't do one of those. The days of walking out of high school or finishing up your stint in the armed services and walking into a steel mill or a GM plant and getting a good livable wage are long gone.