Originally Posted By Lisann22 That's central! And boy howdy, you are dreaming if cost is an issue. LOL.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Someone explain S Cal and N Cal to me please. Lets say I have about 2 million bucks for a house, and I don't have to work. Where should I live in California?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Someone explain S Cal and N Cal to me please. Lets say I have about 2 million bucks for a house, and I don't have to work. Where should I live in California?>> With me!!
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Well, right now in Nor Cal - 2mil will put you in the newer neighborhood across the road from me. 40 minutes outside of San Francisco in the Tri-Valley. LOL
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA That said... both my wife and I agree that if we could do one thing over it would be to complete a college degree. As well as we've done without one, just think of what we could have done WITH one!!> It's the old story though. Maybe because you don't have a degree, you added some extra 'umph' to your working life, that you wouldn't have done if you had a degree. See whay I'm saying? It's like that Somerset Maugham story about the janitor, who had worked in his position for 15 years, when the boss finds out the Janitor can neither read nor write. The boss tells him he has three months to learn how to read and write, or he will be fired. The janitor feels he is too old to learn, and is subsequently fired. The former janitor leaves and comes up with the idea to open a small shop that sells tobacco and sweets. The business goes on to become a multi-million dollar business. Late in his career, someone asks 'You've had such great success, imagine where you'd be if you learned to read and write.' 'Yes' he says 'I'd be janitor of a church.'
Originally Posted By trailsend My daughter graduated college playing tennis on a scholarship. It was most enjoyable watching her as colleges recruited her to play. That is an experience she will always have as well as a degree with no student loans. My son just graduated from a large university with a music education degree. The 4 1/2 years of musicians, professors, professionals in their field with doctorate degrees were priceless. And my reward was being able to attend wonderful concerts. Again, though very tough, no student loans. And both of mine went out of state. I don't have a college degree; I wish I did. No one made sure I made it to college. I did attend a business school in Atlanta. But there is nothing to compare to watching your child walk across that stage and receive that degree. I also strongly agree with RT about the experience college life brings being away from home, away from parents, learning to budget, managing time . . . this experience is well worth it.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Someone explain S Cal and N Cal to me please. Lets say I have about 2 million bucks for a house, and I don't have to work. Where should I live in California?> If I had that kind of green, and didn't have to work...I'd move back to Pasadena. Beautiful city. Close to everything. Nice bungalows.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I agree with the experience of college but I've also in my 20 years of hiring people have seen kids come out of college CLUELESS to the real world. Completely lost, deers caught in headlights, shaking and holding on to their diplomas for dear life. ;>
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<It's the old story though. Maybe because you don't have a degree, you added some extra 'umph' to your working life, that you wouldn't have done if you had a degree.>> Yes, you certainly do have a point. Both my wife and I have always approached jobs with a feeling we really had to prove ourselves. Consequently we probably do put out more effort than we would have if we didn't feel a little insecure. We've also relied heavily on networking, and who you know really is as important as what you know. Get your name out there by serving on projects and committees with important folks. Many times it seems like a real bother, but in the long run it is worth it.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan A lot of it depends so much on the field. As for me, no one has shown much interest at all in the fact that I earned a degree. They want to see my portfolio and check work experience, that's all. In fact, it was seeing people leaving with degrees and looking at the range of their artistic ability (from brilliant to not-so-much), and especially when I was in a hiring position, that the importance of those degree diminished to me. Obviously, just because someone earns a degree at something doesn't always guarantee they are going to be 'all that' when it comes to doing the actual job. That's where drive and motivation and passion come into the picture, and you can't get a degree in those things. I once hired a copywriter who had a degree from Amhearst. He remarked one day that among all the interviews he had ever been through, I was the only one who didn't ever mention the degree, or how prestigious the school is. I told him he got the job because he could write. He'd have gotten it without the degree. "Now you tell me," he joked! ; ) All that said, I learned so much in college, things that would have taken forever to pick up on my own. Every day, I use techniques I learned back in school. It isn't as simple as going to a library in some fields, and there is no substitute for getting feedback and insight from teachers at a good school.
Originally Posted By mmaus1962 Wow. I just read the article and all the posts. Very interesting. First, I pray that my children never read that article or this thread. As unreasonable as perhaps this may sound to some of you, my children have been told pretty much since the day they were born that they would be going to college. If the chose not to go, the day after they graduated high school would find them needing to support themselves with no assistance from me. I take a different view, however impractical, than many of the opinions expressed here. I value education, not for what you may or may not earn, but rather education for education's sake. Perhaps it is rather silly and romantic for me to think this way, but I want my children to go to college to learn different things--expand and explore the way they think. Even to teach them to how think. I very much understand entirely what all of you and the article are saying. Nevertheless, I admit to finding myself unreasonably irritated by that article. Learn for learning's sake, not just for a dollar.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ I'll clarify why that made me sad. My goal is to support my son in accomplishing his dreams, no matter what field they lie in. If his dream is to join the Peace Corps and help build a village, I'll support it. If it's to go to a prestigous college, I'll support that, too. I can't imagine kicking a kid out because he didn't fulfill MY goals. That said, if he doesn't go to school and lives at home, you can bet he'll be contributing toward living expenses. It was the same way when I was growing up. Go to school and work, you can live rent free. No school, you work full time and pay rent.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 <<<Go to school and work, you can live rent free. No school, you work full time and pay rent.>>> My parents had same rule. I'd just like to add that I think the thread just took the turn of comparing college vs. no college and the job market. I don't think anyone implied that it was not worth going for all the other reasons. In fact RoadTrip and trailsend pretty much stated there are many other reasons to value education beyond just the job you land. I think young adults vary in what they get out of college just like in most things in life. Some will go for the deep thinking classes and others will do just what they need to do to graduate. It's very much an individual thing. I do believe that as parents you can influence your child's love for learning in how you give them experiences and expectations. You can also drive them to go in another direction. I certainly don't envy all of you. I just had to teach the kitty to find the litter box and my dog to go on the grass, sit and roll over. ;>
Originally Posted By mmaus1962 I'm sorry that saddens you, and you are right, by going to college, my children are fulfilling my desires. (BTW, as an aside, DS has mentioned the Peace Corps and I would wholely support him in that--it's a job. But to my knowledge, it's a job that requires a college degree.) But let me clarify. At 18, they are legally adults. If they chose not to continue their education, that is their choice. And I will be there for them no matter what comes, but I *fully* expect them to support themselves. They cannot live with me--they've chosen to move fully into the adult world. As I said, most people don't understand this, and I don't ask them to. I am also completely aware that, if it comes down to it, I might not be able to live up to my own dictates. But my feelings on this issue have been related to my children since they've been old enough to understand that they are expected to go to college. And I guess I'm lucky that both of them just happen to really want to go to college.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ ^ LOL And well said. It's not a pro/con college toic. And despite how I may come across, I am extremely pro-college. I really hope my son decides to go. He watched my husband struggle to make it through because we married and had a family while still in school, so he knows how hard that can be.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ LOL was for Lisann22. But Mmaus1962 game me a smile at her self-aware <<I am also completely aware that, if it comes down to it, I might not be able to live up to my own dictates. >> (LPers who don't know... Mmaus1962 and I are dear friends) BTW, some peace corps jobs require degrees others do not.
Originally Posted By mmaus1962 >>BTW, some peace corps jobs require degrees others do not.<< I learned something new today! "Knowledge is good." --Emil Faber
