[quote=flyer]I completely understand that there are many ways we could make higher education less expensive and more accessible, but I also think we have cultivated a society in which a growing number of people think they are simply entitled to everything they want in life (think housing) with no strings attached.
Our kids weren’t interested in tech as careers, and have done well in medicine, law and business. Yet, over 50% of the kids who finished college (at great schools with great degrees) when our kids did, still haven’t found career positions in their chosen fields.
Many have been offered jobs in places they don’t want to go, so that’s another big problem they are having. Apparently, their parents didn’t inform them that the diploma does not come with guarantees.
In general, I think you are going to see greater and greater numbers of disillusioned young people–even those with degrees–in the world when they realize the realities of life are not what they expected.[/quote]
My kids weren’t interested in tech fields, either, flyer, and so far, they’ve done just fine.
I DO believe that the bulk of student loan money that a public university student receives is likely spent on “upscale” housing and Starbucks, etc. In other words, they got themselves into the debt they’re now in post-graduation because they made the wrong “lifestyle choices” while a FT student. It was unnecessary debt and these students should be required to pay it all back.
I told my youngest that if, per chance, they should be offered their first accounting job in Kansas City upon graduation, to TAKE IT! They can always come back to Cali after getting experience (and references) under their belt. (My youngest wants to get an internship in LA and parlay that reference into a job there and that may yet happen.)
When parents spoil their 20-something year-old still living in the ($1M+) family home along the CA coast by preparing their meals and doing their laundry, it’s pretty difficult for that “kid” to become “accustomed” to living the frugal life of a college student or to be motivated to get their own apt which they can AFFORD. OF COURSE, they’re going to have unrealistically high expectations for everything in life (weather and calibur of home they will “accept”, etc).
