The cost of an Ivy League undergrad degree next year….

[Coronita]

One thing I never understood is, at least when it came to engineering or STEM related field, how “recruiting the best” meant giving someone the opportunity who was the best athlete while having mediocre technical abilities a spot in a STEM degree, while giving them plenty of tutors and extra help just so they can keep up with the real talent. Now, there are some cases when people are actually good at both, but plenty of cases where that isn’t the case…. Just saying…

[an]

[quote=scaredyclassic]I guess “better” all depends where you’re coming from. The last thing I’d wish on my kids is some “top” law school and a status seeking law career.

When I think of a better life for my kids, I think of them having their head in a certain place.

Like for instance on our family trip, I was starting to lose it at the end of our trip in in the taxi ride when the driver got a little lost. All my kids were perfectly calm after a long trip. My oldest talked me down and through my little meltdown.

“Just go limp, pa. It’s ok”.

Hope he can be there to help me die…he was awesome…got me right off the ledge…[/quote]Totally agree.

[Anonymous]

[quote=flu]One thing I never understood is, at least when it came to engineering or STEM related field, how “recruiting the best” meant giving someone the opportunity who was the best athlete while having mediocre technical abilities a spot in a STEM degree, while giving them plenty of tutors and extra help just so they can keep up with the real talent. Now, there are some cases when people are actually good at both, but plenty of cases where that isn’t the case…. Just saying…[/quote]

For an engineering degree, Ivy league holds absolutely no cache. A B+ student at U of Illinois, for example, will have better job prospects than a C student at Cornell all else being equal. If your kid is a super nerd, then everybody knows the most “prestigious” engineering school is MIT. But, for a B.S. degree looking for job in industry, I don’t think MIT gets recruited any more than the big public schools, probably less.

[flyer]

Agree it all depends on what career path your kids choose. As has been mentioned–for some careers, a degree from a particular university seems to make a difference–others–not so much.

Two of our kids wanted to be MD’s, and their Ivy degrees have worked out well for them. Not only are they doing what they love–saving people’s
lives–they are helping others who want to do the same. Both of them knew what they wanted to do from very early ages, and it’s been a very interesting and challenging journey for the whole family.

That’s not to say that MD’s who graduate from other schools are not doing well or making a valuable contribution to society, but I can only speak to my own kids experience.

[scaredyclassic]

http://changetheequation.org/blog/confessions-koala-dad

Koala dad v. Tiger mom.

Huh. I didn’t know there was a koala dad. I guess I’m a koala dad.

The goal is to get your kids out there in one piece….not to play out our own anxieties about losing our precarious perch in society…

[scaredyclassic]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=koala+dad&defid=8213821

Urban dictionary definition of a koala dad.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=flyer]Agree it all depends on what career path your kids choose. As has been mentioned–for some careers, a degree from a particular university seems to make a difference–others–not so much.

Two of our kids wanted to be MD’s, and their Ivy degrees have worked out well for them. Not only are they doing what they love–saving people’s
lives–they are helping others who want to do the same. Both of them knew what they wanted to do from very early ages, and it’s been a very interesting and challenging journey for the whole family.

That’s not to say that MD’s who graduate from other schools are not doing well or making a valuable contribution to society, but I can only speak to my own kids experience.[/quote]

What if tuition had been priced as a percentage of your family’s wealth. Would it have been worth it at 50 percent? 60. 70. 90?

There’s probably a number where you say, let’s try the state school.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=deadzone][quote=flu]One thing I never understood is, at least when it came to engineering or STEM related field, how “recruiting the best” meant giving someone the opportunity who was the best athlete while having mediocre technical abilities a spot in a STEM degree, while giving them plenty of tutors and extra help just so they can keep up with the real talent. Now, there are some cases when people are actually good at both, but plenty of cases where that isn’t the case…. Just saying…[/quote]

For an engineering degree, Ivy league holds absolutely no cache. A B+ student at U of Illinois, for example, will have better job prospects than a C student at Cornell all else being equal. If your kid is a super nerd, then everybody knows the most “prestigious” engineering school is MIT. But, for a B.S. degree looking for job in industry, I don’t think MIT gets recruited any more than the big public schools, probably less.[/quote]

what about Harvey mudd? My wife wanted to send our kid there. Might have gotten in kind of a long shot. I didn’t let him apply because because I didn’t want to pay.

[Coronita]

[quote=scaredyclassic][quote=deadzone][quote=flu]One thing I never understood is, at least when it came to engineering or STEM related field, how “recruiting the best” meant giving someone the opportunity who was the best athlete while having mediocre technical abilities a spot in a STEM degree, while giving them plenty of tutors and extra help just so they can keep up with the real talent. Now, there are some cases when people are actually good at both, but plenty of cases where that isn’t the case…. Just saying…[/quote]

For an engineering degree, Ivy league holds absolutely no cache. A B+ student at U of Illinois, for example, will have better job prospects than a C student at Cornell all else being equal. If your kid is a super nerd, then everybody knows the most “prestigious” engineering school is MIT. But, for a B.S. degree looking for job in industry, I don’t think MIT gets recruited any more than the big public schools, probably less.[/quote]

what about Harvey mudd? My wife wanted to send our kid there. Might have gotten in kind of a long shot. I didn’t let him apply because because I didn’t want to pay.[/quote]

Great school, well known on the west coast. But I don’t see too many alumni. Perhaps, they are too smart for the work I do and most common work. Kinda like CalTech.

[Anonymous]

I agree, never met any engineers in my professional life (20+ years in San Diego) who attended Harvey Mudd, or Cal Tech or MIT or any Ivy league school for that matter (I do work with one Yale grad who is CS degree but he is working side by side with SDSU CS grads). Relating to the general theme of is Ivy League worth it, that answer really comes down to not so much as what type of job you want, but where you want to live. If you want to live in San Diego (as I’m sure nearly everybody on this thread does), then degrees from those type of schools, as good as they are, are not necessarily relevant.

[an]

[quote=joec]As I’ve mentioned before and repeated here, when you go to some of these schools, the admissions folks already weeded out the non-achievers so you’re mostly going to school with the top future leaders and execs of the world. Yes, some joe schmo can start a business and be a millionaire or multi-millionaire from a state school, but the odds are against you.[/quote]Do you have data to back this up? All the millionaires and multi-millionaires I know all went to states school. Some don’t even have a college education. I love to see data to back up this statement. I know for sure that a couple millionaires I know wouldn’t be millionaires today if their parents didn’t have the capital to help them start their business.
BTW, I’m not disputing that if you have a few hundred grand set aside for their Ivy degree and a few hundred grand set aside for their start up or small biz, that you should withheld the Ivy education from them. Obviously, money wouldn’t be an issue at that point. However, I’m talking about deciding whether to send your kid to Ivy or help them start their small biz/start up or a more likely scenario, help them bolster their finances through out their lives since they picked a career that doesn’t have very high pay. Keep in mind that only 5% of the US household make more than $186k. We’re talking about household, not individuals. So, the probability of your kids’ household income not exceeding $186k is very high.
You might like to point to all the CEO/Presidents/etc. who went to Ivy. But you have to be realistic that the probability of your kids being one of those is <1%. The probability of your kids' household making <$186k is 95%. So, do you swing for the fences or do you plan for the more likely scenario. I never felt "limited". So I don't have any regrets or frustration about some imaginary glass ceiling. I accepted the hands I was dealt. I'm not the smartest person, not the most social person, etc. All of those characteristics make me who I am. I am my own glass ceiling. I make my decision based on what I have available. I don't blame others and my surrounding environment for my short comings. I think I'm doing pretty well financially. Probably the best that I could based on my luck and my natural talent. But what's even more important than all of the money is the fact that I met my wife at a State's school. My life would have been much worse if I went to an Ivy and didn't meet her. I wouldn't have my wonderful kids. I wouldn't be living near families and have families help take care of my kids when we need them to. My kids wouldn't get to see their grand parents every week and sometimes, multiple times a week. The grand parents wouldn't be able to take them to soccer practice and go see their soccer games. This to me is 1000x more important than being a millionaire. It makes my life 1000x more satisfying and I'm that much more happy. There's a lot more to life than money. I don't feel that my life is mediocre at all. I feel that it's very rich. Might not be $ rich but then again, I don't put $ as #1 priority. If I have to give up either my $ or every other aspect of my life that has nothing to do with $, I would give up the $ in a heart beat. I hope that my kids will learn that lesson as well. If their fate give them a lot of $, that's great, but if it doesn't, that's great too. I'll be there to help them every step of the way. As long as they're happy and we're a close family, that ultimately is what really matter.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=AN][quote=joec]As I’ve mentioned before and repeated here, when you go to some of these schools, the admissions folks already weeded out the non-achievers so you’re mostly going to school with the top future leaders and execs of the world. Yes, some joe schmo can start a business and be a millionaire or multi-millionaire from a state school, but the odds are against you.[/quote]Do you have data to back this up? All the millionaires and multi-millionaires I know all went to states school. Some don’t even have a college education. I love to see data to back up this statement. I know for sure that a couple millionaires I know wouldn’t be millionaires today if their parents didn’t have the capital to help them start their business.
BTW, I’m not disputing that if you have a few hundred grand set aside for their Ivy degree and a few hundred grand set aside for their start up or small biz, that you should withheld the Ivy education from them. Obviously, money wouldn’t be an issue at that point. However, I’m talking about deciding whether to send your kid to Ivy or help them start their small biz/start up or a more likely scenario, help them bolster their finances through out their lives since they picked a career that doesn’t have very high pay. Keep in mind that only 5% of the US household make more than $186k. We’re talking about household, not individuals. So, the probability of your kids’ household income not exceeding $186k is very high.
You might like to point to all the CEO/Presidents/etc. who went to Ivy. But you have to be realistic that the probability of your kids being one of those is <1%. The probability of your kids' household making <$186k is 95%. So, do you swing for the fences or do you plan for the more likely scenario. I never felt "limited". So I don't have any regrets or frustration about some imaginary glass ceiling. I accepted the hands I was dealt. I'm not the smartest person, not the most social person, etc. All of those characteristics make me who I am. I am my own glass ceiling. I make my decision based on what I have available. I don't blame others and my surrounding environment for my short comings. I think I'm doing pretty well financially. Probably the best that I could based on my luck and my natural talent. But what's even more important than all of the money is the fact that I met my wife at a State's school. My life would have been much worse if I went to an Ivy and didn't meet her. I wouldn't have my wonderful kids. I wouldn't be living near families and have families help take care of my kids when we need them to. My kids wouldn't get to see their grand parents every week and sometimes, multiple times a week. The grand parents wouldn't be able to take them to soccer practice and go see their soccer games. This to me is 1000x more important than being a millionaire. It makes my life 1000x more satisfying and I'm that much more happy. There's a lot more to life than money. I don't feel that my life is mediocre at all. I feel that it's very rich. Might not be $ rich but then again, I don't put $ as #1 priority. If I have to give up either my $ or every other aspect of my life that has nothing to do with $, I would give up the $ in a heart beat. I hope that my kids will learn that lesson as well. If their fate give them a lot of $, that's great, but if it doesn't, that's great too. I'll be there to help them every step of the way. As long as they're happy and we're a close family, that ultimately is what really matter.[/quote] huh. I took the day off to finish our taxes and I guess we are in the top 5 percent. Why don't we feel loaded? Feels like we get by.

[an]

[quote=scaredyclassic]huh. I took the day off to finish our taxes and I guess we are in the top 5 percent. Why don’t we feel loaded? Feels like we get by.[/quote]Really put things in perspective huh? Sometimes, we’re too busy looking up and fail to look down to see how far up we are.

[scaredyclassic]

Well we pay for college out of pocket and still have some cash in the bank.

This is way more successful than I wouldv ed expected 20 years ago.

[fun4vnay2]

You nailed it AN.
Looks like we are so per-occupied with making money and thinking about millions/millionaire, we forget to live our lives..
To be happy: You need good enough money..

[Author]

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