Double post

[Lynn CC]

Well,certainly everyone makes decisions about finances base don their own personal financial history, needs, etc. And I agree that going hundreds of thousands of $$ into debt is probably not the wisest course of action. However, college is more than a place where kids that age go to get an education. They go to learn about life, independence etc. I have watched my niece & 2 nephews go through their college years, and the change in them is amazing!!! They have matured and developed as adults amazingly. Those years are very formative, IMHO, and I applaud their parents for being wise enough to allow their children to choose the college where they felt most comfortable, regardless of the end cost. My DSIL has always said "Different kids have different needs". Some do well in a large, more "anonymous" setting, some do better in a smaller, less anonymous setting. Neither is good or bad, they are different.

I can't help but wonder if my niece and nephews would have turned out as well as they have so far, all with 3.95 or higher GPAs, if they had not been able to choose a college with felt "right" to them on all levels besides finances?

Excellent Post!
That is so true! When our DS was trying to decide this past winter, we told him whatever he decided is fine with us, not to let money be an issue in his decision. He liked the smaller/private, more personable school.
Even when he was in public high school, he took AP classes which have a lot less kids in them than honors or regular level classes. Sometimes I think that's why he pushed himself so much, he loved the small classes and individual attention.
The college he's attending caps classes at 15-20.
He felt like he didn't fit with the larger state school, where a lot of young people love that social scene.