That is my point exactly. I am not a believer in the "going away" experience necessarily (even though my DD is about to do just that) because a lot of times it just turns into a 4 year drink-fest. That is not my idea of education. However, a reasonably priced education is there for anyone who wants one.
Anyone who finances a 4-year drink-fest for his college student is being stupid. Yes, any child could end up taking that route -- it's enticing! -- but if the parent realizes what's going on, sees that the student isn't progressing towards graduation, isn't making the grades . . . and
continues to pay tuition for the party-hardy kid . . . that parent's making foolish choices.
A more sensible approach would be to say, "Hey, your education is obviously not your priority right now. It's time to either come home and go to community college or get a job."
Like I said, the quality at private schools is in all probability better than at state schools. However, for the $50,000 price, I would rather travel and get experiences with people from different cultures and experiences than spend it on an education I can get for a much lower cost.
This may be true in some places, but it is not really true in my state. We have a great number of public schools that're very good . . . and although we have some really wonderful private schools (Wake Forest, Duke), the bulk of our private schools are very expensive, low-quality private schools (it wouldn't be tactful to name any here). Many of our wealthy-but-not-really-smart or expected-to-go-to-college-even-though-I'm-lazy kids end up in those small, second-rate private schools. Even if money were not a question, in this area I'd much rather my children choose an
average pubilc school rather than an
average private school.
I work in a job that does not need a college degree; however, if you were 25 years old and trying to get my job, you would have to have a degree just for you to get your foot in the door
Yes, a degree is more necessary for our children's generation than it was for ours. I have a good friend who has a very good job and makes a good bit more money than I do, although she has no degree. She lectures our kids all the time though: "If I were your age, I'd never get my foot in the door. They'd never give me a chance. You have to be better prepared." And she's right. She also is
tied to that job; she cannot go anywhere else because they won't give her a chance without the degree -- she's very lucky to be sort of "grandfathered in", but she is restricted by lack of that degree.
I've accepted that all schools are party schools if you wish them to be.
That's absolutely true.
Also, the vast majority of college students are going to indulge in SOME party-esque activities occasionally. The key is that they have the maturity to understand the limits. For example, I remember that it was pretty well accepted that all the kids in my dorm went to a certain dance club on Thursday nights (why Thursdays? I don't remember) . . . but I also remember that most of us made sure we studied ahead of time -- even up 'til maybe 9:00, and then we'd go out. Also, it's important to know when to say, "I can't go this week -- I have a paper or a test tomorrow."
Generalizations that private schools are better? They are better in some areas, such as student:teacher interaction and ratio. That isn't a generalization, it's a fact. Most private schools don't have lectures of 400 kids.
Early in my college career, I was in a number of 200-300 student lecture classes. Typically those were science classes, and we ALSO had a once-a-week lab of 20 or so students. I made As in most of those classes. I was the student who wasn't bothered by a huge class, wasn't tempted to skip, etc.
By the way, many of these classes are becoming "interactive" with Sensos, a new piece of technology that's now required in many college classes. Pretty cool stuff.
Has anyone else noticed that women can't make a decent salary without a degree but men can?
That's painting with a broad brush, but I do agree that the average man with a high school diploma only will probably have more opportunities than the average woman with only a high school diploma. That's because the world of manual labor is more open to men (greater body strength is a benefit), but I wouldn't want to assume that I'd be physically able to count on doing manual labor into my 60s. In that regard, a degree is a "safer" choice.
No, I do not think that the majority of kids go to college mainly to party. I do believe that there is a sizable portion who do.
Nah, but I think MOST college students would say, "I'm going to earn a degree, and in my down-time I intend to have fun!" The ones who are going just to have fun tend to become one-semester wonders.
we've had time to develop our self esteem. Teenagers (my experience is with 16-19 year old girls) very much measure their self esteem by media standards. I volunteer with a group called "mission of excellence" It takes women who are in the sciences (chemist, engineers, biologist) and sends us into the h.s. to work with young girls. My company lets me spend 1 year every 7 teaching h.s. chemistry and pays my salary. These girls very much measure their self worth by what they wear, the latest phones etc etc. 
She would never set foot in that store. Oh, how far the mighty fall!!
She thinks the Miley Cyrus line is "cute." I never would have imagined.
I too recall being very annoyed when it came time to purchase textbooks. I'm sure I looked like this 
However, I am guessing that you commute. Maybe I am wrong. In FL the tuition is only around $4300 a year but if you don't live near a state college, commuting is not a viable option.
). 
