Just WTF am I going to do with myself?

[HawtFrog]

You might want to thinka about spending your first 2 years, which are basic courses at your local junior college and transferring for the last 2 years.  That is a huge savings.  I mean, freshman English is the same everywhere.

That's what I've been doing. It actually makes life easier because in the big universities, the first year classes can have 2000 students in it (I'm not joking), but when you get to 3rd, 4th year then the classes get to about 30-40 students which is more manageable.

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

You might want to thinka about spending your first 2 years, which are basic courses at your local junior college and transferring for the last 2 years.  That is a huge savings.  I mean, freshman English is the same everywhere.

That's what I've been doing. It actually makes life easier because in the big universities, the first year classes can have 2000 students in it (I'm not joking), but when you get to 3rd, 4th year then the classes get to about 30-40 students which is more manageable.

You really save not so much on tuition but on the cost of living at university which is humongous.  My daughter is a junior in high school and we are seriously thinking about this option.  She could also use a little more maturity, IMHO.  Assuming the US is still in  1 piece in several years.


Just avoid debt like the plague, that's my advice.  The world will always need folks that can work with their hands, if you also have a white collar skill, you should be fine.  You sound like a pretty bright fellow and will probably do okay even if beamed to Pluto!

[HawtFrog]

I only started getting student loans last spring and so far I'm $4-5 grand in debt... which isn't all that bad considering my brother is $40,000 and STILL doesn't have his master degree 

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

I only started getting student loans last spring and so far I'm $4-5 grand in debt... which isn't all that bad considering my brother is $40,000 and STILL doesn't have his master degree 

You are definitely on the right track.  The other trap is thinking you need to finish in 4 years.  If you take a lighter load, you can work some and may find your overall costs less.  I graduated from college in 1983, so I am rusty with what it costs these days, but you might want to crunch those numbers.  I worked at least half time through my last 2 years and all summer.  Wish I could have lounged on the beach, but it was not my fate.  Am really glad these days!

Just don't use your student loans for foolish things like buying a new car or something weird.

[forager]

Electrical engineering with some emphasis on solar power design? No electricity - no civility.

[HawtFrog]

Just don't use your student loans for foolish things like buying a new car or something weird.

I'm only getting $2,832 something and that's because I'm getting an extra grant, so I don't think I'll be able to afford a new car... and anyway, if I could, I'd buy a Mini because they're fuel efficient and I can see over the steering wheel

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

Just don't use your student loans for foolish things like buying a new car or something weird.

I'm only getting $2,832 something and that's because I'm getting an extra grant, so I don't think I'll be able to afford a new car... and anyway, if I could, I'd buy a Mini because they're fuel efficient and I can see over the steering wheel

Well, if you are a midget, you can always get a job with the circus!  Just kidding.  I once had a job at the circus as the Fat Lady.

Minis are made by BMW and are very fuel efficient but I hear that they are high maintenance.

Have you thought about using your college time to learn some animal husbandry skills?  Depends on where you go, of course, but it would be a way to get some good PO skills and college credit, plus you could probably get all As in those kinds of courses since you will be competing against us Rednecks.

[HawtFrog]

Well, if you are a midget, you can always get a job with the circus!  Just kidding.  I once had a job at the circus as the Fat Lady.

Minis are made by BMW and are very fuel efficient but I hear that they are high maintenance.

Have you thought about using your college time to learn some animal husbandry skills?  Depends on where you go, of course, but it would be a way to get some good PO skills and college credit, plus you could probably get all As in those kinds of courses since you will be competing against us Rednecks.

Now now 

I have looked into things like that. There's a lot of universities in the states that offer it (Pennsylvania) has a work/learn program where you tend to animals, fields, do basic stuff like that which pays for your room and board plus a surplus. Sadly, I'm in Canada and I need passports/visa's and all that just to visit the US now. I actually do have PO skillz, believe it or not . We have a lot of wind storms here so it's not uncommon to lose power during the fall (two years ago we didn't have power for 14 days and had to flush the toilets by trekking water from our creeks. Which is a fun/hard thing to do. Excellent use of plastic cookie buckets though) so I'm pretty good about things like that. Now now, where I am I'd be considered a redneck 

[mes228]

I have 5 children from two marriages. Four of them are adults, age 18 through 34. Three have college degrees (one has 3 degrees). All have been laid off and can't find a job. I am sickened that I encouraged them to go to college. All have student loans for many years. Essentially, graduate with a "mortgage" is the norm. The youngest just went into the Air Force. That decision was the best of the four children. The three that went to college haven't really matured as "adults" in a lot of ways. The years in college were, to a degree, spent "playing". College just seems to delay developement in a lot of people.  My advice for young people is enlist in the Air Force (NOT THE MARINES OR ARMY). I know little about the Navy, so I won't address them. This opinion is subject to change. However at this juncture I am sickend by what college has done "for" and "to" the three. In a few months the Air Force has done more for the youngest than college did for the others. I am not in agreement with war and in the end the Air Force produces men and women to fit in that paradigm. I am for defense of the country though, so I can live with my children being in the Air Force. It's not the armed services fault that our civilian leadership has failed them. The service of the country is honorable and for the most part a good thing for the men and women there. In no way would I sugest a young person go to college any more. Join the Air Force. I wish to hell all of my children had gone that route. Most every person I've met ended up with a degree while in the Air Force anyway...... essentially for free. And every single one were real men, and real women. They got their shi* together early enough in life to make something of it. At any rate thats my opinion. It is subject to change as time goes by.

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

I have 5 children from two marriages. Four of them are adults, age 18 through 34. Three have college degrees (one has 3 degrees). All have been laid off and can't find a job. I am sickened that I encouraged them to go to college. All have student loans for many years. Essentially, graduate with a "mortgage" is the norm. The youngest just went into the Air Force. That decision was the best of the four children. The three that went to college haven't really matured as "adults" in a lot of ways. The years in college were, to a degree, spent "playing". College just seems to delay developement in a lot of people.  My advice for young people is enlist in the Air Force (NOT THE MARINES OR ARMY). I know little about the Navy, so I won't address them. This opinion is subject to change. However at this juncture I am sickend by what college has done "for" and "to" the three. In a few months the Air Force has done more for the youngest than college did for the others. I am not in agreement with war and in the end the Air Force produces men and women to fit in that paradigm. I am for defense of the country though, so I can live with my children being in the Air Force. It's not the armed services fault that our civilian leadership has failed them. The service of the country is honorable and for the most part a good thing for the men and women there. In no way would I sugest a young person go to college any more. Join the Air Force. I wish to hell all of my children had gone that route. Most every person I've met ended up with a degree while in the Air Force anyway...... essentially for free. And every single one were real men, and real women. They got their shi* together early enough in life to make something of it. At any rate thats my opinion. It is subject to change as time goes by.

Too bad colleges don't have "Basic Training" equivalent.  You are spot on in seeing that college for many kids is just 4 years playing around and not preparing them for the real world.

Given the recent escalation of tensions in the ME, I would suggest learning some pre-oil skills like how to make a windmill, build and operate a steam engine, how to use hand wood working tools.

Do the Amish have night classes?

Hmmmm..

[madison]

Pay as you go for college.  Work part time.  Travel to other countries.  Find something you love to do.  Find someone to love.  Do good work, whatever you do.

Going to college, getting a job related to your degree and retiring from it and playing golf until you die are things of the past.  Ain't gonna happen.  Think outside the box, or it may become a coffin.