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Message

Is anyone else not pushing their kids to attend college?
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:06 am
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:06 am
I am struggling a bit to encourage my son to go to college. I have a degree (albeit in general studies) but I am having a hard time pushing him to get a degree just to get one. He is finishing up his freshman year of HS and hasn't shown any interest in anything specialized so it makes less sense. Granted if he decides he wants to be an attorney, accountant, or something he has to have a degree I would support him. Seems college is very watered down now and his time may be better spent elsewhere.
*added after reading some replies.
I don't think he should know what he wants to do at 15 and that he has time to figure it out. He makes decent grades but nothing out of this world. I am thinking ahead a couple of years before college will be around the corner. I listed attorney or accountant but I know many other fields would need a degree. I also said if he showed interest in something like that I would support him. I do think college is water downed and not as important as it used to be.
*added after reading some replies.
I don't think he should know what he wants to do at 15 and that he has time to figure it out. He makes decent grades but nothing out of this world. I am thinking ahead a couple of years before college will be around the corner. I listed attorney or accountant but I know many other fields would need a degree. I also said if he showed interest in something like that I would support him. I do think college is water downed and not as important as it used to be.
This post was edited on 5/7/24 at 1:43 pm
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:07 am to thedogman
quote:like what?
his time may be better spent elsewhere.
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:09 am to Bunk Moreland
I guess so since op’s kid
Hopefully he’ll take Spanish in high school
quote:
hasn't shown any interest in anything specialized
Hopefully he’ll take Spanish in high school
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:10 am to thedogman
quote:
I am struggling a bit to encourage my son to go to college.
Oldest wants to go to trade school and potentially pursue welding, setting him up with a summer gig to see if he will actually like designing and welding pieces of manufacturing equipment.
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:10 am to GreenRockTiger
quote:
Hopefully he’ll take Spanish in high school
Chinese might be helpful in the future
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:10 am to thedogman
I haven’t and don’t push any of my kids to attend.
20 years ago college was key. Now not so much.
I have 3 adult children 1 with some college who is middle management at a large retailer (Scheels) and does pretty well. One is an aero engineer with his BS and one is a spec ops aviator.
All own homes and are pretty much debt free.
I have a daughter (no freaking pics) graduating HS in two weeks and is taking a gap year to decide what direction she wants to head.
20 years ago college was key. Now not so much.
I have 3 adult children 1 with some college who is middle management at a large retailer (Scheels) and does pretty well. One is an aero engineer with his BS and one is a spec ops aviator.
All own homes and are pretty much debt free.
I have a daughter (no freaking pics) graduating HS in two weeks and is taking a gap year to decide what direction she wants to head.
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:10 am to thedogman
Trade school FTW.. less debt, no left wing indoctrination
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:11 am to thedogman
My son is interested in the fire service and not attending college.
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:11 am to thedogman
He's a freshman in HS. He doesn't have to know what he wants to do yet
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:12 am to Czechessential
quote:it’ll still be Central Americans digging ditches
Chinese might be helpful in the future
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:12 am to thedogman
He has a lot of time to figure it out. Has he started smoking pot yet?
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:12 am to Das Jackal
quote:
no left wing indoctrination
No AC either
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:12 am to GreenRockTiger
Alot of good paying jobs do not require a 4 year Degree ,blue collar jobs can be had with trade school or short course, most Universities are forcing liberal idealology on college kids these days, unless your going for Business, medical, accounting or engineering, i would not go to college.
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:13 am to Mid Iowa Tiger
quote:
I have a daughter (no freaking pics)
then GTFO!!!
quote:
graduating HS in two weeks and is taking a gap year
you've got to be shitting me, a "gap year" after high school?!?!


Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:13 am to thedogman
quote:
He is finishing up his freshman year of HS and hasn't shown any interest in anything specialized so it makes less sense.
He’s 14/15. How the frick is he supposed to know this already?
If he does well in school and your family can financially afford, he is still better off attending a university than going to trade school. Trade jobs are a fine career, but most of them are difficult physically and don’t have the same ceiling that professional careers have.
If you’re avoiding preparing or planning for him to go to college for political reasons, you’re doing him a disservice.
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:14 am to Mid Iowa Tiger
quote:
taking a gap year
Will encourage this for my kid. Try to get him an internship/apprenticeship somewhere in a field he is potentially interested in. I think that should be SOP for all graduating high schoolers. Other countries do something like that. I sure wish I had.
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:14 am to Basinhunterfisher
quote:you better not with that grammar
Alot of good paying jobs do not require a 4 year Degree ,blue collar jobs can be had with trade school or short course, most Universities are forcing liberal idealology on college kids these days, unless your going for Business, medical, accounting or engineering, i would not go to college.
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:15 am to GreenRockTiger
quote:
it’ll still be Central Americans digging ditches
valid point
Posted on 5/7/24 at 11:16 am to thedogman
quote:
He is finishing up his freshman year of HS and hasn't shown any interest in anything specialized
I'd say this is pretty normal.
I'll push my kids to get some type of post-HS education. Doesn't matter if it is a 4 year degree, technical college, or trade school.
My biggest impression I hope to leave on my kids is to choose a career base on something they enjoy, not because it sounds like it pays well or "you did it, so I guess I'll do it too".
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