[Baldwin]

I am junior at a private Long ISland Catholic high school. Because I took Latin in my middle school (run by the same Order as the high school), I got put with the Senior class for Latin. I have become friendly with some (some moved out of the immature moron stage).

One of them is a solid student and a pretty good Athlete. He is going to Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. It isn't far away from long island, but he will be dorming there. Personally, I think dorming is a waste of money, considering there are Long island and NYC schools within commuting distance.

Anyway, his parents are making him pay for his car (fine) and the related expenses incurred by owning one (fine). However, he also has to pay for college. What? How is he supposed to pay for college as a high school senior? His parents aren't exactly in arrears. His mother is a doctor and his father owns some sort of small firm.

I asked him how he is going to pay for it. He shrugged his shoulder until I eventually rattled off possibilities. He will have to take out a student loan. As a parent, how could you let your 18 yr old son go into 140-160k debt? How will he afford a house/apartment when he has basically a small mortgage?

How do parents throw their children into the world with no experience and no money? A high school education is worth $20k if that. On long island, you'd starve to death if that was your salary.

Someone explain this mentality of boomer parents to me.

[lateralus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Baldwin', ' ')On long island, you'd starve to death if that was your salary.

[Baldwin]

Ok, now someone with a functioning brain hemisphere...

[Last_Laff]

Blame your parents, they liked to have sex then they had you and throw you into the reality.

Stupid is it? Thats why I love sex with condom.

So now if this gonna swindle downwards for sure... then I'd be blaming them.

*points at everybody*

[emersonbiggins]

Is someone holding a gun to his head and making him attend an Ivy? If not, then he probably needs to consider a state school; I'm sure SUNY is fine by most people's standards, and tuition is probably a third of Cornell's, at most.

His problem is no different than that of most people: champagne taste, beer paycheck.

[lateralus]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Baldwin', 'O')k, now someone with a functioning brain hemisphere...

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Baldwin', 'H')ow do parents throw their children into the world with no experience and no money? A high school education is worth $20k if that. On long island, you'd starve to death if that was your salary.

[lawnchair]

How is he supposed to pay for college as a high school senior?

Sorry. I can count on one hand the number of college friends I knew whose parents paid one red cent on their college. Have you looked into the average salary in the US?

I assume your friend hasn't actually learned anything yet. Lots of kids at eighteen have been taking apart lawnmower engines for years or helping their family plumbing business. Thus, it's college or minimum wage.

If Cornell can't go near-enough to a full ride, keep going down the list. Taking out enough loans to go to Bismarck State College without any scholarship won't kill you. Do really well, and you can go from that to a free-ride master's TA-ship at a reasonable university, and then a TA-ship PhD at Cornell.

Oh, but you think he should get the easy path.

[eastbay]

It took me 10 years to get my BA. And another two years to get my MA.

My parents contributed zero. I paid for it all by working (mostly full-time) and during the final year I borrowed $13,000.

I say get to work and quit whining.

[basil_hayden]

1. start working at 12, continue until death

2. do very well in middle and high school, get scholarships and grants

3. choose a school within a budget


I'm not getting your point about putting a kid 140-160K in debt, it's the same relative amount of money it ever was, compare it to 1985 dollars and you'll find it's about 60K for education, to 1965 dollars it's about 20K (I'm sure this is off, but close)

difference is your parents make six figures, mine were making 5K or so per year in 1965....their house that cost 10K is worth 150K now easily, do the math - 15 times in 40 years, 2-3% year

it's just inflation, don't get your knickers in a twist, education costs the same as it ever did, you need to be dedicated, that's how they thin out the herd

if you're going to spenf that much money, it better be on something that will have a return...so art is out

besides, I think there's more money to be made in the US in a blue colar capacity anyway if you're willing to work so become an electrician and install solar panels or something

[mekrob]

Anybody willing to drop $140-160k of their own on college shouldn't be getting into college in the first place. If you're smart enough and get scholarships for top-tier schools, great. Go. But if not, then get scholarships and grants for mid-tier schools. Not going to an overrated school like Cornell is not the end of the world. Not realizing what the future holds for you is though.

[cynicalheretic]

Does it really matter. Most of us on here feel that before he graduates we will be the middle of a Mad Max movie and all debt will be erased anyway "*crosses fingers"

[lateralus]

There's always the military:

Screw Latin, you won't get anywhere with that 'trade'. Try Arabic and travel the world, meeting new friends, while getting money for college.



Prostitution:

New York is full of perverts who have pockets full of cash.

Street prostitutes can be found in many places (9th Avenue between 33 and 39, near the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel; Lexington Ave between 32 and 30; Park Ave, 25 to 33rd; 11th and 27th) but the best ones are near the Plaza Hotel: from 59th and Central Park South to 6th Avenue and 58th

or

Drugs: New York has endless customers.

My favorite is still: Get a job.



Unless you can involve yourself in a really good scam like an accident and claim whiplash:



America is the land of dreams. Endless opportunities for a means to pay for an overpriced education.

[cynicalheretic]

Drive down a road with a semi riding your ass. Since the semi has to by law follow at least 300 Feet behind you at 60 MPH and the fact that most jury's are made up of people with no love of semi drivers... you can slam on your breaks and take it in the ass.

80% chance you will be seriously injured or dead, but the lawsuit money will more than pay for college.

[I_Like_Plants]

Jack says it best - most American parents anyway, don't give a shit about their kids, what shit they do give is contempt.

Boomer parents tend to have been given a pretty good ride in life by their Depression-hardened parents, got college paid for, or at least allowed to live at home while attending state college. In turn, they kick their kids out at 18 if not driving 'em out sooner, and generally won't give 'em a crust of bread if they're starving. It's called, "Fuck you kids, I got mine".

Non-Americans tend to be appalled by this - no wonder American society is so Ik-like.

I like to think, in my mellower moods, that my dad felt that we'd develop better if we had to lift ourselves up, and that in his formative years, the 1950s, this was possible. But the truth is he just didn't fucking care.

I personally think I spent too much time in college, trying to get a degree that's extremely hard to get if you're a serf, and turns out to not be that much of a payoff - all it does is sentence you to needing high pay because you get used to it. I'd have been much better off following the siren call of the Union carpentry guy who was trying to recruit me.

[dissimulo]

At age 18, you are an adult. After that point, any money somebody hands you without an exchange of goods or services is charity.

It is crass to expect charity.

Perhaps he should offer his parents a commitment of a portion of his future income as a contribution to their retirement. They might look more favorably on the investment of their money under those circumstances.

My parents didn't pay for me to go to college and I didn't consider it worth my own money. Life has worked out just fine without it.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', 'J')ack says it best - most American parents anyway, don't give a shit about their kids, what shit they do give is contempt.

Boomer parents tend to have been given a pretty good ride in life by their Depression-hardened parents, got college paid for, or at least allowed to live at home while attending state college. In turn, they kick their kids out at 18 if not driving 'em out sooner, and generally won't give 'em a crust of bread if they're starving. It's called, "Fuck you kids, I got mine".

Non-Americans tend to be appalled by this - no wonder American society is so Ik-like.

I like to think, in my mellower moods, that my dad felt that we'd develop better if we had to lift ourselves up, and that in his formative years, the 1950s, this was possible. But the truth is he just didn't fucking care.

I personally think I spent too much time in college, trying to get a degree that's extremely hard to get if you're a serf, and turns out to not be that much of a payoff - all it does is sentence you to needing high pay because you get used to it. I'd have been much better off following the siren call of the Union carpentry guy who was trying to recruit me.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dissimulo', 'A')t age 18, you are an adult. After that point, any money somebody hands you without an exchange of goods or services is charity.

It is crass to expect charity.

Perhaps he should offer his parents a commitment of a portion of his future income as a contribution to their retirement. They might look more favorably on the investment of their money under those circumstances.

My parents didn't pay for me to go to college and I didn't consider it worth my own money. Life has worked out just fine without it.

[NEOPO]

Ok first...

Alright now that I got that out of my system oh..no wait.. ok yes I am better now.

CH - the criminal mind never sleeps.

Seek the truth about Cathoholicism and then wonder why your parents would brainwash you with such an evil pack of lies and even go so far as to send you to a catholic school!

Tell your friend that there is no reason to goto college as in a few short years none of these overly educated completely senseless sheeple will be needed and oh yeah I almost forgot, tell him that everything you both have learned to date is somehow a lie...doh!

Goodnight kids....sleep tight!

[dissimulo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '
')That sounds very cool clinical and detached. You're either a robot or an Ik.