For those with kids that have graduated or those that have kids graduating has your kid done better with starting off with a community college or just going straight to a 4 year university? 

My son started off (after high school) moving out of the house and getting a job. Lost the job, moved back home and started University of Houston. After a year of that he transferred to Texas A&M and graduated from there. Took him six years but he persevered. Some kids just take longer to mature. 

Community College. If your child has planned well, they can walk into Community College with a year+ college credit under their belt! Save the heartbreak and cost of taking the SAT. You don't need it for LSCK Save 6 times the tuition cost of the basic courses/ Let them make costly mistakes closer to home. Transfer. Get scholarships for transferring. In the end the sheepskin is from the last college attended. 

^^^^^^exactly^^^^^^^^ 

CC. Save the money. 

Unless kid is going to be a lawyer, politician, doctor, etc, go CC first. 

There is no substitute for leaving home for a major university. 

If one can afford a major university. Not everyone gets a full ride to an Ivy League college. Some of us, me included go to state universities. And there is nothing wrong with a CC. I got a great education at the state college. My husband went to a CC and got a great education. The other thing, Ivy League and 4 year institutions don't make you "better". It is what you learn after you leave that institution. 

IMO Community colleges are one of the highest and best uses of taxpayer money.

The quality of education received is excellent. All basic courses are transferable to four year institutions and it's a good transition tool from high school. The cost is much lower for those credit hours.

My experience with LSC was and continues to be an educational highlight in my life.

Today, there is a time limit for college completion, once started. If a student completes an Associates degree, those credits have no time limit. Something to think about.
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Unless kid is going to be a lawyer, politician, doctor, etc, go CC first.

I recommend CC for those persons also. Locally, LSC provides a huge chunk of the medical market with trained personnel. 

All basic courses are transferable to four year institutions?

But not always towards the selected major, thats a watch out. 

Have an idea which university they want to go to then make sure to take the classes that with transfer to that university. My wife went the CC route then to university and it saved us TONS of money. 

IMO - it really depends on the child. For some, if not most, cc will certainly get them adjusted to what higher education is all about, without having to spend tons of money.

For others, it they have been planning well throughout high school, and are mentally ready for a 4yr college, then go for it. 

If money is no object, send them off to college. If you are trying to get them thru without a lot of debt, start out at community college. 

Many great attorneys and doctors started at community colleges.
Both are good options, but financially, CC makes sense for many families.
Core courses will transfer and waivers are available for other classes in question. 

It all depends on what you can afford and what experience you want them to have. Going off to college is a learning and growing process aside from the in class education.

Not all people are college material and it won't matter if it is CC or university. Wasted money is wasted money. 

All basic courses are transferable to four year institutions


They are transferable in most cases but most colleges do not give you GPA credit for those classes. You get a pass/fail and that is it. If your major subjects are more difficult and your grades are not as high you will not have the core classes to help your GPA and many kids GPA's suffer as a result. 

GPA matters on 1st job only, if then...

The degree is what really counts.

Then job experience replaces all college work...imo 

GPA matters on 1st job only, if then...

The degree is what really counts.



It depends on your interest and if you plan on going to graduate school... 

It depends on your interest and if you plan on going to graduate school...

There are also some other considerations...

Occupational field,
Professional field,
How well you like school.

But, generally obtaining the degree is the MOST uber requirement. 

My daughter went to University directly after HS graduation, ended up quitting after her freshman year....unbenounced (sp) to us!

She thought, we thought she was mature, diligent, responsible enough to handle the requirements in attending university.

It's complicated, but IMO CC is a far better path for them to figure out if they can handle it or not! 

They are transferable in most cases but most colleges do not give you GPA credit for those classes. You get a pass/fail and that is it. If your major subjects are more difficult and your grades are not as high you will not have the core classes to help your GPA and many kids GPA's suffer as a result.
This is true......but I also agree going off to college is about more than get a college education. You spend 18 years getting your child ready to go off on the world to make it or break it. Living independently of their parents but still dependent on their parents is a great opportunity for both. As parents, you still have the ability to "reel them in" if things are going south, and the child has the chance to figure out how to be a grown up with support from the parents if needed. If you have planned and can afford to send your student to a 4 year university do it. 

But, generally obtaining the degree is the MOST?uber?requirement.?

Provided its a useful degree that transfers to some earning potential. 

No time spent on education is wasted or useless.
A college degree > no college degree.

Only losers who are frustrated and bitter about their life belittle others about their choice of majors.
Take Bob for example. When you spend as much time as he does trying to convince everyone else how awesome your life is, well...it's not.

With as fast as the world progresses, what was once "the" degree to have 10 years ago doesn't hold the same weight today, but it still trumps not having an education past high school.

In addition to, or sometimes instead of, work ethic, connections, and drive can trump a degree.

Not everyone wants to sit in a cubicle, interviewing and hiring people that make more than them; some people actually want to make a difference in their world. 

In addition to, or sometimes instead of, work ethic, connections, and drive can trump a degree.?

Unless your occupation requires professional credentials and licenses. 

Not everyone wants to sit in a cubicle, interviewing and hiring people that make more than them;

Who does that? 

Provided its a useful degree that transfers to some earning potential.?


I would tend to agree with that. 

But, generally obtaining the degree is the MOST uber requirement.?


That would tend to depend on the student as well. There are loads of people with degrees who still have no marketable skills and no drive. 

That would tend to depend on the student as well. There are loads of people with degrees who still have no marketable skills and no drive.?

Exactly right. Many would be better served to complete some sort of trade school first and then if fine arts is their passion, get that fine arts degree later. 

I would also propose very strict limits on the number of student loans given by program.

When a kid gets tens of thousands of dollars in student loans to pay for that Continental Philosophy degree and cant pay back the loan (26% default rate), it becomes my business because its my money. 

Bob - I too pay taxes, and I am very much in favor of my tax dollars being spent to guarantee all student loans. So how would you suggest the government arbitrate our difference of opinions ? 

So how would you suggest the government arbitrate our difference of opinions ??

The government is us, we arbitrate in the voting booth. You vote for the candidate that best reflects your views and values. If my views and values are in the minority, then so be it, I just have to work harder to change others views. 

Bob - exactly. Some type of student loan guarantee has been around for some time. I had one in the early 70's for my graduate degree. They seem to be a rather bi-partisan program. One a wise politician would be hard pressed to vote against. I think, as with many things, trying to draw some arbitrary line between which degree is to be encouraged, and which discouraged is a stick debate. 

Bob - one concern I do have with the program has to do with the huge increase in for profit colleges. There may be some moral hazard to encourage tuition dollars from those not qualified or prepared for college level work. I also think if you look it up, the largest predictor of default on loans is graduation, then gpa. 

trying to draw some arbitrary line between which degree is to be encouraged, and which discouraged is a stick debate.?

To me as a taxpayer, the student loan program is about return on investment over and above the interest rate and the risk of default due to not finding gainful employment. When viewed in that context I could easily assign quotas to loans for degree programs. 

one concern I do have with the program has to do with the huge increase in for profit colleges

Anytime there is a glut of government money there are plenty of people waiting in line to feed off that spigot. 

When viewed in that context I could easily assign quotas to loans for degree programs.

Using that logic, what method and / or formula, would you assign that determines who qualifies for a student loan and who doesn't? 

Using that logic, what method and / or formula, would you assign that determines who qualifies for a student loan and who doesn't??

Its not who, but rather what program. It could be based on the DOL statistics about which careers are in the most demand and will likely be growth areas. For example, we need more nurses than we do art history majors. 

For example, we need more nurses than we do art history majors.

As technology changes, or advances are made in technology, so do career paths and the need for qualified individuals to support that growth.

As a technical guy, the arts don't do much for me, however; for those who have a passion in the arts, it does.

But should the Art Major not be afforded the same opportunity to pursue their education with a student loan?

Not sure I'd rely on the DOL for direction, though. 

But should the Art Major not be afforded the same opportunity to pursue their education with a student loan?

Not with government guranteed money at the same rate as programs with a greater liklihood of a higher return on investment.