One thing I'm almost certain of, I'm naive if I think I know what will be lucrative, growth sectors in the economy in ~13 years when he'd presumably be starting college.

Compounding things, I'm not even sure what college itself looks like in 13 years:

- Admissions have been distorted by strivers and their parents asymmetrically pursuing grades and extra-cirriculars at the expense of what I'd call a "normal" childhood. Even getting into any UC now is considered a mild accomplishment with tons of parents willing to breathe a sign of relief if their kid gets UCSB.

- Access to education online and possibly the evolution of "grad certs" might not even necessitate the 4yr / on-campus commitment, with the job market accepting 12-18 months of concentrated study in specific skills. This might also transform the notion of higher education not to a one-time/4yr deal, but something you might return for future 12-18mo. training as your career and the economy evolves. I actually don't think this is a bad model.

- Does the 4yr rounded education and experience even make sense anymore? So many schools have been lib'd out, to the point that you can reasonably question the value of the courses versus their real intent on indoctrination. Title IX tribunals, if they continue on the path they're on, probably will ruin the notion of easy and casual dorm room sex.

So, what are some CR thoughts and strategies to steer the kids toward + what is likely the better / realistic options for higher ed in the future?

For me, just focusing on preserving as much of a normal life as possible. Kid doesn't know we're rich, only having him do a couple organized things (right now swimming and piano) vs. having every hour of the day occupied. He learns baseball and basketball from me just when we play around. Not doing any of those fraud summer learning camps. Do car, home maintenance and cooking w/ him so he won't be a useless embarrassment of a man.

Assuming we stay in the US and don't bail for some place overseas I'm thinking maybe a Private that is "good" (e.g. Claremont schools, ideally Mudd) but needs people who can pay tuition; so might not require him to have a ridiculous GPA and prep-course enhanced SAT.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105005)

not so smart kids will go usna/usmma/uscga

won't pay for shitlib nonsense unless it's top tier shitlib nonsense

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105029)

but i should expand the "acceptable" schools a bit past just the ivies. a kid smart enough to get into an ivy will generally get into a school that's good enough to be worth attending. if not, state school or academy.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105102)

I will def push military for my kids.

I actually wanted to do military after 9/11 my my faggot parents pushed me hard against it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105131)

my plan is to figure out very early what my daughter's passions are, and nurture the shit out of them. the world is becoming more specialist over time, and whatever she decides to pursue, i need to make sure she has a shot to be the best at it. whether that includes college, i don't really care.

i agree that parents spread their kids too thin with all of these bullshit extracurriculars just to get into fucking college. in many ways it's the lazy way out of parenting.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105088)

my daughter likes ballet and the outdoors. gonna ride that out until she gets tired of it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105117)

He also currently has good form on his jump shot, is willing to work on his left handed dribble, can throw a baseball with a bit of sauce behind it, and is over 95 percentile height. These are all things I prioritize over academic nonsense.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105148)

But yeah, the benefits of education after high school are vastly overstated. If my daughter wants to be an artist, I'm obligated to set her up to be a great one, and part of that is discouraging the cost/benefit ratio of going to school to study art.

I think we're more or less on the same page. Good student, some type of physical activity for the various benefits, and aggressive funneling into activities that interest the child. The rest should take care of itself.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105504)

My wife's dream plan is for her to get a nursing associates degree, transfer to UCLA, then go to an in-state medical school.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105111)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36106332)

1. Accept that the purpose of college is to set them up for a good career. Period. As such, they shouldn't be majoring in stupid, useless shit ("but ART fulfills me!" Fuck off.).

2. Technology is the future, so STEM is required.

3. School rank should be considered, balanced with cost. If cost exceeds benefit then rethink your plan. See the objective in 1.

4. Ideally, there should be an international component to their upbringing/education so that if this country goes Titanic that they can leave and be ok.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105357)

I'll always direct him towards best school that's "free" if possible. Not having to pay for undergrad and grad was a bigger contribution to my success versus the penalty of either school obscurity (my undergrad) or TTT (my LS).

I'm getting my EU passport and by extension he'll get it as well. By lineage he technically can get a middle eastern one; but the latter is problematic so better to not have it at all.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105441)

Agreed. And the specifics of what STEM will be most useful will change with time.

"I'm getting my EU passport and by extension he'll get it as well. By lineage he technically can get a middle eastern one; but the latter is problematic so better to not have it at all."

Agree with all of this.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36105560)

You have to be at peace with how your kids are IMO. Some people are just not money earning people. Edu and IQ regardless.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36106427)

My job is to make life easier for my kids and make sure they don’t go into debt pursuing silly things. The most I can hope for is that they have at least some semblance of a work ethic, are decent human beings, and pursue something of interest that generates some money. And even if it generates very little money, they will have a safety net of a down payment, and some money and properties at death. And that’s enough for me. I want them to live an easier life and be happy.

I can’t shape their life path and choices, even though I will offer my opinion and make clear to them what I value. I would prefer not to write that check for Colby, but am prepared to. You can’t force kids to see things your way or be practical and, if anything, they will rebel if you push too hard or criticize their decisions. I’m prepared for utter mediocrity. I had kids so I don’t replicate my parents’ mistakes. They can brag about me all they want and take credit for it, but our relationship is irreparably damaged. I want to have a good relationship with my kids.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36106792)

Well said.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36106949)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36106980)

the idea of giving my kids flexibility of choice is something I really value - I hope I continue to feel that way as the years go on and they become more independent

it's so hard to not want to control the investment of time, money, energy, etc.

I think they key is being prepared for mediocrity like you said - lowering expectations about outcomes but always instilling that work ethic, those really solid values that make kids/people resilient and more self-assured (and happier, too)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36109081)

Not bad until you got there.

There should at least be a choice: "You can go to Expensive Shitschool -- and, make no mistake, that's what it is -- or you can go to Reasonable School and I'll give you the difference" (whether now or later).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36109220)

This is my main point of contention. If my kids want to sgo to some bullshit college that fleeces its students, they can get scholarships or otherwise figure out how to make that work. I am not going to enable such a shitty decision.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36111875)

IIRC, almost all financial aid decisions are FAFSA-based.

So find a way to emancipate your child in high school and get that expected family contribution (EFC) dropped to $0.

Weigh against possible unintended consequences, e.g. health insurance issues.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36106546)

I will encourage a service academy, military enlistment, and/or vocational training.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36106942)

I will also try to help them follow whatever passions they have and try and fail plenty of stuff purely for fun/growth/shits and giggles. But I would happily encourage them to skip out on all extracurriculars that aren't huge bonuses socially (like a revenue sport) or where they aren't an elite talent to do something like start a landscaping company and hire their friends, build a website, design a logo and a brand, and figure out how to run a business when they're young and have endless time and energy. If they do that kind of thing enough and they actually understand a balance sheet, ROI, etc. then I am confident they will be able to do the analysis on the cost/benefit of attending an Ivy at 600+k price tag v. an public flagship at 1/10th the cost or better yet on a full scholarship.

But just to make sure I will also drive home that they are going to have the most target rich environment of their entire lives in terms of girls and sex during a four year college experience, and if they go to an ivy they will be begging 4s to have SJW sex with verbal affirmative consent check ins every 20 seconds, v. drunk and high porn orgies at Big State U with girls that are hotter than pornstars.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36107011)

Successful people find their way 95% of time. It's an underrated fact of life. There are always opportunities, and the same types of people seize them.

Yeah, your kid might be a dumb gen-zer that'll get stuck in some dead end 25K job, but that will become apparent in middle school/high school when they're complaining about half the classes they have to take.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36109052)

It has nothing to do with whether they went to a top tier school or were STEM

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36109150)

STEM is about the actual knowledge and background to get good jobs. If I didn't have my STEM background and degree from a reasonably prestigious school, I wouldn't have a good career right now. Full stop.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36109179)

But if you are smart it's not insurmountable.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36111438)

And many kids from HYPSM basically end up with that.

Reason parents here care is because their kids will likely be dumber than they are.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36111472)

lol at sending dotters to college

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36111257)

We are putting money into market-based 529 programs so that, worst case scenario, we can always use the money for something else (after paying a penalty) if it looks like spending money on traditional higher-education is a bad bet (which seems increasingly likely to me).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3983749&forum_id=2#36111830)