Our "Front Porch" ....

RubiconSS said:
Fortunately the school my kids attend(ed) forces them to engage in open discussion, debate and argue issues many times with the least popular "side" assigned for defensive argument, uniforms (jacket and tie for males, skirts and sweaters for girls) are worn to standard.
Electronic devices are confiscated if visible during school session and home work is assigned and collected.
My oldest three(3) now in College Full-Time, thank us for sending them there because they were truly prepared for the rigors of a University, many of their peers are struggling to say the least.
The financial sacrifices were considerable but, I looked at it as part of the deal. I never really thought I'd retire anyway. now I'm sure of that.
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I hear it's overrated..
 
Shane it is not over rated, it is just getting harder to achieve the necessary funds to be able to. My wife and I put three kids through college and the last one graduated 6 yrs ago, we just paid that loan off. I figured what we spent on 12 yrs of college was enough to buy 10 Harley's, or 300 Hinderers at MRSP, and that was just our portion.

Good luck Rubi!
 
Good pre-university level education is invaluable. I went to a rather rigorous university, and I'm not ashamed to say I took an academic ass kicking for awhile. A bottom of the barrel public ISD in a state with pretty bad public schools. My classmates who actually went to prep or top quality schools were much better off. It really does make a difference.
 
First, sorry for double posting but I consider this a public service announcement of the highest importance. Gentlemen, go buy cowboy hats.

A little back story here is probably necessary. I grew up in Texas and other that time in college and grad school have always lived here. I've also always owned cowboy hats, but only worn them for certain occasions and events. It was never an everyday item for me. A few months ago I decided that I was going to get a nice one and start wearing it every day. I find them more comfortable and better looking than baseball caps (which I never wore) and a handy and useful thing; I just never really wore them much before. The response has been sort of ridiculous. I've probably had more unsolicited phone numbers given to me in the last few months than I have in the last few years. And for the folks here who are married, get yourself one and maybe you'll have a happier wife who'll let you spend more on knives :D
 
That's funny NJ!! I think cowboy hats badass! I have one, just not a nice one. One day. Well, we know what NJ will be doing if he is in need of money.... Standing on the corner with his cowboy hat on ;)

NjHart said:
First, sorry for double posting but I consider this a public service announcement of the highest importance. Gentlemen, go buy cowboy hats.

A little back story here is probably necessary. I grew up in Texas and other that time in college and grad school have always lived here. I've also always owned cowboy hats, but only worn them for certain occasions and events. It was never an everyday item for me. A few months ago I decided that I was going to get a nice one and start wearing it every day. I find them more comfortable and better looking than baseball caps (which I never wore) and a handy and useful thing; I just never really wore them much before. The response has been sort of ridiculous. I've probably had more unsolicited phone numbers given to me in the last few months than I have in the last few years. And for the folks here who are married, get yourself one and maybe you'll have a happier wife who'll let you spend more on knives :D
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Final Option said:
Shane it is not over rated, it is just getting harder to achieve the necessary funds to be able to. My wife and I put three kids through college and the last one graduated 6 yrs ago, we just paid that loan off. I figured what we spent on 12 yrs of college was enough to buy 10 Harley's, or 300 Hinderers at MRSP, and that was just our portion.

Good luck Rubi!
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FO - wow, good on you! I paid my way through my undergrad between scholarships, a couple of grants, and still had student loans and part to semi-full-time jobs until I graduated.. Can't imagine doing that in triplicate!!
 
I too paid the freight for my education (God bless Mom and Dad, no $$ and no expectation on my part that they "owed" me that anyway)
Had a Full-Ride Scholarship from the ARMY but after I had taken out loans for my first three(3) years of under-grad. I still remember the exact amount of that check I sent every month for 10 years :) I also remember my one Brother laughing that I actual paid back ALL my student loans - He wasn't hard-wired much like me and never paid back a dime (didn't graduate either I might add) anyway.....
 
I don't remember the exact payment amounts, but yep - 10 years sounds about right :)
 
It's easy for me to remember the exact amount of mine. The auto payment came out this morning. :(
 
6 days till my autopay. I seriously hope in 10 years my student loans are at least close to paid off, but it doesn't seem super likely. On a related note, stay in state for undergrad.
 
All boils down to once you graduate from college it gives you options. However in today's world, I think the trades and military ( what is left after the cuts) is still a great alternative. Funny thing at one time you could work in the summer and almost pay fall tuition, good luck with that today.
 
Final Option said:
All boils down to once you graduate from college it gives you options. However in today's world, I think the trades and military ( what is left after the cuts) is still a great alternative. Funny thing at one time you could work in the summer and almost pay fall tuition, good luck with that today.
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No doubt, not even close. I have nieces and nephews that are recent college grads or just now entering college, it is astounding what tuition/room/board/books cost for one year. I shudder to think what it might look like 12-20 years from now.

Keep those grades up and apply for every scholarship you can, that is the only way or have massive debt upon graduation.
 
My Daughters total is $54,000 per year (private university) my Son's is about $27,000 at Penn State.
Then the two(2) in private High School.
Hey, this is depressing.
 
I was thinking further about what you guys were talking about yesterday with school and what not...I feel bad for one of my best friends. He is the smartest guy Iv ever met, known him for 20 years...he scored 20 points less than PERFECT on his SATs, always a straight A student. He was a child prodigy with guitar, He would practice 10 hours a day at some points, so he worked his way through the different styles and eventually ended up playing classical guitar before high school was over. He went to SUNY Ithaca and studied music further, graduated top of his class, then he had to literally HUNT for a school in the USA where he would actually LEARN something! At this point, he had been studying with this guy Pablo in NYC, probably top 3 best classical guitarists in the entire world.

So, he finds his way to San Francisco at the Conservatory of music...graduated top tier there, got his masters I believe, then started studying for his doctorate. So, he moves back to upstate NY and starts trying to land gigs, get a fleet of students under his wing, and try to make some cash after many many years of TALENT and hard hard work. He lands a job at one of the local, well respected, upper class community colleges in the area (at age 26-27?). He taught a few different classical guitar and music courses there over the span of a year or so, also picked up some students along the way...

after about a year or so of that, which wasn't so lucrative to begin with, making money by way of classical guitar seemed to fizzle. As we get older he realizes that he needs a steady, well paying job. So he decides to take a crack at computer programming (his second love). Man, he was soooo excited about this! taught himself a few different forms of writing code for programming over the course of a few weeks, NAILS the interview with this place in NYC, which would start at 80k a year...he got this idea because his older brother had been working there, and is about HALF as smart as he is. So he was counting on getting that job, first six months is training in India, he was ready. So after jerking him around for a few weeks, they finally tell him in person that they think "his real calling in life doesn't lie with computer programming." He was absolutely devastated...

The school didn't need any music teachers this year, they actually axed a large portion of their music program for 2014...and now my buddy is working 50+ hours a week as a cook at a pizza place. He's trying to save money and get a new place. Hes not happy, and I feel for him big time. It just makes me see how you can be SOOO good at something, work so hard for years, have all the credentials in the world, have the best classical guitarists in the WORLD happy to give you lessons, and because of money, which he has spent ALOT of on his education, He is working in a hot kitchen cooking Italian and pizzas all day and night. I hope he can get back on a track that he deserves, hes WAY too smart for this. For 20 years, he had always been the smartest, over achieving person I know. This dude can do anything he puts his mind to, and hes stuck in a kitchen right now? I really hope he doesn't "settle" on any of this.

Sorry to write a book, just somethin thats been on my mind lately.
 
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Guys, these stories make me sick to my stomach. Coolfunk's....Brings to mind the movie Goodwill Hunting....except your buddy seems to have tried where Will needed help letting go of the old.

EDU will always cost time and money. That part I'm all about. It's the hazardous practices of attempting to subsidize things and open opportunity to all that exacerbates the whole financial part of it. Nothing worth achieving is free...and shouldn't be; for good reason. Scholarships! Scholarships! That is how to help finance degrees. And if you volunteer to serve; there too, you earn the privilege.
 
Such a sad story Jason, I'm from Ithaca area and Ithaca College is probably the school he attended, very hard to get into. Unfortunately there are many folks in the same predicament, but he really needs to pursue his passion, anything less would be a total waste of talent.
 
These are tough times. My gut wrenches watching my kids (smart and talented) dreaming their dreams and while reaching for them, I have to talk to them and make sure they balance "dreams" with reality.
Higher education has to lead somewhere and the fact(s) of LIFE are.... that somewhere has to be gainful employment or everything else crumbles.
Sad but true.
My oldest started his degree reach (5 years ago) for History - now with graduation looming and the start of loan repayment 6 months after.... life is getting serious and more "in focus".
I do not see any of this turning around anytime soon.
 
Wow Jason.... I feel for you and your buddy. I hope he will/can truly pursue what he is passionate about. I think things will/should fall in place in time. But sounds like some rough times for your friend. I hope all the best :D I don't think education is the key to all happiness... It can help assist in your life's happiness. But I see so many folks that go through college and struggle getting jobs. I went for 3 years myself, it was a great experience. But I think personality, timing, luck, people you know, passion, and hard work are all great contributors in this life. As we all already know :)
 
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