Trade School VS College

Oh, I agree. I was just saying for the short term. In and out to a job, Efficient and lower cost....James

Our son is looking for a degree in biomedical engineering - so we are looking at colleges assciated with hospitals first. Where he goes will all depend on the financial aid packages offered to him. We are not going to allow him to go into massive debt for his degree. He has alot going for him between his ACT score, GPA and his rowing (crew) ability. He is already being looked at by several colleges with crew teams BUT he will only go to one that offers his degree choice.
Our daughter at this point is only beginning to have an idea of what she may want to do (9th grade). More than likely something to do with sports, nutrition and fitness. She also excells at rowing but she struggles terrible to keep her grade point at a B. She will more than likely go to one of the local state schools but who knows - in 3 years she may have matured and her grades may have come up to where she can get the scholarships and grants as well.

The book "Debt Free U" by Zach Visonet (spelled wrong) is an outstanding read for any parent and child facing paying for college. I have made it required reading for our son who will graduate HS next Spring.

I have a degree in general education - my mother always jokes that it is my "Mrs. Degree" since I met my husband at school. The degree has done nothing for me and I wasted alot of money. At least I got my husband out of it.......

We try to teach them plenty of stuff. Whether or not they pay attention, and whether or not the administration allows us to fail them for not actually meeting and completing course objectives and learning what they're supposed to, is entirely another question. You can lead a horse and all that . . . it's pretty much that problem. Many students are not in college to actually learn anything.

If you want an eye-opening look at the college instructor's perspective, head over to the Chronicle of Higher Education forums and reading through some of the teaching-related sections. You will find a startling number of horror stories from professors and instructors who attempted to uphold standards and were completely undercut by college/university administrators. And this is at NON-PROFIT colleges and universities. At for-profits, it's even worse, and I give thanks every day that I work for a good one that is willing to kick proven cheaters out.

This is why 2-year associates' degree-granting institutions are such a better option at first--the student (whether a kid or adult) can get a feel for college-level work without spending way too much money. And if it's not for them, they're not out too much if they decide to go another route.

Thirty dollars for one hours work is only $15 per hour if two are working. And then of course there is the cost of running the business - such as transportation to the dump (vehicle, insurance, gas) and any dumping fees. And don't forget liability insurance. You have to be aware of what your pay really means.

I have a couple of friends who started a business - HandyGals - and they do all the things you mentioned that your sons are doing including carpentry. They both had previous business careers so know how to cost and time a job and believe me - they have more work than they can ever handle and have in fact hired two more women to work with them. Your sons should do very, very well as long as they take care of the business end of their business. And the most important aspect - punctuality and doing what you say you will do when you say you will do it.

My son went to a private school for 8-12th grades. He had a professor there that taught him Latin and History in 9th grade. Well my son at first hated that professor, as said professor made him actually work on a college level. After the first year though, he sought out that professor and took every class he could under him as he said he was one of the few that asked for "more" and "better" and "best". To this day, he still refers to Dr. X and so do other students. The kids say "you haven't been tested until you have X".

Now said son is graduating from college in May. He said he credits that one Professor with instilling in him the desire to do better than his best. He also credits that Prof with teaching him how to write a paper, research, obtain sources that are not "internet related" and to constantly question "why".

Never think that students don't recognize a good teacher or Professor. They may never tell YOU but they sure tell others..lol.. Last night while making a pound cake, I was also on the phone listening to said son go over his history paper outline on the effects Richard Nixon's Presidency had on subsequent Voter Trust in Government. The kid went over every single point and asked me if I knew of any "key players" he may have left out..so I'm trying to mix cake batter and recall all the characters that revolved around the Watergate Break In..

this was on a Sunday afternoon. My kid loves to learn, and has actually taken more credits than required to graduate. He will continue on for his Masters in the fall (if he gets in Grad School, we are keeping fingers crossed).

My kid would not do well in the trades. He has the aptitude and can do basic plumbing, fence building, etc. But it is not his love. His love is History and Language. I am a firm believer in doing what you love even if it does not pay as well. I have had jobs I hated but they paid very well, pay did not make me like the job any more and I changed jobs when I found another that I liked more. Pay is not the most motivating factor in retaining me as an employee, but I guess others are motivated by it. My son wants to be a college professor. That is not a real high paying career, but he said if he has enough money to live on, that's enough for him.

I think that is the right attitude in this world today. One does need to determine how much it will take to "live on" but in his case, he said if he could put a little back each month and pay the monthly living expenses, he would be happy. I think some kids have learned from the dot.com bust, the real estate bust, the Wall Street bust..it's not all about the money.

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