You are getting off track. I simply said that getting kids into the trades is a better use of money than spending 100k for them to major in something outside of STEM. Even business I would argue you can hire a top tier business coach, buy books and not need to spend 100k.
Kid a few doors down from me went to a fancy parochial school for HS and then to some expensive private college for a year and dropped out. Mother, who worked at a large network, sheepishly told me he was working in a cabinet shop and wanted to learn that trade. When I told her he made an excellent choice and she should support him in that goal, she looked at me like I was crazy. I think she was expecting because I went to law school I would say something different. Nope. College is not for everyone. If you don't have a plan and/or a profession lined up, fuggetaboutit. It's a waste of time and money, unless you get into an Ivy and get connected to the right people.
Wait til those robots get arrested in Madison Borough for using gas pack blowers
Wait until the State figures out they are going to lose income tax. It was like their push for electric cars--yay, all new cars must be electric by 2035. Until they figured out that electric cars don't pay gas tax. So they started taxing electric cars an additional $250 when they renew their registration.
Interesting stats - fringe benefits paid by the state would include stuff like the employers social security, unemployment share, health insurance - seems odd that this would go down. I obviously don’t know any details on current budgeting. The important stat is what % of the total expense comes from the state.
Here's a video of Sam the robomason building a wall.
To quote Konstantin Kisin, in a world where AI and robots do all the work, nobody else has a job and all the wealth flows to the 50 or so people that own the AI and robots, I am a huge proponent of wealth redistribution. At bayonet point if necessary.
My 1st task on the trading desk was to replicate Bloomberg BC35 model In excel.
I know a few private equity guys that are history majors. They did get those degrees from Ivy League schools.
Was going to respond with something very similar. Some of my best colleagues/interns came from schools mentioned above. Some of my worst came from the IVY. Most were very smart and weren’t afraid to tell you. They knew theory and had tremendous book smarts. But they had zero feel and ability to application skills. They knew if it didn’t work they could always call in their connections to the PE-VC guys. Hahahah
Almost any major that ends with the word "studies" is completely worthless.
My oldest is 15. I’ve thought the same way as you all along, that something has to change cost wise. Looks like time will run out for me. Fingers crossed for you
Pensions aren't sticking around much longer, and if your company has one, chances are it's been substantially modified for new employees so it's nowhere close to how valuable yours is.
It’s funny that you think so little about what people in the trades do that you think they can be outsourced.
A lot of this is ego driven by parents. They want to be able to brag that they sent their kid to some elitist private school in New England. I don't get it but I am not there yet either.
I thought we were talking about parents sending kids that shouldn’t be going to college. If your kid can get into an elite private school in the NE, they earned the right to go to college.
That’s ballsy move to become a realtor in 2011. Congrats to her.
Have seen this over and over. Parents living in towns with fantastic public schools sending their kids to elite private schools K-12, spending over $500K for that alone, then to elite private colleges. In several cases, the kids are unhappy with their chosen school/major and either drop out or don't pursue a job in their chosen field after college. Many attorneys go this route, chasing the jobs at the huge prestigious law firms that offer great starting salaries but no realistic path to partnership. They toil away for 10 plus years working insane hours and never make partner, where the real money is at. Meanwhile, those that took a chance and opened their own small-medium sized firms live much happier/more balanced lives having a lot more freedom and making great money to boot. But that involves taking a chance and potentially "failing".
If my 18 year old told me they wanted to open a restaurant I would give them a good talking to and no way would I give them any money. Most restaurants fail, and I highly doubt they have the knowledge to run one at that age. Same thing with a business - get into a mentorship situation and learn your trade - most 18 year olds are not going to understand the ins and outs. I get your point about college potentially being a waste, but not investing the $ I would have spent on college blindly for my 18 year old to go start a business without any experience. I would tell him I will invest him once he reaches certain benchmarks and can present a solid business plan.
Apprenticeships are great, whether it is a formal apprenticeship training program, or just getting experience in a restaurant, as a tradesperson (electrician, plumber, carpenter, HVAC, steelworker, mason, etc, etc.). This gives a young person a chance to figure out what is their best fit.
+1
While true 4 years of college also didn’t cost the same as a house back then. 1985 wasn’t that long ago when I graduated and if I recall it was about 6K all in per year. Tuition, room and board
I think that if you’re smart, motivated and socially can deal or work with others, you will be successful if you go to college or not. Yes, college cost more but smart people find ways to attend without having huge student loans. My family members will normally save enough to pay for their kids college. They don’t wait till they are in high school and find they don’t have enough saved. We usually aren't athletic enough or smart enough to get scholarships or grants. However, I would be surprised the next generation don't get scholarships. One of my nephews just sold his company to Apple this year, they won the Apple innovative award in 2025.
Not true IMO. I work with a few young kids who recently decided not to go to college and pursue a trade school. They are apprentices now (IBEW) and doing great. By age 23 - 24 they will be making well into 6 figures.
Several years after you, but recall all in was $6K-7.5K per year. Graduated with about $6K in debt, ate Ramen noodles for months to pay off the loans because debts scared the crap out of me.
