Invisible Privacy | Online Privacy: Save your money—don’t send your kids to college

Four of the five richest persons in
America are college dropouts.
--Forbes magazine

The majority of today’s high school graduates should never go to college. Often, they have no idea what they want to do, once they graduate.

If you are concerned about morals, think of the peer pressure involving drugs, binge drinking, and indiscriminate sex. If you are concerned about privacy, remember that all privacy will be lost until they graduate or drop out. If you are concerned about money, remember that you or they will end up tens of thousands of dollars in debt, with no guarantee whatsoever of a high-paying job after graduation.

William Fitzimmons, Dean of Admissions at Harvard College, urges prospective students to take a “time off” break of one year, before going on to the university. “For almost thirty years,” he says, “Harvard has recommended this option, indeed proposing it in the letter of admission.”

Margit Dahl, director of Yale's undergraduate admissions, is also a strong advocate of deferring admission for one year. "We would love it to grow,” she says.

In the UK, taking a year off is called a “gap year.” British universities (and parents) not only accept that students take a gap year, it's practically expected. Even Prince William went to do volunteer work in Chile before continuing his studies. There is a natural break at this time in people's lives," says Susannah Hecht, editor of The Gap Year Guidebook. "The opportunity is there because there is a lack of responsibilities." She says that gap years are also seen in England as a chance to develop skills and to take personal responsibility as an adult.”

At the end of the gap year, your son or daughter may have a whole new outlook that does not involve a so-called higher education. (The information in this post is taken from SKIP COLLEGE: Go into Business for Yourself.)

Labels: debt, dropouts, gap year, saving, skip college

Privacy blog post by JJ Luna at 12:01 AM

Comments:

I have very mixed feelings about the idea of just skipping college altogether. Often, local community colleges are drastically cheaper than the type of on-campus experience to which you seem to be referring, and with a community college it may even be possible to attend college semi-privately. I'm currently working on returning to college in the fall after a 25+ year hiatus. So far, my intended college has required my SSN because I'm applying for financial aid and receiving a Pell grant, but I have not had to give my home address at all, not even a ghost address, neither to the college nor to the FAFSA people. Everybody involved has been quite satisfied with my PO box as my only address. Also, the college does not use the SSN as the student ID number, and if you're not receiving financial aid at all, you're not even required to tell them your SSN.

Certainly you have many valid points about the dorm environment for younger students and the concept of a "gap year," as well as carefully evaluating the particular child involved for his/her readiness for college, motivation for a particular career choice, and overall maturity level.

# posted by

Anonymous : March 9, 2009 11:18 PM

I have a friend who attended law school only to drop out and become a plumber. He is now wanting to retire (and his 400K/annual income allows him to do so quite nicely) but has been unable to locate a young person willing to step up to the plate to take over the business.
"They all want an 8-5 job" he says.
With the changes in the job market, kids more than ever need to realize that those "skills" they learn at college are easily outsourced to India or relegated to a computer program. That is, if they even have a skill and not some useless degree like "Renaissance Art History." (Taken from a local University catalog)

Theresa

# posted by

Anonymous : March 10, 2009 6:22 AM

I will be in debt the rest of my life due to student loans that enabled me to finally receive a Masters degree. I tell my kids (and there are 6 of them) - don't do it unless you can pay cash.

While receiving the degrees puts my resume at the top of the pile, it doesn't guarantee anything.

Was it worth it? I don't know. A University education is not what it used to be. The Universities are now filled with liberal professors who I feel indoctrinate students in philosophies that are anti-capitalist, anti-Christian, anti-family, etc.

I now plan to go into business for myself and keep it that way for the rest of my life. I've recommended the Skip College book to all my children and have inspired a couple that are still struggling to finish college.

That being said, I appreciate your work.

# posted by

Anonymous : March 10, 2009 8:10 AM

college
I believe this is just suppose to be a comment. For college I am with you on don't send you kids to college. First its to much money as we all know and second you can spend all that money on mandatory things like debts that have to be paid. or you can go in business for yourself or go on vacation. And you can rely on getting a great job/more money you get done with school. I have always like the idea of working for myself. thank you. I hope I did this right this time.

# posted by

Anonymous : March 11, 2009 9:45 AM

In Israel most of entering university/college students served previously in the army (Israeli Defense Forces).

In consequence, they are significantly more mature than students in the US.

# posted by

Anonymous : March 14, 2009 8:34 AM

In response to the comment about the "liberal professors indoctrinating students," this is a persistent myth. I've been teaching in the university for several years and have found that students are rarely influenced by their professors. Furthermore, the research fails to back up the claim. "Three sets of researchers recently concluded that professors have virtually no impact on the political views and ideology of their students." Parents and family are the biggest influence on younger people. See:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/books/03infl.html?_r=2&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

# posted by

Anonymous : March 20, 2009 10:02 AM

I wrote the previous post about the "liberal professor" myth. A substantial part of my job as a prof. in the university also involves advising students, and Theresa hit the nail on the head. Certified electricians, plumbers, nurses, dental hygienists, etc., are all highly in demand and usually earn much more than people with run-of-the-mill college degrees--and without the crushing burden of student loan debt! These careers are also less likely to be downsized and outsourced, unlike the many positions held by college grads with run-of-the-mill liberal arts degrees.

"Go to college" is the same old tired mantra repeated by system-based educators who are unaware that there are more viable options available to students than simply spending time in college. Also, many of today's students are not college material, which has forced many schools to "dumb down" the requirements.

# posted by

Anonymous : March 20, 2009 10:12 AM

Bill Gates didn't do so bad for himself along with many others.

# posted by

Anonymous : December 17, 2009 4:51 PM

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Save your money—don’t send your kids to college