Sending kids to another college and rooting for Penn State in sports. Conflicted?

[LafayetteBear]

Note 3: I do not have kids.

What?!! No progeny to carry on the BobPSU92 tradition? The world is a poorer place for that.

 

[LafayetteBear]

. As for the Penn State of today, I wish I cared. I don't.

Not buying it. Not even for a moment.

 

[BobPSU92]

What?!! No progeny to carry on the BobPSU92 tradition? The world is a poorer place for that.

Others will have to carry the torch.

 

[fairgambit]

Not buying it. Not even for a moment.

Ah, but it is sadly true. I display my Penn State diploma (along with one from Law School), because I earned it, but that is the only visible evidence that I am an alum. I wear no Penn State gear; have no Penn State items on display at home, or in my office; have nothing on my car; and I never bring Penn State up in any discussion unless specifically asked. I have planned trips with my wife in the fall and not once did I look at the football schedule when I did. As it turns out, I will be out of town the day of the Ohio State game with a schedule that leaves no space to watch the game, regardless of the time it is played. A good friend has 6 Pitt season tickets and asked if I wanted to use 2 for my wife and I to attend the Penn State game. I turned him down.
Perhaps you think "I doth protest too much". After all, I am still posting on a Penn State related board. Not so. I am here because of the people and the abundant threads about music, travel, women, cars, Johnny Maestro's absence from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (a true injustice), Lyme Disease...... but especially the threads about the daily lives of those who post here, some of whom I would befriend in real life. In any event, I am not trying to convince anyone. I'm just sharing my thoughts.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

 

[cop113]

I see a lot of posts these days about Penn State grads sending their kids (or grandkids) to other colleges because Penn State is all f*cked up, too expensive, dickless, heartless, hopeless, etc. Despite this, I imagine most of you still root for Penn State in sports. Do you feel at all conflicted? Is it hard for you have Penn State in your heart if you will not send your kids there? Is Penn State basically a sports program to you? Do you feel any connection to the school other than the games?



Note 1: I am not considering kids who choose another school based on academics (e.g., major not available at Penn State) or who simply prefer another school (e.g., size, setting, etc.).

Note 2: I am still furious about the "leadership's" handling of sandusky, Joe, and the university's reputation. Additionally, I am troubled by the overall lack of fiduciary responsibility. However, I still love many things about the university and still feel a strong connection to my alma mater.

Note 3: I do not have kids.

My daughter still has a few years to go, but I have no intention of pushing it as an option. If she chooses it, it's because she likes it best. What irritates me most is that if I were picking a school for myself now, PSU would not be on my list of options, and I know how much I liked it. What the bot did to the accreditation would have been an automatic disqualifier for me. I have a nephew who is a junior in highschool, bright kid, probably an engineer in the making, and he's been asking my thoughts on how to pick a school. How is it that PSU has fallen so far down in categories that I find important?

 

[cop113]

I see a lot of posts these days about Penn State grads sending their kids (or grandkids) to other colleges because Penn State is all f*cked up, too expensive, dickless, heartless, hopeless, etc. Despite this, I imagine most of you still root for Penn State in sports. Do you feel at all conflicted? Is it hard for you have Penn State in your heart if you will not send your kids there? Is Penn State basically a sports program to you? Do you feel any connection to the school other than the games?



Note 1: I am not considering kids who choose another school based on academics (e.g., major not available at Penn State) or who simply prefer another school (e.g., size, setting, etc.).

Note 2: I am still furious about the "leadership's" handling of sandusky, Joe, and the university's reputation. Additionally, I am troubled by the overall lack of fiduciary responsibility. However, I still love many things about the university and still feel a strong connection to my alma mater.

Note 3: I do not have kids.

 

[cop113]

I see a lot of posts these days about Penn State grads sending their kids (or grandkids) to other colleges because Penn State is all f*cked up, too expensive, dickless, heartless, hopeless, etc. Despite this, I imagine most of you still root for Penn State in sports. Do you feel at all conflicted? Is it hard for you have Penn State in your heart if you will not send your kids there? Is Penn State basically a sports program to you? Do you feel any connection to the school other than the games?



Note 1: I am not considering kids who choose another school based on academics (e.g., major not available at Penn State) or who simply prefer another school (e.g., size, setting, etc.).

Note 2: I am still furious about the "leadership's" handling of sandusky, Joe, and the university's reputation. Additionally, I am troubled by the overall lack of fiduciary responsibility. However, I still love many things about the university and still feel a strong connection to my alma mater.

Note 3: I do not have kids.

I went to Penn State as did my wife, daughter and son. We are PENN STATE PROUD. Always have been and always will be!

 

[BobPSU92]

I went to Penn State as did my wife, daughter and son. We are PENN STATE PROUD. Always have been and always will be!

Good to hear!

 

[redbyrds]

Finances have to be the biggest part of the decision.

I'm part of a three-generation PSU family, I was thrilled that one of our kids got to experience PSU.

But I think it is absolutely essential that students (and parents) are not buried in debt. No college, not even PSU, is worth it.

Your kid should be able to get through 4 years borrowing no more than 2X a CONSERVATIVE estimate of their starting salary when they graduate. (in our family the rule was 1X). If they want to major in art history or English lit or something fun like that, then assume a starting salary of $14 an hour ($25k).

So, given PSU costs $35,000 a year (soon to be $40k) in-state, if you're sending a kid to PSU, you need a minimum of $80-100k you can contribute from savings/current income, and your kid needs to work every summer and part-time during the school year, so your kid will not have to borrow more than his/her starting salary.

If you don't have those resources and your kid is dead set on going to PSU, have them spend a couple of years working to earn money and taking community college courses, so they can maybe get that PSU degree in two $35,000 years instead of four.

Whatever you do, please please don't put $140,000 on a credit card to pay for PSU. That is a lifetime mistake.

Further, there are majors at Penn State that are offered at less expensive schools -- like health sciences, business, education. People should absolutely consider whether a Penn State degree in education or business is worth $50-60,000 more than a degree from West Chester or Bloom or Ship. I would want to see evidence that it is, and even if it is, don't borrow the additional $50k.

Could not have said it better.

I work with two people who have family members that went in to nursing. One went to Penn State and owes $85K. The other went to Community College for two then a state school for two and owes $18K. Both have the same certificate and same salary at a large hospital. When you are wheeled in to critical care, there name badge says RN not Penn State RN. Unfortunately the first will be in debt for a long, long time.

Majors matter. Cost is out of control. People need to make smart decisions. Engineering may be a different story, but some degrees don't benefit in the same way as others.

BTW...the one that owes $85K has a Fiancee who went to Robert Morris and owes $65K for a Marketing degree that got him a sales job that he could have gotten out of high school. If they get married they will owe a combined $150K...why??

 

[91Joe95]

Ah, but it is sadly true. I display my Penn State diploma (along with one from Law School), because I earned it, but that is the only visible evidence that I am an alum. I wear no Penn State gear; have no Penn State items on display at home, or in my office; have nothing on my car; and I never bring Penn State up in any discussion unless specifically asked. I have planned trips with my wife in the fall and not once did I look at the football schedule when I did. As it turns out, I will be out of town the day of the Ohio State game with a schedule that leaves no space to watch the game, regardless of the time it is played. A good friend has 6 Pitt season tickets and asked if I wanted to use 2 for my wife and I to attend the Penn State game. I turned him down.
Perhaps you think "I doth protest too much". After all, I am still posting on a Penn State related board. Not so. I am here because of the people and the abundant threads about music, travel, women, cars, Johnny Maestro's absence from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (a true injustice), Lyme Disease...... but especially the threads about the daily lives of those who post here, some of whom I would befriend in real life. In any event, I am not trying to convince anyone. I'm just sharing my thoughts.

^^^ Actually just got a new batch of jerseys in.

 

[TXHILL89]

My daughter graduates from Minnesota this week. She is graduating in 4 years with 2 bachelor degrees. Minnesota recognized 23 of her high school ap credits, Penn State was only going to recognize 7 of those credits. Minnesota gave her a scholarship that gave her in state tuition. Her tuition was roughly $7000 per semester. Tuition room and board at Minnesota was roughly $23000 per year. To go to Penn state it would have cost roughly 46000 per year, not to mention that travel from TX to State College is much more difficult than travel to Minneapolis.
Yes I always root for PSU over Minnesota and she even wears PSU gear at school. That being said it made no sense to send her to PSU.