In the spirit of differing political opinions…

[dawgstate]

I have three kids within 6 years of entering college. How likely does the Pack throw support to another college if your kids choose to not attend State?

Write them out of the will, blank check book for out of state tuition, buy new swag to show my support, etc.?

I’m more Liberal on the subject than I would have been 10 years ago.

 

[GloryDawg]

Your kid is your kid regardless of where they go to school. Just be happy they are going to school and do what you were going to do anyways.

 

[columbiadawg2]

I kid you not, when I told my dad I wanted to take a visit to Ole Miss he told me he'd never assist me in any way if I visited that campus. I wasn't even talking about applying, just taking a visit.

Edit to add: I now have my own kid and I couldn't care less where she goes as long as she's happy (and we can afford it)

 

[Shmuley]

I have three kids within 6 years of entering college. How likely does the Pack throw support to another college if your kids choose to not attend State?

Write them out of the will, blank check book for out of state tuition, buy new swag to show my support, etc.?

I’m more Liberal on the subject than I would have been 10 years ago.

One of mine went out of state (with a mostly full ride). One of mine went to state.

the quality of the education and experiences were as diverse as my kids are. They both benefited. They both have careers that are worthwhile. Neither stayed in Mississippi. Success can be achieved from any starting point.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I have three kids within 6 years of entering college. How likely does the Pack throw support to another college if your kids choose to not attend State?

Write them out of the will, blank check book for out of state tuition, buy new swag to show my support, etc.?

I’m more Liberal on the subject than I would have been 10 years ago.

I support all forward progress by my kids. If they have expensive tastes, or plan to major in something that will not actually earn them a living, I do not consider that forward progress.

 

[Darryl Steight]

My oldest daughter attended another school, which I of course hated the thought of, and objected to strenuously when she first told me. However, when she added that they offered her a full ride (which State had not), I toned down my negative rhetoric quite a bit. I found it much more tolerable after that for some reason.

 

[Pookieray]

One of mine went out of state (with a mostly full ride). One of mine went to state.

the quality of the education and experiences were as diverse as my kids are. They both benefited. They both have careers that are worthwhile. Neither stayed in Mississippi. Success can be achieved from any starting point.

Well said!

 

[The Peeper]

If mine went elsewhere I would support them either way. I would visit and such but wouldn't become a fan of that school. Now if one chose the Univ of Northern MS, all bets are off. I would honestly never step foot in Yoknapatawpha County.

 

[Pookieray]

My oldest daughter attended another school, which I of course hated the thought of, and objected to strenuously when she first told me. However, when she added that they offered her a full ride (which State had not), I toned down my negative rhetoric quite a bit. I found it much more tolerable after that for some reason.

I was same boat with one of mine several years back. Was told by some here it was a huge mistake, as MSU was the only school my son should attend for his career choice. BTW, he didn't attend State and is doing just fine.

 

[HailStout]

Considering the amount of bitching we do as state fans we should all be happy if our children avoid this curse

 

[OopsICroomedmypants]

My kids have the intellectual ability to do whatever they want to do in life. I’m going to guide them as much as I can on what’s best for them. That doesn’t necessarily mean MSU. I have 2 degrees and part of another from MSU. I’ve paid my dues. I don’t owe them my kids.

 

[mcdawg22]

My daughter wants to go to Cornell. (Which is the highest rank in the military.) Of she gets accepted and the assistance is good I will be completely okay with her going there. Outside of that pie in the sky, Ole Miss is the only no no but i seriously doubt that would happen since we live in Florida and there is no peer pressure to go there.

 

[Thebulldogcountry1]

I have three kids within 6 years of entering college.

Same here. All girls.

At this point, I care most about them making the best financial decision. I've been a lifelong State fan, and I am an alum. My kids won't benefit from that, academically, so I don't feel like I should make them feel obligated to go there.

 

[Taz_Man]

My son attended STATE, got his undergrad and masters. The daughter had a full ride volleyball scholarship but, decided she was done with the sport, go 8 hours away instead of 1, and have to pay for school. She still got some academic money. It was tough to accept but, just wanted her to be happy in her college experience. She is doing great and will graduate a year and a half early. No matter where they wanted to go, I just want them to enjoy the experience and get a great education.

 

[mstateglfr]

I have three kids within 6 years of entering college. How likely does the Pack throw support to another college if your kids choose to not attend State?
Write them out of the will, blank check book for out of state tuition, buy new swag to show my support, etc.?
I’m more Liberal on the subject than I would have been 10 years ago.

Mine grew up knowing Bama and Ole Miss are both off the table. If they were going to be good enough to get an athletic scholarship or academic scholarship from either, then they would surely have plenty of opportunities elsewhere too.
They also knew I was kidding...mostly.

My oldest is applying to colleges right now and has applied to Mizzou and Arkansas. She liked both a lot, but will likely rule out Arkansas unless they give her a ton more $ in addition to what is already known, due to distance from home.
I wont think twice if she attends either, or if she attends really anywhere that she feels good at and offers a great mix of cost and education.


Dont live thru your kids and dont pressure your kids to have your experiences. Its easy to say, but sometimes hard to live.

 

[was21]

I have three kids within 6 years of entering college. How likely does the Pack throw support to another college if your kids choose to not attend State?

Write them out of the will, blank check book for out of state tuition, buy new swag to show my support, etc.?

I’m more Liberal on the subject than I would have been 10 years ago.

Wherever they can get the best scholarship is where I'd recommend. I got my degree from State but that doesn't mean I expected them to go there. Two of them did and two of them didn't.

 

[VegasDawg13]

I would love for my kids to either attend State like their parents did or go somewhere that seems fun to visit a few times a year. If they go somewhere like Southern Miss, that wouldn't be thrilling but whatever. I'm going to really have a personal struggle if they end up in Oxford, College Station or Auburn, though, but I won't stop them

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Neither stayed in Mississippi.

This is the biggest, most damning thing about the future of MS. Can't blame the kids. MS is great if you like that rural lifestyle. But as we all know, you're either getting better or going backward....you never stay the same. No question which one of these MS falls into.

 

[ckDOG]

We are saving to fully fund the equivalent of an in-state education (UTenn or similar) and reasonable living expenses for our daughter. Anything more, she will be expected to bridge the gap herself. When she's old enough to understand, we will have the ROI discussions and hopefully steer her towards making a practical decision, but the decision will ultimately be hers. May make an exception if there is an out of state public school that offers a degree of interest that in state schools don't (not likely), but we will cross that bridge if we get there.

ETA: if she ends up in a great financial situation with scholarships, we will let her have the savings but it has to be for a house down payment.

 

[JackShephard]

Mine are going to go where they want to go and where they can afford to go. I paid my way via savings, jobs, scholarships, and a very few small loans and they've always been told they will do the same. I'll have spent well more than the cost of 4 years' tuition on private school by the time they graduate, so it's going to be their turn. I've always felt it was a good life lesson anyway. It encourages you to succeed (scholarships), work hard (job), budget, and save money.

I will not steer them anywhere, but will be happy to give advice if asked. I doubt either would choose Ole Miss for a lot of reasons, but that would be the only one that hurt my feelings. I still would let them make their own decision, but I would still hate Ole Miss to my core. I would probably wonder what I did wrong as a parent.

 

[LOTRGOTDAWGFAN]

I have three kids within 6 years of entering college. How likely does the Pack throw support to another college if your kids choose to not attend State?

Write them out of the will, blank check book for out of state tuition, buy new swag to show my support, etc.?

I’m more Liberal on the subject than I would have been 10 years ago.

Wherever they want to go, but if they choose a useless major, they can pay for it themselves. Fortunately for me, i had a scholarship at a JUCO (which is not a bad idea for an 18 year old) my first two years. Loans at MSU and the Army paid those off.

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

Success can be achieved from any starting point.

That's deep right there. I'm going to borrow it from time to time.

 

[Beretta.sixpack]

My daughter is going to Ole Miss next fall enrolling in the 4 year nursing program that started this year. Seeing how I live in Oxford, I am totally ok with it. I will have her close to home. That means the world to me. There was a time that she was going to Arkansas, but there wasn't enought money there....

Now my son, who still has 4 years to think it through, will most likely end up at MSU if I had to guess...he is just like his old man.....passively hate on them, especially behind mom's back.

 

[Mr. Cook]

Your kid is your kid regardless of where they go to school. Just be happy they are going to school and do what you were going to do anyways.

This is patently false. If they go to Ole Miss, you disown them*******

How you like that for “family tradition?”

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I would pay more attention to what students are attending college to learn. I wish I had changed majors. A college degree within some majors means less today than it used to.

 

[RocketDawg]

I have three kids within 6 years of entering college. How likely does the Pack throw support to another college if your kids choose to not attend State?

Write them out of the will, blank check book for out of state tuition, buy new swag to show my support, etc.?

I’m more Liberal on the subject than I would have been 10 years ago.

I think it's primarily concerned with undergraduate school. Fortunately, my son went to MSU so that's all good. Then he went to grad school at Tulane, Florida State, and finally Georgia. I'll sort of pull for those three schools, but never if they're playing State. If your kids are undergrads somewhere else, the situation will be a little different but you'll never give up your allegiance to State - the boundaries will just expand.

 

[PointAfter]

Three kids, all with degrees from State. There was no pressure to go there and all three made their own decision and all three were there one year together. (That was nice on the ole pocketbook!)
All three have jobs in their fields of study and all three live out of state, in three different states. They are all adults and they get to blaze their own trails.

 

[Anon1728174187]

Wife and I graduated two from State and had another attend but did not graduate returned home to go to nursing school. One is a M.D. and in this state the other has 15 years with the insurance industry in Memphis area. They chose their own school, of course it pleased me they chose State. Graduated another from USM and is 10 years in owning his own business in central Ms.

The most important to me is that they are productive citizens and 3 of 4 remained in this state to give back to this state.

 

[615dawg]

I would pay more attention to what students are attending college to learn. I wish I had changed majors. A college degree within some majors means less today than it used to.

A lot of truth here. I have a small list of acceptable majors and don't feed into that "follow your passion" garbage.

I'm going through this with my oldest. She is unlikely to attend State although she has it in her final list. State just doesn't reward smart Mississippi kids like Ole Miss does.

Arkansas waives out of state tuition for a 24+ ACT. We are visiting soon.
The entire family loves Auburn, but the scholarship situation does not look great there. Its a testament to the quality of student choosing Auburn.
Baylor and TCU have come on strong. If Waco was four hours away, that would be our top choice. We've made two visits to Baylor. TCU is a little closer but mom's nervous about driving in the Metroplex.

 

[HotMop]

My daughter wants to go to Cornell. (Which is the highest rank in the military.) Of she gets accepted and the assistance is good I will be completely okay with her going there. Outside of that pie in the sky, Ole Miss is the only no no but i seriously doubt that would happen since we live in Florida and there is no peer pressure to go there.

Mine is between FSU, UF, and Harvard....wtf.

 

[HotMop]

This is the biggest, most damning thing about the future of MS. Can't blame the kids. MS is great if you like that rural lifestyle. But as we all know, you're either getting better or going backward....you never stay the same. No question which one of these MS falls into.

It's a shame I had to leave MS in 2000 for a state that offered a decent wage. The state, Louisiana. SMH

 

[HotMop]

I would pay more attention to what students are attending college to learn. I wish I had changed majors. A college degree within some majors means less today than it used to.

My degree in Gender Diversity has served me well. ***

 

[22yardpunt]

I kid you not, when I told my dad I wanted to take a visit to Ole Miss he told me he'd never assist me in any way if I visited that campus. I wasn't even talking about applying, just taking a visit.

Edit to add: I now have my own kid and I couldn't care less where she goes as long as she's happy (and we can afford it)

I’m very open as to where mine go to school, with the single exception that it will not be OM.

 

[Ranchdawg]

I would recommend HVAC vocational. Start their own business and capitalize off global warming!

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I would recommend HVAC vocational. Start their own business and capitalize off global warming!

Heck yeah! For a go getter, HVAC is the way to go, but your kid has to be a go getter if he/she wants to make 6 figures within the first 7-10 years.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

My daughter wants to go to Cornell. (Which is the highest rank in the military.)

Took me a second to get this

 

[mstateglfr]

I would recommend HVAC vocational. Start their own business and capitalize off global warming!

HVAC is constantly cited, alongside other building and maintenance trades, as a great alternative. And yeah- they absolutely cant be great alternatives.
Around me though, I dont know of any small HVAC companies, much less one owned by anyone young. Almost all are brands of larger construction companies or large companies themselves. I have read that the cost to enter is pretty high, compared to electrician or plumber, which is why there are so many more small electrician and plumbing companies.
^Maybe thats just unique to around me and there are a ton of small HVAC companies in places where the cost to enter is low.


And since its you and this is a thread about college, of course you continue the trades narrative. Once again-
- If you are going to run your own business, then classes in basic accounting, business law, marketing, management, etc can all be beneficial. This is especially true when small trade businesses are focused on, since there is a lot of turnover in those.
- A college degree continues to, on average, pay off more than not going to college. Yes obviously the college, cost, and degree matter. But even with the 'wasteful' degrees from the expensive colleges added in, a college degree still pays off more on average.
- Its unrealistic to have a flood of people come into trades and own their own businesses. Few will last and others will end up as employees. There is a reason why so many building and maintenance trade workers with broken bodies that are in their 50s. That has to be planned for at 20 years old and frequently sure doesnt seem to be.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

I would recommend HVAC vocational. Start their own business and capitalize off global warming!

Lot of folks out there hollering about trades, but I often recommend they at least get a business degree to go along with it.

But I do agree, you can't go wrong with HVAC, electrical or plumbing. They'll always been needed.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

A lot of truth here. I have a small list of acceptable majors and don't feed into that "follow your passion" garbage.

I'm going through this with my oldest. She is unlikely to attend State although she has it in her final list. State just doesn't reward smart Mississippi kids like Ole Miss does.

Arkansas waives out of state tuition for a 24+ ACT. We are visiting soon.
The entire family loves Auburn, but the scholarship situation does not look great there. Its a testament to the quality of student choosing Auburn.
Baylor and TCU have come on strong. If Waco was four hours away, that would be our top choice. We've made two visits to Baylor. TCU is a little closer but mom's nervous about driving in the Metroplex.

Curious question......when I see all these parents talking about their kids attending college, why is it always the big major ones like you list. With costs rising everywhere, is no one interested in USM, South Alabama, Kennesaw State, Memphis? What is it about driving all over and being able to go to these public schools?

Baylor and TCU are different - they are private and offer different things. But MSU, Ole Miss, Auburn, Arkansas? What's the big deal there? Is it humblebrag/status?

 

[paindonthurt17]

HVAC is constantly cited, alongside other building and maintenance trades, as a great alternative. And yeah- they absolutely cant be great alternatives.
Around me though, I dont know of any small HVAC companies, much less one owned by anyone young. Almost all are brands of larger construction companies or large companies themselves. I have read that the cost to enter is pretty high, compared to electrician or plumber, which is why there are so many more small electrician and plumbing companies.
^Maybe thats just unique to around me and there are a ton of small HVAC companies in places where the cost to enter is low.


And since its you and this is a thread about college, of course you continue the trades narrative. Once again-
- If you are going to run your own business, then classes in basic accounting, business law, marketing, management, etc can all be beneficial. This is especially true when small trade businesses are focused on, since there is a lot of turnover in those.
- A college degree continues to, on average, pay off more than not going to college. Yes obviously the college, cost, and degree matter. But even with the 'wasteful' degrees from the expensive colleges added in, a college degree still pays off more on average.
- Its unrealistic to have a flood of people come into trades and own their own businesses. Few will last and others will end up as employees. There is a reason why so many building and maintenance trade workers with broken bodies that are in their 50s. That has to be planned for at 20 years old and frequently sure doesnt seem to be.

If you have the money to attend college, do it. Its fun. Then do whatever you want.

If you have the means to attend but its going to put a burden on you, attend only if you are going to get a degree worth while. Accounting, engineering, etc. Unless you know exactly what you want to do and you see a path that only college can provide. But don't whine if you pick teaching elementary and you don't like the pay when you graduate.

If you aren't smart enough to get a meaningful degree (MANY PEOPLE AREN'T), finding a trade is a great ROI.

My nephew's step father and grandfather are both plumbers. My nephew has worked with them. I absolutely want him to go to college (his parents can afford it) and then he can go plumb.

If they couldn't afford it, id recommend he wen to work plumbing and go the 6 or 7 year route to a degree. (MANY PEOPLE AREN'T SMART ENOUGH OR DISCIPLINED ENOUGH TO DO THAT).