What would you tell your kids to do for a living?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Sliver

For me, that's an extra $40k multiplied by two kids to equal $80k and that's if they both wrap it up in four years. I did my degree in four, but most of my slacker friends took five. If even one of my kids takes an extra year that's $90k.

Still a waste of money IMO. That's literally a down payment each...there is no point in flushing that much money down the toilet when you can do a gap year and get paid to live away from home if you want.

Plus have you met those rez kids? They're weird af. I don't want to end up with a Fuzz and surferguy.

Sure, there are cheaper ways to do things, and I can't deny that. But, post-secondary is about a lot more than just the academic aspect. Having a somewhat structured, somewhat familiar (because it's still school despite some obvious differences) for young adults first foray out on their own is not the worst thing.

And, whether you care to admit it or not, kids living at home going to UofC are not getting the same experience as kids living in rez, or elsewhere from their parents. It's a commuter school, and those kids are missing out on a whole other element of that experience.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

The residence cost for the first year at Queen's University in Ontario is $12,309.40 to $18,746.40, including a mandatory meal plan. The fees cover the residence period from August 30, 2025, until no later than 3 pm the day after the last scheduled exam in April 2026.

We did that for our son, and he made some lifelong friends. He phoned me on Reading Week, and said, "Dad, all my friends have gone to Switzerland or Vail to ski." I said, "It's Reading Week...get reading". I think they spent a lot of time that week, filling a guy's room with newspaper.

Oh la dee da we got a Queen's student over here.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Slava

Sure, there are cheaper ways to do things, and I can't deny that. But, post-secondary is about a lot more than just the academic aspect. Having a somewhat structured, somewhat familiar (because it's still school despite some obvious differences) for young adults first foray out on their own is not the worst thing.

And, whether you care to admit it or not, kids living at home going to UofC are not getting the same experience as kids living in rez, or elsewhere from their parents. It's a commuter school, and those kids are missing out on a whole other element of that experience.

I don't deny it, but I'm still gambling that the money I'm actually allotting to a gifted down payment for them will give a better life return. It really is one or the other in our house (either live away during school or get a down payment for a house when done school).

I will say I'm prepared to slap down a down payment starting in third year if things are going well. Then they can put some roommates in the house for a few years to chip down the mortgage and get the out-of-the-nest experience.

Still will have saved me at least $50k between the two of them to keep them at home.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

For me, that's an extra $40k multiplied by two kids to equal $80k and that's if they both wrap it up in four years. I did my degree in four, but most of my slacker friends took five. If even one of my kids takes an extra year that's $90k.

Still a waste of money IMO. That's literally a down payment each...there is no point in flushing that much money down the toilet when you can do a gap year and get paid to live away from home if you want.

Plus have you met those rez kids? They're weird af. I don't want to end up with a Fuzz and surferguy.

We were both out of towners! Plus, lifelong friends now, and you can't put a price on that.

[Yeah_Baby]

I'm still friends with folks I met 20 years go (#### I'm old) in First Year. I wouldn't have met them if I didn't live in Res and move away for school.

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by troutman

Going away for school may require some level of bursaries, scholarships, and summer/part-time employment. I worked in a paint store though out law school and did not need much help from my parents or student loans. Other classmates spent every summer in Europe, using their student loan money for travel.

I’m also a big fan of gap years - going walkabout for a year is huge for development. I think most Aussies do this.

The economics of postsecondary have changed quite a bit since Gen-X graduated, as costs have outpaced inflation by a wide margin. Res (no meal plan), tuition, fees, and books for my son are around $20,000-$22,000 PLUS food and all other living expenses on top of that, and he is able to make about $7000- $8000 by working summer and part time during Uni. Even adjusting for inflation, that's more than double what I paid 25 years ago.

I used to hear those stories about people getting student loan money and travelling, but almost everyone I knew growing up needed student loan money to go to Uni and I don't know a single person who travelled to Europe during their Uni years.

[calgarygeologist]

I'll post this question in this thread because it relates to some degree but is anyone familiar with the Circuit Stream courses/summer camps? I'm thinking about signing up my kid for a two week camp in the summer. I don't know which one he might be interested in but I'm thinking it could be drone engineering or machine learning. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if these programs are worth it and if teens enjoy it and learn something useful especially with the cost associated.

https://www.circuitstream.com/youth/experience/preuni

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think it is better for students not to live at home for University (even if studyng in the same city where the parents live).

Maybe so. But that option is off the table for a lot of families. With two kids, you’re looking at an extra $100k+ to give them a cool growth experience. On top of the $80k or so it takes to put two kids through four years of university living at home.

Our daughter is going to U of A in the fall. We explained to her that the cost of fours years away will exceed what we’ve set aside for her in RESPs by more than $30k (we’ve saved $55k for each of our kids and four years away will run around $90k). She still really wanted to go. So she’s going to graduate with at least $30k in debt. Is a 17 year old able to really understand what that means? I doubt it. But here we are.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Slava

Sure, there are cheaper ways to do things, and I can't deny that. But, post-secondary is about a lot more than just the academic aspect. Having a somewhat structured, somewhat familiar (because it's still school despite some obvious differences) for young adults first foray out on their own is not the worst thing.

And, whether you care to admit it or not, kids living at home going to UofC are not getting the same experience as kids living in rez, or elsewhere from their parents. It's a commuter school, and those kids are missing out on a whole other element of that experience.

I don’t think anyone is arguing that it isn’t a better experience. It’s a matter of an extra $100k for two kids being a nothingburger for some families, tough but manageable for others, and completely off the table for others.

We don’t like to talk about class in our society. But going away for university is absolutely a class marker - just as anything else that involves whopping amounts of money is.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I don’t think anyone is arguing that it isn’t a better experience. It’s a matter of an extra $100k for two kids being a nothingburger for some families, tough but manageable for others, and completely off the table for others.

We don’t like to talk about class in our society. But going away for university is absolutely a class marker - just as anything else that involves whopping amounts of money is.

That’s absolutely it, as well as the number of kids you have. Planning on saving for 3 kids is vastly different than only one. The experience of going away for post secondary is very overblown in my opinion, and how much life experience do you really gain from being in res vs at home? I learned a hell of a lot more when I had to manage my first home instead of my time in university.

The only real skills I learned while away were moderately good study habits and how to operate with a hangover. If the U of C would have honoured my previous education I would have been much further ahead with the cash in hand.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Maybe so. But that option is off the table for a lot of families. With two kids, you’re looking at an extra $100k+ to give them a cool growth experience. On top of the $80k or so it takes to put two kids through four years of university living at home.

Our daughter is going to U of A in the fall. We explained to her that the cost of fours years away will exceed what we’ve set aside for her in RESPs by more than $30k (we’ve saved $55k for each of our kids and four years away will run around $90k). She still really wanted to go. So she’s going to graduate with at least $30k in debt. Is a 17 year old able to really understand what that means? I doubt it. But here we are.

Good points. A young person should be able to earn $10K in the summer, and $1000 per month during the school year. A waitress can earn much more than that with tips.

A floor manager in Res can get free rooming.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Weitz

The weird kids are the ones who stay home during university.

Stupid ####ing comment.

Not all individuals are the same.

Some are ready for post secondary schooling, but not o live on their own.

[howard_the_duck]

I honestly don't know. Great thread topic.

AI's coming for all professional jobs, and fast, so I don't think we have the faintest idea of what the next 5-10 years looks like. AGI terrifies the daylights out of me, and when it arrives all bets are off.

My kids are young, so by the time I'm having these conversations with them the landscape will be much different.

Learning how to work with AI, incorporating it into all workstreams, is paramount for the up-and-coming aspiring professionals entering University right now, IMO.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Stupid ####ing comment.

Not all individuals are the same.

Some are ready for post secondary schooling, but not o live on their own.

I stayed home. I'm pretty weird.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by fotze2

I stayed home. I'm pretty weird.

You should continue to do so.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

You should continue to do so.

Who'd fata your mom then?

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Who'd fata your mom then?

Hell for all I’d care anyone who can make her less of a miserable hag, but that’s a story for a different time. You need to step up your dick game fotze

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Hell for all I’d care anyone who can make her less of a miserable hag, but that’s a story for a different time. You need to step up your dick game fotze

Neither of us are happy with the arrangement. How'd you live in there for 6 months?

[PaperBagger'14]

Why do you think I left 3 months prematurely?

[Monahammer]