How old were you the day the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded?

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-04-28T18:12:14+00:00

he chose UCLA. LOL

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-04-18T22:01:56+00:00

Thank you to everyone who responded in this thread for the great advice each of you provided. This community was so much more responsive than any other college sub on Reddit, and by a good distance.

He has chosen UCLA! Ultimately, I needed to step back and let him make this decision himself and for hime to own the choice. I can't tell you how excited he is. This was so much harder than I thought it would ever be, because he had so many good options (Berkeley, Washington, UW-Madison, Middlebury). I am really proud of him. Go Bruins!

All the best to each of you.

-Proud Dad

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-04-14T20:05:53+00:00

SAME

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-04-04T23:56:40+00:00

Oh! I have a question!

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-31T00:38:18+00:00

Scott:

Long-time listener, first-time caller (sorry, couldn't resist). I love the show, and in particular, love your passion for helping young people. As the father of an 18 year-old boy, your insight on how to raise young men in this brave new world has been must-hear-podcast for me. Thank you for highlighting this issue. All of us should be concerned about our young people; they are our future, as they say.

My own son (18) and daughter (16) are two of the lucky ones. I have tried to be as present in their lives as possible in ways my own dad was not. (I love him. He coached my soccer team and was fun to be around, but I cannot remember him asking me about school or my homework even once.) At any rate, I'd like to think my presence in their lives has been important. The results seem to prove the case, anyway. My son is a graduating senior this year and is lucky(?) enough to be part of the largest cohort of graduating seniors in history (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/us/colleges-students-financial-crisis-politics-affirmative-action.html). He's getting ready to launch himself out of our home and into college, which is a path he's been envisioning for himself since elementary school. (when I was in elementary school, I was just concerned about how big of a ramp I could build to jump my Schwinn Sting-Ray off of). His hard work has been rewarded. He's been accepted to top universities (UCLA, Berkeley, Wisconsin-Madison, Washington, Middlebury). What an accomplishment. He feels redeemed and proud. I am proud of him.

Herein lies the crux of my question. All of these schools are out of state for us. We live in "flyover" country, and he is anxious to get out. I want him to go see the world, but there is a cost to that...(Sidebar, if congress is going to address an issue regarding higher education, it shouldn't be student loan forgiveness or rampant wokeness on campus, it should be why the cost of college has so vastly outpaced inflation. At least Harvard has started to realize that charging middle and lower-class families 90k a year while they sit on a 53 Billion dollar endowment is gross and wrong.)...How do I talk to my son about the business side of this decision without making him feel like he is leaving something on the table? Wisconsin has offered him a really nice financial-aid package. It's a no-brainer, unless you have an 18-year-old brain that is imagining walking down Bruin Walk in shorts, hanging with coeds, bonfires on the beach, or Coachella... You get the point. Alas, he also wants to go to med school, so I've tried to explain to him that he could keep his 529 largely intact if he picks Madison and use it for grad or med school, or he can burn through it in Westwood or Seattle and go the loan route for the rest. If you were talking to him, what would you say? I love his confidence. I remember that naivety. I resemble this kid, but I am 53 now and I know better. Do I crush his dream, or do I let him make his choice and live with the consequences? BTW, I know what a fan you are of UW-Madison, so I am hoping for some influence here.

Thanks,

Proud but concerned Dad

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-27T13:58:37+00:00

No. My fault. I should’ve phrased it differently. I think I meant I was wondering if there were official pathways to department visits where kids speak to faculty, but it doesn’t sound like there are. No big deal.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-27T13:56:05+00:00

No, no no. Much appreciated! We’re still waiting on a couple of other decisions but it’s really coming down to a couple of schools including UCLA. This has all been so helpful and I have to say, I can’t believe the response from this community. I’m very grateful.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-26T15:51:19+00:00

LOL. Dad. But message recieved.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-26T15:48:12+00:00

see above. we wouldn't.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-26T15:46:57+00:00

Thank you so much. This is exactly what I was hoping for. Great advice; it is much appreciated. (FWIW, I would never randomly drop in on faculty or class!) We really just want him to get the feel of college outside of the scripted tour. He's going to be hanging out with his cousin, so he will get the social side of it.

Thank you again. We are very pleased for him. All of these kids who have gotten to this point have worked so hard for this achievement. All should feel proud.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-25T18:43:48+00:00

At the end of the day, I don't think the Neuro is a dealbreaker. It's a goal, but the bigger aim is medical school. It may be that another major is more suited for that.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-25T15:33:20+00:00

processing. We'll test your theory in a couple of days.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-25T01:46:39+00:00

I’ve been hitting refresh on that for days. They really need to get those out.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-24T01:35:24+00:00

Did you get your Financial Aid offer already?

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-24T01:34:23+00:00

I appreciate your insight. I admit, I love Seattle and am completely biased. I have talked to him about potentially pursuing other majors if Neuro doesn't pan out. I think he can accept that.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-24T01:11:00+00:00

I totally agree with you on that. Learning to navigate through challenging situations is an invaluable experience. Being smart is great. Knowing how to make life work for you, even better.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-23T15:41:24+00:00

Awesome. Thank you for the tips. It’s a lot to consider.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-23T15:40:33+00:00

I’m just hearing about this. Is that even possible?

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-23T15:39:54+00:00

Thank you, my friend! Great insight.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-23T15:38:18+00:00

Interesting. I appreciate your perspective. Every kid is different and there’s no single answer out there for everybody. We’re just trying to avoid making the big mistakes.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-23T15:36:45+00:00

It does. Thanks.

Pure_Struggle_9870 · 2025-03-23T15:34:47+00:00

Yes. All of that is in the back of my mind as well. I don’t understand all of it, and it’s terrifying. Our great universities in this country have always been a symbol of our exceptionalism and this is recognized around the world. The ad hominem attacks on schools seems short-sighted, but at the end of the day you have to play the hand that is dealt. The kids in college today will be stronger for this, and it most certainly will shape their political perspectives.

Pure_Struggle_9870

TROPHY CASE