EU Degree Cost?

[dfrecore]

Do the kids really want a college degree and high school degree before age 18?

As cheap and quick as college degrees are, missing out on being a kid/teen and high school are not something I wish I had done. Their peers will go to college at 18, likely live in dorms, while they miss out on so many experiences.

I wish I hadn't graduated high school early and had chosen the social experience with my peers. Socializing, friendships, and kid/teen milestones are more the point of high school than academics. Kids get to be a kid once. Rushing that by graduating high school at 16 to work isn't as much of a dream scenario as it sounds. I graduated high school early, and it means missing out on the social experience to say the least. The kids could go to grad school early- but they won't be physically developed or socially developed like their peers. Being constantly out of place and younger than everyone in life stage really sucks. I got a job very young after graduating high school early and regret it. I had the option of homeschool/online school but opted to go back to an actual school with kids my own age. I regret graduating early and missing out on those teen milestones and progressing through life with my peers.

I absolutely LOATHED college; the dorms were a nightmare.  I moved out as soon as humanly possible and got an apartment alone, thank heavens.  I ended up hating school, but loving work; I started working FT at 18, and was happily ahead of all of my peers who chose the college route.  When I was about 22/23, 4 years into my career, my friends were graduating and getting crappy entry-level jobs making less than me.

I was THRILLED to skip college and get on with real life!  Best thing I ever did.  I eventually went on to get my degree, 30 years later, but wouldn't have changed a thing (ok, I actually would have dropped out sooner).

College isn't for everyone.  Dorms aren't for everyone.  School is not the only place to socialize - there are lots of ways to meet people other than in college.  I have zero friends from the 18 months I was at college, but lots of friends from my first "real" job - a couple of them came to visit a few months ago, and we've been friends for 30+ years.