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Working Moms
How important is formal higher education to you?
1) Do you have a degree?
2) Does your husband?
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college?
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: How important is formal higher education to you?
2) Does your husband? Yes, also Bachelors
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Very much so. We both come from families where everyone had 1-2 Masters degrees and/or a PhD. DH and I are actually the least "educated" in our families with only Bachelors degrees. Oddly enough, we also make the most money. ;-)
1) Yes - BS in Mechanical Engineering
2) Yes - BS in Electrical Engineering
3) Yes, but I want them to go for the actual education versus the "this will get me a great job!" thought process pushed on both my husband and myself. I figure if they get an undergrad in something they have a passion for they can always use a graduate degree to land the "good job"
4) Yes, my parents both told me when I graduated high school "so what" but in the nicest way possible. It was always expected that we would attend college and nothing short of that was really acceptable.
1) yes
2) no. He has a few hours left to finish and feels terrible that he hasn't. I've tried encouraging him but it's his issue to deal with (or not).
3) I think so. There is so much to be gained from the experience of being in college. I would hate for my kids to miss that.
4) It was always a given that I would go to college. It wasn't stressed in an overbearing way it was simply assumed.
My twins are 5! My baby is 3!
DS#2 - Allergic to Cashew, Pistachio, Kiwi
DS#3 - Allergic to Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts and Sesame
1. Yes - Bach. of Science
2. Yes - Bach. of Science
3. Absolutely. Unless they're simply not cut out for school, all of them will be going.
4. Yes, very much.
1) Do you have a degree? Yes, a BA
2) Does your husband? Yes, an AAS (associates of applied science).
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Eh. Right now, not really. I would be fine if she wanted to join the military, go into a trade or other type of training after high school.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Not especially. It was more of a "you need skills so you can get a job," and if college was the way to attain those skills, so be it.
2) Does your husband?yes
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college?Yes
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up?Very much so.
1. Yes- 2 BSs, MBA, JD and a LLM (in May)
2. Yes- a BS and a ton of professional certs
3. Ehh- I would prefer that they do- but as long as whatever they choose- they do their BEST at that, I would be happy.
4. No. Not per se. I was the first person in my immediate family to graduate high school let alone college or grad school. I am a firm believer that while your 'environment' plays a part of your upbringing you have the ultimate choice in your future
1) Do you have a degree?
BS, two MS's, and a PhD.
2) Does your husband?
BA
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college?
I'd strongly prefer they do.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up?
It was basically the default. We never had discussions about if I/my brother were going to college, it was always assumed we would and we didn't question it.
2) Does your husband? yes
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? yes but it's more important that the love what they are doing and don't have to struggle
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? yes and no, like in the last question, it was more important that we did something we loved and were successful at it. My parents didn't have high level degrees and are very successful.
1) Do you have a degree?
Yes
2) Does your husband?
Yes
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college?
It is important for my kids to realize their potential, be educated and informed about the world, engaged in what's happening around them and for them to be content. How they will do that is up to them.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up?
Yes. My parents both have master's.
However, advanced degrees are not a priority for DH or me. In both of our fields, those extra years of work experience have proven more useful than master's degrees. In fact, my BFF left a job similar to DH's, went and got her MBA at Fuqua, and now is lower on the totem pole than before she went to school (same job, different company). DH had MBAs reporting to him before he would have been old enough to have an MBA so he didn't go back and get his.
So, it all depends on the field with advanced degrees....OR it has to do with what will make you content. I highly value education, but I think that looks different--it also includes life experience like travel, work, etc.
1) Do you have a degree? Yes - BS in Marketing
2) Does your husband? Yes - BA in Business
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes, but I will try to realize that it is their own life choice if they decide not to go...but I will be very disapointed if that is the case.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Yes. I am the only one in my family that did not get education past college. Most people in my family are in the medical field, but being a doctor was of no interest to me.
1) Do you have a degree? Yes
2) Does your husband? Yes
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? I just want them to find something they love to do and work hard to achieve their dreams. That doesn't always mean going to college but we will support them however we can.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Neither of my parents got a bachelor's degree. My mom had an associate's and my dad went to mechanic school. There wasn't much emphasis on the importance of higher education in my family growing up but they still supported me through college.
Matthew Kevin
7/31/83-7/20/11
Met 1/8/00
Engaged 4/21/06
Married 9/29/07
Two beautiful legacies: Noah Matthew (2 yrs) and Chloe Marcella (8 mos)
Day Three
1) Do you have a degree? yes, masters
2) Does your husband? yes, masters
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? yes
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? yes
1) Do you have a degree? Yes, a BA
2) Does your husband? Yes, a BA and looking to start his masters in the fall
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? It was kind of assumed that we'd go to college. Mom never finished her degree because she got married and started having kids. She's always told me that she regrets not having finished.
1. BS Nursing
2. BS Molecular Bio, PhD Microbio
3. It is important that my children be educated. I think what post secondary education (college vs trade school) depends on what our children want to do. Like pp said, there are many careers that do not require a BS or PhD. I want my children to find a career they are passionate about and can support themselves while doing it.
4. yes. our parents did not have post secondary degrees... in fact both of our fathers did not finish h.s. Both have done well for themselves. They did encourage us to go on. my father stressed the need for me to be able to support myself.
1) Yes, AAS and BT degrees
2) Yes, AAS
3) We feel it is important that they go to college but certainly would not "force" them if it wasn't a right fit. No need to throw money away and have nothing in return.
4) It is valued in my family and three out of us four kids went. My third brother never showed the interest or maturity and my parents never pushed it. In DH's family neither of his parents have college degrees but they did expect both of their sons to pursue college.
1) Do you have a degree? Yes, BA
2) Does your husband? Yes, BA & JD
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes, but since neither my little brother nor DH's little brother finished I'm learning that it's not for everyone.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? yes, my parents both have BA's and my dad has an MBA. I went to the same college that my parents and my grandparents went to. All of my older cousins went to college. I was in high school before I realized that not everyone goes to college right after high school.
TTC#2 October 2011. June 2012 diagnosed with mild PCOS and both tubes blocked.
10/1/12 miracle BFP 11/12/12 missed m/c (9w2d), baby stopped growing at 7 weeks
1/16/13 BFP, EDD 9/27/13, m/c 1/19/13
2/12/13 BFP, EDD 10/25/13 Please stick little one
A stowaway on board!
1) Degree? Yes, BSN and a few masters classes
2) DH Degree? Yes, BS and MS +30 credits
3) Important for Kids to go to college? Absolutely.
4) Valued? It was kind of an unwritten "rule" growing up that we would leave home after high school and go to college. There was never any other options presented; when I mentioned that a HS friend was engaged and getting married, it was pretty much frowned upon by my parents. My dad was a teacher, and my mom a SAHM, and they both pushed for us to get good grades, do well on the SAT/ACT, and try hard to get scholarships for school.
1) Do you have a degree? No-I have a license to do what I do.
2) Does your husband? No- DH is retired from the Navy and just started going to college.
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? My 17 DS, not so much. I want him to start in the fall and he has been accepted to his first choice but he will be moving in with his father and I do not think he will ever start. He is smart but not college material and I can't do it for him. DD1 has to work for the grades but very much wants to be a doctor. Starting this summer we have several thing lined up to help her to reach her goals. DD2 I do not know yet. She is very smart so we will see.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? No. no one has yet to finish college in my generation in my family. DH has a nephew to finish so maybe the grandkids will.
1) Do you have a degree? Yes, BA and JD
2) Does your husband? Yes, BS and JD
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Yes, but because my parents didn't get college degrees and really, really wanted my sisters and me to have more opportunities than they did. My mom got her bachelor's degree in 1999, two years after I did. We were so proud of her!
1) Do you have a degree? Ed.M.
2) Does your husband? B.A.
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? This is a tough question for me because I sometimes wondering if my 6 years of schooling was really worth it in the end...particularly the last two getting my Ed.M. I guess my best answer would be it's important to me that they go to college if that's what will support them in their chosen life path. Also, I absolutely don't support going on for an advanced degree just to do-it either. After my experience in my master's program and afterwards, I realized that I should have taken some time to really decide if I needed that extra degree. Do I regret my decision? Not entirely but had I been better informed and not pushed to continue my schooling, I may have chosen a different path.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Yes and I would say somewhat to the negative extreme and I'm the only one in my family with an Ed.M. It was assumed and stressed that I had to keep going because I was "the smart one." And now I still have $40k in loans to pay off because I had to pay for it myself even though I was pushed to go further. Kind of messed up when I really think about it. I wish I would have known what I know now.
1) Do you have a degree?Yes
2) Does your husband? Yes
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? it was expected.
1) Do you have a degree? Yes
2) Does your husband? Yes
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? No. Its important for them to find what they love and be able to support themselves. College will not be a "requirement" although it will be encouraged.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up?
Yes and no. My mom encouraged us to attend college and always said that we would have more opportunities if we went. But coming down to brass tax she wasn't as supportive as she could havee been. When I switched from a university to a CC she didn't approve but wouldn't help me financially. She made it clear that she would not give emotional support for any other option besides staying at university but in the end I had no way to do so. She came around, though, and now points out to my younger sibs still at home that if I could do it facing what I did so can they. I know she will be more supportive and understanding of them than she was of me.1) Do you have a degree? Yes, B.A. and J.D.
2) Does your husband? Yes, B.A. and J.D.
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Yes
1) MD
2) JD
3) It is VERY important that my kids go to college and I will be adamant about it - to the greatest extent possible.
4) Almost everyone in my family (parents, ILs, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins....) has an advanced degree. . So education is simply a given in my family.
1) Do you have a degree? Yes - BA in Journalism
2) Does your husband? Yes - BS in Civil Engineering
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college?
Yes, if they want to. I will definately encourage them as much as possilbe, but I do think it isn't for everyone and it will remain to be seen if it is their "thing". I think the most important thing is that they are productive members of society, can support themselves and their families and enjoy their life. There are other ways of accomplishing those things without formal education. I personally loved college and would absolutely love to get my PhD (if money weren't an issue).
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Yes, my parents didn't go to college and they always regretted it. They were adamant that my brother and I both go. My brother ended up dropping out, but my mom still begs him to go back.
1) Do you have a degree? Yes, a bachelor's degree.
2) Does your husband? Yes, he has his MBA.
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Very
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Definitely. Everyone in our family (extended family including cousins, and even both of my grandmothers) went to college. It was just assumed we'd go to college.
1) Do you have a degree? yes, BAx2, MD
2) Does your husband? BSx2, MD
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes, but more so for the experience than career-wise. A lot of my friends are in fields not at all related to their undergrad studies, but college is simply a great time in your life. Both DH and I LOVED college, neither one of us really tried to take classes that geared us towards med school, but rather immersed ourselves in all kinds of other subjects that simply interested us. I hope DS (and any additional DCs we have) wants to go to college, and goes to take classes for personal enrichment and interest, not just with pure career goals in mind.
I paid for my own undergrad with scholarships, so while my parents thought the linguistics classes that I took were "pointless" to someone going into medicine, they had no say in my decisions as soon as I left their home. My siblings, on the other hand, did not fair so well academically, and my parents agreed to pay for their schooling in exchange for all 3 of them majoring in business. None of them were actually interested in business--one wanted to major in art, one in history, and the last in psychology. It really squashed their spirits to be so limited and "forced" into a field they weren't interested in. I tried to encourage them to go their own ways and take out loans, but none were that independent.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Absolutely, both parents went to grad school, so it was assumed that we would at least complete undergrad.
1) Yes, BA and DPT (Doctorate in Physical Therapy)
2) Yes, BA
3) Yes, but I want it to be for them, not for me. If they choose not to go, I will support that too.
4) It was more emphasized for us to think about what we wanted to be, and then making goals to achieve that dream. My dad never finished college, and is a truck driver, and he has been with the same company since 1985. My mom went back to school when I was younger, and graduated in 1990, when I was almost 12years old. She then went on and got her CPA, and then in 1999 got her Master's degree. So I know you can be successful without a degree (my dad) and I know that it is never too late to start college, the key is knowing what you want to do, so you don't waste time or money (my mom).
1) Do you have a degree? Yes, BA/JD
2) Does your husband? Yes, BA
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes! It's not an option not to.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Yes.
1) Do you have a degree? yes, BS and MA
2) Does your husband? yes, BA and JD
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? hell yeah
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? yup. Not going to college was not even mentioned.
1) Do you have a degree?
Yes, just a B.S. though.
2) Does your husband?
Yes, a B.A.
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college?
Incredibly so.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up?
Yes, my mom is a principal and has 2 MA degrees. My dad has his MBA. They both went back to school when we were little. Going to college was not really a choice in our house. It was assumed you would go. Which, honestly, was the way to go. There just wasn't any question. And, my parents always pushed doing your best in all subjects. They wanted us to have every door open to us. I really appreciated that. My mom & dad never let us take "easy A" classes. For instance, my high school only required you to complete pre-calc. But, if I had done that, I would not have had any math my senior year. My parents made me take calc, instead of filling up my schedule with World Foods or something to that effect.
1) Do you have a degree? Yes - BS
2) Does your husband? yes, BS @ Ivy league and JD
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? yes, but if one/they decided not to and found other ways to be productive members of society I'd be OK with that - as long as they were doing something they loved and working hard and being good people - not being slackers and doing nothing.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? yes. I'm the youngest of 4 and 3 of us went to college. My sister wasn't cut out for it and dropped out after a year. My mom and dad both went to college.... it was just sort of something expected.
2) Does your husband? Yes, B.S Psych
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? Yes.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Actually, NO. It was expected that we would all finish high school, but beyond that no. My mom actually told me several times ( i have no idea why she told me this) that my father (who went to trade school for a 1 year degree) was "disappointed" I chose to "waste" money going away to college. My brother is a pipefitter and my sister went to a community college. I think we all turned out fine, regardless of my parents' expectations (or lack of them).
1) Do you have a degree? Yes, bachelor's.
2) Does your husband? Yes, associate's. He started school for his bachelor's, but as an extremely bright 20-year-old during the dot-com boom, he quickly figured out that working was far more profitable. He has so much work experience at this point that missing his bachelor's degree isn't terribly important, but he's still working on it through an online college, just because he wants it.
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? It's important to me that they do something after high school that puts them on the road to a long-term career. If that's college, great, but it could also be something like joining the military, doing an apprenticeship, etc. That said, we are saving so that we'll be able to pay for college for them, so obviously we are expecting that they will go.
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? Very much so.
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
1) Do you have a degree? - Yes
2) Does your husband? - Yes
3) Is it important for your kids to go to college? - Yes
4) Was higher education valued in your family growing up? - Yes, every member of my family has advanced degrees. It was expected that everyone will graduate from college and have a master's degree, just what everyone did. I didn't realize not everyone did that until I was in college (I did not go to high school in the States, every person I went to high school with went to/graduated from college)