Quote :

"If a woman spends all the time, effort, and money to get all these advanced degrees and then gets pregnant and never goes back to work, then yes, it was all a huge waste. OP is referring to those moms that never go back into the workforce."

This is what I assumed from the thread title as well.

6/8/2011 9:07:40 AM

is that not what is going on in this thread? I won't bother reading anything but the response immediately following mine, so make it a good summary!

6/8/2011 9:10:16 AM

paying for post-graduate degrees in general is ill advised, motherhood incoming or not.

[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 9:13 AM. Reason : excluding JDs and MBAs... although those seem to be losing steam these days.]

6/8/2011 9:12:51 AM

clarification for page two:

i forgot about this thread

"stay at home" did not fit in the title. why do women get post-grad degrees to be stay at home moms?

[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 8:38 AM. Reason : i mean i understand that women like spending money...]

6/8/2011 9:15:14 AM

Quote :

"That doesn't make sense. How can you "already taken care of a baby" without having a baby. There is a big difference between taking care of someone else's baby and your own baby."

FWIW I have an 8 year old. he's in second grade. both myself and my wife have professional degrees and careers.

6/8/2011 9:18:40 AM

fwiw, didn't you marry into that? were you there when the kid was little?

6/8/2011 9:21:40 AM

since he was 3

6/8/2011 9:33:59 AM

so, not a baby then. cause you seemed to be claiming that you knew what it was like to work and have a baby... but you don't really.

but thats not really the point

this thread came to mind after seeing a female poster, who i seemed to remember going to law school, posting about their plan to be a stay at home mom. how stupid is that? spend money on law school to stay at home with a kid?

6/8/2011 9:36:26 AM

did she have the money to spend?



i mean if she went into debt and then started living of the government then i may have an issue with it.
but if shes able to pay off the debt then whose (who's? i dont think so) business is it really?

maybe someone was just very interested in the subject. (in ^case then its law)



[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 9:41 AM. Reason : iuoiuoi]

6/8/2011 9:41:13 AM

i dint realize there were post-grad degrees in momology. Does State have such a degree?
what exactly do they teach there?


also

6/8/2011 9:43:54 AM

Quote :

"did she have the money to spend? i mean if she went into debt and then started living of the government then i may have an issue with it. but if shes able to pay off the debt then whose (who's? i dont think so) business is it really? maybe someone was just very interested in the subject. (in ^case then its law)"

Does it matter whether she had the money to spend? It was money that could have been put to use elsewhere. Like for the child's college fund who she is not working to raise at home. It's pretty selfish actually now that I think about it.

And 'being interested in the subject' is no reason to spend money on a degree you know you won't use. Again, I find this pretty selfish and self important.

6/8/2011 9:47:26 AM

Quote :

"Like for the child's college fund who she is not working to raise at home"

that is a very very valid point.
i agree 100%

Quote :

"And 'being interested in the subject' is no reason to spend money on a degree you know you won't use. Again, I find this pretty selfish and self important."

i don't necessarily agree with this however. i think its awesome to expand your knowledge if you have the resources and availability.
i also (for the most part) don't think that being selfish about certain things is not necessarily bad thing.


^whats your opinion of people who go to grad school and end up with no debt (say scholarship of some sort) but don't end up working in the field?

i guess you could argue that the scholarship could have been given to someone more "needing". which is very valid.



hmmm this has turned into a more interesting topic than i thought.

[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 9:55 AM. Reason : is not hehe]

6/8/2011 9:52:44 AM

Quote :

"I call bullshit on two people working consistent fifty hour weeks and having time for young children"

Agreed.

(unless the children are going to school)

(otherwise you are leaving infants/toddlers with other people, and that's not good nor fair to the child)

6/8/2011 10:16:55 AM

What happens when all the progressive single mothers with masters degrees in international business can't foot the bill for the Wal-Mart diapers

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204731804574388682129316614.html

6/8/2011 10:27:33 AM

well i have 2 feelings of post-grad people

For some, their dream job requires it thus they must do it... rock on more power to you
For others they're not quite ready for the real world yet and are just looking for reasons not to enter it.

6/8/2011 10:28:05 AM

Quote :

"can't foot the bill for the Wal-Mart diapers"

this is the line for me.

if you can't afford it, nor plan to make the monies to afford it.

then dont freaking do it.

6/8/2011 10:29:49 AM

Quote :

"^whats your opinion of people who go to grad school and end up with no debt (say scholarship of some sort) but don't end up working in the field? "

Lots of people, I'd go so far as to say a majority, go on to work in fields that they did not study in. I wouldn't fault the person for taking a scholarship that was given to them even if they were not sure what field they would end up in. It is the university's job to hand out scholarships to those they feel most appropriate. Again, emphasis on the "going on to work in" part.

Quote :

"For others they're not quite ready for the real world yet and are just looking for reasons not to enter it."

Also, this. It drive me crazy. Professional students. I know people in the 30s that have never had any job even as a part time delivery/library/other menial student type job, but continue to take out (and postpone paying) student loans.

6/8/2011 10:36:28 AM

yeah i can agree with that.


what about people who are completely able to pay off school?
do you think they are selfish?

(these are honest questions)

6/8/2011 10:39:08 AM

I would call them financially responsible.

By the way, can I borrow $20?

6/8/2011 10:46:33 AM

^ gg

6/8/2011 10:49:29 AM

lol.

im not necessarily talking about myself.

i have a few very very very rich friends who go to grad school and will be debt free.



i think its perfectly fine regardless if they end up using it or not, but i am curious of other peoples opinions

6/8/2011 10:51:47 AM

Quote :

"what about people who are completely able to pay off school? do you think they are selfish? "

I wouldn't call that selfish. Again, if they are not going to enter the workforce afterwards, I'd call it stupid.

6/8/2011 10:56:22 AM

why would you call it stupid though?
don't you think that education is good thing to spend money on if youre going to "waste" it?


i guess the better question is-if you had the money at your disposal waht would you spend it on?
would you invest it or enjoy it?
if you chose the former how long would you invest until you decided to spend it?
and then what would it be on?
this is assuming that this is extra money.....



[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 11:00 AM. Reason : dgfdgdf]

6/8/2011 10:57:08 AM

The hottest deal going right now from our current reincarnation of the FDR administration is the 10 years of Fed gov't employment in exchange for student loan debt forgiveness, so this is another option.

6/8/2011 10:58:02 AM

Quote :

"Professional students. I know people in the 30s that have never had any job even as a part time delivery/library/other menial student type job, but continue to take out (and postpone paying) student loans."

I have a feeling that it is the culture of today's youth that they have been told all their lives that they must get as much education as possible, and as a result turn into professional students. These are the kids who go through school in Honors/AP courses, then get into college and take the Honors courses and programs, do the "ass kissing"/more political-esque clubs, and graduate top of the class while doing only summer internships for experience (no waiting tables jobs). They apply to the top schools in the country and go into grad school...for what? They don't know, they're just supposed to. They'll figure it out eventually. Upon finishing grad school they stick around as a post-doc and eventually become a professor.

I've been surrounded by many people who fit this mold during my academic career, and while many of them actually have a purpose and drive to get a worthwhile education, many more simply come off as naive kids who are living their life by a check-box list. Very bright of course, but they follow "the path". These people have no idea what the real world entails, so its funny watching when they get a dose or two of it

/mini-rant

6/8/2011 11:03:46 AM

i am in no way arguing with ya'll.

what im talking about is very subjective.



i adore learning.
i love it.
if i could i would totally be a professional student for the remainder of my life.
but just because i love learning tihngs i dont know about.

i totally plan on taking classes for fun once im done with my doctorate and get my 2nd big girl job. (if i can)

maybe sign language and some sort of philosophy class.


this is one of the reasons i chose pharmacy as well. it CONSTANTLY changing and new things are being learned.
the whole medical field is like that.



[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 11:06 AM. Reason : ^lol don't hate me please. i did work for about 3 years before i went back to school ]

6/8/2011 11:04:04 AM

Quote :

"why would you call it stupid though? don't you think that education is good thing to spend money on if youre going to "waste" it? i guess the better question is-if you had the money at your disposal waht would you spend it on? would you invest it or enjoy it? if you chose the former how long would you invest until you decided to spend it? and then what would it be on? this is assuming that this is extra money..... "

I'd call it stupid because you wouldn't be using it. Would you buy a car and never use it? Would you buy a cake and never eat it? If you are going to 'waste' money, why not waste it on something you are going to use?

And why do I need to spend it? I guess I'm not the type of person to just 'spend' money just because I have it/don't need it. I don't see they point.

6/8/2011 11:06:28 AM

^someone gives you 50k right now.
what would you do with it?

Quote :

"I'd call it stupid because you wouldn't be using it. Would you buy a car and never use it? Would you buy a cake and never eat it? If you are going to 'waste' money, why not waste it on something you are going to use? "

education is always useful imo.
it's fun!

don't people buy classic cars just to show them?
or people buy cakes from celebrity weddings just to own them?



[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 11:10 AM. Reason : dcfgf]

6/8/2011 11:07:45 AM

Men -


one of the greatest preservations of longterm family wealth is a very educated female to run the family. It's an investment in family capital.
All objective metrics - infant mortality, child classroom performance, etc. are more favorably correlated with the increasing level of education of the mother.

Therefore if you want to hand over generational wealth to responsible offspring, make sure you marry someone as smart as possible to train your kids.

6/8/2011 11:09:01 AM

I would invest half of it in low risk mutual funds and then take the other half over to my friend Asadulah who works in securities.

6/8/2011 11:09:51 AM

gsdd

[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 11:17 AM. Reason : sdfds]

6/8/2011 11:12:37 AM

My cousin does securities ligitation....and just had a baby and stopped working.


I suddenly realize that all women are guilty of this

6/8/2011 11:12:58 AM

Quote :

"^someone gives you 50k right now. what would you do with it?"

To be honest, nothing. I've got more than that available to me at the moment anyway. But I can honestly say that if someone gave me 10mil right now, my answer probably wouldn't change much. Maybe a new house and a new car, maybe a longer nicer vacation, but I don't think I'd quit my job and make a drastic lifestyle change.

Quote :

"I would invest half of it in low risk mutual funds and then take the other half over to my friend Asadulah who works in securities."

LOL. ISWYDT.

[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 11:15 AM. Reason : haha]

6/8/2011 11:13:49 AM

im the same way
i wouldn't even get a new house!


i am in no way really arguing with you, i think you make awesome points!


im just a sucker for education.


however let it be known it absolutely pisses me off if someone goes into deep debt and cant pay it off because of the aforementioned topics. eff that.


but i need to get going. i have a pretty big event in a few days and need to get some stuff done for it!


twas nice chatting with you guys

6/8/2011 11:17:31 AM

I have no debt so no problem. They way i see it hopefully play out is work. Hopefully get married have kids stop career but still volunteer with career when they grow up a bit and then eventually get my PhD so when the kids go off to college i can become a professor.



[Edited on June 8, 2011 at 11:24 AM. Reason : d]

6/8/2011 11:24:10 AM

Quote :

"don't people buy classic cars just to show them?"

Showing cars at events is still doing something with them. Also, some classic cars are very good investments and to a lot of people classic cars are art, just like a sculpture or painting. So I'm gonna say bad example

6/8/2011 11:34:15 AM

Quote :

"i am in no way really arguing with you, i think you make awesome points!"

I can tell you are being more inquisitive than augmentative. That's fine. I don't know... I guess I get more pleasure out of spending for loved ones and the thought of being a good provider one day makes me happy. I just don't really have anyone to 'provide' for right now. And I'm not one to spend anything on myself.

6/8/2011 11:40:16 AM

Anyone who says 10 mil wouldn't change their life is already rich as fuck or a damn fool

6/8/2011 11:41:18 AM

Quote :

"i have 2 feelings of post-grad people For some, their dream job requires it thus they must do it... rock on more power to you For others they're not quite ready for the real world yet and are just looking for reasons not to enter it."

can't it be both?

6/8/2011 11:42:13 AM

10mil aint as baller as it used to be.

6/8/2011 11:42:40 AM

Its still more than 95 percent of TWWians will make in their lifetimes.

6/8/2011 11:44:33 AM

Quote :

"Anyone who says 10 mil wouldn't change their life is already rich as fuck or a damn fool"

$10 million is enough to live on easy street the rest of your (and your family's) life...unless you're a complete retard.

6/8/2011 11:46:20 AM

Unlike dude in the Lounge who was acting like 100K a year had him and his whole family "set for life"

6/8/2011 11:47:23 AM

If someone gave me 10 mil i'd start my own buisness.

i have an awesome idea and it will stay mine until someone gives me 1 mil or i save enough to get my small business loan and get it rolling

6/8/2011 11:51:30 AM

50K would make a huge difference in my life

6/8/2011 11:51:56 AM

my degree won't cost me a dime to attain

so therefore no debt

(and yes, I agree that it is a waste of money for a woman to get a post-grad degree if she has the slightest possibility to want to be a SAHM)

6/8/2011 11:53:18 AM

if someone gave me $10m the last thing in the world i'd do is risk it in a business.

you can put that shit in a savings account and make $125k/year. god damn that'd be sweet.

6/8/2011 11:54:09 AM

That's cool. That this thread doesn't really apply to you, does it?

6/8/2011 11:54:18 AM

unless you put like $2 mil of it into a sure thing - like a McDonald's franchise near the highway

6/8/2011 11:55:09 AM

^ you'd still have to operate a mcdonald's franchise. why not do something that doesn't suck?

6/8/2011 11:57:28 AM