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I will encourage my son to go to college, and will guide him as best I can, but it is in no way a "non-negotiable." I don't really understand how one could make it non-negotiable. At 18-years-old you are considered an adult so I'm not even sure how you could force a college education.

We will raise LO stressing the value of a good education and trust that he will make an informed choice that he feels is best for him.

No it wont be pushed but will be recommended!
I agree that in this day and age a degree (ANY degree) can get your foot in the door of employment.

Or like others have mentioned a trade school or maybe even join the military?

I'd strongly, strongly prefer that my daughter go to college, but in the end, the decision is up to her. I will do all I can to advocate, expose, and stress the importance of a post-secondary education, and plan on saving funds to assist in her endeavors. However, I genuinely just want her to happy, and at peace with her life. We will support her dreams, regardless.

Yes.

While it is a piece of paper that gets you in the doors for many job fields, for me it has a cultural tie as well.

My parents sacrificed everything in their home country for me to come to the US to have the access (albeit not free) to higher education. I've always loved learning and I'd be a full-time student if $$ allowed it! I want them to love learning like I do--

I am partially through my masters, and DH completed his-- formal education is really important to us and a huge part of who we are as adults so we want our kids to experience the same thing.

I agree with those that have said some sort of secondary education is necessary, but not traditional 4 year college. I am a first generation college grad in my family. I have been surrounded by many examples of family members who have made great careers for themselves despite not going to college bc they are hard working, motivated, and develop skills. My BIL owns his own mechanic shop, my sister was a district manager in retail, my brother manages a butcher dept in grocery store, my dad did well as an electrician and in factory management.

For me college was the right choice, but I think it's absurd to waste money for a degree if you don't plan on using it. There are so many other ways to learn, grow, gain skills, and be successful.

@Maysprout: I don't think you can force an 18 year old to go to college. I do think that you can encourage your kids from an early age in such a way that it is just something they feel is expected of them and that there really isn't an alternative in their minds. (long before they turn 18)

We don't really plan on college being optional. It'll be a "when you go to college" thing in our house. And I'd be surprised if our LO (both Dh and I are engineers, using our degrees, i have my masters and dh will have his soon) doesn't choose higher education, based on how she will be raised. She'll be presented with a strong example of what it does for you, in our house.

@Mrs. Jacks: @prettylizy: I think it's a good idea to encourage from an early age, I just don't think it's a guarantee it'll get the intended results. It's of course more likely to get the intended results then if college is poo poo'd but kids are their own entities with their own ideas and I'm sure they'll consider alternatives to college. I'd be a little skeptical if my kids didn't consider alternatives and just still automatically deferred to my thinking at age 18.

Like @Mrs. Jacks: we expect our kids to complete schooling to the highest level capable. I believe that as we move from industrialization to an information age, post-secondary education is going to become more and more central to later achievements. I expect that my kids will do as much school as possible so they can have the best chance at success.

@Honeybee: So, true. My husband is saying that all the time. He thinks in the future a 4 year degree will be standard and master/graduate degrees will be a necessity. *** Note this is DHs opinion.. Please don't write mean things to me

@littlek: No mean words here!

It would totally depend on his chosen field, but I think we would require some kind of post-secondary education. For example, if he wanted to be a chef, I wouldn't make him go to a 4-year college, but I'd encourage him to go to culinary school.

DH and I both have degrees, and most of DH's family has a bachelor's degree if not a Masters/PhD, so I'd imagine it will be highly encouraged. I'd be open to a trade, but I still consider that post secondary education, and would probably also encourage some sort of business classes so they can run their own plumbing company or whatever down the road, and maybe even step away from the physical component of the job if it ever became too hard on the body.

@Beehive: question for those of you who say that college will be expected or not optional: how do you plan to enforce that once your child is over 18? say that they have no desire/want to go? Genuinely curious, not trying to start anything

It will be expected in our home. Even if she wants to do something that doesn't require a degree, I think having one opens so many doors.

DH and I both work in higher ed, so it's something we're pretty passionate about and I would be lying if I said there wasn't an expectation for DD to go to university.

IMO, post-secondary education is about more than getting a job. Its value is inherent. I am who I am today because of the experiences I had during university and grad school. It shaped me in huge ways that have to do with much more than my career path. I hope DD chooses to have those experiences as well.

If she is adamant that university isn't for her then I will do my best to respect that. I do hope though that she will take some time to educate herself further even if it isn't formally - travelling, and/or volunteering are examples of other pursuits that have incredible educational value.

@littlek, my industry is already there. A bachelors is not enough for the vast majority of people we are hiring. All of our recent new hires have masters degrees

I grew up in a household where I didn't really consider whether or not I would go to college, but where. It wasn't presented as a choice and it didn't occur to me that I could choose not to go. I was kind of a bookworm and was fine with that. As others have stated, its just the culture of my family, including my extended family. I hope my kids will be the same. I want my children to attend college. It does so much for you, even outside of career and finances. Plus, those were some of my favorite years and I would hate for my children to miss out on that experience. Of course, I do realize they are technically adults (although this 32-year-old woman has a lot of difficulty seeing an 18-year-old as an adult) and I cannot force them to go. I would strongly encourage them, but in the end, the choice is theirs to make.

@stargal: A friend once told me that you don't have to enforce expectations. In reality, if my kids decided not to continue their education after high school, I couldn't force them, but we also wouldn't be financially supporting them. So I guess there is a financial incentive for them, as well.