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I was lucky enough to go to college in Europe, where it's basically free, to study something that can be transposed anywhere (CS, as opposed to for example law)

by dudul 9y ago

I was lucky enough to go to college in Europe, where it's basically free, to study something that can be transposed anywhere (CS, as opposed to for example law). I then moved to the US debt free. I'm in my late 30's and I own (as in "no mortgage") my house, while most of my coworkers (some in their 40s) are still paying off their student loan and have to live with 2 or 3 other roommates. I'm all for good education, and obviously not the best judge since I didn't go to college in the US, but I don't get how this is a good deal for students. Especially when one knows that the cost of tuition is mostly artificial (I think there were a few good articles about that on the front page of HN recently).

lol768 9y ago
> I was lucky enough to go to college in Europe, where it's basically free This is not at all the case in England unfortunately - I guess I really should've considered studying elsewhere in the EU where fees are better. With that said, I still think I've got a better deal than most US students since the fees there just seem to be ridiculous. > I then moved to the US debt free This is something I've considered, but I feel like I'd miss being an EU citizen, the NHS and the culture etc. How have you found it since you moved, if you don't mind me asking?
- dudul 9y ago
  I'm still a EU citizen, I just live in the US :) Health insurance is definitely the most mind-blowing thing to me as a non-American. Even after more than 10 years I just don't get how people can put up with this crazyness. I've been lucky to never be unemployed, and I always had good coverage so it's never really been a concern. I miss a few things from Europe, and there are things I have troubles getting use to in America. The omnipresence of consumerism is a little difficult to deal with. But otherwise, a lot of great things. And professionally, I wouldn't have achieved half what I did had I stayed in Europe.
blusterXY 9y ago
You were supposed to stay in Europe so your taxes could cover the cost of your education, not move to a locale where your take-home pay is higher because you get out of doing that.

by dudul 9y ago

lol768 9y ago

> I was lucky enough to go to college in Europe, where it's basically free This is not at all the case in England unfortunately - I guess I really should've considered studying elsewhere in the EU where fees are better. With that said, I still think I've got a better deal than most US students since the fees there just seem to be ridiculous. > I then moved to the US debt free This is something I've considered, but I feel like I'd miss being an EU citizen, the NHS and the culture etc. How have you found it since you moved, if you don't mind me asking?

dudul 9y ago
I'm still a EU citizen, I just live in the US :) Health insurance is definitely the most mind-blowing thing to me as a non-American. Even after more than 10 years I just don't get how people can put up with this crazyness. I've been lucky to never be unemployed, and I always had good coverage so it's never really been a concern. I miss a few things from Europe, and there are things I have troubles getting use to in America. The omnipresence of consumerism is a little difficult to deal with. But otherwise, a lot of great things. And professionally, I wouldn't have achieved half what I did had I stayed in Europe.

blusterXY 9y ago

You were supposed to stay in Europe so your taxes could cover the cost of your education, not move to a locale where your take-home pay is higher because you get out of doing that.