10 ms·

One thing I don't understand why not more american students geo-arbitrage. There are plenty of countries in Europe where university education is much cheaper, o

by mafribe 12y ago

One thing I don't understand why not more american students geo-arbitrage. There are plenty of countries in Europe where university education is much cheaper, or even free. OK, maybe the top-top US universities might be a tad better than elsewhere, but the difference is at best small, especially at undergraduate level. All universities use similar textbooks, especially in introductory courses. Moreover the single biggest factor in how much you learn at university is how much effort you put in. Want to learn more? Party less ... That way you can graduate debt-free, and have international experience and network, and might even have picked up a new language. If you absolutely have to have a brand-name degree from an American university, get a masters. Much quicker and easier to get in.

pilsetnieks 12y ago
> There are plenty of countries in Europe where university education is much cheaper, or even free It's generally only for citizens or, at best, EU residents. The same universities charge a lot more if you're not European. Though not as much as American universities, of course.
- autokad 12y ago
  also I think its harder to get financial aid (but not sure on that)
- dubfan 12y ago
  Universities in Germany are free for everyone, besides the semester fee which is negligible. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/29/7-countries-where-americans-can-study-at-universities-in-english-for-free-or-almost-free/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/29...
  - lwhalen 12y ago
    Perhaps, but then you're stuck having to learn German. The old joke being: What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call someone who speaks one language? American.
    - mafribe 12y ago
      From a career point-of-view, the ability to speak foreign languages, and a proven track record of navigating foreign cultures is a plus.
rayiner 12y ago
> OK, maybe the top-top US universities might be a tad better than elsewhere Foreign universities have zero name-recognition in the U.S. Maybe Oxford or Cambridge, and even those only among a certain set (and that set does not include everyone you may want to impress with your resume).
- prostoalex 12y ago
  I've arbitraged by getting a bachelor's degree from a no-name university in Europe, and then getting a Master's from a recognized school. Not saying it's possible for everyone to swing it, but resume-wise people pay attention only to last educational institution and last employer.
  - mafribe 12y ago
    I agree, employers tend not to care about which degree you got from a top university, as long as you got some degree from a brand name. And masters courses are less competitive to get into. I teach at a large, well-known (in Europe), and decidedly mediocre university. I always get my top students into masters and PhD programmes at top universities where they then tend to do well. Mediocre universities often try their hardest to help their top students. I do this in parts because that's also my own trajectory: undergraduate at mediocre place, PhD at top school.
pizza 12y ago
> Want to learn more? Party less ... Or become a hedonistic autodidact!
rhino369 12y ago
While some schools will allow Americans to go to college for free or for only a little money, they aren't going to put them in a dorm, feed them, and give then other living expenses. I'd imagine even with free tuition, I'd imagine Sweden is more expensive than going to your local state school. And you can't get US financial aid or loans for foreign school. People always compare brand name American private schools with public school in other countries. But America has public schools. You can do your first two years at community college for near free. You can live with your family, work part time at McD's and have more than enough money to pay for school. Even if you don't want to work, poor students can afford tuition with Pell Grants, and middle class students can cover it with Stafford Loans. Then do your last two years at a state school, which are often in cheap college towns. In a state like Illinois, you can do 2 years in community college, and then 2 year at UIUC--a world class university--for only like 30k in tuition for the whole 4 years. It wouldn't surprise me if going to Sweden cost 30k more in living expenses over that period, especially if you live with your family for the first 2 years.
- mafribe 12y ago
  I'm not very familiar with community colleges in the US. If it's such a viable route, why don't more people go for it?
  - dragontamer 12y ago
    A lot of people go for it. Community colleges however are only a stepping stone without much "brand recognition". You need to finish up with a 4-year university if you wanna be recognized. An associate's degree can pass in a number of professions. And there's a big push from Republicans to get more people into community colleges for more mundane work. HVAC, Machinist, Plumber, Mechanic... these jobs only require an Associate's degree and earn about the average income in America. Which is around 40k/year.
    - Qworg 12y ago
      And some of those positions make way more - pipeline welders are banking 300k in some places.
prostoalex 12y ago
Or arbitrage by doing X years at a cheap local school, transferring credits and then spending 1 year at an expensive big-name school.

by mafribe 12y ago

pilsetnieks 12y ago

> There are plenty of countries in Europe where university education is much cheaper, or even free It's generally only for citizens or, at best, EU residents. The same universities charge a lot more if you're not European. Though not as much as American universities, of course.

autokad 12y ago
also I think its harder to get financial aid (but not sure on that)
dubfan 12y ago
Universities in Germany are free for everyone, besides the semester fee which is negligible. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/29/7-countries-where-americans-can-study-at-universities-in-english-for-free-or-almost-free/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/29...
- lwhalen 12y ago
  Perhaps, but then you're stuck having to learn German. The old joke being: What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call someone who speaks one language? American.
  - mafribe 12y ago
    From a career point-of-view, the ability to speak foreign languages, and a proven track record of navigating foreign cultures is a plus.

rayiner 12y ago

> OK, maybe the top-top US universities might be a tad better than elsewhere Foreign universities have zero name-recognition in the U.S. Maybe Oxford or Cambridge, and even those only among a certain set (and that set does not include everyone you may want to impress with your resume).

prostoalex 12y ago
I've arbitraged by getting a bachelor's degree from a no-name university in Europe, and then getting a Master's from a recognized school. Not saying it's possible for everyone to swing it, but resume-wise people pay attention only to last educational institution and last employer.
- mafribe 12y ago
  I agree, employers tend not to care about which degree you got from a top university, as long as you got some degree from a brand name. And masters courses are less competitive to get into. I teach at a large, well-known (in Europe), and decidedly mediocre university. I always get my top students into masters and PhD programmes at top universities where they then tend to do well. Mediocre universities often try their hardest to help their top students. I do this in parts because that's also my own trajectory: undergraduate at mediocre place, PhD at top school.

pizza 12y ago

> Want to learn more? Party less ... Or become a hedonistic autodidact!

rhino369 12y ago

While some schools will allow Americans to go to college for free or for only a little money, they aren't going to put them in a dorm, feed them, and give then other living expenses. I'd imagine even with free tuition, I'd imagine Sweden is more expensive than going to your local state school. And you can't get US financial aid or loans for foreign school. People always compare brand name American private schools with public school in other countries. But America has public schools. You can do your first two years at community college for near free. You can live with your family, work part time at McD's and have more than enough money to pay for school. Even if you don't want to work, poor students can afford tuition with Pell Grants, and middle class students can cover it with Stafford Loans. Then do your last two years at a state school, which are often in cheap college towns. In a state like Illinois, you can do 2 years in community college, and then 2 year at UIUC--a world class university--for only like 30k in tuition for the whole 4 years. It wouldn't surprise me if going to Sweden cost 30k more in living expenses over that period, especially if you live with your family for the first 2 years.

mafribe 12y ago
I'm not very familiar with community colleges in the US. If it's such a viable route, why don't more people go for it?
- dragontamer 12y ago
  A lot of people go for it. Community colleges however are only a stepping stone without much "brand recognition". You need to finish up with a 4-year university if you wanna be recognized. An associate's degree can pass in a number of professions. And there's a big push from Republicans to get more people into community colleges for more mundane work. HVAC, Machinist, Plumber, Mechanic... these jobs only require an Associate's degree and earn about the average income in America. Which is around 40k/year.
  - Qworg 12y ago
    And some of those positions make way more - pipeline welders are banking 300k in some places.

prostoalex 12y ago

Or arbitrage by doing X years at a cheap local school, transferring credits and then spending 1 year at an expensive big-name school.