>> Now, while Linux 64-bit is stable and mature (having been something I've used for 3 years,
>> after which most of the userspace apps have been cleaned up to work),
I have been using Mandriva x86_64 for several months now (2006, 2007, and 2007Spring) and basically agree. I still don't have java web start running and some custom apps don't build well, requiring major surgery but it is coming. I understand why so many stayed with 32 bit. I deal with big data sets and have 4GB of RAM so I have been willing to walk (or often crawl) up the learning curve
If we take the average of the tuition figures you cited (which I agree are representative) one obtains an average annual cost of tuition and fees of $7450. Adding the $6000 you cited for room and board and an additional $500 for books and other supplies (a conservative estimate for anyone in physical sciences or engineering,) one obtains a total of $13.9K I'd say that is 'approaching $15K' - especially within the 4 years if one started now and the current rate of inflation of educational costs continues.
The room and board costs are real and I think must be included in the analysis. You are correct about the ability to recover most of this if one can average 20 hrs/wk throughout the year at a student wage job. Given the course load (including labs, problem sets from hell, and any student research) many in the physical sciences and engineering majors find it difficult to maintain that level of work and maintain a GPA that will permit admission to grad school and qualification for a fellowship. These are always intensely personal decisions and require balancing many factors. My main point was that inflation of costs makes this harder.
>> First, it's entirely possible to go to a perfectly respectable in-state school for just a few grand a year.
Where have you been living? I have financed the education of two children who were good students and went to good state schools (U of Oklahoma, and University of Buffalo.) Both approach $15K per year with tuition, room, board, and books. That is more that "a few thousand."
Back in the dark ages before the flood when I went to Florida State (B.S. 1977) and UMass (Ph.D. 1982) I could attend a good state school for about $2.5K. I could earn about 1/3 to 1/2 of that in a summer. Today's students can't do that anymore. I would also point out that much financial aid these days is in the form of loans. It is easy for a student at a state university to finish an undergraduate education with $50K in debt. An education at a private U can leave a debt load at least 2X...
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>> Now, while Linux 64-bit is stable and mature (having been something I've used for 3 years,
>> after which most of the userspace apps have been cleaned up to work),
I have been using Mandriva x86_64 for several months now (2006, 2007, and 2007Spring) and basically agree. I still don't have java web start running and some custom apps don't build well, requiring major surgery but it is coming. I understand why so many stayed with 32 bit. I deal with big data sets and have 4GB of RAM so I have been willing to walk (or often crawl) up the learning curve
Congratulations on your success
If we take the average of the tuition figures you cited (which I agree are representative) one obtains an average annual cost of tuition and fees of $7450. Adding the $6000 you cited for room and board and an additional $500 for books and other supplies (a conservative estimate for anyone in physical sciences or engineering,) one obtains a total of $13.9K I'd say that is 'approaching $15K' - especially within the 4 years if one started now and the current rate of inflation of educational costs continues.
The room and board costs are real and I think must be included in the analysis. You are correct about the ability to recover most of this if one can average 20 hrs/wk throughout the year at a student wage job. Given the course load (including labs, problem sets from hell, and any student research) many in the physical sciences and engineering majors find it difficult to maintain that level of work and maintain a GPA that will permit admission to grad school and qualification for a fellowship. These are always intensely personal decisions and require balancing many factors. My main point was that inflation of costs makes this harder.
>> First, it's entirely possible to go to a perfectly respectable in-state school for just a few grand a year.
Where have you been living? I have financed the education of two children who were good students and went to good state schools (U of Oklahoma, and University of Buffalo.) Both approach $15K per year with tuition, room, board, and books. That is more that "a few thousand."
Back in the dark ages before the flood when I went to Florida State (B.S. 1977) and UMass (Ph.D. 1982) I could attend a good state school for about $2.5K. I could earn about 1/3 to 1/2 of that in a summer. Today's students can't do that anymore. I would also point out that much financial aid these days is in the form of loans. It is easy for a student at a state university to finish an undergraduate education with $50K in debt. An education at a private U can leave a debt load at least 2X...