Is sending my son to Sweden for college a good idea?

Question

My son has the legal right to get a free college education in Sweden. He does not speak Swedish. The option is a extremely expensive U.S. college education. What does everyone think?

Answer 1

Let him learn a little Swedish before he goes and then send him. The very least that will happen is that he'll become fluent in a second language (not a very world-useful one, I admit, though knowing Swedish also means almost knowing Norwegian and Danish).

Most people come out of most colleges remembering a few jokes their professors told, three or four memorable parties, and a general sense of one subject. He probably won't do worse, and he may do better.

If, however, he's interested in some distinctive subject that is language specific--English literature, Chinese culture--then it's a bad idea. If he is not socially resilient, you may want to hesitate. If he is dead set on the University of Iowa, you'd better let him go to Iowa. If he is Harvard material and Harvard would say yes, I'd go into debt and let him develop himself fully. However, in the absence of these considerations, saving thousands of dollars and giving your son an education probably equal to any other sounds like a good idea to me.

Ja?

I wish I were your son.

Answer 2

He'll greatly appreciate it because Swedish girls are smoking hot.....

Answer 3

Not all colleges in the US are expensive.  Some you can attend for 3000 a year.  How much is the airline tickets to Sweden to get him there and back for the year going to cost?

Answer 4

Only plus point is eligibility for free education..and that is the material aspect.After all money is the costliest commodity in the world

Answer 5

Well, what does he think?

The experience will be really different and cool, and with the plus side on it being free, I'd say that, if he wants to, go for it! Good luck!