/lit/ - Literature

I am trying to answer a specific question and I get conflicting answers so I'm hoping for something professional if not academic in nature.

My two children appear to be very gifted. I am wondering whether it is worthwhile to pursue a rigorous and expensive education that might lead to Ivy League acceptances. On the one hand, I want the best for my kids. On the other, I feel this path could be a lot of stress and joyless moments all for admission to universities that, while great, aren't worth it. Is hitting the books 24/7 to go to Penn really a good use of a childhood when they could have a little more fun and go to Boston College or Tulane instead? Does it really truly matter in terms of job opportunities and dollars and sense?

My sense thus far tells me that bona fide Ivy credentials only truly matter in certain fields like business, finance, banking, law, etc. For professional fields like engineering and medicine, the difference between Princeton and Purdue for career outcomes is probably negligible.

I could be wrong though. That's why I'm looking for advice and book recommendations. I truly don't know. I ended up making very good money going to shitty state schools, so I'm not so invested in the concept, and I don't feel a narcissistic push to force my kids down this path so it reflects well on me.

Ross Douthat is good on this score