Will you pay for your child's college?

Interesting read- begs the question, will you pay for your child's education? Why parents shouldn't pay for college - - MSN Money

 

I don't really buy into the premise of the articles argument. They basically seem to be saying that paying for your kids college causes partying...I would argue that upbringing and the values you instilled are what they are and bearing the burden of the cost is only a symptom not the disease.

If you have raised inconsiderate ill mannered off spring they will be that wherever they are. I remember taking my oldest to the Father Daughter 5th grade dance. I struck up a conversation with a couple of the other Dad's about the girls school. I asked one how his daughter found the new reading teacher and how his daughters honors classes were going (I knew these things because I talked to my own kid about them)....I got nothing but Deer in the headlights. He mumbled something about how "his wife handles that stuff". The second guy asked if I "worked at the school or something" because "you sure seem to know alot about school and stuff". They both wondered off for more punch, I gave up chatting with the DINO's (Dads In Name Only) and went to dance with my lovely daughter...we pulled her out of school the next year and decided to homeschool the rest of the way (not because of this, but it was a small part of it).

My point is parents shouldn't "wake up" to a new reality that their offspring aren't the mental giants they expected. These party animals were 18 years in the making. I believe the alarming thing is that the parents didn't seem to catch the problem until it was costing them 10K a semester......pathetically sad.

I do realize there are exceptions and unique circumstances...but my generalities are as apropos as the views espoused in this article.

I will pay for my daughters education (both of them) to the limit of my ability. But then, my oldest is on merit scholarship at HES...FOS English with a minor in Business. And she took full advantage of CLEP and dual enrollment to earn her AA Summa Cum Laude while still in HS from the local CC. We taught her focus, adaptability, and resourcefulness.

 

But see, your an engaged parent that knows what your young kids are actually doing NOW, makes all the difference...

 

@ Steve :wink1:

 

No.

I paid for my own college, they can pay for theirs.

And, no, paying for college yourself does NOT make you less likely to party it up or rush through college.

Maturity and age lessen the partying, not being 18 and taking loans out to pay for college "yourself." Besides, at 18, you don't realize what that debt will do to you.

Adults feel a sense of urgency to finish college because of their age/life experience and their sense of time passing quickly and their desire to move forward in life (get a degree, get a promotion, accomplish something NOW). At 18, most kids don't have that sense of urgency... not even if they're paying for college themselves.

 

I agree with all of this. But my girls still did more partying in school than I expected they would. They were raised not be partiers but I made the mistake thinking that because as a teen, I never was all that tempted to be a "partier" that they would not be interesed in that. I was somewhat wrong, but in the end, I believe they have adopted my values, and have gone beyond my wildest dreams for their own academic aspirations.

One has a her Ph.D. (earned one year before I earned mine) and the other is working on hers. I have helped them a little along the way by paying for books sometimes, or giving them some cash (during their undergrad studies only) but no, I have never agreed to take on loans or debt for their schooling, nor have I cosigned loans for my children.

 

I don't have any children yet. Since the question asks "will you?" it gives me time to accumulate some. I encourage my niece and nephews to seek out scholarships, and local state schools. If you're not going to one of the elite names in your field, then one would get just as much utility from the RA school named after the state.

 

I don't have kids, but I'll pay for their education when I do. College is a time to have fun, I'd be disappointed if my kids spent all of their time in a dorm room/apartment. I won't condone piss poor grades but I would much rather my child make some B's and be well rounded socially than making staight A's with no social life. It's not the grades you make, it's the hands you shake.

 

Well if I had children I would provide $10,000 for their education enough for a state backed community college, a decent trade school, apprenticeship or other option such as to fund some form of self-employment anything over that would be up to them.

 

Like many of us, I had to put myself through school. I think it was a good experience, because I was able to hold down a good part-time job for years, went to the local university which wasn't famous but was on a convenient bus route, and generally learned that the social benefits of school are much more important than grades. By balancing work, play and study, I was able to hit a respectable "B+" that was enough to get me into grad school and beyond. I also had to make choices based on what I could afford term-by-term and ended up studying less than full time for a bunch of my education. No regrets.

 

Agree here 100%.

No offense, but have you looked at CC tuition lately?

 

It depends on the state. Where I'm at, community colleges are about $2,000 per year.

 

I just checked Washington State CC rates - $1600 per quarter for 18 credits (quarter-hour) once you add all of the accessory fees at the end of the schedule.

Less than I thought, but not necessarily the great bargain over a university that they once were in my view.

It is $2400 per quarter to attend any of the regional universities in Washington State.

CC tuition used to be about 1/3 of regional university tuition, now it is 2/3. The local CCs in my area have been hit hard by budget cuts at the state level.

I do believe it may be a bit short-sided to adopt the "I paid for my college, so should my kids" approach, especially since we post threads on here weekly about the insane escalating costs of college over the last decade. The BA that I earned 12 years ago would cost me double what I paid if I were to do it again today.

 

I have three kids: 36 months, 15 months, and 2 months old. I would pay for their college, but only in a smart way. They must complete 4 years college degree by the time they graduate from high school. Then they will receive $30,000.00/each (or equivalence amount in 20 years) for a Master degree or for them to start their own business, or taking money to join the Military.

I would not paying for their college, while they choose less pay major. And spent time and money at college party. Yes, passion is great; but, most of the time passion does not pay the bills.

 

I plan on helping my kids (8 & 12) out with school as much as remotely possible without me taking out loans.

 

I'll add that I don't believe in loans, especially at the undergrad level. I really like the 2+2 concept and that's what we have followed. In Florida HS and home school kids can attend their local CC free of charge. Add in a few CLEP exams and completing an AA is a pretty straightforward proposition. We particularly appreciated this option as it gave our daughter access to a pretty impressive lab for Chemistry, and language courses that no one in the family could duplicate.

We also sort of lucked into the national junior college honor society Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). Her academic success and membership in PTK was the key that unlocked merit scholarships for her to continue her studies.

 

I plan on paying for my kids college. My parents paid for me and my brother to go to college. I finished, my brother didn't so he is on his own now. The GI Bill paid for my MBA. I personally don't want my kids to join the military, not that I have anything against it, I just want more for them. Current plan is for my son to be a #1 overall pick in the NHL or MLB (PEDs have been ordered via A-Rod), my daugther will be the future next Taylor Swift (although I prefer heavy metal). If plan A falls through, I still have 15 years to save up some money for their education.