Assistance with tuition

[USAFpj]

Gents, in reading some of the archived threads, I'm looking for some more TBN feedback.

I have one 17 year old Daughter who is studious and athletic, but we're not sure how much scholarship funds she may get for her chosen college. My 15 year old Son is studious as well, and has a desire to first start at our local community college before transferring to Clemson for Engineering. Big plans and big money!

The wife and I could pay for their schooling, but that doesn't leave much room for our own financial needs. My wife has her Master's and that was paid for by her parents. Her opinion is to set a financial cap per year, per child, and their remainder should come from them working.

For those that went to college and either had their parents pay for it, or paid for it themselves, do you have any regrets about how the financial part was taken care of?

We all want to support our kids, but extreme debt and perhaps losing a bit of sweat equity into their education may not be wise either?

 

[Diggin It]

Your user ID implies awareness that Uncle Sam pays for college for enlistees.

 

[Lnk]

This is a conversation we had with our kids. First was, what do you want to do, and can you earn a living doing it? When they don't know what they want to do, going into debt for that is really foolish. The guidance counselor at their school should be asked as this is what they are supposed to be there for.

 

[fried1765]

Gents, in reading some of the archived threads, I'm looking for some more TBN feedback.

I have one 17 year old Daughter who is studious and athletic, but we're not sure how much scholarship funds she may get for her chosen college. My 15 year old Son is studious as well, and has a desire to first start at our local community college before transferring to Clemson for Engineering. Big plans and big money!

The wife and I could pay for their schooling, but that doesn't leave much room for our own financial needs. My wife has her Master's and that was paid for by her parents. Her opinion is to set a financial cap per year, per child, and their remainder should come from them working.

For those that went to college and either had their parents pay for it, or paid for it themselves, do you have any regrets about how the financial part was taken care of?

We all want to support our kids, but extreme debt and perhaps losing a bit of sweat equity into their education may not be wise either?

ABSOLUTELY!......USAF, USN, USA, ROTC scholarships!

 

[USAFpj]

implies awareness that Uncle Sam pays for college for enlistees

Yes, sir. At this point in time, neither seem overly interested. And with the 'culture experiments' going on in today's military, I sure don't push them that direction...

Mom is/has been their guidance counselor and teacher throughout their schooling:thumbsup:

 

[dougtrr2]

Both my wife and I paid for our college educations without parental help and no loans. For our kids we had some money set aside but it was never intended to give them a free ride. They had to work and/or hustle for scholarships. My anecdotal observation is that the kids who do worst in college are the ones that have no skin in the game. If you want college bad enough there are ways to get it without loans or wholesale gifts from parents. I am assuming that you were military. As you well know there are great education benefits for military members.

Doug in SW IA

 

[USAFpj]

Doug- were you ever upset in the slightest that your parents didn't or couldn't help out?

 

[MAD777]

I worked my way throughout college. No gifts or loans. No regrets. It was my education, not my parents' education. I believe that leaves one better prepared for real life.

 

[Streetcar]

College cost have skyrocketed since most members of tbn attended. Go community college or trade school route. I assisted my daughter with cost but she had to pay significant portion

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

My daughter was straight A's from grade school through high school. National honor society, graduated with honors, the whole shebang. When it came time to start college, the only full scholarships she could get were for either being a teacher (you then had to agree to move to a small town or reservation and teach there for X years), or a nurse. Nothing else. Neither of those options were what she wanted to do, so she got diddly squat. A lifetime student history of excellent grades, and can't get a full scholarship. She got a partial scholarship her first year, (I think it was less than 10%), but that was it.

Her tuition is $15K a semester. She's working part time, we're helping her with $, but not all of it, and she's taking some loans to make up the difference. "Working your way through college" sounds great, and she would do it, but not much chance on making $30K a year for tuition, plus living expenses on a part time job that a kid in college can get hired for today.

Things are not the same now, as they were even 20 years ago when my wife finished her second degree.

Our daughter completed her 4th year this spring. Technically has her bachelor's degree, and has one more year left to get her masters. Her college has a 5 year program to come out with a master's degree in architecture. At least her final year will still only be billed at the undergraduate rate. Most universities charge a higher tuition rate for master's degree program (post graduate) tuition.

When she graduates with her Master's next spring, she will have some student loan debt. With a Master's degree in architecture, I don't think it will take her long to pay that off. She has no other debts at this time.


In my case, I was a terrible student when I was a kid (no interest, didn't like school, never applied myself outside of shop class). My Dad gave me luggage for an early 18th birthday present, and said I was "on my own". And he literally meant it. I enlisted in the armed forces at 18, (actually had my 18th birthday in basic, never told a soul). And for me, at the time, it was the best thing for me. Taught me a trade, responsibility, and grew me up. Many years after getting out, I went to a community college, and had no problem getting straight A's in all my classes. Found out there was a "good" Dean's List, instead of just the "bad" Dean's List I stayed on through high school.

I don't resent my parents for not helping me when I was a kid. I was a bit (ok, a lot) of a rebel back then, and "school" was not a good choice for me. But after 8 years active duty, that kind of fixed most of what's wrong with me (lol). So for me, it was a good move.

I still work in "the trades" area, but I make more than most white collar "professionals" now, and I enjoy what I do.

Good luck with your kids, each situation can be different.