Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

Parents should not have to pay for college but we will definetely try to help our children as much as we can.

We plan on having 3 children and at the estimated cost of college in 18 years at $300,000+ it is unrealistic to think that we will be able to contribute almost $1 million dollars towards our kids colleges.

I think it is great for parents to help their kids with colleges but they definetely shouldnt go broke doing it!

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

I have 3 older sisters and we all started delivering news papers at age 12. If we wanted anything special or out of the ordinary we had to pay for it ourselves.
I want my children to be the same way. I dont think there is anything wrong with helping your children or giving to your children.
I opened up accounts for my 2 boys and we put money in every chance we get.
If they want to put that money towards college is up to them when the time comes.
I just dont think it should be up to the parents to have to pay for their education. But if they did need help and I was able to help I would.

Message edited 4/21/2008 8:29:15 PM.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

my parents expected me to get summer jobs/internships for most of high school and all of college. but during the school year, my schoolwork was my "job" and i wasn't expected to work beyond that.

i am extremely grateful to my parents, who put me through college and medical school. for my children i will do the same - i fully expect to pay for any schooling that they choose.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

Posted by chmlengr

Posted by Kate

I like the way my parents did it. They always told us we could go to any college we wanted, and they would pay for it. They really value education. I worked summers in high school, but not during the school year. My parents felt that school was my 'job' and it was my job to do well. I also played sports year round, so there wasn't really time to work anyway.

Do we have the same parents?? Exactly what I was trying to say in my post above yours. Same thing here....

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

My parents paid for my Bachelor's and I paid for my Masters and PD. It worked out really well. I didn't have to take out any loans. I would like to be able to do the same for my DD (and other children f we have more).

No, parents shouldn't "have to" help pay but it's great to do if it's possible.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

We knew to get a scholarship or join the military...out of 6 that graduated so far, 5 got scholarships.

If college is truely important to my kids, then I hope they work hard for those scholarships...if not, they are welcome to stay in my home while they attend a local state school.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

My parents only had me and paid for everything. I only have to pay for grad school. We are really planning on only having one so we will do the same.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

Growing up in a below average income single mom household I started working at a young age to help for my future and to help pay the bills for the house. I babysat when I was about 11 or 12 and then at 14 I started working. I was always helping my mom with the bills as much as I could. My mom paid for my college although I did get scholarships to help. We both took out loans and in the end she insisted on paying off my loan. She felt that as long as I got good grades and worked it was her responsibility to pay for college. During college I worked up to 3 jobs and still managed to graduate with a 3.7. And yes I partied a lot too. I did not for one moment take for granted my mother paying for my school and the sacrifices she had to make. I also went to a private school where tuition was more expensive. The end result is my mom taught me the value of money and to this day I appreciate the sacrifices she made and the sacrifices that I made as well. I feel that it has made me a much better person.

As far as my own kids go, although college is a good 15 years away, I plan on doing the same for them that was done for me. As long as my kids do well in school and as long as they work throughout school I will pay for their college. I do feel that it is a parent's responsibility as long as the child is holding up their end. If our kids take it for granted than I will at that point tell them they have to pay for their own education. But as long as that doesn't happen DH and I will pay for their college education.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

In HS I was not required to work at all, because I was invloved in afterschool programs. When I was a senior and wanted to go on Spring Break, my parents said they would pay for the trip, but I would have to cover my spending so that is when I forst got a "real" job. My parents paid for college completely, and had I stayed away at school, would have paid for everything including spending money. When I decided to come home to be with my boyfriend (who is now DH) my parents insisted that I get a job. There were times that I worked 2 jobs in college, but they did contunie to pay my tuition. I staretd working after graduation and when I wanted to get my Masters my father said they would pay. My mother said they wouldn't. I think if I had ultimately gone back to school, which I didn't, they would have paid.
As far as my won DS. I have every intention of paying for his BA. As far as anything past that, I will do the best I can. But I will also expect him to hold a certain GPA if he wants my financial support.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

I feel it is my responsibility to pay for my children to go to school for their undergrad. degrees. It's something my parents did for me, and something JT's parents never did for him and we both feel super strongly about taking on that responsibility for our kids.
I will say, though, that I worked 30-40 hours a week while going to college full-time. My parents instilled a ridiculous work ethic in me from early on. I will try to do the same for Ava.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

My parents paid for college - tuition books, room and board. Anything beyond that was up to me.

I worked summers since I was 13. And I had a job through college.

I was also on my own for grad school.

I plan to do the same for my kids.

Message edited 4/22/2008 7:39:48 AM.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

Have to- no. If they can, sure why not.
Im not working right now to pay for my kids college, im working to provide them with the best life i can, right now. When i have a little extra money, it goes into an account for them, when they get money, i put it away.
They will be using financial aid, scholarships, and working- just like i did/am doing.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

my parents paid for me to go to college (state school)...I plan to do the same for my kids. We have already started a 529 plan for mikayla and I put money in it bi-weekly from my paycheck and any monetary gifts she gets goes into there too

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

My parents paid for my college education but I was not able to go to any school I wished. I was accepted at Vassar but was only awarded a $1,000 loan. My parents were not able to afford the tuition and didnt want me to have a mountain of debt. They said I could not go there. I was fine with it and attended a state university in VA on a scholarship. I ended up getting a PhD with ZERO debt - it was all scholarships and my working a few jobs to pay for everything.

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

Re: Do you think parents should have to help pay for college?

I count on having to just because my parents paid for mine and DH's parents paid for his.