Would you make your DC go to a college you worked at because its free?

[Anonymous]

....then they should pay for it as well, PP.

And taking out massive loans is stupid.

[Anonymous]

Yep. No issues.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who turned down West Point. What makes you think college is your choice to make?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend recently switched jobs and took a position at a small university. I was casually asking her about her new position and asked if it was a step up from her previous job and she said "no it was a lateral move and I took an 8 percent pay cut but I am guaranteed free tuition for up to 3 children. Even if they reduce or take away the benefit at a later date I will be grandfathered in." She was very excited about this benefit. I have to wonder though what are the chances her kids will want to attend this small liberal arts college that is 20 minutes away from her house? Her husband makes good money and she makes decent money so it seems like a silly reason to take a paycut and totally change up your career. Her children are all at least 6 years away from college and I just cant help but think it sounds very short cited just to assume this university will automatically fit each childs needs and wants.

Many such programs offer some kind of reciprocity where colleges send staff kids back and forth between them.

However, even if they don't have reciprocity, I don't think we as parents are obligated to provide our children with the "perfect" college experience. Even if they have the money, 3 kids, $60,000 a year, we're talking about almost 3/4 of a million dollars in savings. Leave that money in the bank, let it earn interest, and you can send them to medical school, buy them a condo, or leave them an inheritance that will give them a lot of security in their retirement. I'd rather my kid had any of those things than the college of his "dreams".

[Anonymous]

Make? No.

Strongly encourage? Yes.

This is a no-brainer decision. If DC doesn't see that then the parents should make the kid read personal finance books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would encourage them, and explain their other options. Assuming its a decent school, I would hope my kids would understand the value and opt to go the more affordable route as opposed to taking out loans for a different school.

Fwiw, I know a few families who let their kids pass up free rides (scholarships) at one school to attend another school at nearly $50k a year. Absurd if you ask me...I would not have allowed my kids to make such a silly choice. As an example: is $50k a year at Syracuse better than free ride at the honors program at U Md? I think not.

I'm one of those parents -- I "forced" my kid to apply for a scholarship at a school next door to his first choice school. I allowed him to pass up the 4 year free tuition/room/board and am paying for the school next door (which he loves). He won a merit scholarship at the school he attend, but can't quite keep the gpa where it's needed to hold on to the merit $$. So ... I guess its okay he ended up where he is, with his grades hovering just below the needed 3.0, I'd be paying for a school he doesn't like if I'd "forced" him to go to the full-ride school.

If I could do it all over again and start a job at a good university, I would probably try to land at a place that not only offered tuition-free education but also had the arrangement with a handful of other schools.

[Anonymous]

I wish my parents had talked to me more, MUCH more, from the time I was young about money in general.

They were so anxious for me not to be hindered by financial constraints-- as they were; both went to community college-- that they never even discussed the financial aspect to me. Unfortunately, we were not rich. My mom worked for a college I could have attended for free-- a great one!-- and I didn't even apply, didn't even realize the benefit at the time. I also received almost full scholarships to very good schools, pretty much on par with the one I ultimately chose-- but it was the ONE that offered me zero money.

As an adult, I would have much rather started my career without burdensome student loans, and I would have a lot more saved up now-- and have had more freedom when choosing my first job, which would have been nice.

I think it's very reasonable for parents to say, "We cannot help you out financially with tuition anywhere you choose, but your mom took this job because she wanted to be able to guarantee you a college education." Of course, they cannot force their children to do anything at that age. But that is a gift, and I'm not sure how many 18-year-olds are mature enough to recognize it as such, esp. since some adults seem to have trouble doing so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish my parents had talked to me more, MUCH more, from the time I was young about money in general.

They were so anxious for me not to be hindered by financial constraints-- as they were; both went to community college-- that they never even discussed the financial aspect to me. Unfortunately, we were not rich. My mom worked for a college I could have attended for free-- a great one!-- and I didn't even apply, didn't even realize the benefit at the time. I also received almost full scholarships to very good schools, pretty much on par with the one I ultimately chose-- but it was the ONE that offered me zero money.

As an adult, I would have much rather started my career without burdensome student loans, and I would have a lot more saved up now-- and have had more freedom when choosing my first job, which would have been nice.

I think it's very reasonable for parents to say, "We cannot help you out financially with tuition anywhere you choose, but your mom took this job because she wanted to be able to guarantee you a college education." Of course, they cannot force their children to do anything at that age. But that is a gift, and I'm not sure how many 18-year-olds are mature enough to recognize it as such, esp. since some adults seem to have trouble doing so.

Oh, crap-- I sound like an ingrate. My parents are wonderful and I am very grateful for them! I hate sounding like a "blame my parents for encouraging me to attend [fancy university] person."

[Anonymous]

I would discuss it with DC and let them make the decision.

Not attending school for free would have implications (ie: more loan debt), but I would trust them to make the right decision.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I should clarify that my friend don't say she would "make them" as much as she assumed at least one or two of her kids would go to her school or one of the 12 participating schools. I was just surprised that an upper middle class family who COULD save for a college of their DCs choice decides to go this route. I think it's unfair to the DC who will feel pressured to go to the "free school" instead of starting their adult life the way they deserve to.

[Anonymous]

Yup. I've been working for a university for 14 years, and they can go there, pick one with reciprocity, or take out loans (the latter which I would discourage). A near-free college education is a great benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make? No.

Strongly encourage? Yes.

This is a no-brainer decision. If DC doesn't see that then the parents should make the kid read personal finance books.

Right. Because if its a rotten fit and the kid ends up hating school and completely shutting down that's not a problem at all...

[Anonymous]

Oh HELL yes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd have to think about it more but I might tell the kids they can either go to my school or pay for their own if they don't want to. College is REALLY expensive.

Had this exact conversation today with a family where one parent works at a college. Their kids have the option of going to the college or paying for their own. Their kids choose to go to the college. I thought it was perfectly reasonable to give the kids that choice.

I also have some friends who work at Univ. of MD and get a tuition break (don't think it's free, but could be wrong) for their kids. Problem for a couple of them is U of MD is hard to get in and not all of their kids were accepted.

[Anonymous]

You can't make an 18-year-old do anything. I think it would be smart for her kids to choose to go there, but if they decide to take on student loans to go somewhere else then that's their choice