How do most middle to UMC families pay for college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Wichita State University. How many of you heard about it lol? That school was very cheap. My parents initially wanted to take debt so I could go to a higher ranked school and I said No.

Wichita state has a well known bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. In the aerospace industry it's a well known program. I always recommend people focus on their majors first and then search for niche schools that offer the best value for money.

I follow basketball, so I’ve definitely heard of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a lower middle class family. We rent in a good school district. I never went to college and my wife works at a daycare. We don't have any debt. We have been putting $50/month over the years for our only child. He is a Senior. He only has $20k in his 529. He gave me a list of schools he would like to attend to. I have been googling them. Some of them include Duke, UCLA, Georgia Tech etc. we can't afford any of these schools. Thankfully he is aware and he says he can go to community college. He is a good kid. He works hard, makes his own money. I hope he gets some scholarship but from my understanding it's hard. He took calculus this year and finished with an 80% average. I thought it was good but apparently not. He also took the SAT and he obtained 1400 but he plan to take it again next year. He wants to study chemical engineering.

Our daughter had lower SAT score and didn't even take calculus and is now attending UC Santa Barbara because we could could afford full price. Our daughter had everything to succeed but she underperformed.

Good luck to your son. Our system rewards wealth sadly.

But is she a STEM major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a lower middle class family. We rent in a good school district. I never went to college and my wife works at a daycare. We don't have any debt. We have been putting $50/month over the years for our only child. He is a Senior. He only has $20k in his 529. He gave me a list of schools he would like to attend to. I have been googling them. Some of them include Duke, UCLA, Georgia Tech etc. we can't afford any of these schools. Thankfully he is aware and he says he can go to community college. He is a good kid. He works hard, makes his own money. I hope he gets some scholarship but from my understanding it's hard. He took calculus this year and finished with an 80% average. I thought it was good but apparently not. He also took the SAT and he obtained 1400 but he plan to take it again next year. He wants to study chemical engineering.

He should apply around and see what type of financial aid is offered. He doesn't sound like a kid who would need to go the CC route if you're LMC and possibly first generation. A 1400 is a great score for that demographic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a lower middle class family. We rent in a good school district. I never went to college and my wife works at a daycare. We don't have any debt. We have been putting $50/month over the years for our only child. He is a Senior. He only has $20k in his 529. He gave me a list of schools he would like to attend to. I have been googling them. Some of them include Duke, UCLA, Georgia Tech etc. we can't afford any of these schools. Thankfully he is aware and he says he can go to community college. He is a good kid. He works hard, makes his own money. I hope he gets some scholarship but from my understanding it's hard. He took calculus this year and finished with an 80% average. I thought it was good but apparently not. He also took the SAT and he obtained 1400 but he plan to take it again next year. He wants to study chemical engineering.

go to a small less elite private, like T80 and below. They give more merit aid.

80% on calc is low, but it's still a B. Colleges won't know if it was an 89% or 80%.

My kid is interested in Chem and got a C in AP Chem, in part because of a LD that we had not realized until they had finished the first semester. This was their hardest class, and it showed. They dropped it second semester. That will probably hurt DC's chances in some colleges. But, they did get a 1440 SAT (with extended time after the LD diagnosis).

You did good not having any debt. That can be crushing for LMC people. My parents are immigrants, and they started out as low class, moved onto lmc. I went to a no name regional state u and worked my way through college. It was tough. But, I picked a major that enabled me to make good money, and I started to earn six figures when I was 30, and this was in 2000.

Your son's and your work ethic will help him get far. It can be discouraging, and at times, your kid may want to give up. But, don't let him. Make sure he keeps his on his goal. He can do it.

Good luck to you guys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Wichita State University. How many of you heard about it lol? That school was very cheap. My parents initially wanted to take debt so I could go to a higher ranked school and I said No.

Wichita state has a well known bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. In the aerospace industry it's a well known program. I always recommend people focus on their majors first and then search for niche schools that offer the best value for money.

I follow basketball, so I’ve definitely heard of it.

Lol we are def known for that. I will shamelessly advertise the aerospace engineering program at Wichita State. It's very well connected to industry and practical. For example we all get to experiment with the wind tunnels and have a course dedicated for that, something that Purdue the better known program doesn't have for its undergrads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Wichita State University. How many of you heard about it lol? That school was very cheap. My parents initially wanted to take debt so I could go to a higher ranked school and I said No.

Wichita state has a well known bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. In the aerospace industry it's a well known program. I always recommend people focus on their majors first and then search for niche schools that offer the best value for money.

I follow basketball, so I’ve definitely heard of it.

Lol we are def known for that. I will shamelessly advertise the aerospace engineering program at Wichita State. It's very well connected to industry and practical. For example we all get to experiment with the wind tunnels and have a course dedicated for that, something that Purdue the better known program doesn't have for its undergrads.

My spouse went to a no name school for CS and is doing very well. It really depends on the degree and field. Some fields its important and others its not. Mine will choose a state school or one with merit so we can pay/no debt. A lot of it is the parents, not the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a lower middle class family. We rent in a good school district. I never went to college and my wife works at a daycare. We don't have any debt. We have been putting $50/month over the years for our only child. He is a Senior. He only has $20k in his 529. He gave me a list of schools he would like to attend to. I have been googling them. Some of them include Duke, UCLA, Georgia Tech etc. we can't afford any of these schools. Thankfully he is aware and he says he can go to community college. He is a good kid. He works hard, makes his own money. I hope he gets some scholarship but from my understanding it's hard. He took calculus this year and finished with an 80% average. I thought it was good but apparently not. He also took the SAT and he obtained 1400 but he plan to take it again next year. He wants to study chemical engineering.

go to a small less elite private, like T80 and below. They give more merit aid.

80% on calc is low, but it's still a B. Colleges won't know if it was an 89% or 80%.

My kid is interested in Chem and got a C in AP Chem, in part because of a LD that we had not realized until they had finished the first semester. This was their hardest class, and it showed. They dropped it second semester. That will probably hurt DC's chances in some colleges. But, they did get a 1440 SAT (with extended time after the LD diagnosis).

You did good not having any debt. That can be crushing for LMC people. My parents are immigrants, and they started out as low class, moved onto lmc. I went to a no name regional state u and worked my way through college. It was tough. But, I picked a major that enabled me to make good money, and I started to earn six figures when I was 30, and this was in 2000.

Your son's and your work ethic will help him get far. It can be discouraging, and at times, your kid may want to give up. But, don't let him. Make sure he keeps his on his goal. He can do it.

Good luck to you guys.

Unfortunately for admissions purposes it's true. It's unfortunate because when I was a Teaching Assistant nearly all students who failed or had the lowest grade in calculus 1 were the kids who graduated with honors but never took calculus in HS. On the other hand the kids who easily passed calculus 1 were the ones who took calculus in HS and a handful had grades in the 80 range. I know this before I took a survey of the kids at the start of the class.

Some colleges do weigh your grades in harder classes. They are not going to punish a kid who challenged themselves with harder classes and got B versus the kid who took regular classes.

[Anonymous]

Federal loans in my name, PSLF-eligible. We had intended to cash flow 50% but DH's job was a DOGE casualty. We don't want to touch house equity or retirement accounts under the current circumstances. We'll take it year by year, depending on what happens with DH professionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Life in the donut hole is brutal. Oldest went to Honors College at state flagship (small scholarship), second went OOS with large merit scholarship. Who knows what the third will do.

The donut hole is a myth created by parents who did not plan well. College isn’t exactly a surprise. You have two decades to save.

It’s the same for retirement.

Not everyone has money leftover each month to save. I really didn’t make ends meet for years and when I did, I didn’t have money leftover to save.

Then you attend state u or any school that gives great merit and that you can afford. Or your kid lives at home does cc then onto state u. There are many ways to do college affordable. It just might not be 90k per year private schools. And that's a choice you made not to find a way to save. But the other 95% of universities can be affordable

That's not necessarily true and maybe you had family support and she did not. My husband didn't go to college directly and did a few classes at a time via military. I don't recommend it. He was on his own living with friends, etc, bouncing around since he was 16. His mom was a lovely person but in unstable abusive relationship during his childhood and staying wasn't an option. He had zero support to help him figure out college and his ex pressured him to marry young as did her parents. You were lucky.

However, there is even financial aid for community college so I'm not understanding what its not affordable. As a parent, I'd have my kid work 10-15 hours a week and I'd get as many jobs as I could, even delivery or uber to make sure we could swing college. However, if you are that low income, apply to four year as there is more financial aid.

He does live at home and attends CC and it still isn’t affordable. Not at all. The only way to make it affordable would have him graduating in appr. 10-12 yrs.

How is cc not affordable? He could work 10 hours a week or so to help.

A lot of people make excuses. I had a mix of loans, grants, scholarships and work. I went to grad school on loans.

We had a woman in our office who was trying to finish up college. She often spoke about affording college and I knew she thought I could not understand. I grew up in a worse situation than her. Difference is that I went to college and finished while she continued to take 1-2 classes while working. It would have been better for her to take the loans, graduate and get a higher paying job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Wichita State University. How many of you heard about it lol? That school was very cheap. My parents initially wanted to take debt so I could go to a higher ranked school and I said No.

Wichita state has a well known bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. In the aerospace industry it's a well known program. I always recommend people focus on their majors first and then search for niche schools that offer the best value for money.

I follow basketball, so I’ve definitely heard of it.

Lol we are def known for that. I will shamelessly advertise the aerospace engineering program at Wichita State. It's very well connected to industry and practical. For example we all get to experiment with the wind tunnels and have a course dedicated for that, something that Purdue the better known program doesn't have for its undergrads.

My spouse went to a no name school for CS and is doing very well. It really depends on the degree and field. Some fields its important and others its not. Mine will choose a state school or one with merit so we can pay/no debt. A lot of it is the parents, not the kids.

+1. My rising junior already told us he is going to the cheapest. He said he wants to be an engineer and doesn't really care about the brand. Of course if he gets into a Top school with scholarship he will attend. But the fact that he is aware of the cost and the potential debt at 16 is impressive to be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a lower middle class family. We rent in a good school district. I never went to college and my wife works at a daycare. We don't have any debt. We have been putting $50/month over the years for our only child. He is a Senior. He only has $20k in his 529. He gave me a list of schools he would like to attend to. I have been googling them. Some of them include Duke, UCLA, Georgia Tech etc. we can't afford any of these schools. Thankfully he is aware and he says he can go to community college. He is a good kid. He works hard, makes his own money. I hope he gets some scholarship but from my understanding it's hard. He took calculus this year and finished with an 80% average. I thought it was good but apparently not. He also took the SAT and he obtained 1400 but he plan to take it again next year. He wants to study chemical engineering.

go to a small less elite private, like T80 and below. They give more merit aid.

80% on calc is low, but it's still a B. Colleges won't know if it was an 89% or 80%.

My kid is interested in Chem and got a C in AP Chem, in part because of a LD that we had not realized until they had finished the first semester. This was their hardest class, and it showed. They dropped it second semester. That will probably hurt DC's chances in some colleges. But, they did get a 1440 SAT (with extended time after the LD diagnosis).

You did good not having any debt. That can be crushing for LMC people. My parents are immigrants, and they started out as low class, moved onto lmc. I went to a no name regional state u and worked my way through college. It was tough. But, I picked a major that enabled me to make good money, and I started to earn six figures when I was 30, and this was in 2000.

Your son's and your work ethic will help him get far. It can be discouraging, and at times, your kid may want to give up. But, don't let him. Make sure he keeps his on his goal. He can do it.

Good luck to you guys.

Unfortunately for admissions purposes it's true. It's unfortunate because when I was a Teaching Assistant nearly all students who failed or had the lowest grade in calculus 1 were the kids who graduated with honors but never took calculus in HS. On the other hand the kids who easily passed calculus 1 were the ones who took calculus in HS and a handful had grades in the 80 range. I know this before I took a survey of the kids at the start of the class.

Some colleges do weigh your grades in harder classes. They are not going to punish a kid who challenged themselves with harder classes and got B versus the kid who took regular classes.

The problem is not all schools offer calc or beyond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Federal loans in my name, PSLF-eligible. We had intended to cash flow 50% but DH's job was a DOGE casualty. We don't want to touch house equity or retirement accounts under the current circumstances. We'll take it year by year, depending on what happens with DH professionally.

Take care of yourself first. Your kids are young and have time on their side. Good luck to your DH.

Mother f***g DOGE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a lower middle class family. We rent in a good school district. I never went to college and my wife works at a daycare. We don't have any debt. We have been putting $50/month over the years for our only child. He is a Senior. He only has $20k in his 529. He gave me a list of schools he would like to attend to. I have been googling them. Some of them include Duke, UCLA, Georgia Tech etc. we can't afford any of these schools. Thankfully he is aware and he says he can go to community college. He is a good kid. He works hard, makes his own money. I hope he gets some scholarship but from my understanding it's hard. He took calculus this year and finished with an 80% average. I thought it was good but apparently not. He also took the SAT and he obtained 1400 but he plan to take it again next year. He wants to study chemical engineering.

go to a small less elite private, like T80 and below. They give more merit aid.

80% on calc is low, but it's still a B. Colleges won't know if it was an 89% or 80%.

My kid is interested in Chem and got a C in AP Chem, in part because of a LD that we had not realized until they had finished the first semester. This was their hardest class, and it showed. They dropped it second semester. That will probably hurt DC's chances in some colleges. But, they did get a 1440 SAT (with extended time after the LD diagnosis).

You did good not having any debt. That can be crushing for LMC people. My parents are immigrants, and they started out as low class, moved onto lmc. I went to a no name regional state u and worked my way through college. It was tough. But, I picked a major that enabled me to make good money, and I started to earn six figures when I was 30, and this was in 2000.

Your son's and your work ethic will help him get far. It can be discouraging, and at times, your kid may want to give up. But, don't let him. Make sure he keeps his on his goal. He can do it.

Good luck to you guys.

Unfortunately for admissions purposes it's true. It's unfortunate because when I was a Teaching Assistant nearly all students who failed or had the lowest grade in calculus 1 were the kids who graduated with honors but never took calculus in HS. On the other hand the kids who easily passed calculus 1 were the ones who took calculus in HS and a handful had grades in the 80 range. I know this before I took a survey of the kids at the start of the class.

Some colleges do weigh your grades in harder classes. They are not going to punish a kid who challenged themselves with harder classes and got B versus the kid who took regular classes.

The problem is not all schools offer calc or beyond.

Also, it's ok to struggle through a class. Kid just has to understand that there are resources for help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a lower middle class family. We rent in a good school district. I never went to college and my wife works at a daycare. We don't have any debt. We have been putting $50/month over the years for our only child. He is a Senior. He only has $20k in his 529. He gave me a list of schools he would like to attend to. I have been googling them. Some of them include Duke, UCLA, Georgia Tech etc. we can't afford any of these schools. Thankfully he is aware and he says he can go to community college. He is a good kid. He works hard, makes his own money. I hope he gets some scholarship but from my understanding it's hard. He took calculus this year and finished with an 80% average. I thought it was good but apparently not. He also took the SAT and he obtained 1400 but he plan to take it again next year. He wants to study chemical engineering.

go to a small less elite private, like T80 and below. They give more merit aid.

80% on calc is low, but it's still a B. Colleges won't know if it was an 89% or 80%.

My kid is interested in Chem and got a C in AP Chem, in part because of a LD that we had not realized until they had finished the first semester. This was their hardest class, and it showed. They dropped it second semester. That will probably hurt DC's chances in some colleges. But, they did get a 1440 SAT (with extended time after the LD diagnosis).

You did good not having any debt. That can be crushing for LMC people. My parents are immigrants, and they started out as low class, moved onto lmc. I went to a no name regional state u and worked my way through college. It was tough. But, I picked a major that enabled me to make good money, and I started to earn six figures when I was 30, and this was in 2000.

Your son's and your work ethic will help him get far. It can be discouraging, and at times, your kid may want to give up. But, don't let him. Make sure he keeps his on his goal. He can do it.

Good luck to you guys.

Unfortunately for admissions purposes it's true. It's unfortunate because when I was a Teaching Assistant nearly all students who failed or had the lowest grade in calculus 1 were the kids who graduated with honors but never took calculus in HS. On the other hand the kids who easily passed calculus 1 were the ones who took calculus in HS and a handful had grades in the 80 range. I know this before I took a survey of the kids at the start of the class.

Some colleges do weigh your grades in harder classes. They are not going to punish a kid who challenged themselves with harder classes and got B versus the kid who took regular classes.

The problem is not all schools offer calc or beyond.

PP here. That's why eventually realized. In my country calculus is a standard course offered at every HS in the country. I found it shocking that kids were starting an science program without having taken calculus in HS.

[Anonymous]

after 2026 no middle or lower income kids are going to college.

After 2028 no women or minorities are going to college.

See how easy this is MAGA idiots.