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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is why there are constant articles and discussion about college costs. Most UMC folks are usually well aware of this. [/quote]

OP here-- yes, as previously stated, we know college is expensive and will have enough for most (not all) schools if DS does his part to make good grades and be responsible. I was just surprised that there were so many expensive colleges and even the well regarded public schools are a lot (I think UMich was something like 69K per year once you factor living expenses). I don't know how people who aren't rich and don't qualify for financial aid afford anything except in-state-- even then, the cost has gone up a lot. [/quote]

There is an expectation families save.  I don't get those families living in expensive housing and comfortable lives complaining about college costs.  We aren't high income and we managed to save.  We live in a house most people here would not, very small and needs lots of work.  It was the cheapest house we could find at the time.  We drive our vehicles till they die and only take a vacation every few years at best.  True middle class will qualify for financial aid.  If you don't qualify, then except for some exceptions like health issues, special needs, having to care for family, etc. [b]then you need to make an effort to save[/b].  [/quote]

[b]300k for undergrad is an insane expectation[/b] [/quote]

I agree with both of you[/quote]

Meh, I don't agree that people should be forced to live in a cheap, unmaintained home and give up some comforts, not in accordance with the salary that they work hard for, just to prop up salaries of college admins and the student loan industry. When the cost of school is outpacing incomes by as much as it is, there is a problem.[/quote]

You don't think people should have to give up "comforts" that their salary would provide to pay for college?  Excellent.  I make $500k each year, and I do enjoy my comforts.  I'd much rather take a couple extra ski trips than save for college.  After all, they are the comforts my salary provides, and I work hard for it.

Idiotic.  [/quote]

Believe it or not, people in other developed countries don't scrimp and save for two decades to enable their kids to get university educations.

True story.[/quote]

Most (all?) “developed countries” have very different higher education systems.  In Europe and the UK, the educational systems are generally set up to be a long process to weed out all but the most highly qualified students, and if you get off track early because you’re a late bloomer or have learning disabilities or don’t have a supportive home environment, that’s just too bad for you. Most Asian countries take that to a whole new level.   Then the colleges themselves continue the process. These countries have lower levels of college graduates, and almost nothing of the support systems to get and keep disadvantaged students in the system. There was a discussion of this on another thread, but most don’t seem to realize that the enormous growth in support services provided by today’s universities cost money. Yes, new buildings etc are part of the cost, but the freely available tutoring and writing centers, counseling, etc etc that schools provide now is definitely a part of the increase in “admin” costs. When I was in college, your advisor might meet with you once a year, but other than that, you were on your own.

I have issues with the “everyone needs to go to college” mentality, but this country has made a decision that increasing access to college is a good thing.  The result is a range of colleges, from relatively inexpensive state colleges to state flagships to private institutions. And guess what? If your kid is so smart and accomplished that they would have been able to attend college in say, Germany, then they will probably attract enough merit aid to attend college in the US for a minimal amount of $$.  [/quote]

Here we weed out based on family wealth. It’s a much more American way of doing things [/quote]

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