Reply to S/O What is our obligation as parents regarding college $$$?

Forum Index » Family Relationships

Reply to "S/O What is our obligation as parents regarding college $$$?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, what are you looking for?  Pay for college.  Or, don't.  Simple.[/quote]

OP is looking for someone to tell him that despite making $450k/year and being a 1%er, that it's totally fine that he doesn't want to pay for anything more than a state school for his kids.  I think OP is stingy, and would ask what he plans to spend his huge income on, if not for a better future for his children[b].  [/quote]

OP here.  (I am a woman BTW.)

I have read through this whole thread and find all of the responses illuminating.  Just to recap, what I feel obligated to fund is the complete cost of four years at my in state flagship (or equivalent contribution to the cost if my children choose to go somewhere else).

What I have noticed is that there appears to be a strong consensus in this group that the sole or primary way to make a "better future" for children is to spend the absolute most amount of money possible on both undergrad AND graduate degrees.
There is some agreement that what the "best" school is depends on the child, but that is a judgment independent of cost.

Where I believe I disagree with many is what a "better future" means.  My hope for my children is that they are happy, healthy, and fulfilled.  Yes, that requires the means to make enough money to not struggle.  It does not mean getting a job in big law, as a surgeon, or on Wall Street.  And it seems to me that the difference between UMD and Vassar simply equates to a *slightly* stronger likelihood of that happening.  Look around, would any of you say that the partner in Big Law is somehow fundamentally happier or leading a better life than the person you know teaching or working in communications or a GS-15 somewhere?  There seems to be a logical inconsistency between judging me for spending money on something other than "education" when the point of that "education" is to get my kids to the place where they can earn money to spend on things other than education...

Would any of you agree that there are other ways to spend money that would increase the likelihood that my children become happy and healthy adults?  Whether it be donating to create changes for a better future for the world, providing them life experiences along the way, helping make sure they have a path to homeownership, etc...?

[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics