Absolutely!

(assuming they can afford it)

Anonymous wrote:I think the question is: should parents pay, if they can? And, if they are in a position to pay if they save/scrimp now should they?

We fall into the later category. Part of me thinks that it's really not my problem, to a certain extent. But I want my child to go to college, for sure! And my parents paid my very expensive Harvard education.

What happens if my daughter gets into a sub-par university that costs a lot and a respectable state institution? Do I have to pay for whatever she wants? I say no, my husband- whose parents told him they'd pay for wherever he wanted- says we'll pay for whereever she goes. (And my husband went to Harvard).

We're not wealthy. Both public servants. Right now we CANT really save enough for her and her sister to go somewhere, but they are both toddlers/baby right now.

What's not your problem? Scrimping and saving to send your kids to college? If it isn't your problem, whose is it - theirs?

Define "sub-par" university please.

And sorry, "public servant" doesn't get you a pass. Public servants are fairly compensated.

I think if parents can, they should pay as long as it is still a sound investment. Your kid doesn't need to go to a private school at 50k a year to screw around for five years and eventually major in Spanish, and also live in a penthouse apartment throughout college.

If you are going to pay for college, you should still make sure your kid is contributing (even if that means working over the summer to contribute to school-year rent costs) and that it is not going to be a waste of your money.

Anonymous wrote:Assuming the parents have some financial ability to help with undergrad, I think they should. The fact is that some families can't help out, as they are struggling to get by. If the child is in this position, then there's a strong likelihood they'll get financial aid for college.

This is a huge misconception. They'll get some (increasingly less) financial aid. Who do you think will pay this financial aid? Most kids who really want to go will end up with a ton of student loans.

I don't have an opinion in general. I feel strongly that since my grandparents paid my parents' college tuitions, and my parents paid about 75% of mine, that my husband and I should pay it forward and pay for as much of our kids' college expenses as reasonably possible.

"Should" isn't really the right question to ask, I think. Paying for undergrad tuition is an enormous gift you can give your child, if you are able. It's not a right or an entitlement, even if you can afford it.

I think that parents should do the best we can to pay for as much as we can for undergrad education.

It shocks me when people say they are saving nothing for their kids' education. I do not understand that at all.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand. Whether they should and whether they can are two different questions.

My parents could not pay for my college. Whether they should have was a pie in the sky question.

This was my situation too.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why you wouldn't pay for your kid to go to school if you have the means. I see no problem with student loans and such, if there is no other option. But to burden your child with a mountain of debt before they even start their life, if you can avoid it, is just cruel.

If you can swing it, I see no reason not to. My parents did and I am forever grateful to them. I worked hard, got into the best college possible and then performed well in college (graduated with honors). I know some people argue that making them pay their own way means they appreciate it more, but I don't agree with that. I think it depends on personality/maturity of each child, though. If I start paying and my kid screws around, they will NOT have any more paid for.

Again, this is within reason - I won't go broke to send my kid to college. We'll do what we can.

Assuming the parents have some financial ability to help with undergrad, I think they should. The fact is that some families can't help out, as they are struggling to get by. If the child is in this position, then there's a strong likelihood they'll get financial aid for college.

I think the question is: should parents pay, if they can? And, if they are in a position to pay if they save/scrimp now should they?

We fall into the later category. Part of me thinks that it's really not my problem, to a certain extent. But I want my child to go to college, for sure! And my parents paid my very expensive Harvard education.

What happens if my daughter gets into a sub-par university that costs a lot and a respectable state institution? Do I have to pay for whatever she wants? I say no, my husband- whose parents told him they'd pay for wherever he wanted- says we'll pay for whereever she goes. (And my husband went to Harvard).

We're not wealthy. Both public servants. Right now we CANT really save enough for her and her sister to go somewhere, but they are both toddlers/baby right now.

I dont think its a matter of *should* because not every parent can afford this.

For me, I will try my absolute best to have some money for each child to go to college. My parents paid my way and I am so grateful for that. They said we each got 4 years and anything beyond that was on us.

If I can help them out I will. However, it also is based on them actually going to college and getting good grades. I am not going to waste money on a child who never intends to go and drops out, etc. I would hope that would never happen but we do not have absolute control over these things.

Depends on your child's ability to do well in school and what their ambitions are. My parents could and did pay, but my DH's parents could not and did not. he worked two jobs to pay for school.

That said, we are paying for undergrad but would expect them to get loans for grad school- and PERHAPS help them pay the loans off. But it would have to be a degree that would net them a great job in the end - law school, MBA etc. Not Master of Fine Arts - what the hell do you do with that?

I don't understand. Whether they should and whether they can are two different questions.

My parents could not pay for my college. Whether they should have was a pie in the sky question.

I agree and am doing my best to fund my dcs' college accounts. But I know a lot of people think differently. Thoughts?