I intend to pay for my children's tuition and room and board through my savings and if needed loans and will expect them to work part-time to earn their own spending money.

My parents refused to help out with any of my college or living expenses and I honestly thought it was pretty shitty of them. I think this is b/c they almost seemed to take pleasure in not helping us. I never would have expected full support, as I recognize I was an adult and responsible for myself, but offering to buy groceries or a book sometimes would have gone a long way.

Oddly, my dad now makes a big deal of money he is saving for my children's college (to include email updates to me on how much he has saved). I even told him once to give the money to my very financially challenged niece b/c I will take care of my own kid's, but then dropped it b/c I realized this this savings it is between my dad and my kids and I have no right to interfere.

Anonymous wrote:You're right. If you make less than six figures in the metro DC area as the sole support of a household, IMO that's not supporting yourself well.

I'm the "pragmatic" poster. Late 20s, sole income thats not even close to 6 figures, though I will get there. I own my home, save 15%+ of income, my child attends a good charter, I travel internationally 2-3 times a year. I'm blessed with a loving, supportive family and everyone is healthy. How is that not supporting myself well?

Anonymous wrote:You're right. If you make less than six figures in the metro DC area as the sole support of a household, IMO that's not supporting yourself well.

It must be miserable living with such a narrowly defined standard of living.

You're right. If you make less than six figures in the metro DC area as the sole support of a household, IMO that's not supporting yourself well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Maybe I am just too pragmatic, but I'm not paying six figures solely for "experiences". I want my kid to buckle down and gain some marketable skills and leads (internships, etc) that will enable her to support herself sufficiently post graduation. I can find other economically sound (and FUN) ways to enrich her life experiences along the way. We're moving abroad next year, for example, where she will attend a French school. Remember, you're sending a teenager off to college, not Siddartha. Let's not kid ourselves. DD can have similar experiences at a low to moderately priced school. Or she can pay for prestige herself.

[b]What person can support themselves with only a college degree[/b]? I want a college for my kid that has a very high admissions rate to grad school and where they can make good connections.

Are you high?

No, I'm not. A liberal arts college degree is not generally going to let you make six figures.

Placing aside the fact that you are flat out wrong about this, I find it terribly telling that you don't think a person can support herself on less than six figures. My god, sometimes I forget how sheltered the posters on here are.

I'm being honest. I want my children to be able to make six figures.

That's fine, but that is not what you said. That is totally different from claiming that a person with only a college degree can't support herself.

Anonymous wrote:I know plenty of friends who graduated with a liberal arts degree who came out and made 6 figures almost immediately. It is all about which field you go into, not which degree you have.

Out of curiosity, which fields?