Anonymous wrote:My parents almost did this and I’m grateful they didn’t.
I had to decide between a full ride at a good state school and an Ivy. My parents were well off and could easily afford the Ivy (it wasn’t nothing to them, but they had saved etc). They briefly entertained the idea of offering me cash and letting me decide, and I immediately had dreams of living in some awesome apartment at the state school and living well with my cash. I thought the money was more than it was, and while I’m sure I would have saved a lot of it, I definitely would have spent some too.
And ultimately the Ivy opened so many doors to me, and still to this day people are impressed (whatever you think of this, it’s true) when I tell them where I went for college. And no one would have blinked at the very good state school.
(On the other hand I strongly believe I would have been fine if I’d gone to the state school and no parent should stretch too much for an Ivy).
Don’t do it. They’re too young to make that decision.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, your kid is awfully presumptuous for asking the question. What makes him think he's in a position to negotiate with you?
He was simply asking the question as we were discussing college costs. I thought it was a good one.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, your kid is awfully presumptuous for asking the question. What makes him think he's in a position to negotiate with you?
My feeling as well.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, your kid is awfully presumptuous for asking the question. What makes him think he's in a position to negotiate with you?
He was simply asking the question as we were discussing college costs. I thought it was a good one.
Anonymous wrote:OP, your kid is awfully presumptuous for asking the question. What makes him think he's in a position to negotiate with you?
Anonymous wrote:I’d put in some contingencies about any amount of money given, but I certainly wouldn’t give access to more than a couple thousand bucks at a time. Even that might be risky. Kids get into all kinds of unexpected things when they go to college and too much money can makes those problems worse for everyone.
If the kid makes the choice to go to state school, and is practical, that’s great but I would not give the entire difference between state and private school every year.
Anonymous wrote:OP, your kid is awfully presumptuous for asking the question. What makes him think he's in a position to negotiate with you?