Anonymous wrote:This post is very judgmental. College is our top priority for our family and we don’t want cost to prevent our kids from attending any particular school. We have made choices that align with that value. Other people have different values and that is fine too.

Anonymous wrote:This post is very judgmental. College is our top priority for our family and we don’t want cost to prevent our kids from attending any particular school. We have made choices that align with that value. Other people have different values and that is fine too.

Anonymous wrote: By comparison I paid my own college in 1980-1981 as a freshman with zero savings and zero loans.

I went to a SUNY school in NY and tuition was $900
A year.

I worked at Barclays Bank part time in school year and full time in sumner. Can you imagine today’.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Planning is key if you are UMC. You may not be able to afford McLean or Bethesda and an expensive school. So many people stretch for expensive school areas and then complain cause they can’t afford private colleges.

Meh. There are worse "habits" than buying a not-so-expensive house in one of those areas - and attending PUBLIC schools; and worse "problems" then your kid getting into (only) private colleges. Some people don't have family to help out, so no matter how much they save, or how much they plan, it is not enough due to the quickly rising college prices, and the lack of financial aid that goes to middle class donut hole families.

Don't pretend to know other people's situations, and maybe be glad if you don't experience that issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those reading this and freaking out, use the college Net Price Calculators for an estimate of need-based aid. If that's not going to cut it for your family, the earlier you understand that, the better you can begin to look for lower priced options and places that offer merit scholarships. Realistic expectations.

What if those colleges are not a good fit for your kid?

This isn't a goldilocks moment. Get over the idea that there is a perfect fit college out there. If you can't afford any car on the lot, you don't start by looking at the expensive ones. Start by finding what might be financially possible and go visit those. Then you make it work.

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Anonymous wrote:We told our kids very early on that it was a public instate college or they paid the difference. Even if I could afford $80,000a year, I wouldn’t pay that for an undergrad degree.

Why did you have kids if you're not prepared to pay for college? We saved the money and paid every cent (full pay) for the costs and all expenses at top 10 schools for each of our kids.

Anonymous wrote:My DS is starting to think of colleges (he's fifteen) and I was casually browsing some of the smaller, private schools-- the cost of these places is insane. Yes, we're realistic (529 plan and know that college is expensive). It just struck me that there are so *many* extremely expensive colleges, and most of them I've never heard of or wouldn't think twice about if I saw them on a resume.
I'm not trying to stir a fight-- I know that colleges are a lot about fit, and maybe these places offer something extraordinary, but many seem like rich people schools-- one said they basically cavort in LL Bean and music is a top major-- cost of attendance $80,000. SMH.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We told our kids very early on that it was a public instate college or they paid the difference. Even if I could afford $80,000a year, I wouldn’t pay that for an undergrad degree.

Why did you have kids if you're not prepared to pay for college? We saved the money and paid every cent (full pay) for the costs and all expenses at top 10 schools for each of our kids.

You can be prepared to pay for college but not prepared to pay $80k per year for college. Just like I'm prepared to buy a car but not a top of the line luxury car. Paying for your kid to go to an $80k college is purely a luxury. They can get a good education and solid start in life for half that price. Fine to pay more if you want to and can afford it but it's hardly a parental failing to not to do that.

You’re going to tell you child they can’t go to MIT, Stanford or an Ivy League college because it’s too expensive? I’d mortgage my teeth and take out loans for my kid if I haven’t saved enough.

And sometimes an expensive but less competitive LAC can turn a mediocre student’s life around. Happened to my little brother. He’s forever grateful our parents really sacrificed to pay for his private college.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I’m not the least bit surprised after paying for private school. My nephew’s preschool (4 hours) is $24,000 an academic year. My DD’s high school is $42,600. My alma mater is now $58,195 and DH’s is $72,200.

Private schools are extremely expensive.

+1. After 12 plus years of “free” education in public school, lots of public school parents are shocked.

+2. This is so true. Plus OP and others are determining worth of a college based on future earning potential. There is so much more involved than how much your kid will earn after graduation.

My spouse went to a no name college and earns 4-6 times more than me because of the professions we choose.

Me too. And he went to that no name college because it gave him a full ride, when he also got into Duke and Penn and those schools didn’t offer him anything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We told our kids very early on that it was a public instate college or they paid the difference. Even if I could afford $80,000a year, I wouldn’t pay that for an undergrad degree.

Why did you have kids if you're not prepared to pay for college? We saved the money and paid every cent (full pay) for the costs and all expenses at top 10 schools for each of our kids.

You can be prepared to pay for college but not prepared to pay $80k per year for college. Just like I'm prepared to buy a car but not a top of the line luxury car. Paying for your kid to go to an $80k college is purely a luxury. They can get a good education and solid start in life for half that price. Fine to pay more if you want to and can afford it but it's hardly a parental failing to not to do that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We told our kids very early on that it was a public instate college or they paid the difference. Even if I could afford $80,000a year, I wouldn’t pay that for an undergrad degree.

Why did you have kids if you're not prepared to pay for college? We saved the money and paid every cent (full pay) for the costs and all expenses at top 10 schools for each of our kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not the least bit surprised after paying for private school. My nephew’s preschool (4 hours) is $24,000 an academic year. My DD’s high school is $42,600. My alma mater is now $58,195 and DH’s is $72,200.

Private schools are extremely expensive.

+1. After 12 plus years of “free” education in public school, lots of public school parents are shocked.

+2. This is so true. Plus OP and others are determining worth of a college based on future earning potential. There is so much more involved than how much your kid will earn after graduation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not the least bit surprised after paying for private school. My nephew’s preschool (4 hours) is $24,000 an academic year. My DD’s high school is $42,600. My alma mater is now $58,195 and DH’s is $72,200.

Private schools are extremely expensive.

+1. After 12 plus years of “free” education in public school, lots of public school parents are shocked.

+2. This is so true. Plus OP and others are determining worth of a college based on future earning potential. There is so much more involved than how much your kid will earn after graduation.

My spouse went to a no name college and earns 4-6 times more than me because of the professions we choose.

Me too. And he went to that no name college because it gave him a full ride, when he also got into Duke and Penn and those schools didn’t offer him anything.