Do parents take into account that there is an expectation of a parental contribution when a student applies for financial aid?

I understand if parents cannot afford it, but we intend to do what we can to pay for the best school our kids get into. My parents paid undergrad in full at a state school for my sisters and me. DH's family paid for his undergrad at a private school. We both paid our own grad school.

I paid my own way and it was difficult and stressful. We will pay as much as we can for our kids.

My parents paid for my school and all of my living expenses. I think they still even gave me an allowance back then and bought my clothes. I will pay for my children's college but not spoil my kids as I was spoiled in college.

Anonymous wrote:My parents and DH's parents both paid for private college for two kids. This made it possible for us to focus on studying and break into academia. Our kids get a free ride to college as children of faculty.

If you're tenured and don't lose your job before they go to school. And they have to go to the school you work at? Sucks they can't choose where they want to go.

We pay most of our kids' undergrad tuition and living expenses. They help out with work study, summer jobs and a few loans. We have been fortunate to also get some financial aid.

With three kids and modest income, kids know we cannot pay for graduate or professional school. That is up to them.

I paid for my own, but will pay for my children. I hate that my parents saved nothing for my education and as a result, I had to take out tons to loans to get a decent education. I refuse to have my kids go through this.

My parents and DH's parents both paid for private college for two kids. This made it possible for us to focus on studying and break into academia. Our kids get a free ride to college as children of faculty.

The government paid for my college. My kids will get scholarships. (They are 4 and 1 right now, but I'm pretty confident that they will be able to do it!)

They paid for me for my entire college education + expenses. I don't think I undervalued the education because I had seen how hard they had worked for it.

It is less of a burden to save for college than it is to pay off college debt. I would pay for my kids and hope that they save for the grandkids.

Anonymous wrote:They paid for me. I will pay for mine.

To the very best of my ability.

For undergrad my parents and financial aid paid for about 80% and I took loans out for the rest. I paid for graduate school. My husband paid for his undergrad through loans and grants and his work paid for grad school. We will pay for our kids undergrad (where ever they want to attend) but they are are own their own for grad school. We will steer them to schools that make sense for their profession's earning potential.

My parents paid for my undergrad and grad. My husband's parents gave him $100 and said good luck. He got a full ride to undergrad and then paid for his MBA. We will absolutely pay for our children's education from nursery through college and beyond.

My mother paid for me and my two siblings for undergrad. I paid for graduate school by working FT and going at night. I went to boarding school for HS and didn't know anyone whose parents didn't pay for school. My mother told me that my out of state, state school was cheaper than boarding school. (Early 80s). But I was very responsible and got a job and an apt weeks after I graduated.
We will pay for kids college with current earnings and merit aid, because we haven't really saved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents paid and so did DH's. We will definitely pay for the kids.

Same. DH went to Columbia U, which has a current estimated cost of 65K not including travel and will probably be closer to 90K by the time he goes in 10+ yrs. There is no way DC is going to be able to pay that no matter how much he works. If DC gets in, we will pay. Same for graduate schools. If the parents can afford it, they should pay.

No. You should pay since that is what you choose to do. Other parents should do what works for them. Jeez

Like stating it here is going to "force" anyone to do it. Jeez

a lot of the top schools are starting to realize that cost is ridiculously prohibitive and lowering costs with grants and scholarships and stuff. Very few will actually pay that advertised price.

No one but the super rich will be able to afford $90K/year - that is just absurd.