Anonymous wrote:Community college is always an option. But saying “haven’t you saved enough for in-state tuition” is ridiculous. The actual annual cost is $30-35k per year for UMD and UVA, so undergrad is $120k at in state. UMD has 42% acceptance and UVA is 21% - so even in-state tuition is not guaranteed (community college good option then). But this discussion is focused on which parent assets are up for consideration to calculate financial aide and about college costs. For families with two kids close in age that’s $240k in 6-8yeafs. So, no most families aren’t able to save that much. And it’s disingenuous to not acknowledge that college costs too much in this country.

There are other state schools if your kid cannot get in and they live at home if you cannot pay room and board. When we made around $100k, we still saved because of our choices. We have middle schooler and have a state school, room and board already saved and that was with a sn child who needed lots of therapies and caring for a grandparent. It’s about priorities.

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Anonymous wrote:We all choose how we spend $$. If you want to put it towards a house (car/trip/whatever) then college choices are limited to what the family can manage. There is nothing special about housing choices. If contributing to college is not a priority, it is totally fine, but don't expect the college to handle it for you.

+1
College is so expensive and financial aid so common that people forget it is a form of charity, not an entitlement.

I dont think its charity. Anyone go to the car dealer and expect/request to pay MSRP because you make a lot of money? Tesla doesn't need to lower prices to make a sale. Chevrolet does. Supply and demand.

Comparing college to cars is silly. They are charging an insane amount and its absurd but as long as people are willing to pay that much, same with housing, the amounts will continue to rise. And, a Chevy can cost more than a Tesla.

It's a textbook example of price discrimination. There is a ridiculous posted price, but most people don't pay that price and aren't expected to

One has nothing to do with the other. And, learn to negotiate better. I got 8.5 off invoice of my last car that others are dumb enough to pay over MSRP for. But, that's how we can save for college.

Your kids are not entitled to go to an expensive private school. You can afford a state school or you and your kids can get another job and pay for it and they can live at home. Or, community college. Or, get a job with tuition benefits. Lots of options since you are too selfish to save.

I’m sorry you are paying full freight. The majority of students at most private schools aren’t.

My kids are not in college yet and will go to a state school that we did a prepaid for as we are responsible parents.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all choose how we spend $$. If you want to put it towards a house (car/trip/whatever) then college choices are limited to what the family can manage. There is nothing special about housing choices. If contributing to college is not a priority, it is totally fine, but don't expect the college to handle it for you.

+1
College is so expensive and financial aid so common that people forget it is a form of charity, not an entitlement.

I dont think its charity. Anyone go to the car dealer and expect/request to pay MSRP because you make a lot of money? Tesla doesn't need to lower prices to make a sale. Chevrolet does. Supply and demand.

Comparing college to cars is silly. They are charging an insane amount and its absurd but as long as people are willing to pay that much, same with housing, the amounts will continue to rise. And, a Chevy can cost more than a Tesla.

It's a textbook example of price discrimination. There is a ridiculous posted price, but most people don't pay that price and aren't expected to

One has nothing to do with the other. And, learn to negotiate better. I got 8.5 off invoice of my last car that others are dumb enough to pay over MSRP for. But, that's how we can save for college.

Your kids are not entitled to go to an expensive private school. You can afford a state school or you and your kids can get another job and pay for it and they can live at home. Or, community college. Or, get a job with tuition benefits. Lots of options since you are too selfish to save.

I’m sorry you are paying full freight. The majority of students at most private schools aren’t.

Anonymous wrote:Community college is always an option. But saying “haven’t you saved enough for in-state tuition” is ridiculous. The actual annual cost is $30-35k per year for UMD and UVA, so undergrad is $120k at in state. UMD has 42% acceptance and UVA is 21% - so even in-state tuition is not guaranteed (community college good option then). But this discussion is focused on which parent assets are up for consideration to calculate financial aide and about college costs. For families with two kids close in age that’s $240k in 6-8yeafs. So, no most families aren’t able to save that much. And it’s disingenuous to not acknowledge that college costs too much in this country.

“College” doesn’t cost too much. The *elite* private colleges are very expensive.

$15 to $20K of the in state cost you cited is room and board. Presumably your child eats when they are at home? That’s not an additional cost. And they could easily live at home at UMD or community college. In VA, George Mason is nearby, and it’s about $6,000 a year cheaper than UVA.

It is not unreasonable for someone who makes over $150k a year to save $44 to $72k. The Dow has returned an average of 8.3% over the last 18 years. $750 a year (about $60 a month) invested since 2003 would resulted in a balance of about $47,500 by 2022. $1,200 a year would result in about $76,000. That assumes that the kid doesn’t work at all in the summer or work study. A total of $22,000 is available in federal loans to everyone. If the kid raises $30,000 in loans and work/study, the parent only needs to save $14,000 (MD) to $20,000 (VA). If you want the full on “move away” college experience for your kid, you need to save $2,000 a year for 22 years per kid. $4,000 a year (or $330 a month) for two kids is the difference between buying a new car and driving the old one (or a Honda vs. a luxury car). Not necessarily easy, but not impossible if sending your kid away is important to you.

FWIW, if your kid couldn’t get into UVA or MD in state, they wouldn’t be going to college if you lived in a country where college is *free.*.

Community college is always an option. But saying “haven’t you saved enough for in-state tuition” is ridiculous. The actual annual cost is $30-35k per year for UMD and UVA, so undergrad is $120k at in state. UMD has 42% acceptance and UVA is 21% - so even in-state tuition is not guaranteed (community college good option then). But this discussion is focused on which parent assets are up for consideration to calculate financial aide and about college costs. For families with two kids close in age that’s $240k in 6-8yeafs. So, no most families aren’t able to save that much. And it’s disingenuous to not acknowledge that college costs too much in this country.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these people saying to just save are not seeing the forest for the trees. The cost of college/university in this country is ridiculous. We have saved. And it’s never enough. Universities are still raising rates at a pace that makes attending a huge financial hurdle for all except the super rich. And universities aren’t spending the majority of funds on teachers/professors or cafeteria workers and custodians. Anyone who has looked at a university/college federal indirect rate knows that colleges are ripping us off first with tuition. And second as tax payers for the indirect charged on government grants. And then third when the products/drugs/products produced thru the tax payer funded research are sold to us at super high rates with profits going to the super rich.

This argument about saving just makes sure that we all fight amongst ourselves for the scraps thrown out the kitchen door, while the people at the very top sit down at the table and gorge themselves.

Tuition for the University of Maryland in state is $11,000. UVA is $18,000. You’ve saved and you can’t afford that?

And, if kids did community college for two years, you could save even more. We aren't high income and had no issue saving for UMD and extra for grad school. Low income will get financial aid. But, those who live in expensive houses and refuse to save are entitled to nothing nor are their kids.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all choose how we spend $$. If you want to put it towards a house (car/trip/whatever) then college choices are limited to what the family can manage. There is nothing special about housing choices. If contributing to college is not a priority, it is totally fine, but don't expect the college to handle it for you.

+1
College is so expensive and financial aid so common that people forget it is a form of charity, not an entitlement.

I dont think its charity. Anyone go to the car dealer and expect/request to pay MSRP because you make a lot of money? Tesla doesn't need to lower prices to make a sale. Chevrolet does. Supply and demand.

Comparing college to cars is silly. They are charging an insane amount and its absurd but as long as people are willing to pay that much, same with housing, the amounts will continue to rise. And, a Chevy can cost more than a Tesla.

It's a textbook example of price discrimination. There is a ridiculous posted price, but most people don't pay that price and aren't expected to

One has nothing to do with the other. And, learn to negotiate better. I got 8.5 off invoice of my last car that others are dumb enough to pay over MSRP for. But, that's how we can save for college.

Your kids are not entitled to go to an expensive private school. You can afford a state school or you and your kids can get another job and pay for it and they can live at home. Or, community college. Or, get a job with tuition benefits. Lots of options since you are too selfish to save.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these people saying to just save are not seeing the forest for the trees. The cost of college/university in this country is ridiculous. We have saved. And it’s never enough. Universities are still raising rates at a pace that makes attending a huge financial hurdle for all except the super rich. And universities aren’t spending the majority of funds on teachers/professors or cafeteria workers and custodians. Anyone who has looked at a university/college federal indirect rate knows that colleges are ripping us off first with tuition. And second as tax payers for the indirect charged on government grants. And then third when the products/drugs/products produced thru the tax payer funded research are sold to us at super high rates with profits going to the super rich.

This argument about saving just makes sure that we all fight amongst ourselves for the scraps thrown out the kitchen door, while the people at the very top sit down at the table and gorge themselves.

Tuition for the University of Maryland in state is $11,000. UVA is $18,000. You’ve saved and you can’t afford that?

And, if kids did community college for two years, you could save even more. We aren't high income and had no issue saving for UMD and extra for grad school. Low income will get financial aid. But, those who live in expensive houses and refuse to save are entitled to nothing nor are their kids.

Anonymous wrote:All these people saying to just save are not seeing the forest for the trees. The cost of college/university in this country is ridiculous. We have saved. And it’s never enough. Universities are still raising rates at a pace that makes attending a huge financial hurdle for all except the super rich. And universities aren’t spending the majority of funds on teachers/professors or cafeteria workers and custodians. Anyone who has looked at a university/college federal indirect rate knows that colleges are ripping us off first with tuition. And second as tax payers for the indirect charged on government grants. And then third when the products/drugs/products produced thru the tax payer funded research are sold to us at super high rates with profits going to the super rich.

This argument about saving just makes sure that we all fight amongst ourselves for the scraps thrown out the kitchen door, while the people at the very top sit down at the table and gorge themselves.

Tuition for the University of Maryland in state is $11,000. UVA is $18,000. You’ve saved and you can’t afford that?

Preach.

All these people saying to just save are not seeing the forest for the trees. The cost of college/university in this country is ridiculous. We have saved. And it’s never enough. Universities are still raising rates at a pace that makes attending a huge financial hurdle for all except the super rich. And universities aren’t spending the majority of funds on teachers/professors or cafeteria workers and custodians. Anyone who has looked at a university/college federal indirect rate knows that colleges are ripping us off first with tuition. And second as tax payers for the indirect charged on government grants. And then third when the products/drugs/products produced thru the tax payer funded research are sold to us at super high rates with profits going to the super rich.

This argument about saving just makes sure that we all fight amongst ourselves for the scraps thrown out the kitchen door, while the people at the very top sit down at the table and gorge themselves.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all choose how we spend $$. If you want to put it towards a house (car/trip/whatever) then college choices are limited to what the family can manage. There is nothing special about housing choices. If contributing to college is not a priority, it is totally fine, but don't expect the college to handle it for you.

+1
College is so expensive and financial aid so common that people forget it is a form of charity, not an entitlement.

I dont think its charity. Anyone go to the car dealer and expect/request to pay MSRP because you make a lot of money? Tesla doesn't need to lower prices to make a sale. Chevrolet does. Supply and demand.

Comparing college to cars is silly. They are charging an insane amount and its absurd but as long as people are willing to pay that much, same with housing, the amounts will continue to rise. And, a Chevy can cost more than a Tesla.

It's a textbook example of price discrimination. There is a ridiculous posted price, but most people don't pay that price and aren't expected to

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all choose how we spend $$. If you want to put it towards a house (car/trip/whatever) then college choices are limited to what the family can manage. There is nothing special about housing choices. If contributing to college is not a priority, it is totally fine, but don't expect the college to handle it for you.

+1
College is so expensive and financial aid so common that people forget it is a form of charity, not an entitlement.

I dont think its charity. Anyone go to the car dealer and expect/request to pay MSRP because you make a lot of money? Tesla doesn't need to lower prices to make a sale. Chevrolet does. Supply and demand.

Comparing college to cars is silly. They are charging an insane amount and its absurd but as long as people are willing to pay that much, same with housing, the amounts will continue to rise. And, a Chevy can cost more than a Tesla.

Anonymous wrote:Wow. The person who pretty much immediately turned this thread into a flame war has been trashing doughnut-hole families for at least four years every time someone asks a question about financial aid. I really can't understand why someone would do this, especially since she/he wasn't even trying to afford private colleges.

Enough with the donut hole non-sense. You CAN save and choose not to. You choose other priorities so stop pretending you are poor when you are not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges cost money. It’s that simple. If we as a nation have decided not to provide adequate government funding for universities, and the universities can’t fundraiser the money to cover operational costs, then the cost is passed on to the consumers (students and parents).
A university education/degree is not a right the US provides its citizens. If you don’t like the system, the vote to change it.

Right, and the result is that only consumers who can afford this luxury good will purchase it, and resulting in turn in a small educated minority and a large uneducated majority.

Is that what we want, as a society?

RE voting to change it: Uh uh.

That's not true. Community College and need based financial aid is intended to bridge that gap .

The key words there: "intended to"