First Child off to College

[frisbee21]

I will be in the same position in 12 months -- first child making decision on college. So I read this with interest as we have limited in-state options and very good out of state and private school options.

But I think I'm the only one out here who wants to pay for my DD's college. She has enough school & work stress without figuring out how to pay for it. I can't imagine telling her next year as she is making this ginormous decision that she could have $100k+ in debt for her first choice school...because I think she needs to have a financial stake in it. I wouldn't send her to college at all if I didn't think she would be successful there.

I guess I think we have a much greater ability to pay back any necesssary loans (w/out sacrificing retirement) over an 18-22 yr old.

I know every kid is different.

[zibazinski]

You aren't the only one who thinks not paying for undergrad is wrong. I paid for DS's (what he didn't get from Bright Futures) and I am paying for DD's. So basically room and board for both kids which thankfully they were not in college at the same time. My issue is that DD wants 2 more years that was supposed to be paid for by the military and now is not going to be so she needs school loans that I don't wish to co-sign for. With so many kids defaulting, getting a loan without a co-signer is very hard.