I worked too and never had a spring break! Maybe I should take one now, lol! I too am still extremely grateful to my parents - I seriously could not do this graduate program without them! My parents pick up my girls from school on my long day (class 8:30 a.m. - 6: 30 p.m.), and my mom usually fixes dinner for us that night. They also are there when I'm crunched for time on a project, and help with the little one a few days a week since she gets out of preschool so early. I so appreciate them, perhaps even more now than I did back in the day as an undergraduate. I think it is wonderful to have such supportive parents, and hope I can do the same for my girlies.

Everybody's circumstances are different, and I don't think anyone has the right to criticize anyone else's situation (unless, of course, said person is an obnoxious twit about it :D ). I'm a married mom of two who doesn't work outside the home because, thankfully, my husband's job allows us to live comfortably without my financial contribution. I occasionally get flack from friends and relatives who are "working mothers", who tell me I am "spoiled". I would imagine it is the same with the students who have their parents pay for their schooling.

I don't come from a family that was able to pay for my college, so I got scholarships, took out student loans and worked part time. I didn't complain about my circumstances; that was how things were and it really wasn't a big deal to me. Sure, I had sisters that had everything taken care of for them and always seemed able to buy a new outfit for every mixer but it didn't bother me. Again, that was how things were and it wasn't a big deal to me.

My sister is 8 years younger than me and by the time she went to college my parents' circumstances had changed and they were able to help her out with school. I'm glad she didn't have to work during the school year, but I'm not bitter or upset because I did.

If your parents are willing and able to help, that's great. If they're not, and you're determined to graduate, you'll have to find your own way through. But that's okay, because I'm living proof that it can be done.

Mr. KillarneyRose and I set up a fund for our daughters' college educations when each of them were born and they have done very well. Barring disaster, there will be money available for both of them to attend any college they can get into. As long as there is a Delta Zeta chapter there (just kidding about the Delta Zeta chapter ;) ) I will say, however, that I will expect consistantly good grades from them and that we will pay for four years of tuition and room and board. I refuse to foot the bill for the 6 year plan.

I never discussed my financial situation with my friends in college or even now. I know that some people got the impression that I was rich because I went to a private school for highschool, but that wasn't the case. Education was a priority to my mother so she sacrificed things for herself to pay my tuition as well as my sisters. She was as generous as she could be. I had a job on campus for a while, some student loans, a scholarship, a grant, and my mother paid the rest.

My job freshman year was in the financial aid office answering the phones and filing applications. I would get phone calls from students saying they "needed" financial aid so they could pay their $500 phone or credit card bills. They would cry to me that their parents wouldn't pay their bills. I had to tell them that financial aid wasn't for that and would forward their call to the job locator office. They would get more upset because they had never held a job. It was kind of funny, but also kind of sad. It must have been a rude awakening for them. Also you could tell when the financial aid checks would come in because students would be sporting expensive new outfits. One girl I worked with thought it was ridiculous that we were working so hard for a quarter more than minimum wage and the students with loans wore outfits that cost more than we earned in a semester. I tried not to judge, but it was frustrating. I guess working there built character. It certainly decreased my loan burden.

I wish my parents would have been able to afford to put me through school but that definitely was not the case.

I worked and paid my way through college all by myself...with the exception of one semester of financial aid. I knew in high school that I was going to have to pay for college so I got a job at the end of 10th grade. For the first two years that I worked I only spent $40 out of each paycheck and the rest sat in my checking account until I graduated from high school.

The only thing that my parents provided me with was a room over my head and food to put in my mouth. I paid my share of the bills, used my own money for extracurricular activities, bought a brand new car by myself my first semester of college and paid for the insurance all by myself.

I could never qualify for anything because my biological father made more money than my parents (my mom and stepfather) did combined.

I'm glad that I went through everything that I did. It taught me to be very independent and responsible at a very young age and it makes me proud that I achieved something on my own without any help.

Slightly off the subject...
One of the things that annoys me the most is when children EXPECT their parents to pay for everything. For example, when kids turn 16 they feel that their parents are supposed to by them a car. My opinion is that if you don't have a job then you don't need a vehicle and you can ride the bus to school.

Yeah, my mom's friends and co-workers have made comments to her that she spoils my sister and me. I'm like, wow, if they think I'm spoiled, then they should see what some of my friends' parents buy them. I'm not spoiled, I worked all throughout college, not because I needed to, but because I wanted to make money for myself. I just can't wait for the day when I can repay my parents and spoil them.

Re: Uggh
 

This is just kind of a rant thread lol . .. You hate people that complain that others have it easier than them. They hate you for having it easier.

I see no moral superiority in either position.

But I will say that considering common standards of human behavior I am surprised that many of you are moved quicker to annoyance, anger, and a certain superior condescension towards those less fortunate, rather than understanding or a degree of sympathy.

Hypochondria aside I have excellent health and tend to feel sympathy for those less fortunate and understanding when some may feel exasperated at my good fortune.

But thats just me.

I will pay for my children to attend expensive schools if the schools are worth it and they go into something I approve.

Oh and people working for a grand to spend on your useless expenditures like condoms, beer, and haircuts does not all of a sudden mean that you worked really hard throughout school. So while others shouldn't make comments about you being spoiled, don't think for one second that you somehow turned back any potential argument they might have with some stupid logic like that.

-Rudey
--If my kid wanted to get an art history degree from vassar or Some dumb st. U he can pay for that on his own.

Geez, Rudey, it sounds like you've been talking with Mr. KillarneyRose! He feels exactly the same way you do. Thinks our girls should get engineering degrees like he did because they are "useful". I remind him that 1) he is not currently using his engineering degree and 2) I highly doubt that any child with my genes COULD major in engineering.

You sound disturbingly like my daddy right now.

LOL. I'm so glad my parents don't care what I major in, as long as its what I want to do!!! When I have kids, I plan that my husband and I will start a college fund with money in it as to pay for their tuition, their rent, cell phone, and money for food....most likely only as long as their GPA doesn't stay below a 2.0!! I also plan on paying any of their medical bills, doctors visits, and prescriptions. That's what my parents have done for me!!!

I just wanted to say that in no way am I hating on those who were taking care of by their parents during their college years. Y'all were lucky and very fortunate, and if my mom wanted to, she would have done the same thing.

I went to a very prestigious all girls' Catholic school, and I think that's part of the reason why my mother decided to cut me off the way she did. My full year's tuition at Sacred Hearts Academy was FIVE TIMES LESS than what I had to pay at UHM. My mom wanted to make sure that I at least got my foot in the door, and getting that Academy's education was one of the best things she's ever done for me.

In college I came across a LOT of people who were being taken care of by their parents. Unfortunately, these people were the same ones who never went to class and eventually flunked out of school. At the same time, I knew of even more people who were working multiple jobs just to pay for tuition, books, and just to get by.

In my chapter, some of my sisters were VERY spoiled. And this is what I had a problem with. They acted like it, and looked down on those who weren't treated the same way.

Isht, my mom was an immigrant. She didn't know what the heck sororities were until I pledged, and even then, she was pissed that I was spending my hard earned money on AGD. It took her a while, but she got over it.

I like the fact that I know how it feels like to work multiple jobs. I like the feeling of knowing that I can take care of myself without the help of mommy. But that's just me, and I hope my future children can one day know the same feeling of hard work and responsibility.

My parents did give me their old car when I turned 16. And I got a "newer" used car when I graduated high school. However, I was expected to pay my insurance and gas. (Basically, I had a job from the moment I was allowed to work.) At an early age, I learned that there are some things you must work for in life if you really want them.

I am in favor of saving money for your child to attend college. This means tution and room/board. I received scholarships for my education and my parent's paid the rest. Our deal was, if I lost any scholarship, I had to pay that amount of money for the semester. Also, they would pay for only 4 years of college. Any additional years, I would have to pay myself. This kept me motivated to take as many classes as possible and to get the best grades possible so I wouldn't be footing any huge bill. I lived oncampus for one year and decided I wanted to move into an apartment that was nearby. My parents paid for one year, and told me if I wanted to continue to live in the apartment, I would have to pay my own rent. So that's what I did. I got a job as a waitress, starting making pretty good money, and set myself financially independent from my parents. In 2002, I graduated from college (in 4 years), bought myself a brand new car, and got a well paying job in my field.

What ticks me off the most are parents that pay for their children's SHOPPING HABITS! No offense to people whose parents do so, but really, it's ridiculous. If mommy and daddy paid my credit card bill monthy, I would be buying all the designer brands too. There is a certain age where parents must stop paying for your clothing, etc. For instance, my friend is 27 and her parents just stopped paying for her weekly shopping sprees. (She got married, so they finally cut the apron strings.) I think that is insane. Her and her husband don't make a lot of money, but she's still shopping her usually habits. They're going to be in debt forever unless she realizes her ways. And that's what I think parents need to teach their children. Money doesn't grow on trees and you have to manage it wisely. Yes, it's nice to be spoiled sometimes, but as you approach adulthood, you SHOULD want to do things on your own, without the help of your parents.

I feel the same way and Rudey has a very good point.

I'll pay for my children to go to school as long as they are pursuing a degree that they will actually use. I don't want to feel like I'm throwing my money away.

I also agree with the second point. Just because you work in college doesn't mean you aren't spoiled. Some people work a few hours here and there in college to buy beer and sheit like that - the things your parents wouldn't buy you ;)

I have "adult" friends who have graduated college and work full-time but still pretty much live off of their parents (parents pay their rent, car payment and other stuff like that).

Brush your shoulders off.

Granted I don't want the little its, but if I ever end up with them, I think I'm suscribing to the Blaine/Rudey school of thought. The first couple years of school I bitched and moaned about having to double major because I just wanted to do PoliSci - and now I am SO GLAD I have something else that's marketable.

I want to pay for my kids education. I don't care what they take as long as they enjoy it. I don't like it when parents tell their kids they have to study engineering or business or science or computers because those are the only "useful" degrees. If my kid wants to study art history then go for it. Hell, they might end up using their degree. They maybe be an art teacher or a curator of a museum.

They way I see it, is University is not for job training (although many universities now are starting prgrams that do teach skills, like Guelph's Hotel and Food Administration program), but it should teach the child some discipline and responisbility. If you want to find a job, go to community college...you'll learn a skill there...hell that's where I'm going in september because my B.A didn't teach me anything that is useful in the working world.