Girlie AGDee's College Search Thread

[DubaiSis]

I guess I always figured you go to a good full-service (so to speak) undergrad university and go to the most prestigious grad school you can afford. I had $10,000 in debt, and $110/month payments and THAT was hard for me. I can't image having to handle $500/month payments. And 30K? I didn't get paid $30K until just several years ago. My first job out of college, with a degree, paid $5.50 an hour. And I made rent, a car payment and a student loan payment. And I'll spare you the rest of the sob story, but I'm not a starving artist; I'd say I had a pretty typical situation, except that my parents paid for about half of my education which is better than a lot of kids get.

I would REALLY consider what it means to attend some of these schools, if Mom and Dad aren't (can't/won't doesn't matter) footing the bill. And maybe just maybe "only semi-prestigious in-state school" won't sound so bad.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

And 30K? I didn't get paid $30K until just several years ago. My first job out of college, with a degree, paid $5.50 an hour. And I made rent, a car payment and a student loan payment. And I'll spare you the rest of the sob story, but I'm not a starving artist; I'd say I had a pretty typical situation...

Wow. Well, I don't know how typical that is. For instance, minimum wage in my state is $9.09, and many many retail employers even pay more than that (when I worked at Starbucks in college 15 years ago they paid more than $10/hour, Nordstrom retail was $13 I think).

[AXOmom]

I saw someone on tv this month - some financial aide expert on a talk show I think, that said a college education at most schools will probably pay for itself in the long run up to $50,000 assuming the student majors in a "typical" (my words - not hers - I can't remember what phrase she used) field which were things like business, economics, etc. Above $50,000 and she said it isn't usually worth it anywhere unless you planned on lawyer, doctor, engineer, etc. as a career.

Between 2 kids we are right at the $50,000 mark which probably wasn't our wisest finanacial move, but I'm okay with it and right now we can handle it (knock on wood). I felt like their undergraduate education was our responsibility although my son did pay for part of his and daughter will pay me back the loan amount (I won't charge her interest) for this last year (since she changed schools and ended up going longer than her 4 year limit).

We had a friend who's 4.0 daughter (or close to it) went to University of Washington and majored in....ready for it....dance. I have no idea whether they paid out of pocket or got loans. I know they put 5 kids through college in under a 10 year period, and if any of them had scholarship money, I didn't hear about it. I believe in supporting your children, but 4 years away at college to major in dance....I would've...well, never mind what i would've done. Admitting to it would get me arrested.