ok i've been wondering this for a while. many of times parents often wonder "how are we going to pay for his/her college education?" question is: should the parents even feel obligated to pay for their children? should the children get a job and pay for college on their own since they are old enough to do so when they are in college? or should parents save ALOT of money for the children and finance their college education? well, one postive that can come from parents financing the children's college education is that the student has more free time to do study and might potentially do better and will overall have more time to enjoy themselves. one negative of that is that the students might take their education for granted and not go to their full potential. one postive from students financing their own education is that they learn to become adults and to be independent, they might also take their education more seriously since they are the ones paying for it. the negative from students financing their own education might be that they could become too stressed from having to work and go to class all the time. thoughts?
Depending on where you're from and what you're doing, like I've been at college for 4 years and my mum has never had to pay a thing for me, since I've always had the money my self, but I guess if you live in the US then it's best to save up for your kids to go to college.
It depends in where you live and what the monetary situation is for you. I know alot of friends that work mega hours over the summer to pay for two semesters of college, I know some who's families have put aside a college fund and I know others who have earned scholarships or are taking out loans to payoff later. As parents, they want the best for their kids and want to provide for them so that they have every possible outlet to explore. So I believe in a sense that yes, parents are obligated to either help their kids, or at least be there in case the need ever arose.
I think they should provide moral and financial support myself. I mean the kid should get a job too but I don't think they should have to shoulder the entire burden...I'd say they should also pay their parents back at a later time.
There is no "yes" or "no" to the question. It depends on how the parent feels, the situation of the child/student/teenager, and the condition and terms in which he wants to enter a college. It isn't, in any means, an obligation, in my opinion. They don't *have* to. The help is certainly appreciated if they decide to help. It is just harder without it, and the parents concerns on it deeply affect this.
Well the truth is, I really don't care. If they do, they do it. If they want me, then I do it. I just follow their orders and maybe I'll pay for it instead.
Though this is a case of a Maybe, I'll still ay NO. Parents shouldn't feel/be obligated to pay for thier child's education. By about this time and age, the kid him/herself should have enough sense to do what's best for them. In often cases, parents will give all the money necessary for their kids' education, and what the kids' will do in return is just throw it all away. The parents' job was to raise the kid until he/she was of age, and let them go, for it's their life. If the kid want's to be a dumb@ss and ruin their lives, then what was the point of all the hard work the parents had to go through to earn that backbreaking money they just spent of their education? The kids, by the time of college must learn that money is a necessity and so is education. If the kid wants a real and relaxing life, then he/she must feel obligated to get themselves up to where they want to be. They need to see life for what it is. People WILL NOT be standing there with a bundle of money to help you out in life. The new generation must learn to be independent and have the knowledge of the world... and the world is harsh. The sad fact of life: In in the time of need, even the closest friend will turn their backs on you. I've seen it happen way too often (Not talking about kids here, real adults). My point is that when parents pay for the child's education, the child doesn't learn about the world, and will turn dependent. Independence is the key to survival in this place. Sure parents have the choice of looking out for the best interest of the child... but yet, in that act, the kid end up believing that the world is happy happy and easy place when clearly it is not. It takes hard work to get and reach your goal. The children must FIGHT their way through... they can be shown the way, but they mustn't be GIVEN the way.
i sorta feel that way too, i don't like feeling dependent on my parents for money but the money that my job pays is only enough to pay for my monthly payments to repay the loan for my college tuition. i probably only make like $20-$30 that i actually keep at the end
I think that the parents should pay for some of the college tuition, but you should be helping out as much as you can.
I would have voted that I think it depends on the circumstances, but I can say since I live the nightmare of parents who did jack crap for me and have had to fight tooth and nail to get the degree I am working for, I voted yes. I live in the U.S. and the college support sucks unless I can get grants or take Honors courses to get classes marked off because I maintain a very high GPA. I also had to go into the military so that once out I could afford college with government assistance to not have to take out a ton of loans. From personal experience, there are so many people that have to go the route I do of working 30 to 40 hours a week plus having to do things like join the military or some corporation assistance program to allow them to not owe super loans. Others get loans from places like Sally Mae and are really screwed when they come to realize they owe 20 to 50k and all of that education gets them a job that pays well but in the end leaves them with the same amount they'd get at McDonalds because of owing money per month to loans people. This is not to say I believe parents are bound to pay all of the college dues because hardly anyone can do that. I do think kids in college should work and do something to help themselves out. College should be a time of the kid learning to be more independent and responsible. However, after all the crappy experiences I have had and fighting to make sure I can even continue at some semesters where things look hairy, I can say it would have been nice had my parents done -anything-. I know for sure that I will be saving up for any kids I have to go to college. I may not pull off the whole amount, and would want them to do things for themselves too, but I would be there to motivate them along and pay when things do get ugly because that is part of my job. Kids aren't totally independent unless they have to be through college. There are also so many bad influences here that it can be a real life experience to have to learn to steer away from harmful things if you weren't exposed to it in high school. I am fortunate because I have a steel willpower to push onward but I can say I've watched a lot of people flunk out who with help in both money and in time would have been here still. In countries where kids get actual aid I think it works that parents don't have to be so responsible because their taxes go to education for kids. I can say though even if I lived in one of those places, I would still feel obligated to do something. After all, I wouldn't want some kid living in my basement until he or she is 30 because the kid can't support him/herself.
wow, i mean havingn to join the army just to pay for college, that's pretty tough. i personally do a parttime job and a work study program at school to pay for this crap. i get a LITTLE help from my parents, not much but it's enough to help me to repay my loans. i am in debt yes, but not in deep enough to ruin me. so i do think parents should help out at least PARTIALLY, or maybe temporarily like for the first 2 years of college.
Yeah, that's my point. I do think since nowadays it is -very hard- for kids to get a decent job to support themselves without a college education that parents really should be thinking of it and investing -some- money away for it ahead of time. I know I will be. I don't mean to say of course that they pay for it all, but I do think it is their responsibility to set up for helping their child to be successful in life. If the kid is not wanting that, well that's the kid's fault, but if the parents do nothing, they are really making a kid's life hell later on.
