How important is it to you that your child goes to college? Who do you believe should pay for it?

Question

How important is it to you that your child goes to college? Who do you believe should pay for it?

Answer 1

Both my husband and I have Masters Degrees, so education is very important to us. Our son will be brought up to understand the importance of higher education. Most likely he will be going to college for four years or longer.

He is six months now, but we have already started a college savings plan (NY 529 plan). We will cover most of his college tuition and room and board. I'm sure he will have some loans, just like his father and me.

Answer 2

College is important and I will stress the importance of GOING in general to my son. Like many said, I don't care when my kid goes to school. He can pick that.

I teach 5th grade and some of them come up to me flipping out when they get a C. "Now I'll never get into Duke!" ......You're not going to school for another 7yrs and they don't care what you got on a fraction test in elementary school!!!!! I blame the parents for these kinds of comments...

You'll get pretty much no where in this day in age without any secondary education and not doing well in school gets to you in the same ball park. I think if a kid picks what they want to do and where they want to go, you have a better shot of them enjoying college and doing well.

Paying for it...we'll pay for as much as you can. We did this whole calculation with the college account thing we have for our son...if we put X amount in every month and over X amount of years we'll end up with about 55k. So he can go to school for 1-2yrs if he was going this year and not another 12 years from now. Wonderful...

Whatver we can't pay, we'll and he'll take out loans and we'll work as a family to pay them off.

Answer 3

Of course it would be great for them to go to college. I won't ever teach them "you must go to college". I will teach the benifits of it, and teach them different options, and way of going about it. I have done a lot of research on economics, and with doing so have found that there are a lot of degrees that offer litle to no advantage over not having a degree. For example going to school to be an LPN is no different income wise than a job without a degree. As oposed to nursing paying 2x's what LPN's pay....sometimes more. Things like that, sometimes don't get looked at when someone chooses a specific field. I don't feel college is a waste, I simply feel depending on degree it can be a waste of time/money, if you aren't selective with what degree you choose. My husband and I have been putting away money into a college fund for our kids since before we even had our first. As soon as we found out I was pregnant we began slipping away what we felt reasonable. We will have enough saved for all 3 of our kids to attend if they choose, if not then that money will go to their travels, or a home, anything that we deem as proper. We won't just leave a lump sum to them to toss around as they wish. There will be contracted uses for the money. I honestly would more so prefer for our daughter(we have 1 daughter, and 1 son...haven't found out what we are having yet for sure this time. Gender test said girl, we have our ultrasound on the 22th), to be able to not work if she chose to be a mom. I think that is more benificail to the kids, especially before they start school. Whatever they choose we will be proud and love them dearly.

So while we are prepared, and would favor them going to college. We won't hang it over their head and demand them to, or expect it. They won't know about the finances we have set asside for them, not untill they are nearing graduation, and have time to think and worry about those things for a while. I don't want to de-value it by raising them knowing they have everything they need the whole time. my husband and I agree it is best to not let them know, and have them save, and prepare for it on their own. That way, if and when they do choose to go, hopefully it will be something more appreciated, and taken seriously. Our house will be paid off in another 8 years(at the rate we're paying it off), so we will then be able to contribute a lot more money, a lot more consistantly. At that point it'd be 300/mo per child. So at least most of the schooling would be paid for, if not all. Depends on how expensive it gets in the future. They deffinately won't have to worry as much as other do.

Kids are 3years8months old, and 7 months old, 16 weeks today with our third and last baby! We agreed it was our responsibility to save for college, or help toward a first home, or world travels ect., well before we ever concieved our first. We're glad we did.

Answer 4

For my parents, it's very important, top notch on their list. I mean yes, they want me to be happy and healthy but in this day and age sometimes having a high school education isn't good enough - you need more if there's a certain job you want. I want to be an author but I will probably look into graphic or web page design and maybe look into other stuff (I would like to do something with the flute), and I have other goals in mind.

I've always wanted to go to college, I don't know, I just did - maybe it was to get as far away from Ohio as possible, I'm just really interested in learning and having a good job that I love waking up to in the morning but pays well.

My mother said she'll be paying for me to go to college she said she's saved up quite a lot before I was born - but my grandmother she was the nicest person and saying she'd help me out to, but that's because techinically I'm the first cousin (not including my mom's nieces and nephews in Europe and such) to go to college, I'm going to be the first to graduate high school. So she wants to help out with my education.

But I have gotten some mini scholarships - nothing big just like $100, $200, and they were mostly from winning writing contests - but hey it's still something.

My mother and I both believe a parent should at least try to pay for their children to go to college. She's trying her wardest (and succeeding wonderfully) to make sure I get a quality education and I thank fo her that. My mother just wants to make sure I'm successful and I'm lucky to get the dream job that I love - just like she did.

I will be graduating high school in 2011. Right now, I'm trying to work on a an academic chord and trying to get an honors diploma. So yes, I'm trying to work really hard. I'm doing community service and extra curriculars like crazy. I'm in A Capella Choir and I'm in band, all this hard work is because I want to work hard because I like to push myself. :)

Answer 5

I'm in college now and it is very important!

Although, I wish my dad would pay for it, lol.

Answer 6

While 95% of the kids in my daughters' high school graudation class is going onto a 4yr college this year, we've lived in places in the US where less than half continue their education after graduation, where the class is 4/5 the size it was freshman year because kids have dropped out.

We always stressed how important college was to our girls but we never said that they had to go to college X to study X. They looked up lots of information about majors and job availability after graduation, chose the college they wanted the planned it out from there. They're really excited about going in Sept and I think that's because this is something they WANT to do. They've planned it all out!

My husband and I are going to pay for what we can and take out some loans. It's hard sending two kids to college in the same year so they're going to pay for a bit here and there.  I don't want them to come out of college in dept...just not a great way to start off.

Answer 7

Very important! I should pay for it, or if they are smart, they can get a scholarship!

Answer 8

It's very important to me.  I grew up in a home with two parents who went to college.  My mom got her degree (she went back when I was 7 to finish) and my dad did not.  My dad retired last year but, even without his degree, he always made a lot more money than my mom.  Sooo, when I went through my rebellious phase, I figured I could be just like my dad.  I was only concerned about money at that age, not my future.  I tried college, I went for 2 years and, in the process, changed my mind about 50 times on what I wanted to do.  I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up and I'm 31, lol.  I was always so jealous of my friends in high school who knew exactly what they wanted to do and then went on to do it.  I went on to take a job w/ the company my dad retired from and, although I do love it, I'm stuck here, so to speak.  

I plan on teaching my children the importance of education and hope it sticks.  However, kids learn more from examples and the fact that I don't have my degree (nor does my husband, he's recently out of the military) doesn't help.   For that reason alone, I'd like to go back to get it when they get a little older, even if I stay at my current job.  

I will do like my parents did.  I'll pay for their college.  My parents tried to teach me responsibility by having me and my brothers pay for our own books.  I'll consider that option as well.  I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old and already have an allotment from each paycheck to save for their education.

I strongly believe a parent should pay for it if they can but I understand that's not always possible.  When I consider having a 3rd child, I don't just think about the cost of diapers, clothes, food, etc; I think about the cost of their education as well.

Answer 9

It will required that my boys go to college, and preferably also get a graduate degree.  I believe if the parents can afford it, the parents should pay for it.  An 18 year old cannot pay for quality college education without taking a lot of loans.  If the parents cannot pay, they should at least be willing to co-sign on their child's student loans.

Answer 10

College is over-rated for the vast majority of the population. Remember that only 20 years ago, you didn't need a college degree to get a good job in a bank or many other high paying jobs; instead you would start a job aged 18 and work your way up through the company. And guess what -- you never had debt. What a concept!

If you're not an academic and you don't need hands-on training that can't be done in an apprenticeship, then there is no reason to go to college. Right now, for 90% of students, it's a 4-year drinking binge, kindly paid for by parents who dip into their own retirement funds for the privilege. My feeling is that most colleges are pretty much bogus and in no way related to their educational missions.

Today, if you want the kind of job that used to be for college grads, you need a Master's degree. That's two more years at $40k p/a! Let's get back to the way it used to be and have college fully funded by the government for only those people who should be going to college! If you're smart, you should get a full scholarship to go and do meaningful study; not partying.

Answer 11

it's extremely important from my POV.I do some of the hiring at my job for customer service positions and there are people applying with one sometimes two bachelor degrees for a job that pays less than $15/hr. I want to make sure that my kids are going to have what it takes to succeed and not just settle.  I believe I should pay for it or at least help supplement what's in their savings and what they may receive as financial aid/grants/scholarships (fingers crossed) because I worked while I was in college to pay for it and my college experience was very poor as a result of it. I don't regret that I could not live on campus and party, rather I regret that I could not spend my time studying as much as I needed to and I put a lot of pressure on myself to load up with classes so it wouldn't take me 10 years to finish.  I should have had that time to focus only on what I wanted to do with my education and how I could build connections to help me find meaningful work after I graduated and most importantly to work on my studies in a relatively calm manner, as opposed to always scrambling.  It is the desire of my heart that this not be my kids' experience as they try to find themselves as young adults and prepare to make it in the world.

Answer 12

It's not important to me that she goes to college, but by the time she does, it will be important and crucial for her to have a post-secondary education. By the time she goes to college, you'll probably need a high school diploma or some college just to flip burgers at McDonalds. You already need a high school diploma to toss garbage bags in the back of a garbage truck.

I believe that the parents shouldn't expect the children to work full-time AND put themselves through school. We want to make sure that our daughter has most, if not all, the money she needs for her post-secondary education, should she choose to attend. We have had an RESP set up for her since she was a month old. We started it with $1000 and by the time she's 18, she should have at least $50 000 for school..I think maybe more..I haven't looked at the RESP plan in a while. We're doing the same for our expectant child.

We will not force our children to attend post-secondary education. We will encourage them, so they can have a chance at a better-paying and more respectful job, but ultimately, it is their decision, and by setting up the RESP's and contributing $50 a month to each of them, we're doing our part to help them get that education and those jobs. All we can do is hope they accept our help.

Answer 13

Yes!!! It is sooo important for a child to go to college. The kids have a really good experiance in college. On a scale from one to ten for a kids to go to college it be a nine. I think the family should help but the mom and dad of the child are most responsible

Answer 14

It is important if they want to go. I believe that a combination of parents money, scholarships, and student loans should pay for college. I don't believe in forcing a child to go to college. A trade  or just job training is important too. I feel that students should be involved in paying for school if possible because it reminds them that if they mess up, it affects them too.

Answer 15

im in college now and my dad use to help me out but now it's just me and my grandma.and i dont receive any financial aid. i work part-time and go to school...today's society is not the same anymore. u cant go far with just a high school diploma.even if u could, i feel that parents should always want the best for the kids and push them to their fulliest ability..school isn't for everybody but if u have the knowledge, y not want to expand it in different ways. u should always strive for the best.....

Answer 16

well, i have blue collar family members (construction workers) and college drop outs (one in computer, one in art and design) that make FAR more than i do, and i went to a very, very good school.  while i enjoy what i do, i also have a lot of debt.

i think people really need to rethink the whole college thing.  it's a money making enterprise, and to be honest very few colleges teach any real skills.  you'll learn how to network, maybe how to organize your thoughts in an intelligent way, that sort of thing, but most people don't learn any real applicable skills until they go to grad school.  so depending on what my kid wanted to do, i wouldn't force college.  if they want to be an artist or a writer, back packing through europe would be a lot more useful than spending time in a class taking classes that are useless.  same thing with landscaping, etc. if they wanted to be a lawyer, or something else white collar, then of course i'd make them go to school. and try to help them pay for it if i could.

Answer 17

My mom wants me to go to college if that is my dream, or necessary to achieve my dream. It is not a requirement (obviously since I would be a legal adult). If I do choose to go to college (and I chose to go) then it was important to my mom that she pay for it, because education is so important, and I shouldn't miss out on it just because I can't afford it.

In general, I feel that if parents expect their kids to go to college (they basically require it of their children) then the parents should pay. Otherwise, I realize that not all parents can afford to send their kids to college, and that isn't their fault.

Answer 18

It's very important. Unless you're living in a lower income area, you're going to get anywhere without a college education. Like others already said, some people can't get a job in their feild without a masters now a days!

My son is only 2ms so we have a looonnnggg time before he goes anywhere, but he will be encouraged to to college and live a happy and successful future. If that means going to the couty college or attending Harvard, I don't really care which, as long as he goes forth with his education. We will pay as much as we can and help him with loans when he gets out.

Answer 19

The man should pay

Answer 20

The parents or child should pay for it.  It's not free and it's not anyone elses responsibility to make sure the child gets a college education.  No one paid for mine.  I got student loans and am paying for it.  

In American, children get to go to school for free from K-12th grade.  After that, they are 18 and liable for their own education.  It shouldn't be a burden on the rest of society.

Answer 21

its kinda important, but t isnt for everyone.

I think that if the parents can help they should but the kid should be saving ( the parents should force the child to save for school their whole life--the child will thank you)

Answer 22

It's very important that to me that children go to college or some type of further education out of high school. In this day and age a good career will make your life easier.

We have college funds set up already for them. We'll pay.

Answer 23

the child should work and get the money and they should go to college.

Answer 24

Very important. I don't care where they go, what they study, if they take a year off and then go etc. You can get next to no where in most of the country (especially in the area we live in) without a college education. In some cases, having just a bachelors degree doesn't even get you the job. I'm a teacher and at the school I currently work at, which is public, all teachers hired from 2010 and on must have 5 years of prior experience, a masters or plan on getting their masters within 3 years of being hired!

I'd also like for my kids to have the "freedom" experience. College is a great limbo between childhood and adulthood.  I LOVED college: I made tons of friends, gained independence and learned more in those 4 years about so much compared to any other time in my life. I'd love to same for my kids.

As for paying for it, my husband and I are going to pay as much as we can. I feel like it's our duty to do so as parents. I KNOW we can't afford to pay for all of it for 1 kid, much less 4 lol, but I don't want any of them to come out of school owing thousands and thousands.  

"Happy graduation and welcome to the real world! You owe it 50+k!"

Answer 25

In my home, the philosophy is that learning is a lifelong process.  College, IMO, will be an absolute necessity in the near future.  I won't get into the reasons, but suffice it to say I think a college education is extremely important.

I paid my own way, and I know she is capable of doing the same.  I don't feel an obligation to pay her tuition, but I do hope to be able to help significantly when the time comes.

Answer 26

I don't have children yet, but when I do, it will be very important to my husband and I.  We have already began to save for a college fund.  I beleive it is OUR responsibility to pay, unless the student earns special awards such as scholarships.  Neither of us would be who we are today without having gone to college, so we will teach our children the importance of higher education.

Answer 27

With my own children, it was very important.  In May, one graduated from college and the other from Columbia Law School.  We, as parents, paid for whatever was not covered by scholarships and Federal student loans--and we took out low-interest Federal loans for parents.  I feel that this was our obligation as parents, to send them to the best colleges they could get into.  That's part of the deal, as far as I'm concerned.  Once the older one got to law school, however, he financed that himself with loans.

Having worked in public education, I can tell you that one big problem is that they are preparing every student for college, and not everyone should go to college.  There is nothing wrong with not going to college.  It brings the entire system down when you have to try to force students who are not especially academically-driven to follow an academic course of study.  I have a Master's degree, but my father supported a family of 5 working as as carpenter.  I have great respect for honest work--there is no need for everyone to have a college education if it's not right for them.

Answer 28

It is not important at all. Kids are put under so much pressure to go to college. Half of them end up dropping out, not finishing their course or changing half way through. I would have thought your child being safe, happy and confident are the most important things.

Answer 29

For me it is very important because in this day and age there is almost no good jobs without secondary education.    This does not mean college all the time they can learn a trade,  or get a two year degree like a dental hygienist of something.  Jobs that you get with just a high school diploma are not secure, and generally are low pay.   As for who should pay if parents can pay  I think they should. If not there are loans that can help them