parents, don't pay for your children's college education

[pstokely]

unless your kid is real intellectual, they will just party if you do, make them a get a job (there will be after the Chimp is out), students with jobs have higher grade point averages, don't let your kids slip through with a C average like *

[drhilarius]

1. Actually, it depends on your kids.

When I went to college I had a scholarship, but mom and dad still paid for room and board, expenses, books, etc. I admit i partied a little, but I also kept my grades up. Then my parents told me to get a job and I did. Although I had money, I found that i couldn't attend many extra-curricular events, such as clubs and guest speakers. Because of my job I think I missed out on an important part of the college experience. I say if your kid is the intellectually curious type, then foot the bill, because he or she will probably do just fine.

[Dookus]

2. I think all students should work

I can't comprehend how somebody gets hired at 22 or 23 without ever having worked a job.

In my family, we all got paper routes at 13, and Mcjobs at 16.

By the time I left college, I had almost 10 years of work experience. I've also hired people for jobs and I would NEVER hire somebody who had an education and zero experience.

[Spinzonner]

3. having a philosophy that you would NEVER do something

is a good way to show your rigidity, resistance to learning and will be a good, if not great way to miss hiring a potentially great employee sometime. Doesnt mean experience shouldnt be a priority and a compensator for other aspects, but as an absolute requirement it suggests you are unwilling to look at the whole package.

[Dookus]

7. don't even deign to lecture me on hiring

I've hired many, many people. I can't think of ANY case where somebody with a good education but no experience was better than a person with experience and less education.


I also believe that if you never earned a dollar by the age of 23, you don't have the right training and experience to do squat.

[Spinzonner]

14. I shall lecture as I choose

You shall ignore as you choose.

Well, that's a pretty self-fullfilling philosophy. If you never hire candidates with good academic qualifications but no experience you'll definitely never challenge your thesis; though it may not be a universal truth.

Sure you're not a Republican ? :-)

[LDS Jock]

15. Dookus I agree with you

A strong work ethic is something learned by working. There is nothing wrong with odd jobs, part times jobs, summer jobs, anything to get a little experience and a little extra cash too. It teaches responsibility and can be an eye opener to the real world too, making you want to be sure and do well in school so you don't have to work McJobs forever.

[Scooter24]

4. I disagree

My parents are picking up the $130,000 tab for my college education because we were not able to get financial aid. They both have urged me not to obtain a job during the school year so that I can fully concentrate on my studies and enjoy a healthy social life outside of the classroom. Also, they pay my rent, utilities, car, cellphone, credit cards, insurance, gas, and a monthly allowance to spend at my leisure. I admit that I enjoy going out as much as anyone and I am quick to take advantage of the opportunity to party should the occasion arise but by your paradigm, I should be partying nonstop and practically failing school because you assume that because I am blessed with parents who are helping me out that I am quick to forget my educational duties. I currently hold a 3.87 GPA -- I fail to see how getting a job will strengthen that average.

:party:

[Dookus]

8. They pay your

rent, utilities, cellphone, car, credit cards, insurance, gas AND an allowance?

How unfortunate for you. Living on your own income is a vital part of growing up.

[Scooter24]

10. I am sure

that I won't have a problem living on my own when I finish law school in 2008. I'm just thankful that I won't have any debt when I do.

[Dookus]

11. No

you may not have a financial problem doing so. But I don't envy you.

[Scooter24]

12. I am...

...not looking for envy.

My original response was to the original thread's imperious assertion that all college students that don't have jobs are there simply for the parties and social life. My example was to point out that not everyone falls into this blanket stereotype.

My intent is not to dissolve your line of reasoning, however, I did want to illustrate the possibility that there are other ways for a young adult to mature and experience life that are not so cliche. Students that excel academically because of financial freedom and stability should not be negatively judged because their life is not the status quo.

[Dookus]

13. Good for you

I wouldn't hire you.

[Nay]

5. As a person who worked her way through college with a

collection of jobs, I can say that experience was overrated. I was an excellent student and did have a partial scholarship, but it still took 6 years to get through and I was tired all the time. Also had no time for much of a social life. As I look back on it, I would have done better to cultivate friends (and friends' parents) and network among them for post-college jobs rather than work -- would have helped me more after college. But who knew?

[Dookus]

9. and I worked my way through college

with many jobs. As did all my siblings.

Believe me, a solid work-ethic will serve you much better than any supposed "connections" you could've made by being a layabout.

[Placebo]

6. I Start College In a Few Weeks...

Financial Aid covered half, and I had to take out a loan for the other half. My parents will pick up the tab as far as books and such go.

I hope you aren't firmly rooted in the thinking you have just described or else I fear for your children. You should support them no matter what and if they get a C average maybe it's the best they can do, or maybe it's the best they want to do, it's their choice.

Also, if you want to go to college straight out of high school you will have had to have been working for 2+ years prior to high school graduation to earn anywhere near the tuition cost to a good school, and that's a hard thing to do.

The only way to work and pay for school would be to take a year off and work full time to save the money to do so. And that's more of a risk to your education than not working.

[NicoleM]

16. "maybe it's the best they want to do, it's their choice"

That is total bullshit. If I'm paying my kid's way through school, he will do the best he can. If he wants to do less than that, he can pay for it himself.

[Longhorn]

17. You better believe it!

With four children, we knew early on that we could not foot the entire bill for college. Since we live within commuting distance of two public universities (including the best in the state!) we told our children we'd pay for all expenses (including a dorm) the first year and tuition and books (with the option of living at home) for the remaining years.

We've had to pull the plug on three out of four of our children. (One graduated last year with honors.) We don't have the kind of money that would allow us to pay for our kids to play around. Since then, two have good jobs but are going back to school part-time (we're still helping out with tuition and books) and the third joined the Marines, though he quit an excellent job to do so. He has been trained as a network administrator but still plans to get a degree when he gets out. The fourth, who is also working, plans to go to graduate school next but wants to pay off her student loans first. And with only one graduate so far, we're still paying on $50,000 worth of education loans!

My husband and I both worked our way through college (with the help of some financial aid) and my best semesters were always those when I worked part-time. The few times I didn't work, I wasn't as good at managing my time.

I teach math at a community college. My best students are almost always those who also work part-time (if not fulltime!) They are there because they choose to be and not because they have nothing else to do.

There are always exceptions but, in general, I agree with the original post.