<p>I am not a fan of these dating site press releases but this is an interesting spin on merit aid. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Don't have parents to pay for college? More New York City co-eds are turning to rich "daddies" online.</p>
<p>Seekingarrangement.com, a site that helps broke "sugar babies" find wealthy, older men announced in a press release that more and more young women from New York University and Columbia University are signing up.</p>
<p>When the company analyzed its data for 2012, it discovered the site was seeing the fastest growth from women attending these two universities.</p>
<p>In 2012, 285 women from New York University enlisted to see if they could receive extracurricular perks from meeting men on the site. Columbia University, the only Ivy League school to make the site's top 20 list, saw 100 new female "sugar babies."</p>
<p>Company spokesperson Jennifer Gwynn points to the city's skyrocketing cost of living combined with ever-rising tuition and housing rates.</p>
<p>"Most college women seek an allowance of around $3,000 a month," said Gwynn. "In New York, 'sugar babies' ask for more, around $4,000."
<p>My son has a couple of friends (I won’t say what universities, but it wasn’t these two) who’ve told him they’re thinking of doing this, as long as the men aren’t too old and disgusting and they don’t have to see them more than once a month! He doesn’t think they’re really serious, but who knows?</p>
<p>Well, it wouldn’t necessarily be limited by gender. I’m sure attractive young males may be able to find “sponsors” as well. Sad and scary to me–hope the trend doesn’t spread.</p>
<p>Yes, I’d imagine that for $60K+ the person would likely expect at least weekly services, if not more frequently. How does one screen how “old and disgusting” the individual may be and whether potential infections/pregnancies/violence that may ensue? What happens when one or both parties want to end? Don’t think court would enforce “agreements” on either side.</p>
<p>Back in the late '70’s a close friend of mine in our (medium sized, good but not prestigious) midwestern university knew a girl who had a “sugar daddy”. Nothing new.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Indeed, why sugar coat “sugar daddies”. It should be “Men dumb enough to pay.”</p>
<p>Given the “hook up” culture girls are being offered by most guys at college these days, who even cares?</p>
<p>It’s not like most of them are forgoing some great dating years, or anything. They are more or less being offered the same thing by their peers, but no dates.</p>
<p>exactly. Neither of them are dumb if they are happy with the arrangement.</p>
<p>Older men have a lot to offer the younger women, a lot of things besides really bad drunk sex in a single bed. </p>
<p>My daughter has a really great boyfriend, but it’s not the “norm” for co-eds these days. I could really see where a young woman might think this is a better deal than meeting up for pitcher night at the local bar with a guy who drunk texted her at 10pm.</p>
<p>Umm. I don’t know about that. I cannot imagine what kind of man in NYC would have to PAY through some service like this to find attractive young women. There is a huge imbalance and well to do males are a commodity much sought after, for the most part. When my brother was divoorced some years ago, he was overwhelmed with the women out ther looking for a single male with some money, and not a lot. My boys also have a field day due to this lopsided ratio, and they don’t have money–they are the gigolos, if one wants to look at it that way. So who needs to pay for such services. Just hanging around the restaruants, coffee shops and bars in the college areas will get you the same thing for free.</p>
<p>^^ Your brother and your sons are probably very good looking. I knew a very smart, kind, single, decent-looking guy who was an impecunious Ivy League grad who couldn’t find a decent woman in the few years he lived in NYC no matter how hard he tried. Good looking guys can sometimes get oodles of attractive women, but guys just below that often cannot find one to save their lives.</p>
<p>My guess is, 50 and 60-year old men who like women their daughters’ ages (there are plenty of men who have no interest in women their own age), and can’t hang around coffee shops and bars in college areas because people will think they’re creepy and possibly dangerous.</p>
<p>The above assumes all the women in NYC are attractive, are compatible in terms of age/personality/interests/chemistry, finances/employment, etc. Not always necessarily true…especially considering every individual male has differing criteria on that score. </p>
<p>It also assumes women will overlook men with serious issues with attractiveness, compatibility in terms of age/personality/interests/chemistry, finances/employment, etc. Sorry, but few NYC women are going to overlook those issues…especially the finances. </p>
<p>Did I also mention that there are more than enough cynical, ornery, entitled, and flat-out socially clueless folks of both genders who end up not only being good at scaring off potential dates, but also general platonic company altogether? </p>
<p>That’s borne out by an older conventionally attractive female HS friend’s experience with a late 40something male in NYC who spent their entire first date droning on and on about his “horrible ex”.* I’d think someone of his age would have enough of a clue that no new prospective date wants to hear about past baggage…especially on a first date. :(</p>
<ul>
<li>She posted it on FB to wonder how prevalent the level of cluelessness was among NYC men, especially those in their late 40’s. IMO, that date of her’s sounds like someone who’d really be the life of the party…NOT!</li>
</ul>