<p>When our DS went off to college - it was with the understanding that we could only help out with the undergrad piece - and in the mean time my DH and I both went thru some difficult financial stuff - both ended up in the unemployment line in the same week in DS's senior year of college. Needless to say - grad school was not in the picture for us - tho he already know that. He graduated with approximately 1 years of tuition in debt in all - so that was not the worse case scenerio he could have had.</p>
<p>DS - not really knowing what he wanted to do after graduation - took a year off and did several things. During that time - we received a call from his college advisor about a grad school opportunity - which we very happily passed on to DS. </p>
<p>Well - he took the bull by the horns and did EVERYTHING that had to be done - including negotiating a tuition waiver - and a paid grad student internship/position - in exchange for doing some research and work hours. His only expense was his living expenses - which he paid himself by working - he actually accomplished this at 2 different grad schools - and graduated in 2 years with his masters - debt free!!!</p>
<p>Our DD will be in a completely different place when she graduates - much deeper in debt - tho we feel that she is not on her way to grad school any time soon - I say that because of her dreams and the direction she has chosen to go after graduation. We will help her with her debt tho she will bear some responsibility herself.</p>
<p>If I win the lottery any time soon - they will both have all their education debts paid - keeping my fingers XXXXX'd LOL</p>