@maintainin when you two are together perhaps she can bring her artwork for you to look at - or digital images of them. And her sketchbook. Can you visit some museums in KY? Or just look at artwork online and have her give you a tutorial. I’ll bet you’ll be amazed at her knowledge. Good luck to you all and congrats to your daughter on her graduation.
I encourage you to plan a relaxing, fun time with your daughter after graduation. She’s told you she doesn’t want to talk about the art school, and you’ve already made your position clear (no $$ from me).
You have an opportunity to build happy memories with your child. And who knows, after some initial ice breaking between you two, you might find common ground and enjoy each other’s company.
It is likely that before the week is up, she may make comments about her future. And you can listen without criticizing, maybe you can ask genuine questions about what she sees herself doing after college, etc. Maybe a goal for you could be learning more about your daughter, what drives her, is her desire for art school real, is creating art a real passion for her?
And open up to her as well. Think about some things you can share with her, like some of your hobbies and passions. Some family history. Are there any artists in your family lineage? What did you want to be when you were young, and how did you end up getting to the point you are at now?
Whether she attends this Art School or not, she is still your child, and this could be an opportunity to let her know you want to be a part of her adult life.
I appreciate the comments @powercropper. Just to be clear it’s not “no $$ from me”. I fully support my daughter going to college. I don’t support her going to the college she wants to go to now. Not for the cost of this college, the amount of debt she will have on her shoulders, and for what she will be getting for that amount of debt. I’ve already made known I will continue send her the support I was sending her mom while she’s in college.
We have happy memories. Many between me and her and my side of the family over the years.
I understand the substance of your post. Philosophical stuff, and not trying to be rude, but I don’t think it helps much in this situation. This college is an obstacle. I’m not onboard with this.
What did I want to be when I was young? I don’t know. I screwed off in high school. Ended up joining the military and that’s where I am today. I am fortunate. I learned a good trade and do fairly well. My family history? My moms side was dirt poor. My dads side is all farming. My dad joined the army and had a career of 26 years. Retired as a Sergeant Major, owned an Auto Parts store and then died at 59 from a heart attack. Pretty blue collar stuff I guess.
Of course I want to be apart of her adult life. I want to be in her life for the rest of our lives. I don’t want her in debt for 70-80k for a damn associates degree
lol “art school”
I’m sorry how can anyone go to an ART school for $60,000. If she’s artistic why does she need to be taught? this gives me a headache lol
What aid did she receive? Federally funded aid would be a $5500 Direct Loan, and maybe a Pell Grant if the mom is very low income…but it sounds like she and her husband together are not.
$8000 in aid? What kind of aid?
OP, I apologize for my wording that didn’t convey my meaning. I believe you are absolutely correct in your stance, I support your decision to refuse to co-sign any loans. I am totally on your side. I just shortened that to “no $$” to save some typing.
I send hopes and wishes for a great time celebrating your D’s graduation.
@powercropper. No offense taken.
Since you are in the military, @maintainin, is there some sort of college benefit you could elect to pass to your daughter that would pay for her (non-art school) college education?
IMO do not waste your GI Bill on this “school”. Heck, you may want to use it yourself.
While I agree that any GI Benefits should NOT be used on this school, it is a good idea to consider offering the use at a legit non-profit school.
To the OP, how old is your daughter? I think you imply from your post that she is now 19 years old. Did she finish High School one year later than her peers? What was her her grades throughout High School? Based on my personal experience, it will be a colossal mistake to co-sign for the $25K in Student Loans for this proprietary school! The likelihood she would finish this program and find gainful employment, is slim to none. I doubt their 65% placement rate, since these For Profits count jobs at fast food companies or even paid certain Temp Agency to hire their graduates to do medial task and then let them go after 3 months, just to boost their placement numbers. Don’t do it!!!
Had a customer who wanted to send her daughter to a local For- Profit “University” that was accredited by any known accreditation body. She was berating her ex-husband’s (someone I happen to know personally) lack of financial support for her daughter’s educational pursuits at this University. I mentioned to her why it makes more sense for her daughter attend one of the local Community College at a cost of about $2,700 per year, as oppose to this private “For-Profit” “University”, at $25K per year. She became combative at the mere mention of this alternative.
Fast forward five years later, the daughter graduated from this School with over $80K of debt, most of which was taken out by the mother. She could not get a job related to her major (“Business”) and now living at home for over two years, unemployed, she wanted to go back to a Community College to pursue an Associate Degree, but is having a hard time with Financial Aid and the refusal of the local Community College to accept ANY of the courses she took at the proprietary Unaccredited School. That University has since shut their doors and there is no way graduates to access Transcripts from this school even if she could find a college who would even consider transfer credits. As far as I know, she was not able to go to this Community College, since she would have to pay out of pocket and the mother is struggling to pay the Student Loan Debt, with an average Interest Rate of close to 9%. I know of at least ten families who are in a very similar situation.
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Had a customer who wanted to send her daughter to a local For- Profit “University” that [wasn’t] accredited by any known accreditation body. She was berating her ex-husband’s (someone I happen to know personally) lack of financial support for her daughter’s educational pursuits at this University.
Fast forward five years later, the daughter graduated from this School with over $80K of debt, most of which was taken out by the mother. She could not get a job related to her major (“Business”) and now living at home for over two years, unemployed, … the mother is struggling to pay the Student Loan Debt, with an average Interest Rate of close to 9%. I know of at least ten families who are in a very similar situation.
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Some people have to learn the hard way. Sadly, she probably has shifted the blame somehow in a way to blame her everybody but her own stubbornness for this debt.
These small for-profit “career colleges” have definitely gotten on the gravy train when it comes to the federal student loan program. That’s why some of them are pretty scammy. Not sure students and their families are quite aware of the amount of scam potential. Or they may have an understanding of this but still participate as long as they think it benefits them. But oh when it goes the opposite way - the screams and howls. Yes, everyone is to blame. Well, good luck suing a school that ain’t there anymore - or the Dept. of Ed. for enabling it to exist in the first place.
I’ve heard the Obama administration has really tightened that Dept. of Ed funding for for-profits. It’s one of the reasons they’re on the decline (that, and the growing realization just how many of them are total scams.)
^^^
I’m sure that there have been a massive number of complaints over recent years of families burdened by debt that came from children attending these worthless schools.
Agreed, @katliamom, and that is the compliance issue that was discussed earlier in the thread.
In reality though, folks, SAA probably isn’t going anywhere. @Brownparent is correct that the school is one of the “top” graphic design schools recognized by GDUSA (that may not mean much in reality but the recognition is an important step - and necessary too - in establishing the schools’s reputation). Plus, they are planning a major expansion in the next several years to a four-year program. That, by the way, explains the recent push for additional enrollees because they need the #'s in order to make the expansion happen. I’d be a bit worried that tuition $'s becomes the primary focus right now and so the quality of student accepted might be lower . . . I’d be worried that my kid might be one of the “lower quality” ones and wouldn’t make it through. After all, what would she have except THEIR word that she’s talented? Without attending a portfolio day or having any other feedback on her work, or in the absence of a merit scholarship which is a big indication of artistic and academic talent in the art school world, she really would have no clue other than what the school looking for revenue is saying to her. THAT would be my worry. Couple it with a spotty grad rate (not too unusual with art schools but you at least want the credits to transfer elsewhere!) and lack of any connection to the rigorous standards or review process agreed-to by the major art/design schools - yeah, it’s an enormous risk despite all their good news about growth and expansion into a four year program and being recognized by GDUSA.
Will SAA become the next SVA? Perhaps some day it will. More power to them. Is a parent within his reason for declining to fund such a risky venture? Hell yeah.
Edit/Update: I should clarify that even if they do expand in the future to a four year program, that will not pertain to OP’s daughter who, even if she makes it through, receives an associate degree, not a BFA.
i don’t care if they are rated a top design school by whatever magazine. Apparently being one of the top doesn’t mean the majority of their grads are able to find decent jobs. Their graduation rate sucks. Their school is too expensive. 58k is too much money for an associates( that’s no good at any public or state school). In anything. From any school.
If daughter took a gap year and got into a reputable 4-year college, @maintainin do you have a transferable GI Bill? Do you have any other children?
My GI Bill is no longer valid. I got out of the military in 2002