<p>My D is attending my alma mater’s major rival. When she was admitted I doubled my annual contribution to my college.</p>
<p>d grad last june and college sent a letter asking for donation - even that we consider the school in our estate plan. politely responded that any future requests for contributions should be addressed to our (as yet unemployed) d, as she would be more in position to donate, having benefitted from the fine education provided by this highly regarded LAC. one only wonders how many members of her class 2009 are - like our d - still un(der)employed. maybe if parents adopt this approach, these elite schools will give more thought to better preparing our kids / their graduates to face the real world of jobs.</p>
<p>" My D is attending my alma mater’s major rival. When she was admitted I doubled my annual contribution to my college. "</p>
<p>I read this whole thread thinking there was no way I would ever donate to my school… until you said this. If my kids become Spartans or Buckeyes it may be necessary. haha.</p>
<p>I donate to my alma mater, and gave a small amount to the parents’ fund at my son’s school–but it’s the same school.</p>
<p>For those (like us) paying full freight, you might want to consider earmarking your donations for scholarships for kids who need them, rather than giving general donations. That way you can think in terms of helping somebody else have the experience you had, rather than thinking you’ve already paid enough.</p>
<p>W &I have given money to our almas. We absolutely refuse to donate to our full-fare kids’ schools - if things work out well for them, they can in their time.</p>
<p>We give money to our sons’ schools because we are happy with the education they received. We also paid full freight for them. Two of the boys also contribute themselves. They loved their schools.</p>
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<p>We feel the same way…and we contributed to the kid’s college. BUT we also give to our own undergrad schools. Simply put…without them, we would be unemployed. We have told both of our kids they should make a nominal donation annually…even $25. It may make a difference for a student in the future.</p>