<p>AU, I don’t think anyone’s angry about parents paying everything. Many of us are just worried that these people will have a harder time transitioning if they have no work experience, no money management experience, etc. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that you have to learn that at some point and those who learn during/before college are going to be better off (generally) at graduation than those who are still clueless. This is NOT representative of ALL higher income people. This is just generality (not an absolute rule) of parents who don’t expect any contribution by their kids during college. That’s all.</p>
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<p>Ah. Not better or worse BUT it will likely bite them in the a** when they apply for jobs post graduation. Employers do not want to hire someone without work experience especially when in a pool with people with work experience. </p>
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<p>I’d have no problem if you pay because we’re friends and you would do it regardless of my income. I WOULD have a problem with it if the mindset was “oh, I’ll just take care of this poor friend.”</p>
This is exactly it. Sure, my parents are covering everything that falls under the necessary* category, and I’m incredibly fortunate for that, but they sure as hell expected me to have a (small) job during the year & relevant engineering internships during the summer. </p>
<p>I will be graduating with 0 debt, and I will have quite a bit of $ in the bank from nearly 11 months of eng. internships/co-ops. BUT I know the value of a dollar and how to manage money.</p>
<p>*By necessary, I mean tuition, rent, utilities, insurance, & cell phone (I think I only add $10 a month to the existing plan?). Per my parents salaries, I am not eligible for a dime in financial aid.</p>
<p>Anything separate from that, I cover. Additionally, I will be covering rent/utilities on my own this year (now getting my masters), as my parents specifically want to decrease my dependency.</p>
<p>To add another opinion, I think my parents have an obligation to pay for my college tuition. The EFC is based off of their income, and I cannot be expected to pay that much. Their EFC is higher than I would make in a year. Moreover, if I took out loans in that amount, my financial future would be ruined. If the EFC was based off of my personal income, I would not disagree to paying that amount. But, they are capable of contributing, so I expect them too. I do not expect nor want them to pay for my personal expenses. They probably will contribute, since they want me to have a full stomach, and to see me during holiday, but that is not their responsibility.</p>
<p>I agree with rach. Contrary to belief by some, I have zero problem with parents paying and if they have the money, they SHOULD be paying. Few things irritate me more than parents who can but won’t help. However, students should also be working and earning money for walking around. </p>
<p>I would LOVE to come from a family that could pay.</p>
<p>Yeah luckily I haven’t offended anyone, but on the same thread it’s not like I point out one less fortunate friend or anything. I cover them because we’re friends, not because they’re poor. It’s more like I’ll just declare that “this one is on me” in a group of 5 or 6 people and never let them know that’s why I’m doing it. I don’t think pointing that out would be classy, and I’d rather them be able to retain their dignity and use that money somewhere else where they need it.</p>
<p>After figuring my scholarship in, my parents pay everything that’s left, so tuition, room, board, books, personal expenses, medical, phone bill, transportation to/from school (airfare), most clothes, food at home and school, and other random stuff.</p>
<p>My dad promised my sister and I that he’d get us through undergrad financially with savings from college funds that were started before I was born, and at a school that we wanted to attend (which, for both my sister and I, that means a small private college, neither of us wanted a large state university). He also paid for both of us to attend a private high school that cost about what an in-state college would. My parents have been paying tuition since pre-school, and my sister and I are lucky they’ve been able to do that. </p>
<p>For grad school, my parents haven’t said how much they’ll help. I think they’ll give me a little bit as far as living expenses and stuff or might help with airfare to come home, but they’re not really going to pay tuition.</p>
<p>My mom helps out a lot. She pays as much as she can, which is most of what’s left after scholarships and grants. I still have to take out $5500/yr in loans, though. She doesn’t really give me any spending money, but I still live with her over the summer and she buys most of my clothes and stuff. I also get to keep my work study money.</p>
<p>I am right in the middle in terms of how much help I get from my parents. I go to a state school so even though I have pretty good grades (3.8 cum) I don’t get that much in merit based aid and my family makes enough money where I don’t qualify for any financial aid except loans. If my parents did not help me out I don’t think I would be able to afford to go to college even taking out loans. Our deal is my parents pay my tuition, books, and give me $150 for school supplies for the year. Everything else I pay for. I pay for my rent, utilities, cell, car insurance, parking passes, gas, food, (though sometimes I’ll get a gift card here and there) misc, fun, school clothes etc. I pay for these things with my job, merit based aid, and take out $2500 in student loans per year. Most of my friends do get a lot more help from their parents than me, but I don’t feel that they are irresponsible or will do worse in life once they graduate. All of them are extremely thankful to their parents and don’t ever brag about how much they have or how lucky they are. Sometimes I do get jealous of how good they have it but then I remember that I am lucky compared to others who are not as fortunate. </p>
<p>I know a couple people who don’t receive any help from their parents but also don’t receive any grants either because of their parents income. Both work almost full time jobs to pay their way through school and it’s still not enough. They both take out the max amount of loans to supplement their income. I have the utmost respect for them and the OP.</p>