<p>Does the son’s school offer an option to do a coop? If the son found a summer/fall coop in computer engineering, he could probably make some pretty good money towards his costs for the spring semester, and if the company likes him, maybe they’d also hire him for the following summer.</p>
<p>Since this problem is due to the son’s change of major, I think he needs to be a big part of the solution.</p>
<p>Well, while it may be possible that the student/parents weren’t aware that aid stops at the end of the 4th year, I would hope that there is something in place at these schools that raises the red flag when a student changes his major. If there isn’t, then there should be.</p>
<p>When a student changes his major, there should be some kind of alert that is generated that doing so may cause a 5th year and aid will not be forthcoming after the 4th year. For many families, learning that would cause the family to insist that the student complete the original major and maybe pursuing that new interest as a grad student.</p>
<p>Mom2, I agree with you, but I think that there can be a gap between finanical aid and academic advising. Not every student recieves (or needs) institutional aid.</p>
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<p>Why unrealistic? He’s planning to graduate into a field that pays well. Of course he or his parents didn’t know about the financial aid situation. But we all have to pay consequences for what we don’t know but should have known. It’s happened to me many times with plenty of financial consequences. I’m not sure why asking the son to take responsibility for his 5th year at school is unrealistic.</p>
<p>ETA: As a parent, I would help with what I could. For example, I would give the portion of my EFC, but I would expect him to cover the costs of the lost financial aid.</p>
<p>GT, I think Son should be required to participate in the solution, but I dont see how he is going to solve this on his own. I wouldnt want the first 4 (or 3, depending on how one views it) as going down the tube. </p>
<p>So how would you propose son solve this problem on his own? Even if he took leave of absence, and lived at home, how long do you think it would take him to save up so he could finish school?</p>
<p>I don’t see how the son can just outright pay for that fifth year on his own…that’s why I think the family should pay what their EFC should have been and have the son take out a co-signed loan for the rest. </p>
<p>However, the idea of a co-op isn’t bad. </p>
<p>This student should contact some local high-tech employers and see if they’ll hire him NOW, have him work over the summer, work part-time during the school year while THEY pay for that 5th year.</p>
<p>Oh, I have no problem with son being on the hooks for the loans needed to finish. But I think parents have to work with him on that. I do not think DDs should get less share of family support, and in effect take out more loans to S can finish. And I agree with coop, if workable. And I suggested RA.</p>
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<p>I’ve already said a gap year doesn’t make sense. Why work a low paying job when you can graduate in a year as an engineer. As a parent, I would consider paying my portion of the EFC and help obtain loans for the rest.</p>