<p>I read the article and I can't help thinking, "What a con on the American people."</p>
<p>These people that are putting themselves in financial jeopardy for a school. Sad.</p>
<p>But then again, people do like Chivas Regal.</p>
<p>If you need small classes and lots of hand holding to do well, life is going to be tough.</p>
<p>from the article...</p>
<p>Parent</p>
<p>Ms. Bellew is helping Luke, one of her two sons, attend Bryant University, a private institution in Smithfield, R.I., with 3,200 undergraduates. Tuition, room and board for his first year come to about $35,000, Ms. Bellew said, but her son received a merit scholarship that covers about $15,000. Other scholarships, including one from Cambridge, Mass., where Ms. Bellew lives, have brought the total amount due this year down to about $10,000. Luke has borrowed as much as he can on his own from the federal government, taking out Perkins and Stafford loans.</p>
<p>Ms. Bellew said she had hoped her son would apply to a public university, but he did not. After comparing what Bryant and the University of Massachusetts would cost, she concluded that with the aid, the two institutions were only about $5,000 apart.</p>
<p>To me, its worth another $5,000 to give him the support I think he needs, she said, adding that her son had learning disabilities and that she preferred him not to be one of nearly 20,000 undergraduates at the University of Massachusetts.</p>
<p>Ms. Bellew looked into private loans, but found she did not qualify, because until she changed jobs recently, she earned too little money.</p>
<p>When youre 60 years old and youre financing a kids college, its a little bit scary, Ms. Bellew said. The money she is drawing on, she continued, is basically my retirement.</p>
<p>JUSTIN R. ERICKSON</p>
<p>Student, Grinnell College</p>
<p>Mr. Erickson knew he wanted to go to Grinnell, in Iowa, from the start, and so far at least, he is sure it is worth it.</p>
<p>When I visited, I loved it, Mr. Erickson said. </p>
<p>His parents were worried about the money, he said, and warned him he would have to borrow. His younger sister will soon be ready for college and will need help to cover her costs, too.</p>
<p>He looked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and applied there and to the University of Minnesota. But when he applied to Grinnell, he asked to be considered for early decision, pledging that, if accepted, he would enroll. </p>
<p>I think its worth it, he said, citing the small classes and the small-town feel of the campus. </p>
<p>He said he was unafraid of working hard to make attending the college possible. Ive had a paper route since I was 12, Mr. Erickson said. Last summer he had two jobs, working more than 12 hours a day sometimes, to build up his college savings. He and his family have to come up with about $20,000 a year, after federal student loans and a $15,000 scholarship, to cover nearly $37,000 for tuition, fees, and room and board at Grinnell.</p>
<p>The first semester, weve been able to cover, and were hoping next semester as well, but were not sure, Mr. Erickson said. It depends on how much my parents will be able to contribute. It will be interesting to see what happens down the road.</p>