<p>Fogfog…we have the same issue. It is amazing the comments we have heard concerning the price of D attending college. My oldest D attends a private LAC and we never received as many comments as we have with younger D. Perhaps it is the college your S is attending that is illiciting the snarky comments. That is the only conclusion that comes to mind:)</p>
<p>^^LOL^^
1ochar</p>
<p>I’m with you on this one, Fogfog. I think it’s rude when people ask how we can afford my daughter’s colleges.</p>
<p>Fog - All you have to do is say what I say “…well, glad you brought that up! Been meaning to let you know that we have set up a scholarship fund in ds/dd’s name and we would love to accept donations, nothing is too small. Can I count on your support? You know it “takes a village”!”</p>
<p>So, fogfog, how ARE you managing to pay for kiddo’s schooling? 
Kidding, kidding.</p>
<p>We looked into a rider on our HO insurance for #1D - our agent actually told us to go with CSS or equivalent. The bike, smart phone, Mac, camera all stand a chance of being stolen/damaged/destroyed.
State Farm is over 200 miles, so we won’t see any savings with #2D (saved a bunch with her older sis)</p>
<p>Funnily enough, and contrary to most posted anecdotes, #2D has already informed us of her requirements for a cable lock for her Mac and a lockbox for her ‘valuables’. I’m sure if we’d suggested such things, she’d have struck us down. </p>
<h1>1D has a dirt devil vac ($15 at Target) that is easier to use than a broom :)</h1>
<p>The full-length mirrors also at Target ($4) are lightweight enough to go on the back of a room door using command hooks.</p>
<p>A variety of earplugs and/or noise-canceling headphones are lifesavers. You’d be surprised as to how many kids snore. (no! not my kid!)</p>
<p>Fogfog, that question is the quickest way some people can think of to take you down a notch when (after THEY ask you) you say your kiddo is going to Big Name U…their transparency and pettiness is amusing.</p>
<p>Not everyone who brings up the $$ question is doing it to be passive aggressive though, you have to cut the old folks slack, they’re just as mystified at today’s per pound cost of peaches as they are about college tuition costs.</p>
<p>By the way, hi everyone 
I read this thread a lot and enjoy everyone’s thoughts and ideas. T-minus 29 days to empty nester-hood for me and DH. The second one going seems not as bad for me as the first one two years ago. Now I’m more excited about the road ahead for us and our boys. My favorite motto: evolve or dissolve</p>
<p>ShawBridge - thanks for the info about your son’s friend at Olin. It isn’t the right school for everyone, but for those kids it is a match, it is a great match. My son could not be happier nor could we.</p>
<p>AK - I usually go with a form of your answer when people ask about paying for college. I vary my answers depending on the person asking. The ones I feel for are those with kids coming up on THE process who know NOTHING about it. Once I start talking, it is hard to shut me up. </p>
<p>Welcome Yalemom15.</p>
<p>We don’t get the “how will you pay for that” question nearly as much as “why are you letting her go so far away?” question. We live in Iowa and D is going 16 hours away to Tulane.</p>
<p>She would have qualified to be a very late 2nd semester Sophomore or even a Junior this fall if she had gone to one of the three state U’s here in Iowa, between dual CC and AP credits. The CC credits don’t transfer to many out of state schools. My mom, especially, is just mystified why D would give up (almost) 2 years of college credit.</p>
<p>And, most are confused at the distance she is going.</p>
<p>I tell them that I raised my d to be an independent thinker and to go for what she wants. She wants the education that Tulane will provide, along with the relationships with professors and peers that only four years at one school can provide. I was a CC transfer student to my 4 year college and I know that I missed out on a lot by not going to the same school for 4 years. I am not going to deny that to my daughter if that is what she wants. People just look at me funny, and except for my mom, don’t ask again.</p>
<p>FlMathMom, so true about "The ones I feel for are those with kids coming up on THE process who know NOTHING about it. Once I start talking, it is hard to shut me up. " I was just talking to the rising senior offspring of good friends of ours. I asked if the parents had given the student a budget to work with. Student said no, but that the parents were hoping to pay less than they’re currently paying for private school. We are in California, and the kid (nice, bright kid) didn’t realize that COA for UCs is now $30k…even for Riverside and Santa Cruz. It was like I punched him in the gut. 
Dunno if our friends realize just how much it costs. :(</p>
<p>SlitheyTove - so true about California public colleges. Getting very expensive and very little aide available. With Univ of Penn no loan policy, it’s actually cheaper for DS to attend there rather than Berkeley. Not that he would have gone to Berkeley (not a fit, don’t guarantee HAAS). DS was also accepted to UC Santa Cruz but it was still more expensive for DS and us. I thought I knew so much about getting DS ready for college…but I knew so little. :p</p>
<p>PS DS #1 choice was Univ of Penn…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>@AK - Best answer I have heard. Thanks for sharing. I just might use this if the opportunity is right!</p>
<p>^^^^^ Love that. Having a family going away part for DS…maybe I will have a money tree. :}</p>
<p>ST - my guess is 98% of people, even those in HS, have very little idea how much college costs, the time they need to spend on the process and the effort it takes to get scholarships. I have offered to help so many people (for free), but I usually get these answers - the GC is good and guides the kids, my kid doesn’t need help, we can do it on our own. Maybe I come on too strong and scare them or they think they can do it an easier way without investing the time and effort. Oh well.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>amandakayak…I think that is the funniest thing I have seen on CC yet!</p>
<p>parentofpeople - Missed your message before. I think PennStart might be a Wharton program…</p>
<p>
oh well is right. I cringe when I hear the GC is taking care of “all that”. I mention the love thy safety thing, etc and I just know most folks are thinking, why does SHE think she knows more about this process than the GC? um because I do, thanks to CC. </p>
<p>S is going to Marquette for less than half what it would cost us to go to UMASS. Marquette may not be a top well know school but I truly think S will get a good education there and graduate loan free. 
If folks would just look beyond the usual schools and do a little research (OK, maybe a lot) they too can find that wonderful school that will offer their kid money.</p>
<p>I love AK’s retort. ;)</p>
<p>capenn15, thanks I looked it up and it is strictly a wharaton/mgt 101 thing. S and his friends think it is so funny that everything, absolutely everything, is called Penn____________ this or Penn__________ that.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone on the CSI recommendation. Looks like a great alternative to adding rider to my house insurance policy. That is why I love this thread. Always great advice by so many wonderful parents.</p>
<p>BTW-just picked up fridge and microwave from Target. $100 total for both items. Only could find white, but think price is perfect and allows me to check something else off list.</p>
<p>lacrossemom, don’t forget to compare rates with nssi too. They are the same type of insurance company. They have a 3k policy that is $83/year with a $25.00 deductible. There is also a $5 processing fee, so $88 total. Still a great deal.</p>
<p><a href=“https://my.nssi.com/application.aspx?ptid=5[/url]”>https://my.nssi.com/application.aspx?ptid=5</a></p>