<p>JHS, I understand what Yulsie means ---I myself was kind of vague about my upper limits -- it was "up to the cost of our EFC at UC" for certain, and everything else was "we'll see" - with "we'll see" definitely being stretched with the prestige admission. But the point is -- I told my kids in the beginning that money was an issue -- in the end they expected me to tell them which of the colleges was feasible. I'm not sure what you mean by "feeling equally good" about your role in financing all choices --- things would certainly be easier for me financially if my daughter had opted for one of the UC's, but I don't think I would feel better about the money if she had made that choice. I mean -- face it, there is a dollar value to the sense of pride and accomplishment that I have as a parent driving around with a Barnard sticker on my car. But for me it wouldn't justify a $20,000 annual cost differential -- I just don't have that kind of money. </p>
<p>But I am definitely comfortable with what I am spending and the choice my daughter made -- if I wasn't then I would have set a lower bar. (As it happens I was paying less this year than I expected to pay -- my daughter's EFC is significantly less than my son's was 6 years ago, so I didn't really face the sticker shock with Barnard... although the other private schools did price themselves out of our market).</p>
<p>I'm sure somewhere in the 400 messages my point has been already covered. However, my son is currently a junior at Texas Tech in their Honors College. He has done extremely well GPA-wise, bounced around a couple majors (political science and now business), and now has settled on law school. By me paying state tuition and not going broke and he getting the high grades and doing a variety of EC's well, I can help him pay for law school. The money to help pay law school would have been a significant issue if I had had to shell out another $125 grand for his college years at Prestige U.</p>
<p>lonestardad, your son's path was the preferred option from my perspective - that's why I worked so hard researching for several years before we applied. As a single parent, it would have taken the pressure off of the sole breadwinner. </p>
<p>When my son made his choice, I informed him that he would be financing graduate school himself - fellowship, TA, RA or whatever - and that I would only contribute a bit towards living expenses, pay the car insurance, etc. - in effect, become a safety net to allow him to avoid eating Cheerios and water every day in graduate school. </p>
<p>I also told him that when I was 90, I would live with him, and he would change my diaper. It's only fair, right? ;)</p>
<p>yulsie - " Also told him that when I was 90, I would live with him, and he would change my diaper. It's only fair, right?" Ain't that so true? You gave me my chuckle for the day, thanks.</p>