<p>All the pkgs have specified the <em>direct costs</em> of attending (tuition, mandatory fees, room, and boars), but I read in a guidebook to make sure to ask about <em>indirect costs</em>.</p>
<p>What are indirect costs? (examples of same?)</p>
<p>I asked one college this question, and they said $1900, but the guidebook said $800 for that college. I really would like to be talking about the same thing.</p>
<p>Travel costs would be the first I think about. Books is another. Maybe clothing costs if one is attending college in a climate different than the home climate. </p>
<p>More?</p>
<p>Laundry money, munchies, micro-fridge rental, loft bed rental, parking permits, personal property insurance (this is inexpensive and definitely worth it for claiming small things that you wouldn't want to claim on your homeowner's, like theft of text books, computers, cell phones, etc.).</p>
<p>ok, so there is...</p>
<p>travel
books
clothing - if diff than home
munchies
micro-fridge rental, loft bed rental,
parking permits,
(the last item implies a car, if appropriate)
personal property insurance</p>
<p>the last item triggers some items...</p>
<p>cell phone (if do not have one now)
laptop</p>
<p>If you have a parking permit, then all the other costs related to the use of an automobile.</p>
<p>You might want to check to see if direct costs include health insurance. At S's college, it is not listed on the cost of attendance, but all students must have health coverage. This is not an inconsequential expense if the student can't remain covered under a parent's policy (or they don't have one).</p>
<p>Personal expenditures: e.g., makeup (if applicable), soap, etc. and off campus events; birth control (other than condoms)</p>
<p>since we're talking b . c. , I guess we can include beer and liquor.</p>
<p>I guess.</p>
<p>I hope your job search is going well, joecollegedad.</p>
<p>Hey joecollegedad -- I hope you have good news on the job and college fronts!</p>
<p>travel, toiletries and health fees are the things that came to my mind... </p>
<p>only one of my d's schools listed the health fees under their cost of attendance.</p>
<p>Setting up the dorm room can cost quite a bit (although some of these can be brought from home): sheets, towels, laundry basket, storage bins, rug, etc.</p>
<p>Some schools still charge for cable connection for TVs and/or computers in the dorm room.</p>
<p>In my D's school, everyone starts out with TV cable, and you have to tell them to disconnect you so that you don't get charged.</p>
<p>Still no job, thanks for asking. Just direct and indirect college costs.</p>
<p>Cable! Huh? We don't have cable at home. What if my d does not want cable and the other dorm mate wants it?</p>
<p>^^^I don't know. Perhaps there are two potential connections in each room, if the rooms are doubles. This won't apply at all schools. At my son's school, the whole campus is wireless, so no need for cable for computers. Neither he nor his roommate have a TV, so there was no problem.</p>
<p>I heard that last year there were a lot of irritated people at Wash U when they bundled the cable charge for TV with the cable charge for computer, even if you didn't want the TV hook-up. (And if you didn't even have a TV.)</p>
<p>Check with your daughter's school--housing office.</p>
<p>My d's school doesn't charge for basic cable for TV; all the rooms are wired for it anyway. Kids can order the premium channels, but they have to pay for it directly to the cable company.</p>
<p>If you talk to the financial aid office, they may be willing to run down the "general" indirect costs for you.</p>
<p>son's school had a fee for orientation (think it was $150). Another cost is that some schools charge ala carte and do not allow enough money in their food budget. My friend's son goes to such a school and they have had to add money onto the meal plan. This is not the case at the school my son attends. My son can manage at both ala carte places on campus and the one punch on the meal card for all you can eat. I have never paid an extra dime for food on campus.</p>
<p>Other cost is optional-entertainment off campus can get pricey if a kid is not careful. My son has gone camping, eaten out on occasion, to a play, the beach, skiing, to an amusement park while at school. All of those activities and places were on his dime and were spread out over 2 years.</p>
<p>Certain lab items, course specific accessories beyond books. These can be significant for science students, musicians and other performing arts students. I was gullible enough to believe the additional cost of classical cd recordings and full orchestral scores an absolute educational necessity.</p>
<p>Consider a membership in a program like Student Advantage. The membership fee can easily be saved through the associated merchant and service provider percent off discounts.</p>
<p>If your cell plan doesn't include unlimited text messages or minutes, be prepared to pay through the nose, or set the limits with your student before hand.</p>
<p>Certain majors are often encouraged, sometimes mandated to join discipline specific professional organizations, and/or the student may wish to do so on their own. Major specific periodicals and journals can add expense, but if necessary can usually be bought at a student rate. </p>
<p>Don't forget the cost of printer cartridges.</p>
<p>earlham estimated 2500, and admitted it was probably on the low end.</p>
<p>Lawrence said 1890, and said it was for pizza and such. (?) augustana said 950. (?)</p>
<p>I assume that they are not including traveling expenses since that wd vary.</p>
<p>excluding travel expenses and one time's such as a laptop, wd you say 2k - 2.5k is a rough ballpark for indirect costs?</p>
<p>we have so far...</p>
<p>travel
books
clothing - if diff than home
munchies
micro-fridge rental, loft bed rental,
sheets, towels, laundry basket, storage bins, rug,
cable connection(s) for tv and-or computer
entertainment off campus
camping, eating outside on occasion, to a play, the beach, skiing, to an amusement park
fee for orientation (think it was $150) – wd that be a part of the mandatory fees that colleges typically include in the COA?</p>
<p>parking permits,
(the last item implies a car, if appropriate)
personal property insurance</p>
<p>the last item triggers some items...</p>
<p>cell phone (if do not have one now)
laptop</p>
<p>The books could break that budget, and to some extent it depends on the major. I have a friend whose son paid $400 (she said) for an organic chem. book; good for two semesters, I hope. My son's books probably were close to $750 this year, and most of them were used (online in some cases).</p>
<p>How much are you paying to rent the fridge/microwave? We bought a fridge w/small freezer for less than $100 (on sale); his roommate bought the microwave. (He can store the fridge at school over the summer.)</p>
<p>My son did not have a text message plan when he left for college, but I ended up adding one to our plan for $10/month.</p>
<p>One expense that sometimes surprises people is the cost to get to and from the airport, if you have to fly. Most people consider the cost of the airline tickets, but getting to the airport can cost $20-$40 each way for some school. It adds up!</p>