How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

DS has decided on his college!

DH keeps talking about expenses with him going, extra things besides tuition and room/board. I'm thinking not more than $500 for room things (sheets, comforter, soap, etc) and under $1,000 for a laptop.

Am I missing anything?

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Are you including books in tuition?

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

He'll need internet, a computer, a phone plan, food at school, snacks, school supplies (note books, pens, pencils, scantrons, etc) clothes :think

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---------- Post added at 08:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:34 PM ----------

Software, like Microsoft Office.

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Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Tuition, room and board (dorm and food plan), parking permit, all other fees charged by the college (which for our son is about the same amount as tuition), snacks, dorm supplies (bedding, towels, fridge, microwave, dishes, paper goods, bath/toiletries, cleaning supplies, decorative things/storage solutions), cell phone and plan, internet if not included in room and board, laptop, software, printer, books/computer subscriptions, school supplies, etc. One of the things that surprised us is that depending on the major there can be ongoing supply fees. Ds is an architect major and has to buy all of his tools and supplies to build his models out of his own pocket in addition to the tuition and fees charged by the university.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

I haven't even thought of any of this yet! Ds will likely use his own money to pay for things like school supplies or dorm essentials. We have bedding that he can take. He may have an apt with a kitchen or just a dorm room. He may also live with his grandpa, which will be the cheapest option.

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Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Hmmm? I don't think I am.

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They'll have internet in the dorm, but I should check that it comes with it. He has a phone. Maybe a dorm , unless he gets a suite with a , he was talking about that.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Will it be a healthy option that will allow him to be independent?

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Disclaimer— my dd has taken all this upon herself and so she’s done 95% of the everything without us but she’s shared w me :shrug


My dd lives at home for college so I cannot speak to that part .. but the bolded part of charlas post definitely took her by surprise and semester 1 cost her a lot of extra money. Something we now know for her school is NOT to buy books in advance. After buying booksim advance, one ofdd’sclasses in fall required an online subscription that included a free copy of the book. They didn’t inform her of that until she walked in the door... but she learned her lesson.

Also think about little things that make life easier. Maybe it’s just cuz she’s a working commuter but she got special “college” stuff no one else uses. a good blender bottle for on the go smoothies, a decent travel coffee cup and water bottle. A good backpack. Extension cord for her laptop at the library ;)

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Is there something wrong with a young adult living with relatives?

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Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Not the person who asked but I think it can be very wise and good to have an adult who loves you for support :heart not absolute necessity but it can be helpful.

I know my dd appreciates the adult support cuz she’s insanely busy. She can text us and say “can u flip my laundry? I forgot this morning” or other random favors like to my dh whose company carries tthis “I ran out of windshield wiper fluid, can u buy some?”

Dh and I do for our dd “adult favors” (aka assistance) same we do for each other ;)

And I’m sure u know my opinions on avoiding college debt... I think it’s a great option. For my kiddo who wants to go away to school I’ve wondered if she could nanny for my cousin in CO :think to save room and board ;)

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

I'd say that it really depends on many factors. If the young adult is given independence and responsibility, it should be fine. If the adults are controlling and/or babying him it would hamper his growth.

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Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

It depends on the adult.

It also depends if the adult thinks they can treat the college student like she child. This is my personal bias, though. I believe a big part of college is living independently, and not having to account to see relative if one wants to come home at 4am.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

That’s an excellent point. that would’ve automatically meant “not an option” in my book.

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My dd rolled in at 5am Sunday :shrug3 she told me as I didn’t know when she got home.

But I disagree w this. :shrug For me independence comes at too high a cost. For me personally, I believe it’s not worth an extra 30-40k to be independent of parents. Obviously my Dd1 agrees w me. If my others do not that’s their choice and their debt so I will support what they choose.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

I don't think total independence is worth the price either. Why would we make him pay an extra $10000 a year to NOT be accountable to anyone? Most responsible adults are accountable to someone-spouse, kids!

That said, living with his grandfather will be like having a roommate he never sees. There are other negatives to the situation, but grandpa being controlling is not one of them.

He'd live at home with mom and dad if that was an option. As it is, he's trying to figure out how to afford to live on campus.

Other than helping him navigate the options, I'm not planning to do much micro-planning. I don't feel like I need to help him buy sheets, kitchen supplies, school supplies, or anything else like that. He can figure that stuff out on his own.

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Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Another thing to plan for that I just thought of is extra gas if commuting/errands or for coming home on breaks/weekends.

Those extra fees for ds's major are going to add up into the multiple thousands of dollars over the five years. It's quite a big chunk.

And yes, ds found it better to go to the class or get the syllabus before buying the books. He paid for a very expensive book the first semester and never used it and the bookstore only wanted to buy it back for around $11.00.

And as you factor cost, you will want to remember that scholarships and grants may offset some of those expenses. And your son might be awarded several other things in the financial package like student loans and work study. One thing we were totally shocked about is that we were required as parents to take out a parent loan (or cough up the money upfront) up to a certain amount each year determined by some kind of income calculator based on the FAFSA. We will have to repay it same as a student loan upon ds's graduation.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Required?! Seriously? ds's financial aid package included parent loans, but we just declined those.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

If we declined it, we would be required to pay that amount upfront (over $6500) or in monthly installments. There is no way we could do that because even with the scholarships, work study, student loans and this parent loan, we have a monthly payment of over $400.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

I didn't realize they made you pay that up front. I hope that's not the case for us. They gave us an efc number but then gave him financial aid above and beyond the cost of everything. We plan to decline the parent loans and he'll just work to make up the difference. He did not receive any work study.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

That is the way I understand it is typically handled now. :yes2 :doh when we saw dd’s First FAFSA, we’ve told our kids we won’t do parent loans because we cannot afford a payment or loans. We have one more college year until our EFC is caught up to our cut in pay and dc will qualify for grants :phew (note if people have income changes— you can apply to the specific college and ask them to reconsider EFC because of a significant decrease in income by but thwy not have to accept the request!)

It’s mind boggling because I know SO many people w $40k plus in debt some $75k.

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We also just kinda helped w planning and didn’t micromanage :yes Dd was the one who asked for special college stuff (cups, bags etc.) we bought some as gifts but she’s almost 100% self sufficient. So if we do buy something it’s an unexpected gift and she finds it I just pay :giggle

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

I sat down with ds this afternoon. He is planning to stay on campus rather than with grandpa. I think this is a good choice, but I still hear Dave Ramsey telling me to encourage him to do the cheapest option!

He will have to work 30 hours a week. I hope that is doable for him. He did it last semester with 4 classes at the cc, but I know they were easy classes compared to what he'll be doing next year.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

That sounds like a lot to me but he has to choose and I've heard it is doable for some kids :yes It's his life and if he wants to live on campus, then he is choosing that. :hug (just to help with the voice in your head - I'd struggle too :hug)

I think it will depend on which classes, how many credits, and how much homework a particular teacher assigns. All kids are different on what they can do plus he will have to fend for himself.

Will he go ahead to find a job if he wasn't offered work study? The great part of work study is that they have to work around your classes :pray4 At my college I did a ton of pet sitting, house sitting, baby sitting and what was called "sub parenting" (which is babysitting for a week at a time while people go on vacation). Of course, I had access to my sister's car so it was easier. But we had a job board as people were searching for college students all the time.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

I did math tutoring. I worked for the EOP (equal opportunity placement, I think) tutoring disadvantaged freshmen and also used the job board to get some jobs tutoring children.

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Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

It sounds like a lot to me too, but he does do SO MUCH better when he's busy. He procrastinates way less when his schedule is full. So it could be a good thing.

He works at Starbucks now, and he's hoping to transfer to the one closest to his school. We'll see if that is possible. I'm not sure when he should start asking.

---------- Post added at 06:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:38 PM ----------

He wants to be an accountant, so I will definitely encourage him to look for opportunities in the university's business office!

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

:tu :rockon
My daughter just did a transfer for a promotion at Starbucks. She also just got home from work and her transfer happens March 7th ;) . So I asked her -- She is saying tell the current manager a few months ahead of time he is going to college in the fall. Get help from that manager. He may be asked to contact the starbucks he wants to transfer to and meet with that manager as well.. it will depend on his manager and how much work the manager wants to do. There is a handout they gave her and she had to do the footwork. Some starbucks will let you work there during the year, work at home on breaks, etc. A continuous cycle of home/school.

Once her transfer/promotion was "casually approved" by both managers, they gave her a hand out and she had paperwork online to complete. her transfer/paperwork took a total of a month. (she can now see her last day at her current store and her new schedule).

BOTH managers need to approve. Feel free to PM if he needs more info.

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Thanks for the info! I wonder if it'll be harder since they two stores are 4 hours away? That would be awesome if he could come home and work on holidays!!!

I am pretty sure his current manager knows he hopes to go away to college in the fall.

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Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Well for a brief time, my dd will be on both stores payrolls. it’s bitter sweet for her as she’s attached to her store. And it’s bittersweet cuz work is a mile away and will not be 25 minutes away ;)

If the manager knows he’s going to college, I’d start gathering info. It’s possible that every district/region is run differently. It’s worth asking if he could work on holiday breaks :yes . Is he aware of the ASU tuition reimbursement program ... not to throw a wrench in plans ;)

Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

Yes, he's aware. They do not offer an accounting degree though. And he hates online classes. He may consider taking some classes through there in the summers though.

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Re: How about a child going to college soon thread?
 

DS got 45% off tuition and also gets the Palmetto Life Scholarship which gives I think $5,000/yr.

Those are a huge help on tuition but that room and board is SO much!

He's working on more scholarships.