Parents helping there kids through Uni - What do you think?

[LostTimeLady]

So it's getting to that time of year again when the newspapers, in eager expectation of the A level results, once again start talking about the off-spring of the nation going off to University (with the now ever present mention of the fact that UK tuition fees will be sky-rocketting very soon).

I remember filling out all my forms for student finance and at the time I happened across a clause that basically told parents they should support their child through University.

So, what you're opinion of this? (i.e. Should Parents be obliged to support their children through University or would it be better that young people sink or swim by their own ability to finance themselves (either by work or by loans)?)

Discuss!

P.S. as added discussion value, what personally would you do in the situation (as a young person or the parent)? Also, tell us any stories of Uni finance miss-haps or sucesses you know that happened to youself or someone else.

My opinion (skip over if you want): Personally I think that at age 18 a person is legally an adult and asking parents to support their young person actually undermines this. Ok, I'm fine with people who do support their children because they can but their shouldn't be an expectation from the government that families across the country should support the education of an adult family member.
When I go to Uni I know that it's my financial burden to pay my loans back, Uni was my choice after all. Sure, I'm really pleased that I've not been kicked out of the house and I have somewhere to sleep out of term time but aside from that, I dunno, maybe I'm too proud to want to get help but mostly because I believe you repay your debts and if I've got one to the government, I'd hate to feel even more indebted to my parents who have already raised me to adulthood.

 

[wolfcrux]

Well, this is ofcourse different in other countries but were the situation similar for adult youths here in Denmark I'd say definately. Parents are allowed and almost expected to help their children have the best possible education and/or start in life.

If they choose not to or are simply financially unable to support their children through their education so be it.

 

[Vet2501]

Of course parents should support their children through uni. If they don't then your student loan would be much higher than it already is. Also, there are some degrees where it is not possible to get a job, e.g. veterinary, I speak from experience here, the work load it just too great.

 

[Chasing-The-Light]

I'm a university student, and my parents help me through that, financially speaking. I really appreciate that, from them. Because when they were my age, my mom was pregnant with me and my Dad went to college full time, and worked four jobs to make all his ends meet. They support me now so that I don't have to worry about that sort of thing. As they say, my only job is to do well in the university so I can do whatever it is I want to do in the future.

Now, should eighteen year olds be burdened with supporting themselves? Perhaps. It depends. Because some kids can handle that responsibility, and some can't, and thus will 'sink'. I personally don't think it's fair for people to sink like that just because they can't make those ends meet.

My girlfriend has to support herself through college, and every semester we go through the worry of her having debts to the college and not knowing if she'll be able to come up with that amount of money by the time it's due, and thus won't be able to come back.

 

[Ambi]

They should inadvertently help their kids through uni by paying taxes to be redistributed to students. I also think it's reasonable for parents to give their children a hand every now and then if they need it.

I actually find it ridiculous that I read Americans complaining about not being able to afford uni. It's just sad.

Tbh, I'd rather just anonymously bludge off the tax money of billionaires to help me through uni than get hand-outs from my parents. I'd feel bad.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

I don't know if "should" is the right word here, but it is incredibly hard for a student to get through 4 years on nothing but loans and part time jobs. Plus student loans aren't exactly easy to repay, even if you have a full time job upon graduation. I would prefer the European model here; only about $500-700 in tuition per semester, relatively cheap dorms, and none of those stupidly inflated book prices. I think it's possible to support oneself in that situation.

Yes, my parents picked up the tab for my college education, and I am incredibly grateful for that. I don't think I could have paid back the loans, even if I had pursued a full time career instead of grad school.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

I think the student should be encouraged to finance their own university career, but parents should be willing to help out if need be (and if they're able to).
Example: I had a job the summer before my first year, and the summer after. This was enough money to finance my 1st and second years, so I was fine. During second year, I became pretty damn ill, and had no time to work at a job as I needed to spend the summer catching up. Somehow I managed to make it through this year without asking my parents for money, but I know that they'd have been happy to help me out if I had.

 

[AngryMongoose]

If your parents aren't rich the government (UK government; I know other countries go through a full spectrum of different systems) will pay a sufficient amount to go through Uni (Through loans and grants), so I guess expecting more wealthy parents to support their children is fair (Putting aside the whole students and parents shouldn't have to pay for their tuition or stay at uni directly at all).

 

[Lullabye]

I would say it depends on the situation of the family. If they can't really afford it they I would say no, but if they have the expenses to burn then another few years of helping your kid shouldn't be too much to ask.
That being said, I am going to college in a month and I have to pay for everything there myself. Though I am still living with my parents so that greatly helps. I know some people who had to move out and it's really tough for them to work and go to school.

 

[Zakarath]

Well, as uni for me still costs about $22K/year after all the financial aid I've managed to get, my parents kinda have to pay for it or I wouldn't be able to go. Especially considering I've had no luck at all in finding a job.

 

[goldendriger]

Simple- Loan.

Parents pay for their kids as long as the kids pay it back, teaching them money management but parents will be more liniant than loan sharks or the government, if a kid cant pay because of an understandable reason their parents shouldnt push for it, but be like "Okay you still owe us"
I think its best for everyone, parents get their money back, kid gets diploma and ub3r money skillz

 

[SckizoBoy]

My opinion (skip over if you want): Personally I think that at age 18 a person is legally an adult and asking parents to support their young person actually undermines this. Ok, I'm fine with people who do support their children because they can but their shouldn't be an expectation from the government that families across the country should support the education of an adult family member.
When I go to Uni I know that it's my financial burden to pay my loans back, Uni was my choice after all. Sure, I'm really pleased that I've not been kicked out of the house and I have somewhere to sleep out of term time but aside from that, I dunno, maybe I'm too proud to want to get help but mostly because I believe you repay your debts and if I've got one to the government, I'd hate to feel even more indebted to my parents who have already raised me to adulthood.

I agree, to an extent, but my folks helped me through my undergrad and quite gladly, because I lived very frugally (though I had to cough up for transport). They raised me to be an almost total and utter skinflint. To that end, considering I worked for at least three months every year since age sixteen, total debt = zero.

Anyway, it's generally all to do with responsibility. Even though at eighteen, we are legally adults, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we're grown up. Some require a kick up the arse that comes from living by themselves and being responsible for their finances, while others are financially responsible anyway and loans/debts are an unnecessary lesson (and an unnecessary expense).

You may call me and my sister anal, but both of us keep a meticulous record of every credit/debit card transaction that we've done. I have an archive of four years' worth of receipts and if you're discerning enough, yes, I didn't trust myself to be mature enough to have a current account until I was twenty-one. When I get my statement, if it isn't dead on what I've calculated, I freak out. My personal record is almost permanently in credit by a couple quid because of the bills I pay but account for well in advance.

So my question would be, was it necessary that I go through the experience of accruing about thirty-thousand pounds' expenditure just to learn to stand by myself?

 

[The Long Road]

In the United States, the prevailing mindset is "You NEED a college education, or you will be a ditch digger until the day you die", so tuition rates are mind-meltingly high. Many students simply don't have enough hours in the day or days in the summer to raise the cash for five-figure tuition bills and do well in their classes, especially when the economy is slow and everybody is waiting to see what Obamacare and related bills/laws actually end up doing.

Say I have a boy, Mike, who's going to college this fall. I'd only support him if he chose a field that could not be better learned by just jumping into it right out of high school. Things like journalism/'media arts' and business degrees are rarely justifiable when you could earn money by submitting freelance articles or getting a job at a company (especially a startup, for those MBA seekers). If he chose a humanities major, such as English, History, or any kind of Literature, he'd also need to support himself, as those aren't so much 'I Know Something Now' degrees as they are 'I Didn't Drink Myself Into An Early Grave Over Four Years' certificates. Practically useless in the real world, and any benefit it does grant is also included in a mathematics, science, or engineering degree. Even the mathematics degree ends up being somewhat arcane in the real world, but not to the extent that a humanities degree is.

I'm in Biochemistry, and if it came down to a choice between me and an otherwise equally qualified Philosophy grad for an open job slot, I'd get it simply on merit of a scientific degree. I'd stake my tuition that at least 9 out of 10 businessmen would agree with me. So basically my stance is that if it isn't science or engineering, it either isn't worth $100,000 in tuition or can be better learned by jumping right in.

 

[chris_ninety1]

Having wealthy parents, I got the smallest loan available. That being said, my parents only ever paid my tuition fees (and my mum would slip me £20 when she visited me once a term), my loan was only enough to cover my rent so I basically funded myself by working through the holidays, and only ever asked them for money about a month before the end of my fourth and final year when I'd finally run out and being that they had originally agreed to pay basically ALL my expenses outside of socialising which I'd then never once asked them for, they happily gave me £100 which I made last.

That being said, although I never asked for it, I do sort of think parents should if need be feel somewhat obliged to help finance their kids. What with the UK model of kids from poor backgrounds getting the maximum loan available, you'd have the scenario of them being able to live off their loan without having to work, whilst those with rich parents would otherwise have to work (which I only did out of principle), which doesn't seem quite fair.

 

[aba1]

My opinion (skip over if you want): Personally I think that at age 18 a person is legally an adult and asking parents to support their young person actually undermines this. Ok, I'm fine with people who do support their children because they can but their shouldn't be an expectation from the government that families across the country should support the education of an adult family member.
When I go to Uni I know that it's my financial burden to pay my loans back, Uni was my choice after all. Sure, I'm really pleased that I've not been kicked out of the house and I have somewhere to sleep out of term time but aside from that, I dunno, maybe I'm too proud to want to get help but mostly because I believe you repay your debts and if I've got one to the government, I'd hate to feel even more indebted to my parents who have already raised me to adulthood.

I agree with this. A person should never expect to be givin somthing parents dont have to do anything for you you should be gratful if they do stick there neck out for you. My parents paid for my first 2 years and I am paying the rest but I would have never asked them to pay it they said they would and I excepted. Even at christmas if my parents got me nothing I wouldnt be upset they dont owe me presents so I shouldnt expect them even if they always do get me some.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

I think it's the parents' opinions that matter most.

 

[clipse15]

Where I live parents are legally required to help you on your first degree if you are under 25. Of course many don't, and few kids sue their parents in the Family Law Courts.

I think its reasonable to ask parents for help. Why should the 18 year old daughter of a billionaire get the same level of financial aid as the 18 year old daughter of an single parent working a minimum wage job and living in subsidized housing? It's a waste of tax dollars to help that billionare out and it means there will be less left for those who truely need it.

At the same time the system does need to ensure there is a way to deal fairly with the "disowned" kids of rich parents.

Your profile says your from Toronto and i've never heard this law. Where did you get this information?