Ouch. That hurt the wallet....

[TheBac]

First payment to Michigan State....$5000....and thats only half this semester.
College is not cheap.....sort of like this diesel hobby we're all in, but an MSU Engineering degree will open up a lot of opportunities for our son.
Put a decent dent into the college savings account. We're trying not to leave our kids with huge loan bills after 5 years of school, but they DO have to pay their fair share....its no free ride. My retirement has probably been pushed back a few years, though.

My advice to you guys with little kids or babies....start their college fund NOW. DO NOT wait! You may still not have enough saved in 18 years to cover everything, as college costs are rising faster than people can save, but every little bit helps ease the pain when the time comes. It certainly is helping us.

 

[Cknight199]

In state for my first semester is $3700 for 12-18 credits. Shit is expensive.

 

[hondarider552]

Kids? Hell, I cant even take care of myself, let alone a kicking, screaming, shit making machine :rofl:

 

[mike diesel]

My parents are very well off and they didn't pay a dime of my schooling. Never even offered to help pay.

 

[Cknight199]

Kids? Hell, I cant even take care of myself, let alone a kicking, screaming, shit making machine :rofl:

:rof

 

[TheBac]

Kids? Hell, I cant even take care of myself, let alone a kicking, screaming, shit making machine :rofl:

You seem to do pretty well for yourself, Bri. :thumb:

BTW, when they get to be teenagers, they stop the whole "shit making" thing. Kicking and screaming, though....that is still there.

 

[LBZ]

Kids? Hell, I cant even take care of myself, let alone a kicking, screaming, shit making machine :rofl:

x2.
My chick and two dogs are enough of a nuisance some days!!:rofl:

 

[Chucky797]

I look at how much my degree is costing me, but I am just happy that the government is paying for it while I'm on active duty. Might just stick around to get them to pay for my masters degree. They did require me to go off to that distant desert and do some time.

 

[SBLC]

Just don't let him screw around "alot" as a engineering degree requires alot of focus and work on his part (i.e. no hardcore parting every other night, staying in doing homework, coding on the computer). Also, if he gets good grades while he is in "easier" classes (generals, introductory engineering level) it will pay off later when he gets to the engineering gauntlet classes. The gauntlet classes don't even matter how much you study you still murder the tests, and have to take it in stride (class averages are comical). By getting a good GPA now it can carry over into the harder classes allowing him to still have a decent GPA for internships, etc. Also, he should look into grants (FAFSA) and scholarships which should become more available when his grades are good and he gets farther into the program.

I believe in Utah I was paying like 3,200-3,500 per semester plus books(no sale back because engineering books can be referenced for later classes) but scholarships helped with a good chunk of it later in my schooling.

For others that are headed back to college look into the FAFSA.

Source: Mechanical Engineering graduate, but not in Michigan

 

[AKlowriderZ71]

I feel your pain! One of my daughters just started grad school to get her Masters. None of the other kids seem to interested in college, but the youngest is 16 years old & still has a couple of years to change her mind.

Of course we are encouraging her, but she really hates school...

 

[PureHybrid]

If I knew what I know now, I wouldn't have gone to tech school. Not that it wasn't a waste, but my parents didn't pay a dime and that sucked for a LONG TIME. I work around a ton of guys who never had any formal training, I only use 10% of what I learned in school, and of that was in JVS which was FREE. Screw school, sofa king gaaaay. I could've bought a nice azz truck. Not to mention all the dumb hilljacks that give tech schools a bad rap.

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

First thing I did was start a trust for my son. Now every time my wife and I go to the bank we deposit 10 bucks, and I go to the bank at least once a day! I figured this would give hIm a leg up I didn't get down the road...

 

[TheBac]

Just don't let him screw around "alot" as a engineering degree requires alot of focus and work on his part (i.e. no hardcore parting every other night, staying in doing homework, coding on the computer). Also, if he gets good grades while he is in "easier" classes (generals, introductory engineering level) it will pay off later when he gets to the engineering gauntlet classes. The gauntlet classes don't even matter how much you study you still murder the tests, and have to take it in stride (class averages are comical). By getting a good GPA now it can carry over into the harder classes allowing him to still have a decent GPA for internships, etc. Also, he should look into grants (FAFSA) and scholarships which should become more available when his grades are good and he gets farther into the program.

I believe in Utah I was paying like 3,200-3,500 per semester plus books(no sale back because engineering books can be referenced for later classes) but scholarships helped with a good chunk of it later in my schooling.

For others that are headed back to college look into the FAFSA.

Source: Mechanical Engineering graduate, but not in Michigan

You have to fill out a FAFSA every year. Everyone I talked to said it was a PITA to fill out, but I didnt think it was so bad. Pretty straight-forward. We unfortunately did not qualify for any grants. Guess we didn't do such a good job hiding our money?

Now applying for financial aid thru the school? My god, is that a mess. No help, websites with no clear explanations of the steps needed...

As for grades, he's been told that if he screws around, "parent aid" will be cut off and he's on his own. Period.

 

[countrycorey]

I graduated from Ole Miss in 09 with a BSME and 35k in student loans. I can tell you applying for financial aid every year sucked, and the fact that the approved lenders list changed every year made it that much worse. Tell him to say goodbye to his social life and prepare for all nighters doing homework, lab test write-ups, and studying. Engineering school is not easy, but it was worth it as I made great friends and mine has paid for itself several times over since I've been out.


Corey

 

[Pure Diesel]

You have to fill out a FAFSA every year. Everyone I talked to said it was a PITA to fill out, but I didnt think it was so bad. Pretty straight-forward. We unfortunately did not qualify for any grants. Guess we didn't do such a good job hiding our money?

X2
Now applying for financial aid thru the school? My god, is that a mess. No help, websites with no clear explanations of the steps needed...

As for grades, he's been told that if he screws around, "parent aid" will be cut off and he's on his own. Period.

Got two in college. I make to much money to get any help even with hiding stuff. My daughter is minoring in Forensic Science right now. The hardest part is her getting her darn classes.
Good luck Tom

 

[Dozerboy]

Good for your boy Bac and it's nice of you to help. dealing with school financial aid can be a real pain. We fought for a year to get the grants back that where taken away from my wife

My wife/we have paid her way through school. Her parents didn't give her much if anything. Grandma insisted she paid for books like she has with all her grand kids. Right now we are out 4400 a sem for school. What really hurts is 800 a month for daycare. Lucky we are good with our $$ and haven't had to take out a loan.

 

[SBLC]

You have to fill out a FAFSA every year. Everyone I talked to said it was a PITA to fill out, but I didnt think it was so bad. Pretty straight-forward. We unfortunately did not qualify for any grants. Guess we didn't do such a good job hiding our money?

Now applying for financial aid thru the school? My god, is that a mess. No help, websites with no clear explanations of the steps needed...

As for grades, he's been told that if he screws around, "parent aid" will be cut off and he's on his own. Period.

I didn't think the FAFSA was to big a pain but I was not claiming my parents so that helped, so all the questions on parent money I could skip. I think its good for only 4 years/so many credits so it might be beneficial to hold off on that for a tad. I found a lot of scholarships from the engineering advisement office. I would start their before hitting websites I would say. However, this is coming from me which i attended a smaller school compared to that of michigan.

Posted from mobile phone

 

[JD Dave]

Do you guys have tax free education funds that you can contribute to? We have RESP's for our kids which are tax free and government will contribute 20% up to $500/year. My oldest will be going to University next year so I'm pretty happy we have the money set aside. I also think kids shouldn't get a free ride from their parents or they won't appreciate it.

 

[jacobdewey]

I want the best for my children, and I have a fairly big chunk set aside for them already for whatever they choose to do.... That being said, I hate college and I feel it is a waste of time and money.
I went to work straight out of high school. I've worked many jobs, always doing my best and treating people honestly and with respect. My first job out of high school was at a ski resort parking cars and heading up snow removal. I worked hard and received a great recommendation for my next job as an electrician, pulling wire and doing grunt work for the journeymen. That job lasted for a while and also gave me a chance for a job as a conductor for Union Pacific RR. I could make 70-90k with hard work and no college education. I've always said, it's not what you know, it's who you know.
All this time I worked on my dads farm in my off time. After a bit at the RR I could see it wasn't for me so I used the money I had saved to start buying into farms. I own 605 acres of my own now and am in the process of buying another 350 acres. I own 20% stock In my dads 3400 acre farm and I am also working on buying the controlling shares as he is starting to slow down. I'm in a position now that I all I owe money on is my mortgage. That probably wouldn't be possible if I had an enormous school debt I was trying to pay back.

What I'm trying to get at is, with respect for others, hard work, and common sense, you can do anything. I feel sticking to the mold of the education system in this country is a mistake. It needs some serious reform starting at the Kindergarten level.
I would love if by the time my kids make it into high school, and had an idea of what they wanted to do with their life, that they could start working towards that goal. When they graduate high school, they could go straight into an internship and learn the trade hands on, without paying for the education. They would be providing a service as an Intern, and in return the employer would be teaching and gaining an employee. It's a win win.

That's what I would do if I was president!... But with no college degree, I wouldn't be as qualified as our current president. :roflmao::roflmao: There is what a college education from "top professors" will get you.

Rant over!

 

[DAVe3283]

I want the best for my children, and I have a fairly big chunk set aside for them already for whatever they choose to do.... That being said, I hate college and I feel it is a waste of time and money.
I went to work straight out of high school. I've worked many jobs, always doing my best and treating people honestly and with respect. My first job out of high school was at a ski resort parking cars and heading up snow removal. I worked hard and received a great recommendation for my next job as an electrician, pulling wire and doing grunt work for the journeymen. That job lasted for a while and also gave me a chance for a job as a conductor for Union Pacific RR. I could make 70-90k with hard work and no college education. I've always said, it's not what you know, it's who you know.
All this time I worked on my dads farm in my off time. After a bit at the RR I could see it wasn't for me so I used the money I had saved to start buying into farms. I own 605 acres of my own now and am in the process of buying another 350 acres. I own 20% stock In my dads 3400 acre farm and I am also working on buying the controlling shares as he is starting to slow down. I'm in a position now that I all I owe money on is my mortgage. That probably wouldn't be possible if I had an enormous school debt I was trying to pay back.

What I'm trying to get at is, with respect for others, hard work, and common sense, you can do anything. I feel sticking to the mold of the education system in this country is a mistake. It needs some serious reform starting at the Kindergarten level.
I would love if by the time my kids make it into high school, and had an idea of what they wanted to do with their life, that they could start working towards that goal. When they graduate high school, they could go straight into an internship and learn the trade hands on, without paying for the education. They would be providing a service as an Intern, and in return the employer would be teaching and gaining an employee. It's a win win.

Well said.

I went to a good private college, my parents helped with the money some, but I am still paying off the debt (and will be for a long time to come). Every time I sit down and look at it, I would be making close to what I do now (if not more ) as a tradesman, and I would have been working 4 more years raking in cash instead of debt. If I had to do it all over, I would skip college and follow a path very similar to yours.

The education system in this country is in need of some serious work. College degrees are more expensive than ever, while being less useful than ever.

/rant 2.0