I don't think I should pay for this...AIBU?

[Wenjie]

DD is at a university in the United States getting a four year degree in Art & Design: Games and Playable Media. She just found out she almost has enough credits to get a two year degree in Business Administration. It would be around 800 USD, which converts to about 590 GBP. She doesn't think that's much, but I don't even know that employers would care about a two year degree. I know this might not be the right place to post something about schools in the states, but it's caused friction. Am I being too unaccommodating?

It's a tiny amount and it might make her CV a bit more attractive. I would pay!

During my career, I've done courses which didn't seem too relevant at the time, but in the end they've ended up being very useful. You never know so in my opinion, the more educated you are, the better

I'm getting frustrated by the assumptions that OP has pots of money sitting at their disposal. £55k may be cheap for a US degree, but is a lot of money to be found. Also the logic doesn't really stand that if you can afford £55k you can easily afford £56k, OP may have scrimped and saved to do this and be looking forward to a well earned loosening of belts.

We'd find it for DS is that's what he wanted to do, but I'd be heaving a sigh of relief once it was paid and would- like OP - be suspicious of forking out more for something that didn't seem particularly related.

However various people have pointed out that it would be useful, so I'm sure OP will find the money.

I'd pay it and ask her to pay it back the first year she is earning

I come from a community where education is highly valued & Parents would pay extra for education and training. Mainly because t'll help the kids in their career so no questions asked. I would pay for this and may I ask if your parents have ever helped you out with anything? House deposits, car, education etc? If they have then you should repay the favour given to you & if they haven't then it's a good way to show your dd that you value her & her future.

Would it make her stand out though, if it can be bought for 800 bucks?

An Asssociates degree can’t be bought for £800. She probably only needs a few more credits to complete the Associates degree and those few credits would cost £800.

@MinestroneMini

Would it make her stand out though, if it can be bought for 800 bucks?

An Asssociates degree can’t be bought for £800. She probably only needs a few more credits to complete the Associates degree and those few credits would cost £800.

Yes but she can’t be the only one on her course (or other courses) in that position?

She won’t regret having it but she might regret not having it.

Do you really want to be in that position? For 1% of the total cost of her course?

[quote Wenjie]@BakedTattie Her four year degree is already costing us £55,500 by the time it's done, so it feels like a lot to add £590 for something that might not be valued when she's searching for work.[/quote]
I’d see it exactly the opposite. If something is costing you £55,500 then £590 for an extra qualification is not much to add at all

Is there a reason she can't pay for it herself?

Does she have a PT job? Most college goers do. Many put themselves through paying full tuition, so £800 wouldn't be the biggest stretch. Even if it meant you paying then her paying you back in instalments perhaps?

I’d say it would be valuable to have. Business sounds more academic if she ever wanted to go out of games design.

$590 dollars sounds a drop in the ocean compared to $55k but then I’m not having to fund it…

I would pay if you can. It will enhance her CV and career prospects.

I'd pay it, to be honest. It's peanuts in comparison with the overall cost, and it does add another level to her qualifications, even if it's not particularly high level.

Yes but she can’t be the only one on her course (or other courses) in that position?

I’m really sorry, I’m not sure what you mean. She will have 2 separate degrees, an Associate in Business from a Community College and a Bachelors from a University. Universities don’t offer Associate degrees (or none that I knew of did).

So she is doing 2 separate sets of coursework. However some of her credits from her community college Associate degree work may have applied towards her Bachelors degree (but not many).

I don’t think I would blink at it if I could afford the 55 grand. Business is a sensible thing to have on the CV.

Wow so £590 is "peanuts" and a "drop in the ocean" etc. etc. , maybe this is the attitude OP is getting from her DD. A net sum of £590 still requires someone to earn about £1000 gross, it's definitely not nothing.

I can't believe you are even considering not funding it!

I'd definitely fund it if possible. For a relatively small investment of money and time, she can have an additional qualification on her CV which is likely be attractive to employers in its own right and shows a breadth of skills as well as dedication to developing herself. It also gives an interesting talking point for interviews, where she can discuss why she chose to do the additional studying, how it applies to her chosen field, etc. While it may not be the most exclusive qualification in the world, by completing it, she's also showing a commitment and level of effort that many of her fellow students won't.

If the money is an issue, maybe it could be partly funded by an agreement that she'll pay you back and/or make cutbacks on her other expenses?

[quote Wenjie]@BakedTattie Her four year degree is already costing us £55,500 by the time it's done, so it feels like a lot to add £590 for something that might not be valued when she's searching for work.[/quote]
People on here who know about these things have said it will be valued. Such a small sum on top of such a huge sum is surely worth paying. Make it clear that that is the end of bank of mum and dad. If she wants to do further things she will have to get a job and fund them herself. You will have funded a brilliant start.

Regarding the cost, the OP has stated that her daughter gets “in State” tuition so this is already gives her a significant cost advantage to other foreign students.

She's at a public university in California, and did her first two years tuition free in a California community college. She gets in state tuition.

Pretty cheap. I'd go for it, more strings to the bow is usually a good thing.

I would send her the money the same day she spoke to me about it. Absolutely.

This is a great opportunity. Doesn't make sense to be so stingy.

It sounds as though it could be a good addition, particularly as it doesn't sound as though it will be easy for her to break into her chosen career with the degree she is doing.
I would say it's a cheap way of adding a second string to her bow.

That’s really not a lot of money for an additional qualification. If you are already funding a £55k degree paying another 1% won’t even be worth losing any sleep over. I would always fund my children’s education as a top priority over other nonsense. If you are so worried give her a loan and ask her to pay it back.

Is she intending to work in the US after she graduates? I ask because an associate's degree is held in higher esteem over there. I worked in university admissions for years so saw a lot of international qualifications and an AS translates to an HNC here, so SCQF Level 7 or EQF level 5.

As others say, it won't hurt to have it but it might not make the same impact here if she's coming back to start her career. If you can afford it, I'd probably do it.