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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

I’m an American AMA about US universities

154 replies

Dilemoth · 04/03/2023 02:27

I know US universities/colleges have become more popular and would like to help if possible.

Context: Have children in high school in the southeast part of the US applying to college soon.

OP posts:
SwimingSummer · 17/08/2024 14:47

Thanks @PhotoDad she probably won’t go but before we shut the door on a possible opportunity it’s good to find out more. She’s come through a very poor secondary but doing ok at A levels at college and has always been very coachable at sport so we just wondered if this was an opportunity to go further with it.

poetryandwine · 18/08/2024 11:07

Just revisiting to correct my much earlier post: the aid Harvard provides yo students with family incomes below $100,000 is comprised of grants and (pretty good) term time student employment as well as scholarships. Not loans.

mathanxiety · 13/09/2024 04:21

HamBone · 05/03/2023 02:43

Another aspect that no one’s touched on is the fact that the federal student loans available to students really haven’t kept pace with tuition rates so parents are expected to contribute alot of money. The federal loan cap for a freshman is $5,500, which doesn’t touch the sides of most annual tuition, room and board, etc.

Parents are expected to cough up instead and there’s even the Parent PLUS loans that they can take out to cover their child’s education. So you have parents in their 40’s and 50’s taking on tens of thousands in debt. It’s ludicrous. ☹️

It’s so tempting to go for the largest scholarship, but if you really want to go elsewhere that’s offered less money/has more expensive tuition, you have to plead your case for additional financial aid and apply for other scholarships. It’s an additional layer of stress.

It makes the parents feel shit as well, because of course you want to say go to that prestigious college even though they haven’t given you the most money. ☹️

www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/student-loans/student-loan-limits

Students eligible for federal loans or federally subsidised loans are nearly always eligible for university financial aid, in some cases substantial university financial aid (basically a waiver of tuition plus room and board which in some schools can amount to a full ride).

HamBone · 13/09/2024 12:11

mathanxiety · 13/09/2024 04:21

www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/student-loans/student-loan-limits

Students eligible for federal loans or federally subsidised loans are nearly always eligible for university financial aid, in some cases substantial university financial aid (basically a waiver of tuition plus room and board which in some schools can amount to a full ride).

Show quote history

@mathanxiety I'm thinking of a few examples I know IRL, one of which has lumbered the parents with ParentPlus loans and the other who turned down a place at Georgetown due to the cost, despite financial aid. When tuition is $70-80K a year, it can still be daunting. She ended up elsewhere with lower tuition and more substantial aid.

One of DD"s friends is stuck in-state when she would've loved to go elsewhere as her Mum is still paying off her own medical school loans. 😞

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