After reading the homeschooling post I had a question. Do you plan on your kids attending college? In waht ways have you prepared them, when did you start, are you saving for it?

I grew up in a home where college was a given, you don't just stop after high school. I am raising my kids the same way. We often talk about what college they will go to (it is never a, if you go to college statement). My 3rd grader already has picked a career choice and college (vet from A&M). My 5th grader wants to be a marine bioligist and has already looked into how many choices she has in that field. She found a place not to far from us that does summer interns when you are 16 (she is 11..lol). Anyway, we have college accts for our kiddos and spend a lot of time "planning" the future with them.

Just curious on others viewpoints.

By Jann on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 12:14 pm:

Pretty much the same as yours. College is a given here, and we feel our responsibility to pay. (they are still our kids till 21 ;)

By Debbie on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 12:56 pm:

I was raised the same way. College was a given. We are raising our kids the same way. That doesn't mean I won't support them if they decide to do something else. I just hope with our support and focus on it, it won't be an issue. Dh and I have already started both ds's college funds. Money is automatically withdrawn from our checking account each month

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 01:03 pm:

We are strongly encouraging college and have been investing $ for their college educations since infancy, however, we will not force them to go if they truly don't want to. Don't tell them I said that! LOL! My Dad forced my brother to go and was furious when he lost money because my brother dropped out. This caused conflicts between the two of them for many years. I believe it's our job to raise/guide/teach them to make good choices in life but there comes a time when we need to step back and let them spread their own wings to fly. That flight may or may not include college. That's up to THEM to decide.

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 01:08 pm:

We bought the college prepaid program when our kids were born. They can go or choose not to (the program will refund the $)We hope they will go. My daughter is currently very interested in being a chef and cooks many of our meals now (she is only 10!) if she goes to culinary school we will have to pull the money for that. It was very important to me to have the money available to them. My parents did not and I had to work from age 14. It was very difficult to go to college and I do not want it to be so difficult for my children. Whatever they decide I will support.

By Mommmie on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 01:21 pm:

It's a given in our family, too. Almost everyone has college degrees and many with advanced degrees (including my parents and my now deceased grandparents) and we live in a community where college is expected so my son's friends are hearing the same thing.

I remember this growing up as well. We visited colleges from very young and it was always "when" you go to college not "if." I remember talking with my friends at age 12 when we decided we needed to stop shoplifting bec we won't be able to go to college if we have a record and we all wanted to go to college. I walked my son around one of my schools (UT Austin) already and we've walked around VMI in Virginia where a cousin went and other schools where relatives went.

It's tricky with my son bec he is dyslexic. All of the grads from his LD school went off to college - and were properly prepared. That gives me hope. My mother already set aside college money for him. He also says he wants to be a Vet. His teacher says 6 out of her 11 students say they want to be vets. How funny!

By Fraggle on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 01:53 pm:

College is a "when" in our house and not an "if". We have been saving for college since they were born.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 02:18 pm:

It's a given in our family too. Scott and I both graduated from Colorado State and hope to move back to Colorado soon! (Maybe Connor will go there?)
We've got $1,000 saved up already and it's in a fund right now. We ask that grandparents contribute on birthdays and other celebrations.
I had a student who was making all A's and her parents didn't save ONE CENT for her college. It's so sad. Hopefully she will get some scholarships and other funding because I can't see her living at home like her older brother does. She is so independent and so smart. Her parents aren't much help in the search for scholarships/grants/loans either. I'm emailing her counselor to help her early...she's a junior this year.

By Lauram on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 03:17 pm:

A given in our family. And come H-e double hockey sticks or high water we'll make it happen. It took my dh 8 years to complete his undergrad (he's LD) but then he went on an got a grad degree as well! We've been saving for awhile too. That's hard though- especially while paying for daycare. Right now, we have one year covered (at this year's prices!)- 7 more to go!

By Colette on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 03:18 pm:

It's a given in our family too.

By Boxzgrl on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 03:20 pm:

Ditto Trina. I responded earlier but it wasn't coming out write so I never posted it but Trina said it perfectly.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 03:32 pm:

It is a given in our famiy too. My 5 yr old dd plans to be a "rock star" when she grows up. I told her that is fine (I don't want to squash her dream and tell her that is a 1/1million chance yet LOL) but she has to have something to fall back on. So now she is going to be a veterinarian/rock star.

We are setting aside money for both the kids college funds. College costs so much now, i can't imagine what it is going to cost by 2016!

By Ilovetom on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 03:44 pm:

Well, I got one in college. So proud. You are never ready for it I reckon, but I am so glad he is there and enjoying.

As for what he want's to be....well, he wants his own mortgage company. We'll see.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 04:19 pm:

It's a given for us, too. We will raise our daughter to know that there's no choice in the matter in this time we live in. Education is power. Dd is 8 mths and already has a large college fund because it's so important to us and we don't want to 'put it off' and then realize at HS graduation that she has nothing! My parents did not have a dime for my college and I had to pay for it myself, so $ for it is really an issue for me. We also ask family to donate at holidays and birthdays.

By Pamt on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 02:23 pm:

Just curious....for those of you in the "absolutely college" camp, what if your child wants to pursue a career in a trade and doesn't need a college degree? I'm not talking about aimless drifting, but a child who REALLY wants to be a hair stylist or a plumber?

As for us, they have to get some type of further education for their chosen career whether it be trade school or college. As DH and I both have graduate degrees, obviously we are very much pro-education and hope that they do go to college. However, happiness in a job is way more important to us than financial success, so if they want to become a mechanic or a chef then we hope they follow their dreams.

We aren't saving hard and heavy, but we do have mutual funds set up. We figure if we can pay for my schooling now that we'll be able to afford theirs. If they want to go to an expensive private school then they will have to get a scholarship. We will pay for a state school...and in LA it's free if they maintain their grades.

We are also going to encourage them to take a "gap year" like they do in Great Britain. It's a year of volunteer work either in a foreign country or an inner-city mission between highschool graduation and the first year of college. A great way for them to "find themselves," give of themselves, and learn what their strengths, weaknesses, and passions are.

By Janet on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 03:57 pm:

I grew up in an "absolutely college" family, but my dh didn't. It's made for some very interesting conversations over the years, especially now that our oldest dd is in high school. I've been very adamant about college, and dh has finally come to the point where he also talks about college as a "when" and not an "if." We have community colleges all over the place, though, and there are many kids that go to them for the first two years and then transfer to a university. I don't know if I like that option, but I suppose it depends upon what dd will want to study. It's cheaper, and the classes are smaller. The jury is out as to the quality of education, though. As far as paying for it, we have a bit saved, but not enough to cover it. Our kids will have to contribute, that's for sure!

By Kaye on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 04:18 pm:

Pam we are in the higher education catagory. No matter what your job choice is, you have a higher chance of being successful if you are well educated. It isn't really about the money, but the ease of finding a job and moving up in the company. My friends who didn't go to college are now facing the reality of well I like being a hairdresser but being on my feet 8 hours a day is hard work, how long can I do this.

I love the gap year. I wanted to do that, my parent vetoed me. Honestly if I had, I probably would have never made it back to college. I love the challenge of new things, but am not so great with long term things..LOL.

By Jann on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 05:00 pm:

If my child wanted to pursue a trade, I would encourage that also. I think I would probably encourage college anyway, just cause I don't think it's a wasted experience. I have always joked that I was sending my kids to plumbing school cause they could make a heck of alot more money with that degree than a BA!
I think it greatly depends on what the child wants to do. If they aren't sure or what a career in any type of business...90% of the time you have to have college.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 05:05 pm:

It's a given and coming up soon. Sarah is already almost to the end of her sophomore year in high school.

I grew up in an "absolutely college" household. My mom started college and quit to get married to my dad. She went back to school to graduate and get a master's degree in library science, when I was 10. It took her 6 years, along with working and raising a family. The message I heard all my life was: College first, marriage second! LOL!

My kids expect to go to college. It was never up for negotiation. Right now, Sarah wants to be a nurse. She has always been strong in science, so I think that's a good career choice.

I don't really know what Emily wants to do.

By Yjja123 on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 05:20 pm:

I certainly will back up my childrens choices but want to know I have the money set aside already. As mentioned earlier, we bought the prepaid college program for both.
I see both sides of the coin as far as higher education versus lower. To be honest, those we know that make the most $ do NOT have college degrees. I know that is not always the case but it just seems that way around us. We also have family (my brother) who passed the bar and decided he did not want to be a lawyer after all that education! He buys/sells/repairs boats and not only is very successful, he loves what he does.
I want my children to be happy in what they do. Yes, I would like them to have financial comfort but I do not care if they find that in being a chef, a vet or even a mechanic (these are the current professions they mention). It is their life to lead after-all and I refuse to push in any particular direction.
I would love my children to take a year off as Pam mentioned. We are moving so quickly with homeschooling that I think they will "graduate" early anyway. I think a year or two to volunteer and make a difference would be a wonderful addition to their education. We will see what interests them in a few years...

By Reds9298 on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 05:39 pm:

I love the idea of taking a year off! We are big into travel and plan to not only take dd as many places we can but also encourage her to travel on her own. That's what I did and I think it was a wonderful experience for me. It's not only the financial comfort of a college education because it's for sure that there are plenty of people who make great money that are not college educated, but college/higher opens up more opportunities by far. Like someone mentioned above about her brother getting a law degree and then doing something else that makes him happy: that's wonderful, but at least he has that degree. I'm glad he's doing something he enjoys. I'm halfway finished with my Master's and am taking it a little slower than most so that I can pay cash for it and still continue to save for Natalie's education. We will expect her to contribute in some way, but it won't be her 'responsibility'. I worked 50 hours a week almost my entire college and it really taught me a lot so we will expect her to at least have a job to pay for extra expenses. Also summer jobs during high school will mean that part of that is saved for college. Everyone has a different view. We have several friends who are Masters+ educated and aren't even thinking about paying for their child's college - they just don't feel it's their responsibility. I personally can't understand that, but to each his own I guess. I don't want her to start out in life with $100,000 in debt before she even has a chance to get her feet wet!

By Conni on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 08:21 pm:

Ditto Trina...

I did not read all the posts but read a few. Thought I'd add that we have one that is in college now and he is 23... I seriously dont see him graduating before 25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So you better make it clear to your kids they get until XX age and then they need to fund themselves. LOL!

Young men and women do not graduate college at 21 that often anymore.

As for homeschoolers attending college... we have nieces that were homeschooled and one is working towards her MASTERS in college as we speak. The other traveled with her college choir all over the country and is about 1 yr away from her Bachelors in teaching music I beleive. She teaches voice and piano from home right now.
I have a cousin that was homeschooled and he has a 4.0 in college right now, works full time/goes to school full time and has a family (with a disabled child). Some of the homeschool programs are actually like private schools now with records and testing thru high school. You get a transcript that you carry on to college then.

I would work 3 jobs and make my child work to pay for school, before we would resort to getting student loans... But thats a personal choice for each family.

By Reds9298 on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 09:17 pm:

As someone who had to pay for college completely on my own, I have to say that student loans are a wonderful thing in the sense that IMO *no one* can say "I didn't go to college because i can't afford it" because that's simply not true anymore. Student loans are very easy to pay back and have low monthly payments. I'm glad they are there but I also don't want my dd to have her entire college tuition/expenses on student loans because that would be such a big debt to start out with in life. (I went to a community college to keep my debt lower.)

Unfortunately for the few homeschoolers I know, their h.s.'graduations' and entrance to college have not been good. One family has children that coluld not pass our state Gateway exam, required for h.s. graduation. I couldn't believe it because I know this family well and I always believed they were doing such a great job with homeschooling although I don't personally agree with it. I'm glad to hear that their are homeschooled kids out there having good college experiences!

By Jann on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 10:07 pm:

Conni, ain't that the truth! I went to a private university and nobody went past 4 years, now you can't help it! Part of the prob is that you have to declare you major as an incoming freshman...half the time they change their minds before it's over. Much to the cost of us parents!

By Peggy13 on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 10:45 am:

With my oldest a sophomore in college already and my 2nd a junior in high school, yes college is a given. It is sooo expensive today - $20-30,000 a year - by the time the 4th rolls into colege, we'll be broke!!!

By Hlgmom on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 01:29 pm:

I would like my dd to go to college but would never force her! I hope that she will want to take a year and do some traveling/ volunteering! Something I wish I had done and I think can be very beneficial! I hope that whatever her career choice is it is something that will bring her great joy and satisfaction!