Starting way too late I know

[PurpleLove08]

Trust me, you aren't waiting too late.
My parents didn't save a dime for my education and figured since I did so well in school, I'd have my way paid for.
It's SOMEWHAT true. My tuition and fees are paid for and I pay for my books.

I second the recommendation of community college.
Unless your child gets a full ride to a four year school, I would send them to community college first. It's a lot cheaper and they cover the same things a four year school would. A lot of times they have agreements with four year colleges and depending on the student's GPA, they can get a full tuition scholarship to a four year school.

Just make sure your child knows what they want to do when they get out of college and they are going to be on the right track when they are in college. You don't want your child just feeling their way through college and end up spending 6 years in college because they spent too much time trying to decide what they wanted to do.

[kwalk65]

My parents didn't save to put me through college, I did. I never thought twice that they should have saved anything for my education. I think it does a child well to at least pay something towards their education so that they have a greater appreciation for what it cost and the sacrafice to work in order to obtain a degree.

I own and run my own business and I truly believe that learning how to pay my own way through was key to my being able to work hard and be dedicated now.

I think it is wonderful for parents to want to help their children but I also think children need to also be part of the earning and not have the entire cost of college waiting for them in a savings account that they did not help contribute to.