Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Some of these people are disingenuous. In order to go to college, you need to be able to pay for it somehow. Maybe you have parental support. Maybe you do have a job. Maybe you have student loans or some other financial aid.
But if you have not worked out the financials, then why are you even going to college?
These articles are essentially scams, and they distort things as a part of activism.
Some of the stuff in the article has to do with the parents not teaching their kids skills. One person says he just eats ramen because he can't cook.
What's the rest of the story? Did they work 2 or 3 jobs over the summer to build up a bank account, did they spend their grocery money on new shoes, are they working part-time to cover costs during the year? Did they seek out more affordable schools in the beginning? The article is weak at best...
I'll agree that you do need to finance college somehow, although there is no summer job that will pay a year's worth of tuition. However, I can say that when I was in college there were lots of times where I ate ramen, and not because I couldn't cook, but because real food was too expensive. And I had student loans and a part time job. There were times where I wasn't sure if I would eat if it was too close to payday.
Eating never worried me! I went to MSU and lived in a dorm, with a 20-meal/week board plan. Actually the food was fairly good, I never left wanting, and all you could eat. However, nowadays I've read they have all sorts of board plans which are built on a basic plan, and you can add various extras. It reminds me of when my kids were in HS, to get a decent, filling meal you had to pile on 2x--3x the cost of the extra items I told my kids then to eat if they were hungry, we would handle the bill. Guess I was a bad parent? How can I tell my kids to count pennies to get fed? Balance their budget some other way!
However, I can say that when I was in college there were lots of times where I ate ramen, and not because I couldn't cook, but because real food was too expensive.
That was me after graduation!
During my college years, there was plenty to eat. Meal plans were mandatory.
If they are living off campus and working then its just negligence in managing their funds.
Don't know if it has changed or not, but I thought when one was awarded federal aid, FAFSA would send you a break down of where the money should be going, i.e. tuition, meals, rent and such.
The school I attended had a program where the student could purchase a meal plan using federal aid or their own funds and receive all three meals everyday for the entire semester.
If they are living off campus and working then its just negligence in managing their funds.
Don't know if it has changed or not, but I thought when one was awarded federal aid, FAFSA would send you a break down of where the money should be going, i.e. tuition, meals, rent and such.
The school I attended had a program where the student could purchase a meal plan using federal aid or their own funds and receive all three meals everyday for the entire semester.
No, it's not negligence. Some places are expensive. I graduated from college 11 years ago and there was no breakdown on the FAFSA you describe. How long ago did you go to college?
well, it was really easy to find free meals in college when I was a student (Graduated in 15). I got free dinner typically 3 times a week.
I once went a month without paying for dinner, but I was deliberately looking for free meals. Company recruitment is a great way to get free pizza or chick fil a and network.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I told my kids then to eat if they were hungry, we would handle the bill. Guess I was a bad parent? How can I tell my kids to count pennies to get fed? Balance their budget some other way!
