What are real costs of attending ASU as undergraduate? (how much, home)

[Paige65]

Just another perspective... My husband (many years ago) went to ASU and lived at home. He wants our kids to live on campus at whichever college they attend, even if they choose a school close to our home. He was a good student and did well, made a couple of friends there, went on to get an MBA elsewhere after his ASU undergrad. He doesn't have many lasting relationships from his undergrad years. I don't necessarily think there's a right answer to the question. If it's financially feasible to live on campus, I do think it's something one should consider.

[ScottsdaleMark]

Originally Posted by Paige65

Just another perspective... My husband (many years ago) went to ASU and lived at home. He wants our kids to live on campus at whichever college they attend, even if they choose a school close to our home. He was a good student and did well, made a couple of friends there, went on to get an MBA elsewhere after his ASU undergrad. He doesn't have many lasting relationships from his undergrad years. I don't necessarily think there's a right answer to the question. If it's financially feasible to live on campus, I do think it's something one should consider.

I would tell your husband that he probably thinks he missed out, but he probably didn't. Most of the people I've stayed in touch with long-term have been people I met through work or shared personal interests; I don't have any "old college buddies" that I keep in touch with still. It's pretty random, really, out of the millions of people you meet in life which handful of them you'll form lasting relationships with, and I don't think living on or off campus probably has much of an impact on that. It's too random and unpredictable to count on it.

So I'd trust one's kids if they want to avoid the immature atmosphere and live at home. Maybe they're mature for their age, or maybe they don't like all the drinking/smoking weed/partying, or they want more peace and quiet...who knows. But I think some people love that "college culture" and others just don't care about it. I was obviously in the latter camp, haha.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by ScottsdaleMark

I would tell your husband that he probably thinks he missed out, but he probably didn't. Most of the people I've stayed in touch with long-term have been people I met through work or shared personal interests; I don't have any "old college buddies" that I keep in touch with still. It's pretty random, really, out of the millions of people you meet in life which handful of them you'll form lasting relationships with, and I don't think living on or off campus probably has much of an impact on that. It's too random and unpredictable...and I think people who go off to college expecting a bright and shiny new life are often disappointed. You are who you are, no matter where you live.

So I'd trust one's kids if they want to avoid the immature atmosphere and live at home. Maybe they're mature for their age, or maybe they don't like drinking and smoking weed, or they don't like the "college culture" ... that's okay if so.

I lived on campus for my first year at UofA and would STRONGLY encourage any new student to do the same. It was easily my favorite year of college. It has less to do with keeping friends with people you meet in dorms (because you won't) and more to do with forcing your child to grow up, while still having them in a place where they can't screw up too much just yet. Thereafter you can get an apartment and start living like an adult.

However, to be blunt, I would force your kid to go to a school out of town, they can come back later if they like, but it's best to try to break ties with their high school friends and get them to make new friends with more industrious people. Most people that I went to high school with that stuck around ended up dropping out.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Paige65

Just another perspective... My husband (many years ago) went to ASU and lived at home. He wants our kids to live on campus at whichever college they attend, even if they choose a school close to our home. He was a good student and did well, made a couple of friends there, went on to get an MBA elsewhere after his ASU undergrad. He doesn't have many lasting relationships from his undergrad years. I don't necessarily think there's a right answer to the question. If it's financially feasible to live on campus, I do think it's something one should consider.

I agree with this. I moved to AZ from CA for college at ASU, stayed at the dorms at first then moved into apartments (bought a nearby condo when I was in grad school and had a roommate). I have many lifelong relationships from my first couple of years at ASU, it's hard not to when you are put in close quarters with people from a similar course of study, not to mention it was a lot easier to meet women

Although many of the people I became close friends with are from different areas of the country like NY, Boston, Philly, we still keep in touch and some have moved to AZ since graduating, many others are local here or So Cal and we see each other regularly. One of the main pulls that made me come back to AZ to start my business was the many connections I made at ASU. Sure I may have made the same connections if I lived far off campus, but honestly I think that is doubtful.

As far as costs, I can't help with that unfortunately, I'm 15+ years removed from grad school.

[Paige65]

Originally Posted by ScottsdaleMark

I would tell your husband that he probably thinks he missed out, but he probably didn't. Most of the people I've stayed in touch with long-term have been people I met through work or shared personal interests; I don't have any "old college buddies" that I keep in touch with still. It's pretty random, really, out of the millions of people you meet in life which handful of them you'll form lasting relationships with, and I don't think living on or off campus probably has much of an impact on that. It's too random and unpredictable to count on it.

So I'd trust one's kids if they want to avoid the immature atmosphere and live at home. Maybe they're mature for their age, or maybe they don't like all the drinking/smoking weed/partying, or they want more peace and quiet...who knows. But I think some people love that "college culture" and others just don't care about it. I was obviously in the latter camp, haha.

Understood. I just wanted to offer up that there are differing opinions on this. He's a 50 year old man now, that's lived a full life, so it's not something he thinks too much about!

[AZtoCO1]

My son is a freshman at ASU this year and lives at home with us. We didn't have to complete a waiver or provide any information about him living with us. My understanding is that freshmen students need to either live on campus or at home; the only thing not allowed is off campus housing. Definitely look into academic scholarships because several can be had, based on GPA and SAT score. They weren't too difficult to qualify for.

[MGS4EVER]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

I lived on campus for my first year at UofA and would STRONGLY encourage any new student to do the same. It was easily my favorite year of college. It has less to do with keeping friends with people you meet in dorms (because you won't) and more to do with forcing your child to grow up, while still having them in a place where they can't screw up too much just yet. Thereafter you can get an apartment and start living like an adult.

However, to be blunt, I would force your kid to go to a school out of town, they can come back later if they like, but it's best to try to break ties with their high school friends and get them to make new friends with more industrious people. Most people that I went to high school with that stuck around ended up dropping out.

This is very bad advice and could be very expensive in the long run. My daughter did this and went to a very expensive school. She later transferred back to ASU and a lot of her expensive classes didn't transfer or they transferred as electives. That's bad. She's had to retake a few classes that didn't transfer. Besides, ASU is a huge school with several different schools within it. I doubt he/she would see a lot of her high school friends anyway. My daughter has only seen one in 2 years only because she was in the same class.

[MGS4EVER]

ASU is pretty cheap. It's about $10,000 for a year (2 semesters). My daughter is resourceful with books and has really liked renting from Amazon. She usually waits to go to the first couple of classes to see if the instructor even uses a book, or the required book. A lot of instructors don't. Or she's been able to find the book/materials online. She's a math/art major and her yearly book costs are less than $100, sometimes one semester has been only $20.

Also online classes are great because sometimes there's no book, plus you don't have to drive to Tempe which is a savings.

One of the biggest costs is the parking pass. When she took a class at the downtown Phoenix campus she brought her scooter along because the parking lot was quite a walk from the campus.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by MGS4EVER

This is very bad advice and could be very expensive in the long run. My daughter did this and went to a very expensive school. She later transferred back to ASU and a lot of her expensive classes didn't transfer or they transferred as electives. That's bad. She's had to retake a few classes that didn't transfer. Besides, ASU is a huge school with several different schools within it. I doubt he/she would see a lot of her high school friends anyway. My daughter has only seen one in 2 years only because she was in the same class.

It's bad advice because she went to an expensive school

We have 3 Universities you know in the same system.

Nevertheless if you're lucky your kid won't transfer back until they graduate. And by then they may have started something on their own.

[MGS4EVER]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

It's bad advice because she went to an expensive school

We have 3 Universities you know in the same system.

Nevertheless if you're lucky your kid won't transfer back until they graduate. And by then they may have started something on their own.

Oh, you stated "a school out of town". I didn't know you meant in AZ which would be different. And also, my daughter went to NY to school at 17. It was very hard for her being a couple years younger than everyone and although she liked the school, it was moderately more expensive than ASU (with all the scholarships etc) and she decided to come home and finish at ASU. Under our guidance, she came back home, got a really great job and will graduate college at age 20. She is on track to purchase her first home next year which we advised her would be a great investment rather than renting an apartment.

I really just didn't like your using the word "force". As a parent I need to guide my daughter to making a well thought out decision, but ultimately it's hers to make. If she didn't want to go to school out of state or NAU or UoA for that matter, I wouldn't force her to go. She also had a full ride to GCU, but they didn't have the math curriculum she needed.