New York May Offer Free Tuition Soon

[dfrecore]

I think it's reasonable to go $30k in debt. It's completely avoidable to go $100k in debt. There are so many options. Just because you're in college doesn't mean that you can't expect to eat and have a place to live. Your need to live still remains. You can get a part-time job, participate in a work study program, and/or live with a roommate in an off-campus apartment. Many students don't move away because they have to; they move away because they want to. There is nothing wrong with commuting, but so many kids want to waste money on the "full college experience."

I completely agree about the "college experience" thing.  It's one of the dumbest arguments for student loans ever.  Sorry, I didn't get "the full college experience" and you know what I did.  I partied like a rock star in my early 20's, with no debt.  Why do you need to go into debt for an "experience"?  You do NOT.  I have repeatedly told my kids that we are paying for their college EDUCATION, not the college EXPERIENCE.  Let's take that expectation right off the table from the start.  We've also said that they WILL be working through college, at least part time, and they will be expected to carry 12-15 credits in order to be considered a full-time student by US, and allowed to live at home.

So many kids I know personally want that whole "experience" and don't look at what they are paying for it.  Being shackled by a student loan for 20 years in order to have fun is just ridiculous.  Seriously, you can have a lot of fun in or out of college, and without being in debt to do so.  You know what's fun?  Graduating from college debt free, and having some options for your life going forward.  You know what's not fun?  Graduating from college with $50k in student loans that will force you to make choices you don't want to make because you have to make a certain amount just to be able to make your payments?  You know what's even less fun?  NOT graduating from college, and having $30k worth of loans that will drag you down for 10-20 years.