College Expenses

[Feralpeg]

DD and I just returned from a two day orientation at Florida State University. I, of course, knew that it would be expensive to put DD through college. Fortunately for me, she has received several forms of financial aid. At the orientation meetings, I saw a number of parents suffering from shell shock.

The parents knew they would be responsible for tuition, housing and meal plan. But, there are many hidden costs that parents are not aware of.

For instance, there are local charges added on to each tuition hour. The state scholarships pay the base tuition rates, but they don't cover the $20 plus local charges per tuition hour.

Kids are now required to have a computer that meets the university's specification. It just cost me almost $2000 for the computer plus required software.

The orientation was required. It was a two day thing. The kids had the option of staying in the dorm or not. If they decided to stay in the dorm, it was $45 for two nights. There was a mandatory registration fee of $30. For meals, it was $23. For the parents to attend the meetings, it was $30 registration fee and then $23 meal charge per parent. In addition, the parents could not stay in the dorm. We drove up on Sunday. We had to register at 8am on Monday. The actual orientation meetings were Monday and Tuesday. Due to good old tropical storm Alberto marching through Tallahassee, we ended up staying Tuesday night in the hotel. The hotel cost me a little over $500 for 3 nights. Not to mention, gas to drive to and from Tallahassee and miscellaneous other meals not provided by the university (they provided one breakfast and two lunches).

Back in February, we attended preview to determine if this was where DD really wanted to attend. That cost me about $500 if you count hotel for the two of us, food and gas.

The kids will check into their dorms on August 19th. On August 20th, they are required to attend convocation which makes them official FSU students. The parents are not required, but are strongly encouraged to attend. I see another $500 on the horizon. In addition, there is parent weekend sometime in the fall. Now, I could say that I will not attend, but DD would be crushed. $$$

While this is certainly not going to kill me, I saw some very anxious parents there. They were asking about jobs available for their kids, because they were not going to be able to buy them a meal plan or send spending money. I have no problem with kids working, but these families were going to have no choice.

So, parents. While I think these events are nice for the students, please be aware that they are going to add to the expense of putting your child through college. These things are not something most parents (at least not this parent) are aware of before their kids start the college experience.

 

[poohandwendy]

LOL, welcome to kid-in-college hell....

Just wait until she is in the dorm and they send you forms for the gift baskets...moving in orientation basket, moving out basket, finals week, every season and holiday including ones you have never heard of, LOL...

At first, I felt guilted into buying everything, God forbid she be the only one who doesn't get the "Bear Gram' during finals week...then I realized that my care packages were way cooler, personal and appreciated. And I am sure you, of all people (basket queen extraordinaire), will send enough cool stuff anyways.

 

[Snow Brite]

That is just the beginning!

Then there are the textbooks, these things cost an arm and a leg. There are lab fees. There are club dues, and you HAVE to join a club to have something to put on your resume. There is a fee to get your transcript every time you apply for a scholarship.

It just goes on and on and on.

 

[froglady]

How interesting.

DD (who just graduated) went to a private school in PA. We drove her up, unpacked the car, hugged and kissed her goodbye, and drove back to FL. Had we lived closer, we wouldn't have had to pay for a hotel room.

We flew up for parents weekend in Oct, and didn't go to another until her senior year. We drove her back for Soph year; after that, she drove herself.

Granted, it was more expensive than her attending FSU (which would have been NO tuition) but we weren't expected to attend any meetings, etc on campus. We CHOSE to attend parent's weekend...it was by no means mandatory.

 

[MsDisney23]

Peg, I know just what you are talking about, DH and I did the same thing that you just did when our DD started college! Yes there are alot of hidden cost. Good Luck to you and her!

 

[DVCLiz]

Speaking of college costs, what is your experience with college allowances? I thought I'd give DD a budget of $6000 for the year, or $500 a month. I'd put in $4000 and expect her to earn the other $2000. She's well on the way with a summer job and some previous savings, so that should be very doable for her. If she overspends, I figured she'd run out of money during the summer months next year, and have the opportunity to work more then. If she saves, she's ahead of the game for next year.

Does that seem like a reasonable amount? I'd want her to cover everything mentioned above, unless it was a gift basket from me!!! Plus commuting expenses (she'll be driving back and forth on holidays. etc), clothes, dues and anything else that comes up. What have others done???

 

[Tiggeroo]

DVC - I'd say that's above and beyond. But I have three in college and alot of expenses so I can't do for one unless I can do it for all. If your meals are covered and you spend 500. per semester on books and maybe 10. per week on laundry you shouldn't have alot of expenses at school. Figure occasional movies or pizza or a party. I figured $30. per week spending money per kid. If I was wealthy I'd up it to 50. Most kids are really only at school 6 or 7 months. How far is the commute? Sometimes trains are cheaper for that too.
Now this is after every school expense including meals are covered.

 

[Feralpeg]

Since I just paid $1600 for an unlimited meal plan for DD, I know she will be fed. As part of the meal plan, she has $150 flex bucks that can be used at any of the non-cafeteria restaurants on campus.

I plan on putting $1000 in her account. From this, she can pay for things like doing her laundry, miscellaneous things from the bookstore and the occasional thing on campus. Her FSU card will work like a debit card. I will keep an eye on her account and will adjust it as necessary.

In addition, I will give her a prepaid Visa that has $500 on it. This will give her the ability to go for things like shampoo, toothpaste, etc. If she needs money for other things, she can let me know.

She has spending money that she's earned to use for things like movies off campus, etc.

One of the things the school warned us about was giving the kids too much money at once. They can go through it very fast and it gives them more latitude than they are used to. Some of the kids have failed due to too much money and too much party time. They said it is better to give them money in smaller chunks.

 

[rigs32]

My parents gave me $100 per month, but that was for any non-essentials - eating out, clothes (parents did get me some for gift occasions), etc. My parents paid for my travel to and from campus.

Textbooks - BUY THEM ONLINE. I'm in law school. Instead of $100+ per book, I spend $100 per semester. I get the book list as soon as it's released (get it by visiting the bookstore or checking their website, you can always try to call or request expedited shipping) and shop amazon and half.com. I often sell them to others the next semester on those same sites for more than I paid.

 

[LK03]

Speaking of college costs, what is your experience with college allowances? I thought I'd give DD a budget of $6000 for the year, or $500 a month.

Holy jesus, your DD is lucky! I received $50 every two weeks (2004-2005) to cover some food at Walmart and well clothes buying, I was in a small town so there was really no where to go for clothes unless you drove. I was on the meal plan at school, so this was mainly for snacks, drinks and some meals. My parents gave me this gas credit card for gas, but I used it maybe once every two weeks if I drove home. One learns to become QUITE thrifty on a budget.

 

[Swimnoid]

Speaking of college costs, what is your experience with college allowances? I thought I'd give DD a budget of $6000 for the year, or $500 a month. I'd put in $4000 and expect her to earn the other $2000. She's well on the way with a summer job and some previous savings, so that should be very doable for her. If she overspends, I figured she'd run out of money during the summer months next year, and have the opportunity to work more then. If she saves, she's ahead of the game for next year.

Does that seem like a reasonable amount? I'd want her to cover everything mentioned above, unless it was a gift basket from me!!! Plus commuting expenses (she'll be driving back and forth on holidays. etc), clothes, dues and anything else that comes up. What have others done???

Another NC'er here! HI!

WOW! $6000? What will she be resposible for paying for? MY DD had to earn her own spending money. Books supposedly were covered in the tuition but of course there were always "special" ones she needed for her courses. But all actual school related stuff we covered with either our loans, her loan or scholarship $$. DD had to pay for everyting else and used less that $1000 for the entire year.

That freshman year is a shocker though. New EVERYTHING for the dorm room, plus nice optional like fridge or TV. For my DD it was free voice lessons but you have to pay the accompanist! That was an extra $385. Everytime you turn around its something else....

 

[LK03]

DD and I just returned from a two day orientation at Florida State University. I, of course, knew that it would be expensive to put DD through college. Fortunately for me, she has received several forms of financial aid. At the orientation meetings, I saw a number of parents suffering from shell shock.

The parents knew they would be responsible for tuition, housing and meal plan. But, there are many hidden costs that parents are not aware of.

For instance, there are local charges added on to each tuition hour. The state scholarships pay the base tuition rates, but they don't cover the $20 plus local charges per tuition hour.

Kids are now required to have a computer that meets the university's specification. It just cost me almost $2000 for the computer plus required software.

The orientation was required. It was a two day thing. The kids had the option of staying in the dorm or not. If they decided to stay in the dorm, it was $45 for two nights. There was a mandatory registration fee of $30. For meals, it was $23. For the parents to attend the meetings, it was $30 registration fee and then $23 meal charge per parent. In addition, the parents could not stay in the dorm. We drove up on Sunday. We had to register at 8am on Monday. The actual orientation meetings were Monday and Tuesday. Due to good old tropical storm Alberto marching through

Jeese, that seems crazy to me. I don't think there should be a charge if it's mandatory. You already pay for tuition, schools fees and all those miscellaneous charges but for you to have to pay for a mandatory orientation seems not fair to me. My university's orientation was the week before classes had started, and everyone had moved in and was on the meal plan so no extra fees there. The day of move-in they had a parent talk if you will in the auditorium that was encouraged and definetly free. We received three free university shirts that summer from the school as well. On parent visit days they'd give away so many free things as well.

 

[ElizaB39]

Your lucky DD! I got a big fat nothing for spending from my parents, no kidding. They helped pay for tuition, room and board and that was it. I was responsible for ALL other expenses. The last two weeks of college my freshman year, I was down to $10. Of course that was 20 years ago... I had a girl on my floor that got 250 per month, she was RICH! Alwatys going clothes shopping and etc.

However, we just met with our financial planner today and he suggested starting to investigate financial aid processes and etc. to get a feel what it will be like in 6 years!

 

[Swimnoid]

However, we just met with our financial planner today and he suggested starting to investigate financial aid processes and etc. to get a feel what it will be like in 6 years!

You are SO smart! I wish we had done a little better planning. Hmmmmm, a couple less trips to WDW would have helped too.....

 

[ElizaB39]

You are SO smart! I wish we had done a little better planning. Hmmmmm, a couple less trips to WDW would have helped too.....

Yeah I'm thinking I should have just said no to the LASIK I had two weeks ago! That would have been almost half a year at Penn State (in today's dollras though!)!

 

[disney4us2002]

We have one year of hs left for our oldest but I admit I was a bit shocked too when we toured some colleges and universities this spring. Thank goodness most have payment plans, but holy cow, the monthly payment is more than our mortgage payment! I know we'll get by but I do worry if he doesn't finish before the next one starts.

 

[musicotb]

Some of those costs must be school-specific. Not every school has those costs, esp. state ones. I went to college on a full-ride academic scholarship that luckily paid my tuition, room & board, fees, and gave me $325/year for books. My parents didn't let me work the first year, but didn't give me much money - I didn't have my license yet, ate almost entirely on campus, and hung out with my friends in the dorms. I made money at my old job on breaks, but not much. I worked on and off campus my sophomore-senior year and all my parents gave me money for was what my scholarship didn't cover for books. I bought a car just before my junior year and was responsible for my car payment ($130), my car insurance ($80/month), and all my gas, plus groceries and entertainment expenditures.

I really think that if a student is fortunate enough to have a scholarship or their parents to pay for their college expenses, they should be responsible for covering any extraneous costs. I think I have a better head on my shoulders because I became largely dependent on myself in college, and felt very confident facing the "real world" without mom and dad holding my hand along the way.

 

[golfgal]

Schools around here don't charge for anything like that. Yes, if you need to stay overnight for orientation you will have to rent a hotel room, but other then that, there aren't any extra charges.


$500/month is really over the top for college expenses unless she had to use that to pay for food. As a freshman, she won't be old enough to go to the bars, pizza places around college campuses are usually pretty inexpensive. There won't be time to be hitting the movies every week, etc. I would back that down to about $100/month MAX to start and see how it goes. This is the time for them to really learn about being on their own, handling their own expenses, etc. and if you make it too easy for them, they learn a TOUGH lesson when they get a job and mom isn't there to pay their credit card bill.

 

[Saphire]

I thought I'd give DD a budget of $6000 for the year, or $500 a month. Does that seem like a reasonable amount?

The way we have worked it out is our sons work full time over the summer. This usually adds up to around $4000, and that is what they take to school with them. It must cover everything, books, travel, gifts, clothes, entertainment. (Food is covered through the meal plan) They always seem to squeek by, yet by May the account is pretty depleted, lol. I think it is a good way to learn to budget. So far, they have never asked for any loans.
Work-study program is also a big help for additional funds. My oldest worked in the Chem lab when he was a junior and senior, and that money really helped.
College costs are pretty overwhelming, and sometime I don't know how we will send yet another child through (daughter is 16). But it is like having a baby, people tell you that you find the money to raise them. College is like that to. Somehow you find a way, and it is so worthwhile

 

[sajetto]

Oh my parents can definitely sympathize. God I love them, this is no joke, but this is what they paid for me to go to school 8 hours away .......


$700 rent ever month (very few dorms and a dangerous city, apt was a must)
at least $3,000 every month on a credit card for groceries, personal expenses, etc
$2,000 lap top TWICE (first one broke)
nearly $1,000 in textbooks every semester
at least $500 a year in automobile maintance
$2,000 on professional clothing for my full year internship

edited to add:

$1,300 on classroom materials for my internship
around $600 in the 3 years for required materials for courses other than textbooks


I'm sure there is much more than this, but it amazes me what they shelled out for me to go to school. The rule was that I could NOT get a job, I had to be a full time student, and I graduated in 3 years. A scholarship covered my tuition, but the rest was their burden to bear. As ferlapeg mentioned, it costs big bucks for parents to go to "parents' weekend" so my folks NEVER attended any school functions, we didn't even go to my college graduation because I didn't want to spend the money for a cap and gown or any of that stuff. While I was in college I only saw my parents twice because the cost in gas to drive those 8 hours was so high.