Being a consumer regarding a college education

[wis75]

A second comment. Are the students or the parents paying the consumers? Parents- if you are paying the bills do you have the right to dictate to your child the courses they take, et al? Or, do you have the financial arrangement with your child, who then has the relationship with the school? Last I knew colleges dealt with students but happily accepted checks from other sources to pay students' bills. Students are the users/consumers of the education.

[jelomom2003]

Wis75

At a accepted student day, we had a professor say that the best thing you can do for your student is to turn your car towards home and let your student learn from their mistakes over the next four years.

While I agree that we learn from our mistakes, to completely turn ownership of a college education over without the opportunity for dialog with your student, in my mind isn't good investing. I believe that an active discussion with your student is important. I am not suggesting control, but as a sounding board relationship. In life, as an adult, I still value hearing the opinions of others when making decisions.

Ultimately, in this dialoge, if my student is continually being closed out of classes or other important issues, we (student/bill payer) have the responsibility to speak out.

As universities continue to raise their rates at a disturbing rate, I think they open themselves to review of expectations by everyone involved.

If there isn't a checks and balance in this day of rising costs, there isn't a reality to what we can expect to pay for an education in the future.

[runningmom-nm]

I have been struggling with this "consumer" mentality regarding college costs for my D. We are, in essence, buying her an education. She has been accepted to several great private schools, all costing about the same. One offered her a $15k/yr merit scholarship, and is a great school but of course out of the group of them this one is ranked a bit lower, was a semi-safety for her and she would probably not be quite as challenged there. Based on our EFC and savings we can afford to send her to any of them, but as a consumer I am trying to understand what she is getting that is worth the extra $15k/yr. We have told her we will pay to send her where she really wants to go, but I've challenged her to do her research and explain to me why the one she picks is worth the extra $15k. We shall see what she comes up with.