<p>I think conditioning paying for college on the kid majoring in XYZ is a bad idea. Obviously as their parent you’re going to give your advice on what majors you think are most practical, but if your kid really hates math and science and isn’t as good in those subjects as in writing-intensive subjects, what good does it do to push them into something they will never want to work in? </p>
<p>In the end, our kids are going to have to make their own way. No major or field of study is a guaranteed job generator. But, if our kids are smart and hardworking, odds are they will be successful in one way or another. I think the best thing we can do for them is make sure they start out with minimal debt. If that means refusing to co-sign for huge loans that we as parents can’t afford to pay and that they as new grads will find to be crushing, then okay. Each parent has to figure out their own comfort level with what they’re willing to pay. But if you say “I can afford to pay the COA at your school of choice, but I will only pay it if you major in something I approve of,” I think that’s going to create resentment in your kid. </p>