Non-Custodial Parent Able to Contribute, But Won't

Paying for College
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No, you will not be all alone in Richmond! You will have friends, and residence hall advisors, and professors. And if you get a job, you will have supervisors and co-workers. You will also have an academic advisor. And, if all else fails, you can reach out to the Dean of Students for help. Any of these people would probably be happy to help you figure out what you need to do to take a few days off from classes and go home if you need to. You’ve never lived at college before, so you don’t know . . . but, trust me, you will not be alone. :slight_smile:

People get old, and eventually they die. That’s a fact of life. It is NOT a reason not to go away to college! (And, really, would your grandparents want you to give up this opportunity?)

Sounds like your mom has done a great job raising and providing for you . . . and now she’s feeling nervous about you moving away. But she’ll survive. And so will you.

Sounds like an excellent idea! <:-P

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@dodgersmom Yes, but can she really afford to go for two years. What changed to make this suddenly affordable? Is she factoring in all expenses? She could afford grad school if she finished at MSSU. There is certainly no guarantee for a great east coast job without an internship or other work experience. Is going to UR risking grad school?

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The apartments house 4 students, not to mention your neighbors. They are likely picking the apartments to use the kitchens some of the time too. I think roommates making dinner will be part of the scenario. There is no scenario of eating along meal after meal on the partial plan, that is just scare mongering. My own kid lived off campus (just a couple of blocks) in an apt with 2 others and made her own meals. After one semester she bought into the off campus plan so she could have the mix of eating alone, with roommates and in the dining halls to be social. I was a good mix. And she was also with no money on a rich campus and it wasn’t sad or a problem. She had a great experience.

This girl is very close to making this work. She isn’t taking massive loans. 18l in loans is a $200 payment.

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@BrownParent It was always the second year that did not work. What has changed to make the senior year affordable?

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I have to agree that the debt total is not at all unmanageable. And I also agree with BrownParent that this is a do-able scenario that has the potential to make a huge positive impact on Chelsea’s life, sense of independence, intellectual growth and future (okay, I don’t know if that’s what Brownparent meant, but I do!)

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O’k so she has to come up with 31k for the two years. Chelsea have your parents truly committed to contributing 10k of this? Because throughout this discussion the numbers were 4 or 5k from your mom and a couple hundred from your dad. IF they can do 10k combined, that leaves you with 21k more to pay for. About 7.5k from you by the end of the summer so 15ish remains. Add in 3.25k from the sophomore loan and you still need 12k. Where does that come from? It would be really awful to have to leave your senior year because you couldn’t afford it.

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Okay, let’s try simplifying this:

(1) @HelloImChelsea is in the middle of exams.
(2) She doesn’t have time to deal with this - not any of it, and certainly not all those numbers that @gearmom keeps throwing out.
(3) She asked if it made sense to commit now, and figure out the rest of it over the summer.

I said “yes.” Do the rest of you really have such a problem with that decision that you’d rather see her fail her exams over this?

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@dodgersmom The same numbers were brought up by @mommdc also because those are the numbers and this really hasn’t changed for weeks. It was always a dilemma of coming up with 11-12k and hoping her parents could keep their end of the bargain. Just sign up and go. If the numbers only work for one year, she’ll figure something out or take a year off of school to work and go back the next year.

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How about, instead, commit, finish finals, and sort the rest of it out later?

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Her decision will be made tonight. (Or so she said.) Her mother has been against a move for several years; Mom doesn’t earn much. And she said the current school won’t be releasing the addl loan funds.

Plus a question: if she only goes to UR for two years, how does she end up 18k in debt? She’s counting on a private loan?

*My parents are each contributing $2,500. I will contribute $7,360. At the end of the semester, I will have $5,800 in my checking account. I plan on working at Macy’s this summer to make $1,600. Any additional money I earn will go toward my senior year. I hope to earn a total of $2,400 this summer.

Also for my senior year, I have investments of $2,700.

If I could get a job in addition to my work-study, I could probably make an additional $1,000-$1,200. Then I can work again next summer and in the fall of 2016 (there’s a payment plan).

Let’s say that I contributed $7,700 my senior year. After grants, my work study and loans, I have to come up with $15,600. If my parents contribute $5,000, I am left with $2,900. I’d probably have to take out a private loan.*

This ‘plan’ isn’t much different than other kids, who expect to find a second job, etc. We usually advise them to be conservative, very practical.

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@lookingforward 18k in debt is from $7500 junior Stafford and $7500 senior Stafford loans. That was part of her package above the 15.6k that she has to find each year. Add to that $3250 which is all she could get from sophomore year. That can help with her 15.6k each year. I’m pretty sure, not factored in is travel, personal expenses like laundry and books.

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She’s not getting excess money from 2nd year. And 7500 x 2 = 15k. There’s someting extra she’s counting on, nt yet sealed. Tuition can go up, her 2015 and 2016 earnings will be assessed when she runs FA for senior year.

**Look, I’m editing this again- 15k from Direct and where does the addl 3k debt come from She said she has not taken loans from MSSU.

Really, forget this question, my thought is this: she’s cutting this entirely too close, counting on summer earnings, the possibility of a 2nd job, a good job next summer, etc. Where do the internships/externships then fit in?

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I have committed to Richmond. After feeling uncertain for the last month, I’m proud of my decision and that it was actually my choice.

I had my Introductory Meteorology final today and my final grade is an A. I have 4 more finals to tackle.

The reason I was able to take out an additional $3,250 loan is because I borrowed what I was offered the spring 2015 semester at MSSU.

@gearmom The $15,610 actually does factor in personal and travel expenses. I reached that figure by subtracting $45,760 from $61,370 (which is Richmond’s estimate). Laundry is free, but I’m not sure what to do about books.

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CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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@dodgersmom Thank you! I’m really excited!

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It seems like you really went through the numbers to make it work. Well done and good luck.

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Chelsea, best wishes for your future! Concentrate on those finals for now.

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Really happy for you helloimchelsea!

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Thank you all so much for your help! I really appreciate all of the advice and encouragement!

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I’m so happy for you, Chelsea! Have a great summer and a terrific time at Richmond :slight_smile: