I agree with many of the opinions on this topic.  It’s hard to make any generalizations on what each and every parent should do.  Financial conditions will vary significantly case by case.  While some may have the means, others may not or may choose not to.

The principal is that much of today’s generation of young adults hold a mindset that they are entitled to the same standard of living their parents have struggled for years to be able to afford.  For some this simply can be attributed to being handed everything they wanted since childhood, and never having work for it.  Continuing this into the college years can only compound the issue.

To the other extreme of sending your children out to the wolves - I don’t believe this is the message the author of this article is preaching.  While I am one will definitely have the means to fully fund my child’s tuition when the time arises, I don’t believe this would be the best decision to help them grow and learn some of life’s important lessons.  Lack of personal financial management skills (budgeting) is one of the prominent reasons behind the struggles for many individuals across the country.  I also agree with others who have said somewhere in the middle makes sense, ie providing support as long as grades are kept up or splitting costs.

There is no one right or wrong answer.  It depends on the family circumstance,but most importantly how the parents raise their children. My case, had only one parent, my mom passed away at an early age,my wife's parents were divorced at an early age also, following my HS graduation enlisted into the service, saw 15 months in vietnam. After being discharged, earned my engineering degree and later my company fully paid for my masters. Worked  p/t during my undergrad days with the GI bill paying 100% of my tuition except books. Made sure I had zero debt after graduation. Today earning six figures.

Our only child got a full ride via mom & dad. Worked during summers, graduated in four years and experienced the college life, later on earned his mba through his company.  From the day our son was born we stayed on top of him, taught him  love, hard work and responsibility,the same values my wife and I were taught by our single parents, today our son is doing very well.  

" I graduate in May with honors and have had several scholarship offers for law school and several job offers, unlike my peers who were forced to work to pay for everything and had no time to establish contacts or build their resumes."

Congratulations to you, Rachel!  You are very lucky to have parents who can afford to pay for your education.  Students who must work to make ends meet are definitely at a disadvantage, especially when aspiring to attend something as competitive as law school.   My father passed away a few weeks after I received my college acceptance letter.  With his passing, my family's finacial situation went from not too bad to being a lttle tight.  My mother could not help me pay for college, although she did what she could to help with food or a book here and there.  As an undergraduate, I took 18 credits per semester and worked 30-35 hours per week.  What student loans didn't cover, I struggled to pay myself, often having to use a credit card to purchase books.  I studied hard for the LSAT and received a very high score.  My grades were also very good.  I applied to several law schools, and was rejected by all.  The reason?  I had no extra-curricular activites, no volunteer work, no relevant experience because I certainly didn't have time and couldn't afford to intern anywhere for free.  Parents, if you have the means to help your children through college, why would you not??? If your children are hard-working and receive good grades, I feel like you are obligated as parents to provide financial assistance.

Things worked out for me, though.  I graduated with honors, and although I am now saddled with about $30k in student loans and can't even imagine being able to afford a house due to that debt, I have a very rewarding and well-paying job and I know that my future is bright.

My parents paid for my college education BUT there were conditions applied.  

Basically, I could get a "free ride" as long as my grades were up, I joined clubs/organizations, and most importantly...I graduated on time.  The end result...I graduated college in 4 years, got a great  job right out of college, finished my MBA while working, and now I live a pretty comfortable life.

Main point...I think the time I spend participating in organizations, networking, volunteering in events, playing sports were better spent than working a job at the mall.  Many of the skills I use today in the corporate world were a combination of "book" learning as well as interacting with others.

Obviously, it can go either way.  Someone in the exact same situation I had could have done complete opposite. But for my kids, I will likely follow my parents plan.

When I was getting ready to graduate from HS, my dad said if you work I will expect you to pay for room and board, otherwise go to school.  Off I went to JC paying my own tuition for the first two years and then second two he paid for food (so I would not starve), else it was on my own through part time employement and student loans.  When I graduated from college I did not have the greatest GPA, I am sure do to working my way through school.  At my first job interview I told him my GPA and then I had paid my way...enough he said, I was hired on the spot.  He said because of my comments, he knew I would be a hard and dillegent worker.  That was over 20 years ago, and I would do it all over again.  

I agree that is all about the parenting.  My father was a physician, but we always "lived beneath our means".  In fact, one girlfriend was amazed when she found out my dad was a doctor, as she always assumed from my clothes and car that we did not have much money.  However, my father put all three of his kids through college and graduate schools and now has a physician, a computer engineer, and a physicist.  I will always appreciate the fact that instead of starting my medical practice at age 36 with $150,000 of debt, I was able to start saving and investing as he had taught us.  Some kids are going to slack off in college, but they will probably do it whether or not they are working or not.  I have no idea how I could have made it through pre med and medical school while trying to hold down a job.  If you can afford it, paying for your kids college costs gives them an enormous head start in life.

My mom had to raise 3 kids because my father died young.  So she could not afford to pay for any of my college costs.  I worked part-time and took student loans and I really appreciated it.  I want my daughter to be the same way but at the same time I want to help her.  So what I am planning to do is let her go to college and take out student loans, so she thinks she has to pay them back.  Then when she graduates my gift to her will be letting her start out her career debt free.  

Engineering Anna, this is the scenario that shouldn’t exist. We need engineers, not history majors to compete with the rest of the world (innovate and create products). Other majors can wait tables 6 hours a day and nap in Western Civ class to recover and then brag on this message board. You are right, most of the free money goes to athletes, minorities (including top students from China and Middle East), so our financial help is misplaced. You tried to do everything expected of you and will enter the lower middle class nightmare. If this the life we give the top American prospects, then get ready for 3rd world country status.  

Part of the problem is that people aren't as willing to go to state colleges or take the first few years of college at a local and thus cheaper school.  If you do not have any money for college, there is no excuse for going to a college with 40k tuition and then complaining about student loan debt.  That is just plain stupid.

I suppose anybody can write an article and have an opinion! My husband and I helped our three children through college. Two have great jobs as engineers and the third will start graduate work this summer. It's all about working together and expectations. Good luck to the author's daughter!!!