Also, one thing missed, it's hard to talk sense to a kid, while the schools/world are saying go to college. My 17 y/o son 'should' get 100% tuition paid. He is convinced he wants to go to a 4 year college, and live in a dorm, even though the tuition is only like 25-33% of the cost. All this, when he could easily get a better job locally, take night/online classes at community College, taking on zero debt, for atleast the first 2 years, and probably get a 4 year degree debt free. Now, the truth is, I'm not co-signing anything, and it will be his cross to bear, and his mistake (IMO) to make.
How much did your 17-18-19 year old self listen to adults?
I went to a community College, using step dads VA money (VA pays dependents of disabled vets), and sold plasma, worked, and didn't use any loans. I was offered a 100% scholarship 2 years into an associates but turned it down, I was Done with school. About 8 years ago, I did go back, trying to get an engineering degree, but it was a pain in the butt, and decided I didn't want it enough to go through all that trouble. School (community college) was easy for me when I was 18/19; but twi things changed. #1; working full time at a real job, real priorities, kids, wife, vehicles to work on, yard to mow. ect; And #2; the professors now don't teach. They take a view of "it's not my job to teach you, it's my job to test you, and if you don't know how to do it, watch a YouTube video"