Willow Glen Resident

Letters & Opinions

The cost of a college education has become prohibitive

By Moryt Milo

For any family with a high school senior, this week was either hell or heaven. Most of the UCs sent out their acceptances or regrets. I cannot tell you how things fared in my home, because this column's deadline came before my daughter knew her future. Nevertheless, if there is one lesson I can pass on from the experience, it's this: Getting involved in the college process is equally important for both child and parent. I am not referring just to the financial aspect (more on this later). I am also talking about the ever-important ongoing dialogue with your child about the what ifs, aspirations and dreams your teen has as he or she takes the next giant life leap.

During the past few months, my daughter and I have found ourselves frequently discussing college around the kitchen table on quiet Sunday mornings.

Sometimes I would offer advice; most times I simply listened as my daughter considered her college preferences. Often, she would review the pros and cons of a particular school. Our talks dealt with the process of moving away from home and how far some of the schools were. We talked about school cultures, and where her friends wanted go. We covered it all from academics to lifestyle. Our talks were never really planned, but without either one of us knowing it, those Sunday mornings became our time. When my husband and son awoke, they knew we were in our own special place and discreetly let us be.

Throughout the process, we also talked about tuition and living expenses. What my parents paid--$5,000 a year--isn't even a semester of tuition with board at a state school in today's educational world. And that leads me to the next topic: financing your child's education.

Once all the applications are in and the waiting game begins, the ball falls back in the parents' court. A whole new set of deadlines emerge pertaining to school tuition. There are Cal grants, federal Pell grants, free applications for federal student aid (FAFSA) and an endless stream of scholarships, merit awards and loans. It becomes a paperwork jungle, which can make even the most organized among us weary and worried.

The deadlines for the FAFSA and Cal grants (March 2) are crucial in obtaining financial support from the California state universities and University of California systems. In the case of private schools, the FAFSA is the basis of how those institutions calculate financial aid and scholarships. Even if a family is unsure whether they qualify for any aid or grants, it is worth the time to fill out the forms. The UC schools cost more than $22,000 a year for students living on campus. State schools run a close second, more than $18,000 for students living on campus. And those are the bargains.

If you plan on sending your child to a private school, and they are not going on an athletic scholarship, under some form of affirmative action or as a National Merit scholar, I hope you have been saving from the day your son or daughter entered this world. The average cost for a private institution, with the child living on campus, is close to $40,000 a year. For example, USC is $48,000, Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara University are $41,000 plus. Most Ivy Leagues are $50,000. Then there is George Washington University, which has broken the $50,000 barrier. I have no doubt others will soon follow.

It became apparent as we researched schools and costs that our country's higher education system is completely broken. Even when schools award scholarships and grants, parents still need to dig deep. Ironically, endowment funds are at some of their highest levels. George Washington, for example, has surpassed $1 billion. That could certainly educate a significant number of future contributing members of society. Other universities have equally impressive endowments.

So here's a thought. If the colleges aren't willing to spread their wealth to educate our children, how about all those high-tech billionaires--24 in California alone--stepping up to the plate and subsidizing our country's higher education costs? How about if these billionaires help create a national education plan where everyone with a specific GPA , such as a 2.5 or 3.0, receive four-year funding? And design the program so the family portion is the smaller piece of the pie.

After all, they do have a vested interest in those graduates, as many of those students could be their future hires.

Moryt Milo is the editor for the Willow Glen Resident. She can be reached at 408. 200.1051 or via email @mmilo@community- newspapers.com.