A few observations:
1) The tuition/room/board for my freshman year at a private college was $3000. If you landed a summer job in a steel mill, you could earn enough in a summer to pay the bill. Same school now charges $50,000. No way you could earn enough at any summer job even with a 50%scholarship - not to mention that summer jobs at steel mills are much harder to find.
2) My brother went to U of Cincinnati which had an intern program. Took him 6 years to graduate but he worked 50% of the time in a job that was related to his major. Helped him to understand and apply the subject matter of his coursework. Not to mention that he had $$ to pay for his tuition.
3) As a scoutmaster, I would often counsel the boys in planning their education. Not everyone is cut out for college (Thank goodness!) but everyone should plan on how they can profit most from their education. The people at the top of their chosen field will do better/have more options than those who are simply average. The average will do better than those who are below average. So pick your path (trade school, college, etc.) wisely based on your interests and capabilities and always do your best.
My concern is we are now raising (have raised) kids who don't understand the consequences of their decisions and are upset when the reality of paying the bills arrives.
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