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Message
re: Paying for college besides Student Loans?
Posted on 4/30/26 at 7:44 pm to LSURussian
Posted on 4/30/26 at 7:44 pm to LSURussian
quote:
So, I'm wondering, how old was your son when it first hit you that he was going to need more money to go to college??
Admittedly, I’m way underprepared in this category- I knew he was going to need loans, but in my head, I was thinking less than $10K/year. I didn’t do my research on how the loans were administered, the interest rates, etc. - that’s definitely on me. After filling out FAFSA and getting the Financial Aid letter from ULL, he thought he was getting $5500/year, but that turned out to be some kind of loan approval as well.
It sounds like there are still opportunities for scholarships at both schools, and I just found out about the CLT, which is an alternative to ACT/SAT, so TOPS may not be off the table- we’ll know for sure in June.
I’m also having to eat my words a little, because I’ve been telling both kids to get out of Shreveport for school, and now that it’s time to get him ready to move away, I’m not sure he’s ready to handle the work load of college, and I don’t want him to take on all those loans AND struggle in his course load -I hope he proves me wrong, but I’m not sure he’s ready for the workload of a science major.
3
Posted on 4/30/26 at 8:10 pm to LSUGUMBO
Don’t fret. College is too damned expensive!
I had one graduate from LSU a few years ago, and have one in college now.
Is it possible for your son to work over summer during college to save and possibly to make a dent in the loans as he goes?
And / or, agree to pay you back in first X years of his full time job following college?
Stay away from private loans if possible.
Of course, there are work study programs and part time jobs, as well.
This is likely more of a blessing for him than not.
What I had to do (for me as a college student moons ago) was skip a semester and save. It paid off big time!
Lastly, I observed many in my circle play for their kids the “I have ADHD or some such” all of a sudden when time for ACT test taking. One Dr excuse later, and their kids had an extra couple of hours to take the test. Big hack / edge for them. Attention was fine until $ was on the line.
Good luck to you and your son!
I had one graduate from LSU a few years ago, and have one in college now.
Is it possible for your son to work over summer during college to save and possibly to make a dent in the loans as he goes?
And / or, agree to pay you back in first X years of his full time job following college?
Stay away from private loans if possible.
Of course, there are work study programs and part time jobs, as well.
This is likely more of a blessing for him than not.
What I had to do (for me as a college student moons ago) was skip a semester and save. It paid off big time!
Lastly, I observed many in my circle play for their kids the “I have ADHD or some such” all of a sudden when time for ACT test taking. One Dr excuse later, and their kids had an extra couple of hours to take the test. Big hack / edge for them. Attention was fine until $ was on the line.
Good luck to you and your son!
Posted on 4/30/26 at 9:18 pm to LSUGUMBO
With the new rules he can only take up to 50k in loans in undergrad. 15 times 4 is 60. He’s 10k short.
Posted on 4/30/26 at 10:35 pm to TheWalrus
quote:
Are you saying he can’t even get a 20 on the ACT? That’s not being a “bad test taker,” that’s alarming.
Posted on 5/1/26 at 1:05 am to LSUGUMBO
Both my kids got scholarships that didn't cover all of tuition and other expenses (non-weighted GPA school, so they got screwed.)
Told them I'd cover the balance of tuition, room and board as long as they kept their grades up, but they had to pay for any of the fun stuff. They got jobs to cover the rest. Bartenders in college towns are sitting on top of the world.
Avoid un-subsidized loans.
Told them I'd cover the balance of tuition, room and board as long as they kept their grades up, but they had to pay for any of the fun stuff. They got jobs to cover the rest. Bartenders in college towns are sitting on top of the world.
Avoid un-subsidized loans.
Posted on 5/1/26 at 6:03 am to LSUGUMBO
My oldest didn't go to college, went my route and got hired on the FD here on town. He wasn't a good test taker either, had a 3.9 GPA and made a 19 on ACT. He learned how to study over time and became Paramedic, had to take college Anatomy/ physiology and chemistry as part of the curriculum as well as the paramedicine studies. He change careers and is now in LA State Trooper training which is pretty fast paced with a lot of laws and SOP's to learn plus he had to have at least 60 credit hours of college, he ended up getting his associates degree in paramedicine. If your son has the will and desire to study hard,he can make it.
My youngest us a freshman in college now. He wants to be a CRNA. He had enough TOPS and scholarship money to go to Nw State nursing school here in Shreeport for pretty much free, it costs about $1000 a year extra. His friend asked him to go to Natchitoches campus and share a dorm, he thought about it and said why would I want to spend another 6 to 7,000 just to stay on campus when I can live at home for free. I told him that's some pretty smart thinking. Its going to take him a total of about 8 years to become a CRNA with the 4 year nursing degree, at least 18montha working in a CCU or ICU unit before heading to CRNA school which is 3 years long. He said he would live at home during the 18 months or so working as a nurse and save all most all his money for CRNA school. I said that sounds like a plan and that after he's done and making the BIG BUCKS, all I ask is that my .membership to the local country club is paid for. That's a good trade for free room and board for 8 to 9 years LOL.
My youngest us a freshman in college now. He wants to be a CRNA. He had enough TOPS and scholarship money to go to Nw State nursing school here in Shreeport for pretty much free, it costs about $1000 a year extra. His friend asked him to go to Natchitoches campus and share a dorm, he thought about it and said why would I want to spend another 6 to 7,000 just to stay on campus when I can live at home for free. I told him that's some pretty smart thinking. Its going to take him a total of about 8 years to become a CRNA with the 4 year nursing degree, at least 18montha working in a CCU or ICU unit before heading to CRNA school which is 3 years long. He said he would live at home during the 18 months or so working as a nurse and save all most all his money for CRNA school. I said that sounds like a plan and that after he's done and making the BIG BUCKS, all I ask is that my .membership to the local country club is paid for. That's a good trade for free room and board for 8 to 9 years LOL.
Posted on 5/1/26 at 6:17 am to LSUGUMBO
I put both of mine through private school pre-k 3yr old through HS so we were fairly used to cash flowing tuition. When it came time for college both qualified for TOPS and it certainly helped but I’m still paying more than the tuition costs of grade school when we put in the living expenses. My oldest is graduating in a few weeks but planning on getting her masters in education and TOPS ain’t paying for that. My youngest is wanting to go to optometry school in two years and there’s no optometry school in Louisiana. We’re facing some difficult conversations in the very near future with both of them. I don’t mind paying for as much as I can but I’m reluctant to take on a ton of debt.
Posted on 5/1/26 at 9:21 am to LSUGUMBO
Thanks for your reply.
Regarding your son maybe being not prepared for college if he goes away for school, I'm betting he is going to surprise you and do really well.
His first semester might be bumpy but he'll learn from it and do well after that.
Regarding your son maybe being not prepared for college if he goes away for school, I'm betting he is going to surprise you and do really well.
His first semester might be bumpy but he'll learn from it and do well after that.
Posted on 5/1/26 at 10:10 am to LSURussian
Thanks- I guess it's probably every parent's fear that their child won't succeed at what they want to do in life.
I appreciate everyone's responses so far. It's been a pretty overwhelming process to get ready to send him to college- a lot more than I expected it to be, but I think we're going to make it.
I appreciate everyone's responses so far. It's been a pretty overwhelming process to get ready to send him to college- a lot more than I expected it to be, but I think we're going to make it.
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