Advice for college student

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Is it too obvious to say that this young man should get a bank account with only his name on it as soon as he is able? He will need to keep any college cash separate.

However, if he continues living with his mother while going to college, I do think he should contribute to the running of the household.

If he has a hard time not just giving his mother cash when he has college money, please remind him that college grants and loans are intended for college expenses only and that to use them otherwise is probably a breach of the contract. Actually, I think not using such money soley for education expenses is one of the ways that some students get into more debt than they are later able to handle comfortably.

[Eleanor]

I agree with everyone else about in-state colleges and starting at a community college for the first year. Also, he should take as many dual-credit or AP classes as he can to earn as many college credits while in high school as possible. By taking AP tests I was able to rack up a lot of credits before even entering college and graduate a whole year early.

I also recommend checking into local scholarships, they are usually very plentiful in a mid-size community, and often times no one even applies for many of them, so they are MUCH easier to win. When he applies for college or scholarships, there is often a last essay option for people to share anything else they would like the college to consider when admitting them/providing financial aid, he should mention the fact that his parents aren't helping him at all and have actually hindered him.

[La Profesora]

Is it too obvious to say that this young man should get a bank account with only his name on it as soon as he is able? He will need to keep any college cash separate.

However, if he continues living with his mother while going to college, I do think he should contribute to the running of the household.

If he has a hard time not just giving his mother cash when he has college money, please remind him that college grants and loans are intended for college expenses only and that to use them otherwise is probably a breach of the contract. Actually, I think not using such money soley for education expenses is one of the ways that some students get into more debt than they are later able to handle comfortably.

We have discussed setting up a separate account. My concern was if the parent has to have her name on loans if he has to get them. Normally, I would agree 100 percent that a college student should contribute to the household, but he has "contributed" at least a few thousand to her spending already without his knowledge. I think whenever she ran a little short, she used his account to subsidize her spending habits. Now, he has nothing. I am trying to help him figure out the best ways to approach this so he can go to college without taking on a huge debt. If he has to take loans, I don't want her to be able to spend it. I think some funds are disbursed directly to the school, and excess is deposited into an account. I don't want her to be able to get to it. From what I know of her, I don't think she would mind spending it on herself. She told me herself that she had her own college paid for ( I assume through grants.), but she still took out student loans so she would have "spending money." I dont know how one goes about doing that, but apparently she did. I am trying to figure out the best routes for him so she can't take out loans in HIS name so she will have spending money again or get her hands on any local scholarship money he can obtain. He is bright and is willing to go to community college for a couple years and work while in school.

[La Profesora]

Is it too obvious to say that this young man should get a bank account with only his name on it as soon as he is able? He will need to keep any college cash separate.

However, if he continues living with his mother while going to college, I do think he should contribute to the running of the household.

If he has a hard time not just giving his mother cash when he has college money, please remind him that college grants and loans are intended for college expenses only and that to use them otherwise is probably a breach of the contract. Actually, I think not using such money soley for education expenses is one of the ways that some students get into more debt than they are later able to handle comfortably.

Thanks. I have been discussing the need to obtain a separate account. I feel guilty advising a teen to not tell his parent something, but he is 17, and I have encouraged him not to even let her know it exists. This will sound crazy, but we tore tags off clothing my daughter bought him for Christmas so the mother couldn't take them back and get cash or a store credit. Normally, I would agree 100 percent that he should contribute once he is in college, but I think he has "contributed" already without his knowledge. He has grandparents who have given him money as gifts over the years that he thought was being socked away for him. It is all gone. There is no college account.

This is advice for grandparents in a divorce situation or any situation I suppose. Start your own account for grandkids if you want to contribute. Don't depend on the parents.

[La Profesora]

SORRY. I didnt mean to double post. I thought the firt response didn't post so I rewrote it. I dont know how to delete my first post.

[snafu]

If there is any tangible or written evidence that the grandparents gave money intended for their grandson's college fund mom's accessing the money is very serious. If this 17 y/o puts money in his bank account or at home, there is nothing in place to prevent his mom from enjoying this new bounty.

If the grandparents are still available, they need to be told that grandson's college fund has been spent by his mom. They may wish to change benefactors since she has already benefited from their generosity. This teen is only 17 and neither he nor his mom seem to realize how serious it is to take/steal money given in trust. I hope you can find some way to make him understand that he needs to make it clear to his mom that any earnings are for tuition & college expenses.