I was able to find a 1 bed 1 bath for $695 a month my 5th year of undergrad, had community laundry that took $1.75 in quarters for one machine so $3.50 to wash and dry a single load. Anything cheaper than that and you were looking at section 8 housing in Bryan.

The number of wealthy suburban kids who go to this school has drastically changed the cost of living for students. Obviously still better than any of the major Texas cities, but it's nothing like what old ags remember.

Get the government out of backing loans and watch how quick colleges adjust their pricing.

It appears the best investment I've ever made was to not have kids. Ten bagger at least!

Jet Black said:

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I guess if you are on the fence about having kids, the money is definitely something to consider. Good grief.

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Why else do you think we're all on here grinding the markets as a side hustle?

The worst part about A&M these days is that they are pretty stingy with scholarships. Even when you get one, it doesn't put a dent in total cost. My son was top 4% of a pretty good school with 1400 SAT and got like a whopping $1000 his fish year. It cost $26k that year. He was offered anywhere from $30-60k in Scholarships from other schools but wanted A&M for academic reasons.

Unpopular opinion: If your kid doesn't get into A&M right away send them to Blinn. It's infinitely cheaper, they still get to live in BCS, and will walk away with a better core curriculum education than they'd receive freshman and sophomore year at A&M. Calculus I, II, and III haven't changed in hundreds of years and the same textbook and online homework program is used at both schools. "But the professor at A&M is better", in my opinion that's false, the kid is going to be placed in a room of 250 kids with a professor who views teaching as a side chore to their research. At Blinn they're in a classroom of 25 students and the teacher is there to actually teach. Same goes for freshman chemistry and physics. The first two years of higher education have become an absolute scam, it's only in a students junior year that the prestige of a university and its faculty actually begins to shine through. And I'd say this about any school that uses textbooks and online homework programs from large publishers (which is every major school in the country). The only counter point the 4-year universities have anymore is that they have networking an internship opportunities, that's it.

I say this as someone with a BS and MS in engineering currently working on a PhD.

100% agree with this

This is the route I went. 2 years Blinn, 2 years A&M. Parents paid for Blinn, I paid for A&M. Got out with like $20k in student loans which have been done and paid for. Everyone asks where you graduated from, not where you took freshman biology.

This will probably sound like an old man yelling at the sky, but I look at my neighbors' kids in college and they live in vacation resort like housing, brand new everything, every luxury you can dream of and then complain about the costs.

I have zero problems with letting my kid take out loans, eat non-brand Ramen, and wonder if they can sell bodily fluids to make ends meet after they've spent their paycheck. I want them to be mad when they have to park in BFE and can only afford the nonAC dorm....but I guess that's my privilege speaking



Flame away but I want my kid to know the pressure of having to pay their way and the value of a dollar.

PWestAg18 said:

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Unpopular opinion: If your kid doesn't get into A&M right away send them to Blinn. It's infinitely cheaper, they still get to live in BCS, and will walk away with a better core curriculum education than they'd receive freshman and sophomore year at A&M. Calculus I, II, and III haven't changed in hundreds of years and the same textbook and online homework program is used at both schools. "But the professor at A&M is better", in my opinion that's false, the kid is going to be placed in a room of 250 kids with a professor who views teaching as a side chore to their research. At Blinn they're in a classroom of 25 students and the teacher is there to actually teach. Same goes for freshman chemistry and physics. The first two years of higher education have become an absolute scam, it's only in a students junior year that the prestige of a university and its faculty actually begins to shine through. And I'd say this about any school that uses textbooks and online homework programs from large publishers (which is every major school in the country). The only counter point the 4-year universities have anymore is that they have networking an internship opportunities, that's it.

I say this as someone with a BS and MS in engineering currently working on a PhD.

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My parents basically forced me to go to Blinn prior to a&m. I was able to get into a&m but they did not care.

A now older me completely understands why. Insane how much money they saved plus I ended up with a solid career regardless.

$30,000 Millionaire said:

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I worry often that we make it too easy and paying their own way once they're on their own will be a difficult transition.

The what you can afford if you work at McDonalds conversation doesn't seem to be sinking in.

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i am kind of feeling like I want my kids to do the work and take the loans. Then once they finish and land that job swoop in and settle their tickets. May cost more than "investing" but tray and Keep them grounded with me as the backstop but not necessarily the check writer.

My dad paid for my school, he paid for my housing, and he gave me a small stipend for food outside of my on campus meal plan. I paid for my books, fuel, insurance, and incidentals.

I am grateful that early on he showed me what internal motivation is. I got a little bit side ways the first couple of years. I got a job to occupy my free time and force structure into my life. It also helped me be more independent.

I don't think I can let my kids coast through those college years. The trials and tribulations are what build character for life.

Ragoo said:

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$30,000 Millionaire said:

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I worry often that we make it too easy and paying their own way once they're on their own will be a difficult transition.

The what you can afford if you work at McDonalds conversation doesn't seem to be sinking in.

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i am kind of feeling like I want my kids to do the work and take the loans. Then once they finish and land that job swoop in and settle their tickets. May cost more than "investing" but tray and Keep them grounded with me as the backstop but not necessarily the check writer.

My dad paid for my school, he paid for my housing, and he gave me a small stipend for food outside of my on campus meal plan. I paid for my books, fuel, insurance, and incidentals.

I am grateful that early on he showed me what internal motivation is. I got a little bit side ways the first couple of years. I got a job to occupy my free time and force structure into my life. It also helped me be more independent.

I don't think I can let me kids coast through those college years. The trials and tribulations are what build character for life.

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This is my plan. If they can get scholarships, make grades, and a land a job, I'll help as much as I can in the end.

I learned just as much in life from my years in college as I did from classes. Budgeting, working multiple jobs, time management, and countless other stuff.

I plan on being able to pay for 1/2 to 1/3 of my kids' expenses. The rest will be up to them, though I'll make sure they know I'm there to give advice or look anything over if they want.

That will also help so I'm not over invested in 529 in case one or more chooses not to go to college, goes milliary first, or decides they are going to college for a non-career degree like how to whine about everything. I'm not paying for that.

HalifaxAg said:

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This will probably sound like an old man yelling at the sky, but I look at my neighbors' kids in college and they live in vacation resort like housing, brand new everything, every luxury you can dream of and then complain about the costs.

I have zero problems with letting my kid take out loans, eat non-brand Ramen, and wonder if they can sell bodily fluids to make ends meet after they've spent their paycheck. I want them to be mad when they have to park in BFE and can only afford the nonAC dorm....but I guess that's my privilege speaking



Flame away but I want my kid to know the pressure of having to pay their way and the value of a dollar.

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I've thought of doing something similar - saving for college but not using the funds. Tell the kid - if you want to go to college, it's on your dime. Let them get the loans and see how serious they take it. Then on graduation day, stroke them a check for all the costs incurred. Just basically mind games where they learn the true value of a dollar and seeing how far it goes.

CrazyRichAggie said:

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I can confirm traffic in Houston roads Friday rush hour was BONKERS