On the subject of parents/guidance. Here is an example. I have a co-worker whose oldest kid is entering college in the fall. These people are fairly affluent, household income probably about $200k, but she complains a lot about bills, they drive two dumb cars, live in a huge house, etc., so effectually probably normal surplus money. Anyway, her daughter is a 4.0 student. She got some money from Marquette, but it's still going to cost them about $45k per year. She has told her daughter she's only helping with living expenses. So this girl is on the hook for tuition. Whenever the topic comes up, I bite my tongue, but my co-worker acts like this is purely her daughter's call and she can't stop it. "I was the same way." "She loves Marquette." "I won't say no to her dream school." Uh, why? She wants to do medicine...you are 80 minutes from UW med school? What on earth are you doing? Be the ADULT and shut this down! This kid has absolutely no way to know what she's signing up for. My kids aren't going to Marquette, lol. They're just not. Nothing against the place, but there is no reason to take on that burden unless you can burn money with no consequence. Nobody would let an 18 y/o make that level of a decision with ANY other thing, yet there are so many people just green lighting it when it comes to college. That doesn't make you a bad parent, which I feel is what these people think. There is a time for an adult to use the life experience a kid doesn't have to step in and prevent a wildfire.