More distractions for the poor beleaguered author
September 13, 2007 | Filed under: Stuff
I am trying to write. Trying being the operative word. My daughter is filling out college applications. This is distracting for one major reason. Do you know how much college costs? She’s looking at Stanford, so shoot me now. There aren’t enough books waiting in my brain to be written that can fund Stanford. Her second choice is one of the Universities in California, like Santa Cruz or San Diego, which are approximately $23,000 a year. Times four years. Times three kids.
Oh. My. God.
That’s a lot of words on the page, people. So I’m thinking, maybe you could all go out and buy one of my books. Okay, maybe make that two.
Seriously, how did this happen? Just yesterday I had 3 kids under the age of 5 and my biggest problem was having enough diapers in the house while trying to write romance when my life had turned into a horror movie of baby poop and baby puke. So how did I get old enough to have a kid bound for college? I mean don’t get me wrong, I was young when I had her (I was 10) but still …
Posted by Jill @ 1:00 am | Make a Comment
Michelle B says:
It’s definitely insane how much college costs these days. But I think Stanford is worth it. Of course, I’m a bit biased as I’m a Stanford alumnus:)
I hadn’t planned on going there, but when I visited after being accepted I fell in love with the whole atmosphere. I have very fond memories of my Stanford days!
Good luck to your daughter with her applications, and hang in there Jill!
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 2:11 amJudy F says:
Good Luck to your daughter and to you too. I think you need a couple of cookies…
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 2:37 amStacy ~ says:
About a year ago, someone proposed on a radio show that if kids going to college did 2 years of community service, the state would pay for their 4 yrs of college (though probably not for some prestigous school like Harvard or Yale or Stanford). I thought that was a great idea and I would have jumped at the chance if I were eligible, but a lot of kids called in, calling it slave labor, blah, blah, blah. But hey, saving $25k/yr sounds like a mighty fine idea to me!
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 3:48 amHeather Harper says:
Here’s to hoping for a film option.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 4:16 amDeb says:
My daughter just finished college ($36,000/year) and started Med School in August. My son wants to be a doctor too. My husband and I saved the insulated box one of our appliances came in, so that we’ll have a chance of being warm when we have to live in that box!
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 5:03 amEat cookies now Jill!
Devon Ellington says:
This is how I managed to go to an almost-ivy-league school (NYU):
–scholarship
–financial aid package
–worked my way through
There was no way my mother could afford to send me, and although I started at a less prestigious school, I knew I needed the piece of paper from that school to do what I wanted to do. So I made it happen. Myself.
I was accepted at Harvard and Yale, but knew they weren’t for me. I was actually accepted at every school to which I applied, which was nice. I picked the wrong one at first, but then I switched to NYU and completed a 5 year program in 3 years, going all year round and working.
I started working in my teens — always had a job to help out.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 5:08 amHoney says:
Oh, boy, good luck with all that!! College costs are unreal.
Mr. Honey and I have been discussing college funds for the little honeybun in the oven, and so far we both agree it’ll be better to make the little tyke help pay for his/her education than for our retirement. But I’m betting we take one look at that cute little face next spring and completely change our minds.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 5:22 amLaurie says:
Feeling your pain here, Jill. I have a senior in college, thinking of grad school or maybe even law school next fall, and a senior in high school who’s looking at art and design schools for next fall. My nest will truly be empty – void of children, food, electricity, heat, money . . .
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 5:36 amJulie K says:
Hah! I know just how you feel. My oldest of three is also a senior and as I dumped a pile of college aps for him to go through (and OMG the paperwork crap involved alone is enough to make you insane) he looked up at me and said…you know, there is this college that I like…it is called M.I.T. When I picked myself up off the floor and could coherently form a sentence again, I told him that when he wakes up and his mother is Oprah Winfrey..he can apply there!! At $46,000 a year there is just noooooo way!!
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 5:55 amBailey Stewart says:
Good gravy Jill, that’s a lot of cookies. I vote for the movie option too. Good luck.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 6:06 amMelanie says:
I know what you mean, Jill. Well, kind of. I only have one son and he’s 13 now. But it’s approaching quickly! Like you, it seems like yesterday I was only worried about diapers and formula.
Although now my son tells me he wants to be a writer like me. (Well, not exactly like me. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to write romance. Not that there would be anything wrong with that). What I really wanted to say was, “But what will be your real job?”
The next time I’m at Borders, I’ll definitely buy one of your books…or two. I’ll tell my husband it’s for the children! They are our future…
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 7:10 amEllen says:
My alma mater’s pricey too (go Gonzaga!) but I was able to cover at least half the tuition each year with scholarship awards. I’ll be paying student loans for the rest of my life for the other half. LOL.
For my kids, we’re lucky because they’ll get a tuition break at the university where my husband teaches (but of course, they’ll choose not to go there and seek out Harvard instead). 
And yes, I’ll buy at least one copy (if not two) of all your books since it’s such a worthy cause, and since I would have anyway.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 7:14 amKristen says:
I feel your pain, Jill.
After a wild hair, and Ellen’s prodding, I’m returning to school (greyer hairs anyone?)knowing that Boy will follow the year after next. Gulp, time to make cookies. Wait, I did and they’re already gone.
He knows he’ll have to scholarship/loan himself since there’s no way I can pay for his smarts. Unless he wants to go to community college.
The path he’s on scares me at times.
Off to the bookstore I go to pick up a few of your books I don’t have and wait (impatiently) for the ones coming up.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 7:37 amAlice Audrey says:
Buy your books? Already did.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 9:56 amjeanne says:
It’s really out of control. I’m lucky (real heavy sarcasim) to live in PA which is either first or second (like it matters) most expensive state for college costs. My oldest daughter graduated from PSU last year and still hasn’t found the job she wants but does have something. We paid for some, she paid for some and now has school loans. Our youngest is still in college and will also be doing some of the paying. She’s in the art field so heaven knows how long it will take her to pay off school loans :wall:
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 10:17 amThere aren’t enough cookies!
april says:
The boy has just decided to teach the daughter golf in hopes of a scholarship. She’s coming from us so I’m doubting her smarts. I actually doubt her athletic ability, too. hehehe
My parents did send both of us to college. They paid for my grad school as well. They bought my sister a car because she commuted so no grad school for her. I worked through high school and all my money for college came from my babysitting, library work, and camp counselor work over the years. I didn’t need to get a job until grad school and even then it was part time at the bookstore.
We were pretty lucky. As soon as I’m done with maternity leave (not that I started it yet), we’ll start saving for our baby’s college fund, one dollar at a time though I joke that she better know a trade just in case.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 10:51 amJulie S says:
College tuition sucks. I have a Masters and I’ll be paying off student loans for the rest of my life. Kind of ironic because I already lost interest in my field and want to write instead. I wish I hadn’t attempted to plan my career at seventeen
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 10:58 amFrannie says:
On the one hand, Jill, I too feel your pain. I’ve got one doing grad school in Australia and her younger sister is contemplating grad school in England, to be near a summer crush, and their dad is adamant that his little darlings should emerge debt free from the educational system. On the other hand…you have to write more books – lots more books. Too bad for you, but great for your devoted readers!! Have a cookie and start writing.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 10:58 amDonna M says:
There was no way I could afford college for my oldest, sad to say. She got some scholarship money, worked, we did financial aid as I was a single parent & we qualified (thank you God) & I think her senior year she had to do a student loan. There are ways, explore all possibilities. There are tons of scholarships that don’t get used. She can also do a lot of her GED classes at a community college that is not nearly as expensive. That is what my son-in-law did before he transferred to Chico State. That experience also helped him decide what exactly he wanted to do for his life work. They are both back to attending college now. My SIL is working on his second MBA & most of it is on line. My daughter is starting to earn a new degree in accounting, the BS she already has is in Chemisty, talk about a change in profession!! She did work as a chemist for several years until she was pregnant with child #1 who is now 11!! How time flies.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 12:14 pmGood luck with having 3 that need education beyond high school. You can do it but it ain’t easy!! I will continue to buy books. :thumbsup:
Sorry to be so long winded!
Liza says:
I graduated for college in 1993 and will have my last student loan paid off in 2 years(actually my stafford loans paid off 4 years ago, this one is the plus loan my dad borrowed to help me out). I was lucky, I only had to borrow about $6,000 per year. I really can’t imagine paying for college now. I’ll hit the bookstore this weekend…I think you have 1 or 2 books out I don’t have yet.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 1:59 pmEstella says:
Only one of my children was interested in college. Fortunately she got a full ride basketball scholarship.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 2:15 pmErika C says:
:whip: I keep pounding into my daughter’s head “keep up your grades” and “scholarships, scholarships”…here’s hoping.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 2:30 pmnaomi says:
I paid for my graduate degree by working full time and going to school 3/4 time. We’re putting the hubby through his second BS right now. Took him forever to figure out what he wanted to be when he grew up. He’s doing the full time work/ part time school gig. He’ll be a million years old when he graduates. *sigh*
My parents paid for two years of college. I was able to get some scholarship money to help cover the rest. I ate, slept and breathed work during holidays so I could avoid student loans.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 2:55 pmMorgan says:
I went to the second most expensive college around (Go USC Trojans!). My parents raised six kids and weren’t able to help out with tuition.
I got through with a state grant, working, and lots and lots of loans. However, loans are not that bad. I still owe almost $30,000 but I only have to pay $80 a month so I barely feel it (that being said, I will be paying the monthly rate for years and years and years).
In my experience, college is totally worth it. And while I don’t have children yet of my own, I am not planning on putting any money away for my kid’s education. Like my parents, I figure once they are 18 they are adults and responsible for themselves.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 3:09 pmBrandy says:
Hubby’s parents paid for a year of Tech. School and then he joined the Military, GO G.I. BILL!!! That paid for most of his BA, but not all so hello student loans. NOW, he’s getting his Masters. *sigh* Hello more student loans. We’ll be paying those off for years. As for our kids, we are advocating the Military for them (It helps them mature, too!) for at least 4 years or that they work and pay part.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 3:56 pmMarty says:
Keep the oldest ones out of school until they can all go at one time–you’ll get more aid
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 5:52 pmLis says:
Sending you lots of cyber cookies. I know talking my best friend this summer she’s already 100K in loans and still has a year to go before she gets her bachelor’s. Scary!
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 6:57 pmCelise says:
LOL. This is Reason #10 why I don’t have kids. That’s #10 out of, like, 2,000-something.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 9:27 pmSuzy says:
Ah…the joys of applying to college. I so do NOT miss that. Good luck with her apps to Stanford. It’s such a good school and great campus. But then again, most of the UC schools have great campuses too. Pomona has a great outdoor pool w/the mountains in the background. How cool is that?
Take it from a girl from NYU. We had to fight the black squirrels for concrete space in the “park” and trek’d 5 miles to our “on campus” classes b/c the shuttle never showed and couldn’t afford a $2 MetroCard b/c you just paid your $20k tuition.
Here’s a financial tip–most colleges don’t make you pay for the meals package if you work in the dining halls. That’s $6,000–8,000/year you can deduct off the bill. Yes, you’ll have to answer questions such as “is the salad vegetarian?” But hey, dealing w/stupid knocks $32k off your bill.
Posted on September 13th, 2007 at 9:34 pmJackie says:
Maybe you can get some money out of that whole giving-birth-at-ten thing?
Posted on September 14th, 2007 at 7:42 amEricka Scott says:
LOL! I’m still in the poop and puke stage with two and have a 14 yo rushing toward adulthood.
I worked in the dorm cafeteria during college. Minimum wage and a lot of early mornings, but it kept me in pizza on the Sunday nights when the dorm didn’t feed us!
Posted on September 15th, 2007 at 9:19 amAmy Tromblee says:
:wave: Well i would have to give you advice like this: I think that your daughter’s college tuition is very important. But you would have to look at it like you write your books. There is certain things that could happen, pertaining your daughter but it’s worth it in the end because you’d be very proud of your daughter when you’re sitting in the front row of her graduation! I think it’s be worth it though. I’m already saving money in an account for my baby gyrl and she’ll be 1 next month. Just hang in there like your Passionate book-Shadow Hawk! OMG i saw that in the store and i just had to get it! But in the end it really was worth it… :thumbsup:
Posted on September 15th, 2007 at 9:18 pmLinda Denisen says:
You just should have waited……..I was 43 when my daughter was born and since I’m on social security she qualified for several scholarships being this old and poor!!! :shocked:
Posted on September 17th, 2007 at 12:01 amCarolyn A. says:
Well, I went through that last year. My hubby and I told our son that if he picked a state school we could afford to send him and he wouldn’t graduate with tons of loans to pay off. He is going to University of Massachusetts – Boston. He’s doing pretty good so far (this is only the third week of classes) getting adjusted to the workload (lots of reading and writing). My favorite part is that this is only costing us $10K-$12K a year instead of $40K a year. Also I’m so glad my husband suggested 18 years ago to stop after one child.
Good luck Jill! In the end it’ll all be worth it. I’m so proud of my son.
Posted on September 17th, 2007 at 6:36 amKelly says:
This is just another reason for my parents to like me best. (1) I never had kids so I never ask them to babysit and (2) I opted out of college the day before it started and therefore never stuck them with a fat educational bill, and finally (3) I’m just way easier to get along with than the other two. At least that’s what I keep telling them.
Posted on September 18th, 2007 at 7:05 am