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“What parent would say, ‘No, I’m not going to provide this opportunity for my child to go to college, even if it’s to my own financial detriment?’”
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Omgosh.

You are correct, comebacknewt.

I am one such parent who would have no problem telling a child I would not co-sign for a loan. I let my sons know right up front from an early age that I would not be able to step in as co-signer for any student loan.

Not because of lack of love, mind you. I just couldn’t see it. If the child wanted college back enough he would have to put forth the effort.

Now, my ex promised our son (the eldest) that if he worked for him in his business, instead of paying him the money right up front he’d put it in a bank account for him. Mind you, this kid was working from the freaking 8th grade for his father.

Yup. You can guess what happened. Sigh.

My eldest, instead of crying mentioned to my father one day that he’d just have to work a few more years before he went to college. My dad, without my knowing about this met with my ex’s father and between the two of them they paid for the college. My son graduated with 2 degrees. To this day he has honored my father and his father’s father who recently passed away. At the time, I had no knowledge of what was happening. My eldest simply told me that he knew I wasn’t in any shape to help and didn’t want to even seem like pressuring me. The fact that at that time I couldn’t even begin to help was correct. Still, I felt badly and wanted to ring his father’s neck. Thank God and distance because murder has so many bad connotations to it.

Anyway, my advice is still the same to parents. Don’t sign for College Loans. Vocational School, is another story. I would cover that loan, easily because a person who can work with his or her hands is a valuable person even if society doesn’t recognize it as so.

Off my soapbox. LOL