Please Vote - Who Pays For Your Education?

[mklop]

*No need to respond, just a simple honest, accurate vote is acceptable*

I'm trying to settle an argument, do some research, plan for the future, and just to satisfy my curiosity with this question,
Who pays for your education?
Whether it's college or university, post-secondary education is expensive, especially in Ontario. How do you manage to finance this part of your life?

I'm in first year engineering at UofT right now, and coming from a family with financial problems, I applied for OSAP, which will have to be paid off. Luckily, with the help of OSAP and working hard, I earned scholarships which paid for my first year.
Approximately
OSAP - $5800
UTAPS - $5800 (UofT help)
Queen Elizabeth - $2300

But as for next year, I don't think I'd be getting anymore scholarships :(
But my parents have been saving money with an RESP for years now and so they should be paying for the rest of my education. Now that I think about it I'm very fortunate for this because I don't think I would work enough to earn the money needed to fund my education.

My question to you guys/girls, how are you paying for your education?
Do your parents also have a RESP for you? Do you bust your ass with multiple jobs to earn the money? Split the cost?

(My RESP reduces the amount I need for my OSAP, and hopefully my parents will pay for my OSAP loan as well)

[peeb]

$5,800 from osap.
Around $3,000 from grants/scholorships

I wish Ryerson gave me free money! =(

[CSK'sMom]

I think you missed the loan option on the poll ;)

With that said, our oldest is paying his own way with a combination of OSAP along with grants and working during school. He's banked money seriously for a couple of years before college. He'll also do a 6 month coop term this summer (already has it lined up, just waiting for the contract in the mail) before going back to finish school. He doesn't want any help from us other than to live at home while in school as he really wants to accomplish this on his own.

Our next one just finished his college applications. He's planning to do the same as his brother. He wants to live at home for his one yr certificate and then go away to a 2 yr program. At this point he plans to do it with OSAP, grants and hopefully scholarships.

Both also plan on living at home after graduation to pay off their loans as quickly as possible (2 years max) if possible.

[Hairball]

My parents paid for my first 3 years, and I paid for the final year with my internship income.

[Jon Lai]

Scholarships + Co-op money should cover, if not in excess, of the $80K tuition+living expenses I have to pay for the next 4 years.

[cassandraj]

You didn't include debt as an option.

I'm in my fourth year and come April I will be $34,000 in debt with a student line of credit. $8,000 x 3 years; $10,000 x 1 year. (Not eligible for OSAP, my dad makes too much money, but he's a single parent supporting my brother and I on his own.)

I've gotten a few scholarships and awards here and there, but I don't think it adds up to more than $3,000.

I worked a lot in my first two years for spending money and making rent (at one point I worked 35 hours a week plus school), but starting in my third year it was too much work and I had to start spending more time on extra curriculars to add to my resumé. So I quit my job and asked my dad to start helping me out by sending some money my way each month to cover my basic costs.

[Tiffany189]

I paid for my own education. Went to school for a couple of years, ran out of money, went back to work. Saved up enough for the last 2 years, quit my job and started paying for school. Now I have about zero dollars and am looking for work http://**************/img/1856/y08m1110mhmd/2.gif

[ben_liu]

mklop is such a cute name. Want to be friends?

BTW I voted honestly.

[BlueHurley]

I paid for my own education. Went to school for a couple of years, ran out of money, went back to work. Saved up enough for the last 2 years, quit my job and started paying for school. Now I have about zero dollars and am looking for work http://**************/img/1856/y08m1110mhmd/2.gif

At what age did you graduate and what was this program? Many degrees wouldn't even allow that.

[resu]

Myself/co-op.

[civ@uw]

I've been fortunate enough that I haven't had to worry about education costs (I'm 4 years through my degree, with 2 years left to go). OSAP, scholarships, Co-op, and a bit of help from my parents (when unexpected expenses pop-up) have all helped me through. I'll be about 15K in debt with OSAP by the time I graduate, but I expect to pay that off very quickly.

[BlueHurley]

I've been fortunate enough that I haven't had to worry about education costs (I'm 4 years through my degree, with 2 years left to go). OSAP, scholarships, Co-op, and a bit of help from my parents (when unexpected expenses pop-up) have all helped me through. I'll be about 15K in debt with OSAP by the time I graduate, but I expect to pay that off very quickly.

whats your degree

[BlueHurley]

I find it hard to believe more than 25% of people are paying for all of their university expenses on there own.

[Jon Lai]

I find it hard to believe more than 25% of people are paying for all of their university expenses on there own.

If you have Co-op, it's not hard. I'm not surprised, as RFD is mostly asians, and we all know Waterloo, the school of co-op programs, are most asians :P

Regardless, Co-op gives you around $50-70K after it's all said and done, including taking off the taxes. If you're in business/arts, you should have covered 100%. If you're in Engineering like me, you'll probably be $10-20K short after 5 years. Luckily I should be getting that amount worth of scholarships within the next 5 years so I'm all set to go.

[nX07]

I wanted to pay for it on my own but my parents wanted to pay my way, their mindset is as long as I can see the value and appreciate it they'd rather have me on a solid financial foundation when I graduate rather than having to worry about paying off debts.

[CSR]

Your taxes.... j/k

Osap during the early years, Co-op in latter years.

[gnunn]

The Army paid for mine.

[SongforaFriend]

Sigh... my parents pay for everything (tuition, books, transportation... as well as for my brother so that's double the burden). I never even considered applying for OSAP, nor did I ever apply for any scholarships. And I'm too lazy to even put up a respectable effort to get good grades. I'm such a failure. :(

[BlueHurley]

Sigh... my parents pay for everything (tuition, books, transportation... as well as for my brother so that's double the burden). I never even considered applying for OSAP, nor did I ever apply for any scholarships. And I'm too lazy to even put up a respectable effort to get good grades. I'm such a failure. :(

join the club

[jason9945]

My mom helped with money while I was in school, but I still got osap to cover a LOT of it and I'm paying that back at the moment.

[Justine]

It would of been nice to have rich parents to pay for my schooling, that's just not realistic for most of us. My university education was "paid for" by osap. So I didn't know which option to choose since it's not paid for at all.

[tomotomo]

Parents and some money I made over the summers will pay for 3-4 terms. Then, I'll pay for the rest of the terms through coop money. So, I voted half-half.

[G-DRAGON]

My parents are paying for all my college tuition and they also bought me a laptop. Although I already have the full amount and more saved up, they wanted to pay so I can keep my money for other things. BUT, if I drop out they said I have to pay them back all there money they spent.:cry::confused:

[theodor_p]

parents paid for my tution, for first year
then ill pay for a third, then two thirds etc...

i pay for books and transportation, and i (stupidly) offered to pay for summer courses (which are twice then what i thought), bad time to take 3 summer courses...

[AFG34]

scholarships/bursaries etc + OSAP + my own money

[BadDrafter]

I pay for my education by the strength of my income alone. I have too much money to qualify for any kind of aid. There are no parents in the equation and haven't been for many years. If I had parents that supported me, it wouldn't have been this way.

I have saved up roughly $100,000 and if need be I could make more.

[Jon Lai]

Sigh... my parents pay for everything (tuition, books, transportation... as well as for my brother so that's double the burden). I never even considered applying for OSAP, nor did I ever apply for any scholarships. And I'm too lazy to even put up a respectable effort to get good grades. I'm such a failure. :(

At least you realized your problems ;)

[zzz3]

Sigh... my parents pay for everything (tuition, books, transportation... as well as for my brother so that's double the burden). I never even considered applying for OSAP, nor did I ever apply for any scholarships. And I'm too lazy to even put up a respectable effort to get good grades. I'm such a failure. :(

lol sounds like me, although i am even lazier and couldn't even be bothered to type that out so thanks :D.

[blizzah]

All parents. Giant RESP, so that covers everything.

To OP, you are living on res?

[ben_liu]

op lives at home

[Rishi]

You should have made this a poll where you can select multiple options. My education expenses (around $55,000 for 4 years of UT engineering plus books and transportation) are covered by a combination of scholarships (about 30%) and my savings from working during high school and in the summers (the balance of the amount).

[DeimosBeros]

I pay my own tuition with the money I've saved up since I was 15. I don't pay rent though while living at home, which is sweet, for now at least.

[sonic]

I have paid for sons collage tuition the first 2 yrs....since then he has saved his money from his last co-op job & will be paying the remaining 2-3 yrs.

i want him to have a good chance at getting a decent job...un-like me or hubby.

I would say he has it pretty good...he pays no rent, i provide meals & do laundry etc...
but he sure likes to eat out...ALOT :|

[shannn]

Pay my tuition, books, and transportation myself
But it also helps that I get scholarship money

Holidays are nice too, b/c I get a lot of gift money from relatives

Parents told me they'd pay, but I wouldn't let them

[Terrific_Deals2k8]

I basically paid 2 yrs w/ scholarships, grants, and work. My parents paid for the other 3 yrs ;) :D

Btw, the poll looks quite good for a normal curve, lolz hahah :P Bell-curve everyone

[angekfire]

My parents paid for mine, but I still had a job and worked part time for my spending money.

[spazzamatic]

i pay for my own =)

first year was RESP, second was grants and scholarships + osap.

[BlueHurley]

lol 30% are saying they pay for it with all of their own money, I highly doubt that. Way to high of a percentage.

[mklop]

Yea, well then again some program are cheaper than others. My program is $10,000 a year, then around $700 textbooks.
(Engineering)

While others are only $6000 a year, but either way, I really doubt that many people pay for it on their own. Unless you're in coop or worked a lot.

[dasaylay]

Mom pays for everything. I have RESPs so that covers my tuition and books. Yeah I'm spoiled :|

Living at home and not paying rent helps too. But going out to eat I pay for myself as I'm working part-time and in school.

[angel_wing0]

osap, then 50/50 at the end.

[resu]

lol 30% are saying they pay for it with all of their own money, I highly doubt that. Way to high of a percentage.

Perhaps those 30% worked a lot during university (co-op, summer, part-time) instead of doing nothing?

[Wanker]

I started my degree later than probably most of you..I work full-time and my employer pays for my education.

[Majinvegeta]

*No need to respond, just a simple honest, accurate vote is acceptable*

I'm trying to settle an argument, do some research, plan for the future, and just to satisfy my curiosity with this question,
Who pays for your education?
Whether it's college or university, post-secondary education is expensive, especially in Ontario. How do you manage to finance this part of your life?

I'm in first year engineering at UofT right now, and coming from a family with financial problems, I applied for OSAP, which will have to be paid off. Luckily, with the help of OSAP and working hard, I earned scholarships which paid for my first year.
Approximately
OSAP - $5800
UTAPS - $5800 (UofT help)
Queen Elizabeth - $2300

But as for next year, I don't think I'd be getting anymore scholarships :(
But my parents have been saving money with an RESP for years now and so they should be paying for the rest of my education. Now that I think about it I'm very fortunate for this because I don't think I would work enough to earn the money needed to fund my education.

My question to you guys/girls, how are you paying for your education?
Do your parents also have a RESP for you? Do you bust your ass with multiple jobs to earn the money? Split the cost?

(My RESP reduces the amount I need for my OSAP, and hopefully my parents will pay for my OSAP loan as well)


Wow free money AND support from Parents? you are very fortunate. I am screwed, I bought a car and now can't even save like $300/month with all the expenses. Instead of Parents helping me, im helping THEM :/.

Ahh well, I gotta apply for student loan.

[mklop]

Well I didn't ask for this, I actually wanted to move out, gain the experience on living on my own. So at home, I try to make my own food, do my own laundry. All my bills I pay, like phone, metropass and other stuff.
I never use my parents money, unless I'm borrowing, I work and earn my own spending money so I can be kind of independent.

I get "free" money only because of my low income family and from me doing decent in highschool.

[flexwong]

RESP from my parents has covered 3 years so far, and will cover bits of 4th year. rents will keep on paying for it as well into 4th year, and they've also told me that they will pay for my masters if i choose to keep going.

[mklop]

How much is it per year for a masters course?

[Rishi]

How much is it per year for a masters course?
It varies greatly depending on the degree. Research-based or doctoral-stream masters programs (MSc, MASc) typically have no out-of-pocket tuition costs, whereas professional masters degrees (MBA, MEng) can be in the $20-30k/year range.