My mom paid for my undergraduate degree out of her pocket. Back then, I wasn't planning on going to professional school afterwards. I'm now paying my own way through professional school. Obviously, accepting a gift from my mom didn't prevent me from taking responsibility for my finances. As long as somone understands that the cashflow is a gift, for a specific purpose, and that after school is out they will be financially independant, I don't see a problem.
Now that I am getting divorced, my mom keeps asking me if I need money for tuition, housing, etc. I keep telling her that tutition is covered by my student loans, that I have a job, and that I am just fine. So, I am having to assert my financial independance. In reality, my loans come about $30 short of covering tuition and fees each quarter. I don't really know that the money I have in the bank will last past the end of winter quarter or rent and other expenses. I'm counting on a change in status increasing my financial aid to get me through spring. If that doesn't fly, I can get loans through the pharmacy department, work an extra day a week, eat peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, etc. Once summer comes, the coffers will refill and everything will be fine. And, like Roxy said, we are all going to be just fine after graduation. I just wish my mom would accept that and quit offering things she really can't afford now that she is retired.
First year I took out 17K in loans. This year it's 10K, plus any extra after the readjustments. I figure 3rd and 4th year will look alot like first. So, I will have accumulated about 70-75K in loans by the time school is out. I will be one of those people who pays it off fast.
BTW, Dana, there is a guy in the 1st year class at UW who appears to be about 60. You are a spring chicken!
