I graduated with a BA in 2003 with very little debt. I worked like crazy every summer (maybe taking 2-3 days for a camping excursion with friends every summer but that was it). I also worked most Saturdays during the school year. Seeing as I attended a Christian university here in Ontario, my earnings didn’t stretch as far as I would have liked, so I applied for DadSAP:) My parents were in a position to help me out, and I’m very grateful for that. I gave all I could towards my education and my parents paid the rest. The only money I was required to repay was the amount paid for living on campus. I only lived about 20-30 minutes away from school so that was considered a luxury, not a necessity. Although, when I moved on campus in my second year, my GPA went from an 8 to a 10. I am the oldest of five children, so concentrating on my studies was better achieved in my own space with my own computer, etc. Plus, I loved the freedom:) Those years really taught me a lot, about discipline, my field, and also in gaining life experience.

So like a few people have commented already, it really doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. We had started putting money aside for our children but we know we won’t be able to carry the full load. We plan to use this same system someday.