My step-son didn't get a high enough gpa 2 terms in a row in college to stay in the program he's in. He can switch majors, but would have to pay his own way instead of military paying. He wants us to co-sign. I don't think it's a good idea. Am I wrong?

Well, I've been brought up to NEVER co-sign for ANYBODY under ANY circumstances, because it'll burn your ass in the end. He's planning on being career military, always has. Is a military income going to pay for another 3 years at University of Michigan + interest? He can't get even enough unsubsidized student loans to pay for a semester, he'd have to get private loans (he doesn't qualify for grants, and he's already blew his scholarships). He has a contract with the air force, he only has so much time to finish because he has to join, they were paying his tuition. So now it's change your major (since he failed two semesters of his current major)and pay your own way, then join, or enlist now. I believe he was perfectly capable of passing his classes and I'm sure he spent way too much time playing video games (he plays for 10+ hours straight at home). That's basically why I don't think we should cosign.

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by We miss our girl! on January 12th, 2008

He sounds a bit like I was the first time I attended college. It would have been a very bad idea for someone to cosign a loan for me at that time, so take that for what it's worth. I did eventually develop a good work ethic and a strong sense of responsibility, but it took about seven years for that to happen, and another 5 to get out from under the debt I'd racked up. So my inclination would be not to cosign at this time.

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by Midgardsormr on January 12th, 2008

I was the same way! I also think that he worked hard for his opportunity to get into U of M and he went through a lot of stuff to join the air force and have them pay for it (he's in rotc but has a contract to join after he graduates). He had a responsibility to work hard to keep his grades up, and we shouldn't reward him for not doing so. I think he needs to face his consequences. He knew from the start what was expected of him.

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by We miss our girl! on January 12th, 2008

My mom taught me to NEVER co-sign for ANYBODY. My step-son lost his funding from the military, so his other choice is to enlist instead of them sending him to school, or him continuing with a different major and paying for it himself. His dad makes too much for anything but unsubsidized loans, and he can't get enough to pay for University of Michigan! I think it's his own damn fault. He's 20 years old and I think he should just join up since he was planning on being career military anyway. He was in the top of his class in private school for high school, there's no reason he should've gotten bad enough grades to lose his funding. Thanks for the back up!

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by We miss our girl! on January 11th, 2008

Sounds like he needs the discipline of joining :)

Can you picture him as the .mil dude in an (I think) Army commercial a while back: Dad greets him back with "What happened to you over there Son? You did 2 things you've never done...you looked me in the eye and you shook my hand."

You're doing right. Keep it up and he'll be a fine productive member of society :)

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by Borderlinux on January 11th, 2008

He's generally a hard-working polite kid. He did great in high school. Always helps around the house, etc. He also did fine his first year and a half of college. I think he's just spent too much time playing video games the last two semesters! I also think he has a bit of, I don't know how to explain it...you know how like high school football stars get to college on their scholarships then find out they're not the best anymore? He was like that with grades in school. Out of all our six kids, (combined families), he's the most disciplined as far as school and not complaining about having to do something. He's always planned on being career military, he'll just have to start out differently than he planned!

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by We miss our girl! on January 12th, 2008