These days we hear all about
students struggling with their
college debt and loans.
Especially in this recession, it’s
not often we hear about a student
who is financially fully
supported by his or her parents
in terms of tuition.
“My parents understand that
going to school full-time is hard
enough as it is without having
to worry about paying my
tuition,” said Danny Daloisio, a
20-year-old biology major from
Yardley. “I work about 20 hours
a week at Old Navy in Oxford
Valley, but my earnings don’t
come anywhere close to being
able to afford my tuition and
still go out and have fun with
my friends.”
College is a time of transition
and many parents think they are
doing their child a favor by not
financially supporting them
with tuition costs. However,
times have changed. When most
of the baby boomers were in college,
they could work and pay
off their tuition as they went.
Now, college tuition prices
have skyrocketed, leaving many
students in debt years after
graduating. In 1980, when
Danny’s parents were in college,
it cost about $2,039 to spend a
year at a public four-year university
and $8,910 at a private
four-year university, according
to statistics from swivel.com.
Both of his parents paid for
their own college tuitions with
the money they made working
at their part-time jobs. “It was
never really a problem,” said
Danny’s father, Pat Daloisio. “I
don’t remember having any
financial problems
when I
was Danny’s
age.”
Nowadays it
costs approximately
$5,836
a year to attend a public fouryear
college and $22,218 to
attend a private four-year university,
according to
swivel.com’s data.
“I have no problem with fully
supporting my son with his
tuition,” said Danny’s mother,
Debbie Daloisio, as she sipped a
cup of Earl Grey in her immaculate
kitchen. “Some people think
that by forcing their kids to pay
for their own tuition, it will
teach them responsibility, but
Danny has a job and works hard
to get straight A’s and is the
most responsible kid I know.”
Pat Daloisio laughed. “We
really are incredible parents.
Our Danny couldn’t have
turned out any better, and it’s
all thanks to us,” he joked.
Pat Daloisio works as a marketing
executive for a company
called Thomas Publishing Co.
He loves his job and is more
than happy to contribute part of
his income to paying Danny’s
tuition. “I think parents have a
responsibility to help their kids
financially. If you aren’t prepared
financially to have children,
then don’t,” he said.
Danny’s mother Debbie works
as a medical receptionist and
feels the same as her husband.
“Someday, I’ll be old and gray
and Danny’s salary as a successful
biologist will put me in a
good nursing home,” she
laughed. “So we’re happy to
help him now.”
“I don’t get financial aid from
the government or any student
loans. I feel lucky that I have
successful parents who can pay
for my college education. Plus, I
like to use the money I earn to
go out places with my friends,”
said Danny. “I feel bad for the
people who have to pay for
themselves. They always seem
to be miserable and complaining.
I wouldn’t have kids until I
had a budget for the first 25
years of their life mapped out.”
When asked how he will handle
money when he graduates
college without the “experience”
of dealing with money
troubles, Danny did not seem
concerned. “Are you serious?”
he asked. “It’s not that difficult
to make a budget and stick to it.
The biology field is hot right
now despite the economy. I
know I
will be
alright. I
have a lot
of ambition
and I
l o v e
what I study.”
Danny hopes to follow in his
p a r e n t s ‘
footsteps.
He loves
being a
c o l l e g e
s t u d e n t
but can’t
wait to
take the
” b i g
steps” in
his life
like landing
a
great first
job, buying
a
h o u s e ,
g e t t i n g
ma r r i e d
and perhaps
having children of his own
someday.
For now, Danny is concentrating
on his studies at Bucks, but
plans to move to Philadelphia
next year to attend Drexel
University where he will apply
the biology skills he learned at
Bucks towards a forensic science/
criminal justice major.
“I cannot wait. I will definitely
miss my parents but I’m excited
to live with my friends in the
city and spend money at bars
and going out to eat,” said
Danny. “I really love fine dining,
especially a great piece of
juicy steak,” he added.