Voice Of Post

First Person: Piled-On College Costs Exacerbate Generational Differences, Each time I tell my dad how much money I'll need for my books for the semester, he gets this sour look on his face.

He never fails to remind me (or to complain to me, rather) that the money I spend on books would have been more than enough to cover his entire tuition when he attended the University of Minnesota back in 1970. Parents always say things like that.

So I did a little research on his school website to uncover some real numbers. Lo and behold, the tuition for the 1969-70 school year was $399!

Last spring, my bookstore total came $576.47 -- surprisingly one of the lower bills I've paid. To this day, I am still mad about a required book for my environmental science class, which was so cleverly titled "Environmental Science." I paid $135 for a used copy and did not use it once.

I attend the University of Maryland Baltimore County and unfortunately, at $286 a credit, my book money wouldn't pay for two courses at my school, let alone an entire semester of in-state tuition. Now, there are a few differences between college for me and for my dad. But the cost difference (literally and figuratively) is probably the one that hits me like a ton of bricks.

I am 23 and graduating this year with a degree in gender and women's studies. Sure, I know the value of a dollar was different 43 years ago, but it doesn't take a genius to know that it was much more affordable. Tuition aside, today's students fret about ancillary costs. My dad's generation never worried about laptops, printers, costly calculators or any expenses that come along with them. According to my dad, all he used was a $20 typewriter and an adding machine.

Before they start college today, students are already out hundreds for a laptop. I bought a printer, too, since my school charges 10 cents a page for printing -- and, trust me, college students print a lot! The $40 ink cartridge needs to be replaced a couple times a semester.

You think that covers it? Wrong! Each year, I pay $60 for virus protection software so that I can keep my computer running for as long as possible. And this still only accounts for some things I need. (I should mention, too, that my brother and I were in school at the same time until he graduated last year, so multiply any expense by two.)

With that money spent, I do not know how kids convince parents the latest tech gadgets (like the tablets they use to waste time in class) are necessary. I feel guilty enough that my parents spend so much on the cell phone service that I claim is a must when, really, the tons of minutes, data, and unlimited texting are just ways for me to stay in the loop with my friends. With five people on our plan, our bill is close to $200.

It seems parents should have started saving for us back when they were in school.

The costs, though, seem a necessary evil. A college education is more valued today, viewed as necessary in the way a high-school diploma was in my dad's days. It's not just necessary; it's expected.

My dad was the only one of five kids in his family who received a college degree. There was just no pressure. Today, the opposite is true. When I graduate, I'll be the second of three kids to obtain a degree.

A job isn't guaranteed, but if I end up anything like my dad, I think I will be just fine.

So, which generation is better off with the whole college thing? The jury is still out on that one. Sure they had cheaper tuition, but we have computers and Internet. Enough said!