Future mechanical engineer promises to help little brother pay for college, but is worried that their siblings will be jealous and ruin everything: ‘It's really just a matter of wanting to make sure he has the same opportunities we all got to succeed’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jul 28, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

When you don't grow up with much, you hope that one day you won't have to deal with what it was like to struggle. Similarly, with either your kids or siblings, you want to give them an easier time than what you had to go through. Financial struggles make one eerily wary of their circumstances at any given moment, even when everything seems like it's going great. Even still, a person who knows struggle will do their best to give back and prevent others from knowing what it's like to be in an insurmountable amount of debt. The soon-to-be mechanical engineer in this next story explains that they want to help their youngest brother pay for his college tuition if he keeps his grades up.

I say: What the heck, sure. It's going to be their money, after all, and what they decide to do with it is their prerogative. Honestly, it's very admirable of this future engineer. They don't have to take portions of their pay and apply it to their brother's future, but they're doing it out of the goodness sin their hearts. Why should the little brother land himself in debt if it could be prevented? The issue: The sibling is nervous about the reaction they'll get from their other siblings. Scroll below to read the entire story. 

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  • Agit SECURITY php nades NODE know our brother won't be as lucky as we were to get enough in loans to pay for our schooling."
    via Tim Gouw for Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "WIBTA if I promised to help my little brother pay for college even if it might make our siblings jealous?"

    I'm going to graduate soon with my mechanical engineering degree and have a job lined up that will have me pretty well off.
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  • I've been doing math, looking at the current state of federal loans for students, and family situation.
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  • My little brother (youngest of 5 and just graduated high school) will not be well off financially in college.
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  • He's taking a 2 year missionary trip before college and after that, he will be the only kid in the family in college. At the same
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  • time, the rest of us kids will be too old to be considered in the FAFSA. To put it quite simply, my little brother will get very minimal
    via ConstructionDecon
  • in terms of loans and I know my parents aren't well off enough to put anything significant towards his schooling. The rest of us all
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  • get enough in loans to mostly if not cover the full amount of tuition. My little brother will most likely end up paying a lot out of pocket.
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  • If my math is correct, I'll be able to help significantly towards his education. Tuition will be about $5000 a semester (based on my
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  • current tuition, but I wouldn't be surprised if it goes up), and I should be well off enough to put around $3000 a semester towards his education.
    via ConstructionDecon
  • ICD) DOX CRRAVES CREA 81 B RESERVE NOTE 153 TO LED STATES OFAMERIC NITED STATES ወጣ መጣር CIT CRET SER LONGER CRAWLSCREE DOL PJ07928078 J10
    via David Trinks for Unsplash
  • This will come with some stipulations such as keeping good grades, but nothing too crazy. Basically a little above the
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  • requirements to stay in good standing to get federal loans. I'm not sure if I'll consider this a loan and ask him to pay it back, but something like that can be decided after I start my job and whatnot.
    via ConstructionDecon
  • The biggest issue I can see occurring is our siblings getting jealous and complaining how our brother has it so easy and how
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  • we all had to pay back loans with interest. And I get why they would be upset, but at the same time I know our brother won't be as lucky as we were to get enough in loans to pay for our schooling.
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  • It's really just a matter of wanting to make sure he has the same opportunities we all got to succeed in school without worrying about how we're going to afford it. WIBTA?
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  • 0215rw NTA Set it up as a loan for now and you can decide to "forgive" it later. It might make him value the money more if he thinks he need to repay. Also, they are gown a adults and should understand life isn't really fair.
    via 0215rw
  • Educational_Car6184 NTA. Its your money, he seems to need it the most given he likely just will have to delay schooling or not go to school if he can't get loans or FAFSA. Though it might make your siblings less jealous if you make it a loan, even if you don't plan on keeping up with it. You are just starting your career and your finances out though. So I'd be careful of promising too much before you know how much you make and how much you'll need to spend on yourself.
    via Educational_Car6184
  • DenildoSares You would not be an a h_le for helping. Your brother will have a lighter aid package once he is the only child on the FAFSA, so giving him similar support only evens the playing field. Explain your offer and its simple grade condition to him and your parents. If other siblings complain, remind. them your gift costs them nothing and that you worked for the extra income. You are free to use your money to give him the same chance they already enjoyed.
    via DenildoSares
  • darlynlovezh Life isn't always equal, and sometimes helping the one who needs it most is the right move, even if others don't get the same treatment.
    via darlynlovezh
  • Old_Cheek1076 NTA - Any sibling who resents you helping your brother is an a.h.
    via Old_Cheek1076
  • imkyliee nta at all. it's YOUR money, you're doing a very nice thing for your brother. it's amazing that you want to give him this opportunity, and see him succeed. if your other siblings have an issue with it, tell them to mind their business. it's no ones business how you spend your money. tbh they don't even have to know about it.
    via imkyliee
  • RegiB13 NTA. You aren't trying to make it equal, you're trying to make it equitable.
    via RegiB13

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