Won't you still qualify to have your loans deferred longer due to unemployment? Aren't there situations in which they'll actually cancel some of your student loan debt because you're a teacher? Sorry, I began college in 1999 so it's been a very long time since I attended those financial aid seminars...

At every school, you receive a financial aid package. This can include subsidized/unsubsidized loans and/or grants that you do not have to repay. I have a sophomore in high school, so I am very concerned about impending college costs. I actually began college after my divorce, so I received full grants. Even with attending a state school and working all four years, I still graduated with around $20,000 in student loans and I was very conservative about the amount of loans I took out. I graduated in 2003, so I am only about half way done paying these loans off.

Luckily, my son said that he wants to attend the local junior college for his first two years because he knows it will save me money. What a good boy! Secretly I think he is just a bit nervous yet about leaving the house. I guess we'll see how he feels in two years when he's graduating. My son knows that, whatever he chooses, a private school is not an option, unless he were to receive a full ride.

This economy has been a killer for everyone, in all walks of life, college educated or not. Regardless of your current job situation, I think there is value to getting an education that extends beyond the monetary. Especially when I attended a university (was at a junior college for first semester), I was exposed to so many different people and ideas that I never would have been exposed to had I not attended school. I had friends from South Africa, India, France, etc. My horizons expanded exponentially. My college experience was invaluable in a myriad of ways... No way do I regret it.

Sorry to hear you are not going through w nursing. In my area of the world we have a nursing shortage. Just a bit of warning w a psych degree (sister is in that field). You need at least a Master's in that to find work in our state. You might want to check into what employers require in your state to be employed in that field. Some require a counseling certification after the degree program also.

:thumbup::thumbup:

I think I was confused by what the OP was asking/speaking of. I read it last night when I was half asleep, but yes, I agree with this statement.

Cost of education...worth it or not?

When I went to school, I would have answered this question with a big yes! There is no question is it worth it.

If I were a young person today, I don't know what I would do. A degree is necessary or helpful for many careers, but.....schools are ridiculously overpriced. The endowments that most of them have are absurd. Where does the money go? Often not into programs that actually teach students. Many schools have agendas and activities that I do not support.

I would make very different choices today where I would go to school.

I agree 100%. I think people need to lay the blame where it belongs...directly on themselves. There are always things that people of more means are able to access but I will never say my situation is a direct cause of oppression.

I have an undergraduate degree in psychology, and while I love it and enjoy it, it has very little usefulness in the real world when looking for a job. I went straight on to graduate school because I knew I wouldn't find a job, especially in this economy, with degrees in psychology and English. The experience was wonderful - but my master's degree is much more practical. You cannot really practice psychology without a master's in some related field (psychology, social work, counseling). I will be done with my master's in social work in May, and then will be applying for licensure so I can practice therapy and receive insurance reimbursement, etc.

I need my masters if I want to be licensed to practice. I was looking at it more if I wanted to move into Human Resources or Labor Law. I totally enjoy the field. A bachelors in Nursing is going to require me to be there roughly four nights a week until around 10 pm. So when I get home it will be 11. I work full time now and have three children...I can't justify taking that much time away from them. It really is ok though. I am good at my company, I just want to keep my mind stimulated and have a backup plan in this economy.

My sil has her license and she is having issues developing her own practice. It's hard to get on the insurance panels.

Good luck to her! :) I don't think I want to work in private practice anytime soon. I work in an inpatient psychiatric unit now and love it. I cannot wait to have my full license. Insurance should reimburse any LCSW or PLCSW, but I am sure setting up a private practice is a nightmare!

She actually works at a facility now. She has been trying to build her private practice on the side for four years now. She has a few clients but people would prefer to be able to use their insurance vs paying out of pocket. With the economy being what it is everyone is trying to stay in network to avoid paying so much.

Good luck!

Welcome to the most depressing club in the world. :p At least we can make our babies happy by being home A LOT.

Both my son & daughter are away at college. It's just over $60,000 a year for them combined....paid for by a combination of scholarships, loans (theirs) and me. They also work part-time to earn their own spending/gas/party money.

Fortunately, the employment picture for them looks good even in this economy. They both have paid internships lined up in their respective fields for this summer and had numerous opportunities to chose from. My son's an Engineering major and my daughter has a double major in Health Care Administration & Health Information Management. In their chosen fields, the cost of higher education looks like it will be worth it. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with all majors.

I, personally, was not in favour of them staying home & going to local colleges with the same kids from the area high schools. I think its important for them to venture out in the world, get out from under the thumb of the parents, spread their wings, meet people from other places with various life experiences, and develop their independence. I believe its a growth journey that is hard to duplicate living at home & attending local community/junior colleges, and that it develops greater confidence & will better prepare them for successfully venturing out into the world.

I'm going to throw my two cents out there.... sorry for my rant, it's a sore spot.

Personally I don't like people who get a free ride, they are not appreciative of the education their getting. I paid CASH for my degree... here's my story.

I can't stand my friends who have parents who pay their tuition, they are not appreciative of what they are really getting out of their education. If you work hard and get scholarships, well then I appreciate that. We don't have a lot of financial aid, and our student loan program is a rip off if you ask me.

The most financial aid I've gotten is $750 a year from Dalhousie. So I have absolutely no sympathy for those who will be loosing full tuition, I'm an example of what can happen if you don't have a free ride.

Ok so time for my rant..... I'm 3 courses away from completing my Bachelor of Commerce degree. I started in 2007 thinking it would be a walk in the park. Turns out my mother forced me to go to university but didn't intend on telling me that I had to pay every cent! (She spent my university savings in a businesses investment, which caused a huge family fight, we're ok now). So here I find myself in 1st year with a failing business, and an entrance scholarship that doesn't even cover 1st semester. I went to the student loan office and they told me that because I live at home I need my parent's signatures.

Well turns out my parents don't follow the law, they ended up loosing a few vehicles and other property to the government for tax issues. So my mother couldn't sign my loan papers, because the tax information wasn't correct. So I COULD NOT apply for student loans.

I was 18 and in Canada you have to be 19 to get credit cards, and loans, but turns out you still need a co-signer. Well considering the above problems that was unlikely. The bank declined 4 applications for lines of credit. I ended up eventually getting a few credit cards. But then the university stopped accepting credit cards for payment. Through all of this I worked between 20-40 hours a week at various jobs, while doing a full course load. I ended up having to extend my four year program to five years, and now I'm finally almost done.

So the moral of the story... If you want an education bad enough, you can do it without a penny of debt. I paid cash (over $40,000 plus rent and living) for almost my entire degree. This year the bank finally gave me a line of credit, so when I graduate I will have $5000 in debt. That's it. No debt, it's been a tough five years, but you know what. I did it on my own...

Sorry, it kind of felt good to get that rant out there, I hope someone else learns from this, that young people can do this on their own. There really is a way. It sucks, but there is a way.

The difference in tuition at public and private colleges is pretty huge. I am not against that, and gladly pay for my son to go to a private college. His student to teacher ratio is 11:1 -- yes really 11:1!!!! They get all the attention they need to make sure they really come out with a quality education and not just one of a thousand in a lecture hall. Research projects are a large part of their education too. They can get very involved in their education process and not just sit back and take notes. I love the opportunity -- but it does not come cheap! $40,000 a year to start and then you start adding on..... Even private schools do give scholarships though and my son managed to get one that pays half. That is not so bad and makes it doable without saddling him with a bunch of student loans.

On the flip side, he could have gone "in state" free with our Florida Bright Futures, which rewards scholarships based on GPA and ACT scores. I was thrilled that he decided to go to a respected conservative college with a reputation for academic excellence though and am happy to help him pay for it. This is a good fit for him but picking a college is a very individual choice. One is not right for all.

I think most who really apply themselves in high school and have decent ACT/SAT scores can come out with most of their college paid with scholarships if they apply for them. I am all for merit scholarships. It shows them early that if they work hard, they can see rewards. But there are so many "gimme" scholarships NOT based on merit, it is difficult for them to see any difference in working hard or just putting their had out for the Pell grants. I think even PELL grants should be based on merit. Show them right from high school that they have to work hard to get ahead. They wouldn't have to set the bar too high, I know everyone cannot come out with a 30 ACT. But they should have to have some decent grades and show basic achievement on their college entrance exams. Sometimes I think this country is sending the opposite message and that is what hurts our economy and worse, our nation's future!

Actually student aid comes in the form of BOTH grants and loans. Grants do not have to be repaid at all. MANY go to school with a PELL grant that might pay for even more than their tuition, books, and fees! I know some kids who bragged their Pell grant wound up giving them several hundred dollars in spending money each month. Here's a kick in the teeth though -- IF you pay for a Pre-paid College program in Florida, you wind up being disqualified for all of the grants because, you do have the means to go to school. So, be responsible and pre-pay your child's education, and you knock them out of the running for any Pell grant! One more instance of where being responsible DOES NOT get the reward! This made me fairly angry but I am over it now. All things happen for a purpose. My son wound up in a fantastic college that he loves. We are using that pre-paid college program Out-of-state at a private college. Doesn't make a dent! It pays something like $3,000 a year for out-of state but .... at least we didn't loose the money we put in to it.

I do think the Florida Bright Futures is a great [program. It is given based on merit and students have to continue to do well to keep getting the money. It is a reward for performance and not a hand-out!