Cost of education...worth it or not? (Kind of a rant)

[Bizzymammabee]

First off let me say I think it's worth every penny. I really got to thinking about the topic today because of a post my nephew put up on facebook. He is currently enrolled at John Jay College and it seems they are contemplating privetizing the university. So he then goes on a rant about how the little folks this that or the other and how only affluent families will be able to send their children to school.

Is it just me or do people have this false sense of entitlement. Sorry but recieving financial aid while attending college is a nice perk but not a must. I feel if you want it and are willing to work for it then it will pay off in spades in the end. I can't understand why people would choose to not go to college because they can't get a free ride. These kids these days must not realize that you need every single asset you can get with the market being what it is. Sadly this is not isolated in the young. In a recent sociology class that I was attending there was a lady in there with the same attitude. Here was this grown lady that was on a full ride, gainfully employed yet half assing her classes, yet had the nerve to say if they take my financial aid away and if I have to pay for my classes I am dropping out. How can a grown person justify not doing what it takes to get ahead just because someone else won't foot the bill.

Sorry for the rant. I just wanted to get some others take on this subject. I am wondering if I am the only person that thinks this way.

I think my nephew is a bit peeved at me now for suggesting that it's not the end of the world to have to take a student loan. I have taken numerous student loans, matter of fact with my return to school I am back at it again. I think every penny is an investment, an investment in myself and the future I can ensure for my children.

[gidget529]

I never knew that many ppl who got student aid, let alone an amount that actually put a dent in their college bills. Who are these ppl? They need to write a book or have a website telling others how to get their college bills completely paid for. I feel terrible for the amount of debt young ppl (or anyone for that matter) get into going to school these days.

[Bizzymammabee]

The monster debts can be avoided if they go to State Colleges. I think the biggest part of student loans tend to come from deciding to live on campus. It's a nice idea to live in the dorm and experience that but it's better to get educated and owe as little as possible.

My daughter is 15 and we have been discussing college. I explained the cost of living away from home vs living at home and going to college. The saving is a big difference.

[kdhawks]

I think it's worth it if you're smart about it.

I was very, very fortunate to get full scholarship for my undergrad education at my first choice school. However, when I decided to go to graduate school, cost definitely became a deciding factor. I ended up going to an in-state public university for grad school, even though it wasn't as highly ranked as other options. I couldn't justify the loans I would need to take out for a more expensive school.

I think loans are totally worth it as long as a) you are diligent about completing your degree and b) you are smart about which school you attend. I think that the cost of many small private schools are ridiculous. In NC, there is a private college on every corner that costs an arm and a leg...and they aren't even good schools. I can't imagine sitting on 100k in loans to go to John Doe College for undergrad...especially when there are SIXTEEN public universities in the state (most of which are more highly ranked and all of which are definitely more affordable).

[Bizzymammabee]

Katy I agree with you 100%. It's nice to go to an IVY League or one of these top private colleges but not necessary.

[Cha Cha]

I now have two daughters in college. Honestly, I can see both sides of this issue, and there are a lot of variables to each scenario. It all depends on what kind of planning you've done to prepare for college. Personally, I think a debt of 80,000 (conservative figure for 4 years state school) or more for a student when they get out of college is a lot of debt to try and start out a life with, let alone trying to have a car to get to your job, buy a home etc, etc, and of course being able to get a job. If a student is 100% responsible for their eduction expenses that's a big burden financially. For this scenario, it is crucial for a student to plan smart and be in a carreer field where his/her education will pay off. In many cases trade schools are better routes for some students. I believe any education is better than no education and for a specialized field, have no problems with trade schools. My kids are paying for about half of their eduction, we are paying the other half. I have good kids, involved, making good grades, and we applied for hundreds of scholarships, and didn't receive any! Both my girls started working when they were 15/16 and are also working their way through school now. It helps, but still very expensive.

[TatumsMom]

The thought of paying for college scares the you-know-what out of me. We have a Sr. in high school right now (and a Sophomore) and so it's looming right around the corner. She has always known that she wants to go to A&M for Biomed. Science but is more than happy to go to Blinn (Jr. College) first. For one, we live in the town where it's located so we get the best price. The comparison of 1 semester there vs. 1 semester at A&M is unbelieveable. There's no reason to not get all those core classes out of the way at a Jr. College and then transfer. If we had the cash to plunk down for it, yes I would love for her to attend A&M from Freshman year on but sadly, that's not how life has panned out for us.

We plan on working really really hard on the scholarship applications but I get so down when I hear of all the kids that work so hard applying and get nothing and then there's the same kids that over and over get them all.... to the point where they get so many they can't even use them all. Geez! My kid has worked since turning 16 and been heavily involved in sports and school activities but she probably doesn't come close to what some of the kids that don't need to work can qualify for. That's a big sore spot for me. We'll be starting the process soon so I'm hoping for the best. But back to the subject, if she doesn't get a free ride, she'll still be going and we hope to be able to help her at least halfway with the student loans. I firmly believe that this is a parental responsibility if at all possible. I hate to see kids starting out with an overload of debt.

[Reese1]

I think an education is worth it, but I don't think it is enough any longer to just go to college and expect a job at the end.
I think people need to be smarter about what they are going to college to study, and what colleges they are going to.
I think students need to work, volunteer, and/or co-op in their field of studies, so they will have experience and an advantage when they graduate.
If they do not choose wisely and have any experience, then students are hit with a huge debt at the end, and not a great way to pay it off!

[celstu1]

Girl, mostly , what I see around here is a very large sense of entitlement in the younger generation! It's very sad! Entitlement, and a lot of pathetic excuses!

[Bizzymammabee]

One of the wisest thing a student can do is go to a junior college and knock out the core classes for cheap. Why pay big bucks for those classes. Then go to the big guy for the final part of that degree. I should have done this the first time around instead of going straight to a private university. I never finished that degree because of family circumstances, now that I am older and decided to go back, I went straight to a community college and saved a bundle. Now it's time to go to the next phase, lucky for me I can go to a City University or private but I saved a lot so it is not so bad.

I get so disgusted when I hear people saying if they can't get a free ride they are not going. Then it bugs me to no end when I see these people in class that are getting financial aid to pay their school tuition, yet they squander the opportunity by not holding up their end.

Whatever my children choose to do, whether it may be a college or trade school, I will be proud as long as they apply themselves. I told my kids they are paying, and if they put their all in and graduate in a timely fashion, as their graduation gift we will pay the whole thing.

[roseylovestosho]

I'm sorry but most scholarships students receive is academic based. If my GPA dropped below a certain point while I was pursuing my undergraduate degree I would no longer qualify for Florida Bright Future Scholarship and I would have to pay for school out of pocket. Furthermore, the reason every state subsidizes education and provide academic-based scholarships is because they want the best and the brightest to stay within the state and not go elsewhere. The state benefits from a better educated workforce, and the state is willing to subsidize schooling for students that show promise in order to have a brighter future-- at least in theory.

Furthermore, there is a big difference between scholarships and financial aid. I received a full-paid scholarship and I qualified for financial aid. I'm not sure what your nephew is talking about but Financial aid are subsidized loans that you take out and you don't have to pay until you graduate- but it's not free. The only thing that is free is a scholarship--which I worked hard for to receive. I graduated from high school with a 6.0 GPA. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a 3.9 GPA and now I'm in a PhD program that I also have a fully-paid for due to my achievement.

[Patti]

When my daughter was in HS she laughed when we suggested the Jr college 10 minutes from our house. Then she started looking at the cost of colleges and the amount of loans she would have to take. All of a sudden the local Jr college looked pretty good. She went their for 2 years and loved it. Then the jr college had an agreement with Univ of Wisconsin to continue your education there at in state tuition. It was a 45 minute commute each way and her pt job was 45 minutes in the other direction,but it worked out fine. She got her degree and came out of college with 0 debt. It is difficult now a days to come out with a huge student loan debt with the job market so awful.

[Britster]

I am 21 years old and still in the local community college due to financial reasons mostly. My parents are amazing and have helped me out with a lot of things in my life but college was one thing they never much planned for. In HS, I was always one of those "I'm not going to college" people until I realized how important a good education truly is. I made the decision to go on my own, no one forced me. The first semester they did pay for but since then, I've paid for it, or "bartered". Our lawyer has turned into a family friend and I dogsat for him an entire summer and he paid off what I owed to the CC in return. I paid for most of it myself, with some help from relatives here and there, but mostly I have paid my way through it which I am glad for. If I can avoid loans for as long as I can, I will. At least my associates degree will be earned debt-free. I will also be attending a different community college with their higher education program to earn my bachelors, and I may be able to make it through all of college mostly debt-free which would be amazing!

I had no qualms about going to a community college first... it made sense to me. Not exactly sure what I wanted to do, knew I did not want to live in a dorm, why waste the money....? Plus we have one of the top rated CC's in the area. It's about $90 per credit hour here. Granted, I racked up a few bills because I am an idiot, lol. I am on a payment plan but would only make the first payment and then by the end of the semester, I'd have a huge $900 waiting for me before I could register again. Live and learn!

I think a lot of young people just want to shoot straight to the top without really working hard for it. I've learned that it's simply not how it works. Plus I feel better about myself when I really work hard for something and earn it.

But I also don't see an issue with family paying for a child's education. Most of my friends have been taken care of by their parents in that regard. So long as they get good grades and do a good job, they don't have an issue with it. My parents would love to be able to pay for me fully but it's just not possible. My dad helps me a lot with my car payment/insurance which I am extremely grateful for. Plus I am still living at home free of charge, so again, very lucky in that aspect!

[Teresa Ford]

Some people think it is all about me, me, me. So Yes, many people feel entitled to a new car, free health care, a good college, an easy, well paid job with tons of perks, a nice home in a good area, and a government that takes care of them. Selfish children become selfish adults.
You seldom hear any one say it takes hard work to earn this or that. I truly think it you must train children to be responsible for their own actions. Even a very young child can understand to earn, save and buy. Children who earn things, have a good sense of self worth and responsibility. I think children should also be taught by example, to give time to others in need, and give some of their own money for charity. (like the Humane Society or Special Olympics). Maybe Nothing in Life is Free, should be for people too.

[gidget529]

I wish I had known some of you when I went to college. I performed very well academically, 3.9 GPA, and the scholarships I got were negligible. I guess I didn't look in the right places or back then there weren't as many available. Maybe it's my age showing here. A surprising one I got was actually through my parents' life insurance company. I couldn't believe that one. Wasn't much, but every little bit helps.