How important is money when it comes to college?

[ABQCOWBOY]

My heart aches for kids who are encouraged to "get the college experience" via student loans. They start their adult life immediately saddled with debt and did so naively without real understanding as to what they'd be facing later.

As an adult, you'll want options and choices. Financial freedom to the degree you can achieve it increases that liklihood.

I agree wholeheartedly CoCo. Years ago, a College Education was an investment in your future you could count on to pay dividends. Now, it's no more then a scheme to make money. We are literally praying off our own youth and it sickens me. It's supply and demand really. The education you receive, while in college is not what it used to be and we are turning out so many degrees that they are devalued to the point of being worthless, especially when you consider the debt you must pay off for the degree in many cases. I feel terrible about what is going on in today's world. It should seriously be a crime.

 

[TheCowboy]

Well an update on this...

I applied for the community college and it turns out that I am UNDER qualified for the major. Yes, UNDER qualified. Ill you exactly what they told me:
1. Must build math skills before starting your chosen program.
2. You do not meet the entrance requirements to the 2+2 program.
3. You lack the prerequisites for your chosen program.
4. Need to build your science skills before starting your chosen program.
5. EOP will be reviewing your file for eligibility.

So what did they do? They accepted me into the liberal arts program. My gripes about this. I have an 88 average and am an excellent student. I also was accepted to UNT which has one of the best engineering facilities in the US. But I can't get into a community college.........

So now this leaves me pissed off and confused. At this point I really hate college. I am thinking of not going to college and potentially becoming either a construction worker, electrician, detective, sales manager or other good paying jobs. Life is confusing, isn't it? :laugh2:

 

[Cowboy Brian]

I agree wholeheartedly CoCo. Years ago, a College Education was an investment in your future you could count on to pay dividends. Now, it's no more then a scheme to make money. We are literally praying off our own youth and it sickens me. It's supply and demand really. The education you receive, while in college is not what it used to be and we are turning out so many degrees that they are devalued to the point of being worthless, especially when you consider the debt you must pay off for the degree in many cases. I feel terrible about what is going on in today's world. It should seriously be a crime.

Not always.

Accounting, Economics, Engineering and most medical fields are all investments that have a great ROI. The problem stems from people over extending themselves through loans and the overrush of people in historically successful career paths. If you graduate and don't get a job the solution is to get a grad degree, still don't get a job? Law school. This is not the answer - get a job out of undergrad, work two years AND then go get that grad degree if you still feel it would advance your career not career prospects.

I know a kid who got a undergrad degree but didn't get a job. He got a MPA, didn't get a job. Solution? Do a dual MBA-JD. About to graduate, no job offer.

It's ridiculous to think that someone with a MPA, JD, MBA and BS is unable to land a job but it is the case. You must plan your career path, you must intern and you must get into a college with successful alumni. Community college is the perfect opportunity to enable you to get your plan set up without risking much. Alumni connections are crucial and it is one aspect that separates state schools from private, rarely do state have strong alumni networks - even mediocre private schools have decent networks.