Paying for college

[archcommus]

My parents are pretty broke so I'm paying for my education (about $20k/year) through grants, scholarships, loans, and working, just as any other college student would who doesn't have parents that can pay for it all. Of course, most everyone here would tell me that this is quite doable and that they've done it or knew people who have done it themselves.

But my question is then, why is "not being able to afford college" even a subject that exists today in society? If I have no money and my parents have no money and I'm still making it work somehow, what's the reason for the people who flat out say they can't afford it?

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Simple: Not everyone is motivated enough to put in the effort.

 

[BigJ]

Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

 

[TimMyMac]

many people don't have the grades or the ethnic decent to get scholarships to pay for college.

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

ding ding ding... these loans add up and you pay it for the next 10 yrs after graduation

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

I'm going to what I consider a relatively average priced school and I'm hoping for no more than $20k in loans.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

$100k!? Find a cheaper school.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: BigJ
Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

I'm going to what I consider a relatively average priced school and I'm hoping for no more than $20k in loans.

Many of the upper tier state universities are extremely expensive when it comes to costs for out-of-state students. For example, the Univ. of Maryland: College Park is approx $35,000 per year including Room & Board.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: BigJ
Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

I'm going to what I consider a relatively average priced school and I'm hoping for no more than $20k in loans.

Many of the upper tier state universities are extremely expensive when it comes to costs for out-of-state students. For example, the Univ. of Maryland: College Park is approx $35,000 per year including Room & Board.

True -- but if someone will not go to college because it's too expensive, perhaps they should choose a local school. A degree from any accredited college is better than no degree..imho, anyway.

 

[tfinch2]

Because they don't realize that the two years that they spend @ at community college to save $$ will not show up on their diploma.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Because they don't realize that the two years that they spend @ at community college to save $$ will not show up on their diploma.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: BigJ
Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

I'm going to what I consider a relatively average priced school and I'm hoping for no more than $20k in loans.

Many of the upper tier state universities are extremely expensive when it comes to costs for out-of-state students. For example, the Univ. of Maryland: College Park is approx $35,000 per year including Room & Board.

True -- but if someone will not go to college because it's too expensive, perhaps they should choose a local school. A degree from any accredited college is better than no degree..imho, anyway.

I agree, but some people choose to defer on going to school for a year or two in order to save up money so they aren't that much in debt. Down the line, having interest accrued over 4 years can be killer compared to being able to pay in cash for the first year or two years of school.

This would be one example of people using the excuse that they "can't afford to pay for college."

Hell, I was at UMD my first year (parents paid for the first year and only the first year)and then decided to transfer to a local community college to save money. I'm working full time and taking 15 credits, which is allowing me to cut off time spent at the UMD when I get back and allowing me to save up to pay a decent amount of the tuition cost in cash.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Because they don't realize that the two years that they spend @ at community college to save $$ will not show up on their diploma.

People think that going to community college is a waste, when in reality it's not. You get quality education for less money. What's there to be confused about?

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Simple: Not everyone is motivated enough to put in the effort.

BINGO!!!!!

q]Originally posted by: BCYL

Originally posted by: BigJ
Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

ding ding ding... these loans add up and you pay it for the next 10 yrs after graduation[/quote]

Last time I checked everything in life that is desirable has a cost associated with it. If you don't want the loan liability then go to a cheaper school. Education is an investment. An education is going to pay you dividends your ENTIRE life and will net you an order of magnitude greater income over your lifetime if you apply yourself to your career. If you don't want to pay for it you definitely don't deserve to have it.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Simple: Not everyone is motivated enough to put in the effort.

BINGO!!!!!

Originally posted by: BCYL

Originally posted by: BigJ
Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

ding ding ding... these loans add up and you pay it for the next 10 yrs after graduation

Last time I checked everything in life that is desirable has a cost associated with it. If you don't want the loan liability then go to a cheaper school. Education is an investment. An education is going to pay you dividends your ENTIRE life and will net you an order of magnitude greater income over your lifetime if you apply yourself to your career. If you don't want to pay for it you definitely don't deserve to have it.

And what is wrong with people working for a year or two to save up cash before going to college? These people can't "afford" college, so they simply decide not to attend for a year or two so they can.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Because they don't realize that the two years that they spend @ at community college to save $$ will not show up on their diploma.

People think that going to community college is a waste, when in reality it's not. You get quality education for less money. What's there to be confused about?

If you reverse your double negative, you said that 'people realize that the two years they spend at a community college will show up on their diploma.'

I went to a community college, and I could've shot for UF...however, it was several miles closer, significantly cheaper, and had 20-30 people in a class instead of several hundred. I have no complaints..

 

[EmperorIQ]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: BigJ
Not everyone wants to be saddled with up to or over $100,000 in Student Loans.

I'm going to what I consider a relatively average priced school and I'm hoping for no more than $20k in loans.

a UC ?

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: BigJ

And what is wrong with people working for a year or two to save up cash before going to college? These people can't "afford" college, so they simply decide not to attend for a year or two so they can.

Absoulutey nothing. Where did I say anything was wrong with working to save money for college. I actually would encourage this for people over taking out huge loans. Delaying college for a year or two is not a big deal, especially if it means you can absorb the financial burden easier. The big question is will people have the discipline to actually go to college if they don't go directly out of high school? That will be different for each person. If I was interviewing you for a job and you were a little older because you worked to pay for college rather than taking out huge loans or using the parents' checkbook you would immediatly get a notch up in my book as a desirable employee.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: BigJ

And what is wrong with people working for a year or two to save up cash before going to college? These people can't "afford" college, so they simply decide not to attend for a year or two so they can.

Absoulutey nothing. Where did I say anything was wrong with working to save money for college. I actually would encourage this for people over taking out huge loans. Delaying college for a year or two is not a big deal, especially if it means you can absorb the financial burden easier. The big question is will people have the discipline to actually go to college if they don't go directly out of high school? That will be different for each person. If I was interviewing you for a job and you were a little older because you worked to pay for college rather than taking out huge loans or using the parents' checkbook you would immediatly get a notch up in my book as a desirable employee.

:thumbsup:

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Because they don't realize that the two years that they spend @ at community college to save $$ will not show up on their diploma.

People think that going to community college is a waste, when in reality it's not. You get quality education for less money. What's there to be confused about?

If you reverse your double negative, you said that 'people realize that the two years they spend at a community college will show up on their diploma.'

I went to a community college, and I could've shot for UF...however, it was several miles closer, significantly cheaper, and had 20-30 people in a class instead of several hundred. I have no complaints..

I didn't realize what I said was a double negative.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: archcommus
(about $20k/year)

O.
M.
G.

I'm glad I'm not in America.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Simple: Not everyone is motivated enough to put in the effort.

exactly. my parents can afford it but I also have a scholarship which really helps out A LOT!

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Because they don't realize that the two years that they spend @ at community college to save $$ will not show up on their diploma.

People think that going to community college is a waste, when in reality it's not. You get quality education for less money. What's there to be confused about?

If you reverse your double negative, you said that 'people realize that the two years they spend at a community college will show up on their diploma.'

I went to a community college, and I could've shot for UF...however, it was several miles closer, significantly cheaper, and had 20-30 people in a class instead of several hundred. I have no complaints..

I didn't realize what I said was a double negative.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding -- you're saying that the CC classes will not show up on the diploma (at all), or that the CC classes will not be specified as CC classes?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: archcommus
(about $20k/year)

O.
M.
G.

I'm glad I'm not in America.

Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville FL -- $55.xx/CH for in-state students. ~$3300 in tuition for an AA (plus books).

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

i am going to a state school and working at an engineering internship after my freshman, soph, and junior years, plus working part time, plus a little in scholarship $(only a couple grand) is enough to get away with no loans. If that still won't cover it getting a cheaper place to live, no car, not eating out or drinking will. plus i don't see why people work in high school but don't save any for college.