• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

PSA: Potential college students, don't be like these college grads

Svnla

Svnla

Lifer
I read Time magazine (10/31/11) and there was an article about fresh college grads with huge student loans.

Here is a small sample:

1) $67K loan, BA degree, Specialized Studies, Ohio University.
2) $120K loan, MFA, Multi Media Design, Full Sail University.
3) $30K loan, BA, English, Forham University.
4) $50K loan, BA, History, NY University.
5) $112K loan, BA candidate, Global Studies, The New School.
6) 90K loan, BA, Anthropology and History, Tulane University.
7) 169K loan, BA, Film Making, NY University.

I understand if those grads were from MIT or Stanford or big Ivy schools but borrow that much money to go to those schools? And with those majors?

All of those above are unemployed or barely making it to pay the bills, let alone the student loans. It is sad for #6, she turned down a full ride scholarship from University of Texas and went to Tulane because it was more "upscale". Now she is making less than $10/hour as a hotel front desk clerk and living with mom.

The article stated that the US economy needs more science and math grads because good paying jobs are not being filled due to the lack of the right majors.

I think potential college students need to save money by:

a) Go to a local community college while staying at home for the first two years and the transfer to a university later - make sure your credits will work with that particular university.
b) Max out college hours within the semester. For example, my school will charge the same price if you have 12 hours per semester (full time) or 15 or 18 hours - if you can handle it.
c) Trade school/vocation education is not a bad option.
 
Last edited:
I've BEEN going to community college. It sucks even worse. Way too much money for a shitty education that impresses NO ONE!
Work is just plain better. If you can find it.
 
Svnla said:
I read Time magazine (10/31/11) and there was an article about fresh college grads with huge student loans.

Here is a small sample:

1) $67K loan, BA degree, Specialized Studies, Ohio University.
2) $120K loan, MFA, Multi Media Design, Full Sail University.
3) $30K loan, BA, English, Forham University.
4) $50K loan, BA, History, NY University.
5) $112K loan, BA candidate, Global Studies, The New School.
6) 90K loan, BA, Anthropology and History, Tulane University.
7) 169K loan, BA, Film Making, NY University.

I understand if those grads were from MIT or Stanford or big Ivy schools but borrow that much money to go to those schools?

All of those above are unemployed or barely making it to pay the bills, let alone the student loans. It is sad for #6, she turned down a full ride scholarship from University of Texas and went to Tulane because it was more "upscale". Now she is making less than $10/hour as a hotel front desk clerk and living with mom.

The article stated that the US economy needs more science and math grads because good paying jobs are not being filled.

I think potential college students need save money by:

a) Go to local community college while staying at home for the first two years and transfer to well university later.
b)Max out college hours within the semester. For example, my school will charge the same price if you have 12 hours per semester (full time) or 15 or 18 hours - if you can handle it.
c) Trade school/vocation education is not a bad option.
Click to expand...

(A) is the option I am taking. Community college is just so much cheaper then university. If I went to a four year university for my GE, even living from home I would be paying 4 times as much for the same education.
 
Some people should just go to school for common sense. Turn down full ride scholarship? #6 is definitely retarded.
 
I tried the college thing, 2.5 years in loans later...i gave up for a few semesters.

Got a job and am on track to make 55+ next year, 60 in 2013 if i keep my head on straight. Im only 19 so this kind of income is rather huge to me, compared to what i was making before.


Kinda just proving that there are other ways out there than college. Vocations arent all that bad if you play your cards right and find one with a good career path.
 
Risk/Reward.

I'm middle class white, there was NO financial aid for me. It was all student loans. It's a choice between going to college, or not. I have a masters in psychology and 153,000 in student loans now. I worked full time all the way through my post-secondary education and got a grand total of 3000 dollars in financial aid along the way. Fortunately about 50,000 of that load is below 3% interest rates.

I got hired by a hospital to a position that pays about 15% over what the average for my degree is. I noticed no other members of my team went to state schools, we all went to private colleges. Will the extra loans be worth it in the end? I started much higher than most $ wise, and as such have a higher life-time earning potential, and I believe it's at least in part due to where I went to college. I don't believe the education I got was ANY better, in fact I have found that the education I got at state colleges along the way when I would take courses at them was actually better. But others have a very good perception of the school I got my bachelor's from, and a very very good perception of the school I got my master's from. As such it opened some doors for me through networking with others from this college.

Does this mean I feel vindicated for turning down the 165,000 scholarship for biochemistry I got? Nope. I went full-retard on that one.
 
BlackTigers said:
I tried the college thing, 2.5 years in loans later...i gave up for a few semesters.

Got a job and am on track to make 55+ next year, 60 in 2013 if i keep my head on straight. Im only 19 so this kind of income is rather huge to me, compared to what i was making before.


Kinda just proving that there are other ways out there than college. Vocations arent all that bad if you play your cards right and find one with a good career path.
Click to expand...

I have a friend that's working towards being an electrician...GREAT money. Plumbing, electrician work, pipe laying (heh heh), etc. Nothing wrong with any of those.
 
BagOfWalnuts said:
Risk/Reward.

I'm middle class white, there was NO financial aid for me. It was all student loans. It's a choice between going to college, or not. I have a masters in psychology and 153,000 in student loans now. I worked full time all the way through my post-secondary education and got a grand total of 3000 dollars in financial aid along the way. Fortunately about 50,000 of that load is below 3% interest rates.

I got hired by a hospital to a position that pays about 15% over what the average for my degree is. I noticed no other members of my team went to state schools, we all went to private colleges. Will the extra loans be worth it in the end? I started much higher than most $ wise, and as such have a higher life-time earning potential, and I believe it's at least in part due to where I went to college. I don't believe the education I got was ANY better, in fact I have found that the education I got at state colleges along the way when I would take courses at them was actually better. But others have a very good perception of the school I got my bachelor's from, and a very very good perception of the school I got my master's from. As such it opened some doors for me through networking with others from this college.

Does this mean I feel vindicated for turning down the 165,000 scholarship for biochemistry I got? Nope. I went full-retard on that one.
Click to expand...

Prepare to get called out for being white. On this forum its a sin.
 
This was posted earlier in OT, but it bears repeating IMO.
Nowadays, higher education costs SO much more (proportionally) than it has in the past that youngsters in their early high school years have to start asking themselves if their grand plans for their careers are compatible/augmented with a 4 year degree. If not then would they be better served by learning a skilled trade where you actually have a marketable talent/skill rather than fancy college edumacation.
When I was 14, my biggest concern was being able to dial up on my 56k modem so that I could deathmatch a classmate on doom2. The possibility of being 200k in the hole after college graduation w/o the guarantee of being able to pay it off before turning 30 was not on my mind at the time.
 
Engineer said:
I agree with that. Oh, and for the record, the "average" (per CNN) student loan debt per college graduate is $24,000.
Click to expand...

I think even the one with $50k for their degree from NYU isn't really that bad. That's only $12,500 a year in loans. NYU is insanely expensive (tuition is ~$40k a year and living in NYC is very high) so that person must have done quite a bit to keep their costs down.
 
shortylickens said:
I've BEEN going to community college. It sucks even worse. Way too much money for a ****** education that impresses NO ONE!
Work is just plain better. If you can find it.
Click to expand...

go to a community college that lets you transfer a 2-year into a major university 4-year. my college did that. maybe yours is poop though.
 
Svnla said:
I read Time magazine (10/31/11) and there was an article about fresh college grads with huge student loans.

Here is a small sample:

1) $67K loan, BA degree, Specialized Studies, Ohio University.
2) $120K loan, MFA, Multi Media Design, Full Sail University.
3) $30K loan, BA, English, Forham University.
4) $50K loan, BA, History, NY University.
5) $112K loan, BA candidate, Global Studies, The New School.
6) 90K loan, BA, Anthropology and History, Tulane University.
7) 169K loan, BA, Film Making, NY University.

I understand if those grads were from MIT or Stanford or big Ivy schools but borrow that much money to go to those schools? And with those majors?

All of those above are unemployed or barely making it to pay the bills, let alone the student loans. It is sad for #6, she turned down a full ride scholarship from University of Texas and went to Tulane because it was more "upscale". Now she is making less than $10/hour as a hotel front desk clerk and living with mom.

The article stated that the US economy needs more science and math grads because good paying jobs are not being filled.

I think potential college students need save money by:

a) Go to local community college while staying at home for the first two years and transfer to well university later.
b)Max out college hours within the semester. For example, my school will charge the same price if you have 12 hours per semester (full time) or 15 or 18 hours - if you can handle it.
c) Trade school/vocation education is not a bad option.
Click to expand...

DEFINITELY AGREE TO A.
Can't stress this one enough. I'd have a lot less debt if I had done years 1 and 2 at local community college. Better grades too.
 
I did the community college and transfer thing and it was pretty great. CC classes were free and they were good for the most part. Math and Science instructors knew their stuff and had PhDs. Some were from local universities and taught part time at CCs. The other general ed ranged from lol easy credit to interesting.

I have not gotten anything besides student loans while at University (which costs about $6000/year), so this was good for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top