If you are like most students, figuring out how you’re going to foot the bill has become even more important than deciding which college you will attend. But should your impending tuition bill be the ultimate factor in your big decision?
It is true that college is one of the best investments you’ll ever make—if not THE best. But that doesn’t mean that you have to wind up in the poor house while you wait for that investment to mature. Here are a few important questions to consider as you make your decision:
What is your major? Don’t panic. It’s OK if you have no idea what you want to study. But for those of you who do, make sure you take your future career aspirations into consideration. Want to be a business major? Well, once this economy behaves itself again, you’ll be able to score a good salary coming out of school. Want to become a teacher? It’s an awesome career choice, but know that you’ll never command a Wall Street salary. Plus, most states, if not all, require a master’s degree to remain certified, so grad school is not exactly a choice anymore—and that means loans, loans, and more loans for you.
A paycheck should not sway your passion, but it should give you a reality check. Yes, you might very well have the talent to be the next big thing, but as any E! True Hollywood Story will tell you, even the A-listers had some lean years before they made it big. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics—it’s a great source for employment and salary information.
Do you want to attend graduate school? I know, it’s frustrating to think of a second degree when you haven’t even earned your first one. But if grad school is indeed a blip on your radar at this point, then you need to weigh it as an additional cost.
In fact, that’s exactly the predicament I found myself in when I was applying to college. I was accepted to what I believed was my dream school, which just so happened at the time to not award ANY merit scholarships. So I was looking at financing all four years of college. (Note to younger self—what were you thinking?) I knew that grad school was a possibility for me, so I ultimately passed on my first choice and accepted a scholarship offer at another college on my list. To my happy surprise, that college turned out to be my dream school. Sure enough, four years later, I enrolled in grad school, and I was very glad to have fewer undergrad loans to repay.
Are you loving life in your home state? You already know that state schools offer the best bang for your buck—an excellent education with major tuition perks for state residents. But did you also know that some state schools offer even more benefits to those students who remain in the state after graduation? A number of states have noticed a massive exodus of students after graduation, and in order to keep more of those well-educated residents, state universities–and even the states themselves--are offering additional scholarships to sweeten the deal. Some states even have the endorsement of their celebrity residents. Longtime Maine resident Stephen King used his speech to the graduates of the University of Maine to encourage them to make the state their permanent home. So if you enjoy living in your home state and plan on spending some quality time there after graduation, then do yourself a huge favor and check in with the state schools to see if you can cash in on some of that loyalty.
These questions are a good start, but don’t stop there. When it comes to your (and your parents’) hard-earned money, you should have lots of questions about how best to spend it. Got any you can’t answer? Post them in the comment section below.
Last night I had the pleasure of joining the Girl’s Night Out event (GNO) on Twitter. Hosted by Mom It Forward, GNO set lifelong learning as its topic, but discussion eventually covered everything from juggling school while handling children to getting your own kids into the college of their dreams.
Whether the participants were thinking about school for themselves or someone else, one thing was certain: GNOers love learning and they know that the conventional college answers may not be the right solution for every budding student. That’s why it’s important to take a look at all your options, from online schools and continuing education, to career schools and certification.
If you’re interested in checking out what the panelists had to say on all these topics and more, you can use Search.twitter.com to find all tweets marked with the GNO hashtag (#GNO). You can also check out the “Moms Back at School” page for more up-to-date info on bringing an education back into your life or head over to Mom It Forward and enjoy more discussion about last night’s GNO.
And if you’re not already doing so, make sure to follow us on Twitter!
– Genevieve M. Blaber
Colleges can change a lot over the years, but one thing that doesn’t seem to change is the complaints college students make. Every day I go through dozens of college blogs and articles that ring out with the same moans and groans that I and my peers made back in the day. So here, in no particular order, are five common college complaints you’ll have and how you can solve them.
1. I’m so exhausted! Why do colleges have to schedule classes at nine in the morning?
Most workdays and offices open at 9 am so if there’s a time to get used to it, college is your best bet. Make an effort to ditch the weekday partying and get to bed early. And try not to pull out the (lame) excuses if your professor notices your consistent tardiness.
2. I’m never leaving my dorm again. The Freshman 15 is the worst thing ever!
Yes, it pretty much is — but there’s plenty you can do to ward it off or beat the pounds you already gained. Forgo the fast food, cheap eats, and Cup ‘o’ Noodles, and make time to eat healthy. Try walking around campus more too.
3. I have so much reading to do. There’s no way I’ll have time for all of this!
I’ve been guilty of this complaint too, but here’s a secret: practically no one reads all of the assigned reading materials in college. The key is to become a master of scanning, using your class notes as a guide to what to read and what to skip. If you do have the time, go back and read everything thoroughly and whatever you do, don’t procrastinate!
4. My college is a bureaucracy. I hate it. Nobody ever helps me.
Colleges are gigantic institutions and, while they care for you as student, they don’t imbue any one administrator with the power to solve all your problems. You’ll have to go through a chain of command, be shuffled between multiple people, and repeat your story ad nauseum, but it will help you build your self-confidence, communication skills, and independence.
5. I had friends in high school but I can’t seem to make any here.
While it’s not your fault, on a big college campus you’ll have to do some legwork if you ever expect to have a social life. Join clubs that you’re actually interested in, chat up classmates before and after class, and take a chance and sit down at someone else’s table during lunch. Your new best friend could be around the corner.
Valentine’s isn’t until Saturday, but here’s our early gift to you: the 10th edition of the Carnival of College Admission. Once again hosted by Mark Montgomery, the carnival selects and presents the best of college- and job-related posts from across the ‘net. While we hope you check out all of the posts, and leave plenty of comments, here are a few of the must-reads we came across:
David Petersam tells you what not to do on your college applications over at myUsearch.com.
John at Universities and Colleges gives the rundown on how you can get As in college without breaking your back.
Jessica Gross of Unigo, details the best and worst of college dating confessions and advice.
Join four girls who are in love with grammar, coffee, and their iPods as they dish on everything you need to know NOW to make the transition from high school to college. It wasn't too long ago that we walked a mile in your excited, eager, and slightly nervous student shoes. Believe us -- it really can be the best four years of your life.
Whether the participants were thinking about school for themselves or someone else, one thing was certain: GNOers love learning and they know that the conventional college answers may not be the right solution for every budding student. That’s why it’s important to take a look at all your options, from online schools and continuing education, to career schools and certification.
Colleges can change a lot over the years, but one thing that doesn’t seem to change is the complaints college students make. Every day I go through dozens of college blogs and articles that ring out with the same moans and groans that I and my peers made back in the day. So here, in no particular order, are five common college complaints you’ll have and how you can solve them.