Classes or Textbooks or Food???
Which do you pick?
If you are not in college or do not know anyone currently in college, you might assume college is just a place of higher learning to gain marketable skills and hopefully a better career. If you talk to parents or those who attended college 20+ years ago, they talk about their favorite teachers, study groups and cramming for tests, end of term parties (think Animal House), and great friendships along the way.
Now, tell those who graduated 20+ years ago, what today's colleges are really like and they go into shock.
- What do you mean more than half of your classes are online and you never actually meet your teacher or fellow classmates?
- What do you mean your REQUIRED textbooks cost more than the class?
- What do you mean you have to take XYZ course, which has nothing to do with your degree or field of study?
- What do you mean your financial aid has been slashed so you can no longer study full-time (or part-time) and actually live and eat too?
- What do you mean you have to purchase a one-time access code for a class you will never take again, which cannot be transferred to someone else (where a textbook can at least be loaned to a friend for the next term).
There are thousands of students having to pick between taking classes or buying textbooks or eating!!
You might be asking, well how does she know or yeah, I know there are issues but it must be manageable...
I know because I work with college students, I am a college student, and I try to help other college students whenever possible.
For first-time in college students, they think they can just keep taking out loans, without thinking of how they will be paid back. I usually do not see too many of these students, because they have a basic understanding of online classes and the current school system. Hopefully, they are still living at home and have decent support systems to help back them during their college years.
For older students coming back to college to start /finish their degrees for employment or advancement reasons, they are usually expected to drop their lives and jump right in. A 2-year degree actually takes at least a year or two longer, if you need to work, EAT, take care of family, pay bills, etc.
So, when they are advised to take 3 to 5 classes to knock-out that degree, they trust the system. They are pumped. "I can do this." They take out the maximum loans and then find out that taking that many classes is WAY too much.
It is hard to not to be supportive AND be realistic to someone who has finally seen a glimmer of a dream. That's where I come in. I let them know they need to be realistic and fully research their options before registering for so many classes.
Sometimes they understand and are thankful for explaining the hidden costs and sometimes they are mad and feel that I am being negative or trying to hold them back.
Being a realist, is having a plan.
Example:
3 classes costs $3,000 (in-state, community college pricing)
+ 3 - 9 required textbooks /reading books / online access codes $500 - $3,000
+ any additional equip, notebooks, supplies, parking passes, etc $20 - $300
- lost wages due to studying or classes (3 months at reduced income)
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Those 3 classes can possibly cost up to $10,000 for that one term.
Now, multiple that times 60 credit hours and the true price of that degree comes into focus. (AS or AA degree)
How can WE as a nation help students make the most of their achievements and gain the needed skills for employment or better yet, self-sufficiency?
If you have ways to save while in college, please share. I know there are many in the same boat, but sometimes it feels like we are all alone.
Don't set yourself up for failure. You CAN do anything you truly want to do. Believe in yourself and know you are important.
Think of the StarWars quote "I am ONE with the FORCE, and the FORCE is with ME"
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