One more bit of fallout from the economic meltdown: A lot of students are having to make drastic revisions about where -- and even whether -- they go to college, as families watch their resources shrink.
The San Francisco Chronicle outlined the problem in a story today. Students who wanted to go to a more expensive private school are looking at cheaper state schools, and some will wind up closer to home to save on travel expenses. Others -- 16% according to the Chron -- are postponing college altogether. Still others have shifted their plans from four-year to two-year community colleges.
This isn't exactly a bonanza for state universities. Many are already close to maxing out in enrollment, and their budgets are every bit as strained as public sector budgets elsewhere. If there's a surge in demand for space in public schools, they may not be able to provide it.
I can certainly relate. I had to hold off on a grad program in NY thanks to the insane interest I was going to have to take on my loans.
It is just so sad and unfortunate because these students are our future leaders and are not able to pursue their dreams.
It is unfortunate; however, if they want it they will make it work. Before "bohemian" was a fashion statement, it was a way of life shared by many students in order to afford their education. Maybe it's all relative. When I started college, the tuition and books cost approximately $600 a semester; however, my hourly wage was $2.10/ hour. They will make it work because they have to just like the generations before.
It's not always so simple Kim.
When it was all said and done, I was going to end up with over a quarter of a million dollars in debt due to the interest rates I was offered. That's med school debt for a grad program that was extremely unlikely to put me in a field that pays anywhere near as good as medicine.
If the cost is prohibitive, there isn't always a way to "make it work."
We, the elder generation must not be of draw-bridge mentality with the
rationalization, we made it in, now it's your problem to make in. What a waste
of good minds that can be, what an impediment to our future as a technological,
scientific nation. Now America is numero uno. Without the younger intelligence
she won't be tomorrow, because the emerging nations are investing in the brains
of their younger generations. They are sending them here to be educated.
The satisfaction of being self-made has reached a price tag that can no longer
be attained by everyone. When wages were around 2 dollars per hour, rent in
"bohemia" was under $ 3O.00 per month. Rent has gone up about 20 times, while
low wages have a little more than just doubled. Students are usually forced to take
minimum wage jobs because of the time factor. And a bohemian life is not
conducive to the study of medicine (the discipline cited by "adam.")
Adam, Isabell, I realize that but until it gets better you work with what you've got. Adam, my closest friend had $220,000 in school debt but she wanted her dream, she had no parents, relatives or spouse to help her. She is truly self made. Now 45, it took her twenty years but she paid back every cent and she got her dream. My father's dream was to be a veterinarian but came from a poor family and was a father himself before he could afford any college. He became a research biologist because he couldn't afford the costs of a degree in veterinary medicine. That's life. My nephew will never be the dentist he wanted to be because all of us together can't find a way to make it so. Plan B, here we come. Every generation is tomorrow's future. Those from other countries, sending their youth here for an education are finding a way to make it work. They are doing what has to be done. I'm not saying it is not hard, I'm not saying there will be those who won't get their chance but you work with what you've got and find a way. That is not a draw bridge mentality, that is looking at reality and saying look harder, think outside of the box and yes, it may mean you live a life not conducive to the study of medicine but if you want it you find a way. Being self made has never had a price tag that was attainable by everyone. In fact a college education is available to a larger economic cross section of the population than ever before as well as the range and number of funding options... and yeah it still sucks. While our youth is busy finding a way, the rest of us, who also have a stake in their future, need to lobby, vote and work to make a college education easier to get for all.
"While our youth is busy finding a way, the rest of us, who also have a stake in their future, need to lobby, vote and work to make a college education easier to get for all."
That's the ticket! I gladly follow that lead!
I think we need more mechanics, plumbers, small appliance repair,heating and air conditioning folks.I have a need for their services.Aren't most of these guys on Wall Street and in Congress college grads.If I have to hear one more college student whine about how tough it is I'll puke.Try running a successful business.You made your choice... now shut up.
Leave your sweeping generalizations at home Brian.
I have a college degree and I work in the secondary sector holding a job that offers a manufactured product.
And aren't you one of the one's always bringing up censorship? Since when do you get to come in here and tell people to shut up?
It is a struggle to get a college education because of the cost and they are trying to become something and do something with their lives. Would you rather have them be on public assistance for life or be able to go to college. The tech schools are expensive too.
You're right Adam... please continue your whining.What is the secondary sector and this product you manufacture?Did your college education(taxpayer subsidized prepare you for your current employment and what are you doing to give back to us taxpayers?
Education prepares people to work and give back whether it is running a syccessful budsiness or working for someone else. Some people are actually paying for their own education not everyone is getting assistance mostly just the so called minority and low income many who are not even Americans.
Education prepares people to work and give back whether it is running a successful budsiness or working for someone else. Some people are actually paying for their own education not everyone is getting assistance mostly just the so called minority and low income many who are not even Americans.
Jay-K...It's all subsidized and partakers go to college to increase their incomes or pursue their interests and your slap at low income and minorities is based on what...bigotry?
Seems to me that students should be able to pay for college right there at the college they go to? nobody ever talks about the golden pay that some college folks have? millions in pay ,millions from the government? and then millions in pay they pay to former members of congress? till we bring costs down then students could pay the schools and not tie up banks?
Adam...you are a real person with a website and everything.I have a deep appreciation for those that make beautiful things out of wood.I have friends in Shaver(mostly retired)who carve and create beautiful wood items. Bart...you should check it out if you haven't already.
We're all real people Brian.
I use my college degree (applied mathematics) frequently in what I do. And let me tell you, my subsidized federal loans (as well as Cal Grant, Pell Grant, and personal loans as well as part time jobs) played a large part in securing my opportunity to get that undergrad degree.
And I participate heavily in my community as well as paying the taxes on my income.