Is the Cost of College Priced Out?
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When most people think of going to college, they think of fun parties, having a roommate and even just getting away from their parents. Some will go to college with high expectations of a social life they were used to in high school, but they do not realize that there will be more work in a college level class.
Glenn Harlan Reynolds, columnist for USA Today, readily states that those who take the ‘party-pathway’ are less likely to prosper if they come from low income families who cannot support them if they happen to fail. Most students who do not take their classes seriously will remove necessaryclasses out of their schedules and leave ones that are considered ‘easy A’s.’ This is one of the major money drainers: students bogging down their schedules with unnecessary classes. By doing so, they are wasting vital educational slots that could be put towards their intended major.
Location planning, when looking at possible colleges, can save expectant students thousands. The location of your college is everyone’s first thought when considering where you will end up. Those who want to escape to an out of state school won’t think about the rapid accumulation of debt that might eat away at paychecks. Forfeiting your dream school might seem impossible to cope with, but in the long run it can be more beneficial than getting away. Always an option though, is going far away in the same state.
One option every student tends to avoid is going to community college, although it can save thousands while still receiving a quality education. Transferring to a four year university afterwards allows you to transfer usable credits to gain a degree for less. It can even be a way of showing that you are serious about your schooling now if your high school career was below average. By doing so, you might be able to receive scholarships you would not have met the criteria for before. Since going to a university seems more plausible to some, some find it easier to just include room and board with their tuition, but living with family can save a fortune. Ostensibly, commuting seems like a waste of money, but when you consider the average for room and board alone, roughly nine thousand dollars according to US News, the hassle is worth it.
Every student wants perfect grades and an amazing social life.
Due to this, no one actually wants to give up their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an on-campus experience. One will have to decide whether a happy social life is more important than less debt in the future. Campus life offers many possibilities including new friends, university sponsored events and extracurriculars. What most people don’t realize, though, is that you can still do all of these if you do decide to commute. Saving money by staying at home or with friends allows you the freedom to decide when you want to party, or when sitting home alone with a textbook is more ideal. Remember, when finals are coming and you are hitting the books, “it is much easier to focus on your schoolwork than it would be if you lived on campus,” says seacstudentweb.org, an online education site.