NationStates Jolt Archive

Recently, I heard that colleges in Nebraska were raising their prices even higher. My question is: Why on earth does college have to cost so much? It seems like the only way you can get into a major university anymore is if you are rich, athletic so you can get a scholarship, smart so you can get a scholarship, or smart and athletic so you can get scholarships. There are a lot of kids at my school that want to go to college, but they only have average grades, and they don't have a lot of money. My family doesn't have a lot of money. Teachers always tell us that we should work hard so we can go to college. Is it even possible anymore for the majority of kids? By making college more expensive it was almost like they were saying that they didn't want us to succeed.

I know that the ROTC will pay for like 2 yrs of college if you join . . . yet every time I mention it to my mom she freaks and goes 'OMG YOU'RE NOT JOINING THE MILITARY!!!!'

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2004-06-28-tuition-burden-cover-usat_x.htm

You should apply for aid, either on the school, state or federal level. Just fill out the FAFSA form. You should be able to get one from your high school counsellor, or ask around. Anyways, you need your parents to fill it out with you, because they need to answer some tax information.

Anyways, based on how much your parents make and own, and other stuff, they'll figure out how much aid you get. And you will probably get at least some. Also, there's a site called fastweb that can be found here: http://fastweb.monster.com/

and you can search for scholarships. Good luck in getting into college!

You might try a two year (Comminity/Junior) college to start with, then transfer to a traditional university. These smaller colleges are alot cheaper and many of them base admissions on entrance tests for basic skills, rather than grades.

They aren't as prestegious as the big universities and they often don't have some of the side activities like sports, but it can really help your wallet or give you a fresh start if you goofed around during high school.

You should apply for aid, either on the school, state or federal level. Just fill out the FAFSA form. You should be able to get one from your high school counsellor, or ask around. Anyways, you need your parents to fill it out with you, because they need to answer some tax information.

Anyways, based on how much your parents make and own, and other stuff, they'll figure out how much aid you get. And you will probably get at least some. Also, there's a site called fastweb that can be found here: http://fastweb.monster.com/

and you can search for scholarships. Good luck in getting into college!

I lived on grants, scholarships, and student loans while I went to school. I didn't have monetary support from my parents for it. It can be done.

I know that the ROTC will pay for like 2 yrs of college if you join . . . yet every time I mention it to my mom she freaks and goes 'OMG YOU'RE NOT JOINING THE MILITARY!!!!'

Half right. ROTC will pay for the first two years of your tuition w/o obligation. To recieve aid after that, you sign a service contract.

You might try a two year (Comminity/Junior) college to start with, then transfer to a traditional university. These smaller colleges are alot cheaper and many of them base admissions on entrance tests for basic skills, rather than grades.

They aren't as prestegious as the big universities and they often don't have some of the side activities like sports, but it can really help your wallet or give you a fresh start if you goofed around during high school.

Yeah, that's what my mom was telling me about. She said a lot of people were going to specialty (sp?) schools before they transferred to a big university. That would actually be better for the career path I would like to follow....

That would actually be better for the career path I would like to follow....
Which is?

Which is?

Maybe forensics....but you probably think that's stupid.

College costs are a SCAM!!!!!

Colleges raise tuition prices, then cry to politicians, the politicians demand more money for college grants loans ect. The vast majority of college students receive some form of govt grant, private aid, loans ect. So their effective cost of college has not gone up at all. It is only the rich, or the people with average grades or only average athletic ability that are screwed.

Colleges love it, cause they get more and more money.

Politicians love it cause they can show increased college tuition as a reason why they need more funds(what decent person can be against more aid to college students)

Recently, I heard that colleges in Nebraska were raising their prices even higher. My question is: Why on earth does college have to cost so much? It seems like the only way you can get into a major university anymore is if you are rich, athletic so you can get a scholarship, smart so you can get a scholarship, or smart and athletic so you can get scholarships.

Or a citizen of this country so you can get loans.

There are a lot of kids at my school that want to go to college, but they only have average grades, and they don't have a lot of money.

I hate to say it - but someone has to. If these kids are truly working hard and still only getting average grades in high school - chances are they will fail out in college anyways. It may sound harsh, but every person should not go to college, nor should they be made to feel like they have to. Some people are cut out for different things than what society tries to teach you are the "ideal". They should go to a technical school or just get a job.

Teachers always tell us that we should work hard so we can go to college. Is it even possible anymore for the majority of kids? By making college more expensive it was almost like they were saying that they didn't want us to succeed.

More people than ever are going to college - more of them than ever on scholarships. Meanwhile, people constantly complain about class size - prompting more profs to be hired. Thus, colleges need more money.

Maybe forensics....but you probably think that's stupid.
Well, no. It´s not my thing. But if it´s what you want to do then theres nothing stupid about it.

This reminds me of something I read, wish I could remember where I saw it, about how with many careers, it's getting to the point where, if you get a Doctorate, you'll likely be paying off student loans for so long you won't do any better financially than if you'd stuck with a Master's. Me, I'll probably do ROTC. My parents at least claim that they could pay for college, but it's already been established that my sisters and I are on our own for grad school.

I feel it necessary to point out that if for some reason you do not complete college and get a degree, you still have to pay back the Student loans you may have taken out. And a friend of mine, who didn't get his degree, found out that GSLs are not covered by bankruptcy . . ..

College costs are a SCAM!!!!!

Colleges raise tuition prices, then cry to politicians, the politicians demand more money for college grants loans ect. The vast majority of college students receive some form of govt grant, private aid, loans ect. So their effective cost of college has not gone up at all. It is only the rich, or the people with average grades or only average athletic ability that are screwed.

yeah, but tens of thousands of dollars of debt straight off the bat don't feel too good. trust me. everybody can afford to go to college because of student loans. but debt sucks.

I feel it necessary to point out that if for some reason you do not complete college and get a degree, you still have to pay back the Student loans you may have taken out. And a friend of mine, who didn't get his degree, found out that GSLs are not covered by bankruptcy . . ..

Now I don't know anything about the bakruptcy thing, but are you complaining about someone having to pay back the loans they choose to take out? If I get a loan on my car and then I never drive it, should I not have to pay the loan?

yeah, but tens of thousands of dollars of debt straight off the bat don't feel too good. trust me. everybody can afford to go to college because of student loans. but debt sucks.

Of course, you can do all sorts of things to put off paying back the debt - like going to grad school. =)

I hate to say it - but someone has to. If these kids are truly working hard and still only getting average grades in high school - chances are they will fail out in college anyways. It may sound harsh, but every person should not go to college, nor should they be made to feel like they have to. Some people are cut out for different things than what society tries to teach you are the "ideal". They should go to a technical school or just get a job.

Not neccisarily. In fact, not at ALL.

High school and college, from what I've seen, have two very distinctive teaching methods. In college, each proffessor will teach in their own manner. However, in high school, teaching is done purely through books and homework.

I, for example, was miserable in high school. The best-VERY best-I could achieve senior year was a straight 2.0, and that's me doing everything possible.

In college I've had straight A's.

I disagree VERY strongly about high school education, and how it's done.

Well, let's do a little simple math.

Let's say it takes $15,000 for one year at a state college. Maybe less, maybe more. That's for tuition, room and board. Not books.

Let's say 10,000 students attend per year. That's $150,000,000 to one college per year!! And this is a partially subsidized state college!! So where the hell is $150,000,000 per year going?!?

Now I don't know anything about the bakruptcy thing, but are you complaining about someone having to pay back the loans they choose to take out? If I get a loan on my car and then I never drive it, should I not have to pay the loan?I'm not complaining, I'm just pointing out the way things work. If you kinda maybe want to go to college, but you need to take out student loans to do so, you probably shouldn't. Living on the ammount of money you can make on the type of job you can probably get without a college degree is hard enough, add in the cost of stiudent loans for something you gain no financial benefit from and it gets even harder.

Well, let's do a little simple math.

Let's say it takes $15,000 for one year at a state college. Maybe less, maybe more. That's for tuition, room and board. Not books.

Let's say 10,000 students attend per year. That's $150,000,000 to one college per year!! And this is a partially subsidized state college!! So where the hell is $150,000,000 per year going?!?
How many times must I tell you people, the Illuminati are responsible for this!

Well, let's do a little simple math.

Let's say it takes $15,000 for one year at a state college. Maybe less, maybe more. That's for tuition, room and board. Not books.

Let's say 10,000 students attend per year. That's $150,000,000 to one college per year!! And this is a partially subsidized state college!! So where the hell is $150,000,000 per year going?!?
Probably into the universities bank account. I remember reading somewhere that Harvard universities own fortune was somewhere around 10 billion dollars. Stanford was about 2 billion. But they only used small amounts for the university. Mostly relying on gifts from alumni and businesses.

well suicidal
you are young and you are smart
so get working, if you are at the top of your graduating class in highschool you will get plenty of scholarships
enough to get you to state U maybe even enough to get you to a good private university. (not that i recommend that)

yeah, but tens of thousands of dollars of debt straight off the bat don't feel too good. trust me. everybody can afford to go to college because of student loans. but debt sucks.


debt does suck!!!!

but this is the problem when a group(colleges) can pass along costs to another group(govt) that doesnt actually have to pay these costs(the money comes from taxpayers, students taking loans).

In the university I went to, the top dean made over 1/2 a million + lived in a a free 3-5 million dollar university owned home. Plus, never had to pay for a single meal. Free transport(limo), university paid for all transport throughout the country/world when travel was needed for"educational" reasons.

This money didnt traslate into proffesors salaries, or class size.

Would this be possible if govt wasnt giving away someone elses money? Unlikely.

I was one of the few people who paid the full tuition btw(after they pulled my scholorship when they realized I was a not exactly academically inclined despite my test scores).

In my University, only something like 6% actually paid full costs for their "education".

Half right. ROTC will pay for the first two years of your tuition w/o obligation. To recieve aid after that, you sign a service contract.
Damn I wish I knew that coming into college.....2 years free tuition with no obligation? Sign me up!

Damn I wish I knew that coming into college.....2 years free tuition with no obligation? Sign me up!

You have to take (and pass) the ROTC classes as well, TANSTAAFL. I already had my tuition paid through Veterans' Grants and took the classed for S&G. I met quite a few students that were taking that route figuring loans and grants would cover their last years.

You have to take (and pass) the ROTC classes as well, TANSTAAFL. I already had my tuition paid through Veterans' Grants and took the classed for S&G. I met quite a few students that were taking that route figuring loans and grants would cover their last years.

not to mention, you gotta get up at 5 every day to do drills. I have a couple of friends who took that route, and ended up dropping out of it.