It is not possible to work your way thru college, it is just too expensive. You either get loans or family help. Boot strapping yourself like I did is not possible when college costs + 50K.
Yes, it is. You go to junior college for two years, and then go to a regular college for the last two, and only go when you have the tuition saved. You might not do it in four years, but being debt-free at the end is well worth the extra time.
The reason college costs have gone up 500% in thirty years is precisely because dumb young kids were willing to bury themselves in debt to pay extra tuition so the colleges could build nice new buildings and give "scholarships" to illiterate minorities.
It is possible. Go to a community college for your associates degree then to a state school. Add-in some correspondence courses and you have a degree relatively cheaply. Of course, you’ll also work part time during this. I know it takes some hard work, but so what? Remember, the average college student in order to graduate in 4 years has 15 hours PER WEEK in class. The average student should stop whining and start working hard. It can still be done.
It may be more difficult today than years ago, but not impossible, if you pick an “affordable” college (including living at home doing your first two years at community college, ride the bus, and live a very frugal life). But finding that job in the Obozo economy in order to work through college is an added disadvantage. . .
While I did work my way through college over 30 years ago, a small loan to bridge the difference was necessary to attend an affordable state university. I had a great job offer with a BS degree, but delayed to get my masters (at a time when non-PhD degrees were not cool) - AND I found a university that paid me a modest research stipend which I could live on very very frugally. That experience of living without a lot were very happy times; I learned a lot about myself both in and out of school.
The easy money available for college education today has grossly distorted the marketplace and allowed university to jack up the cost to cover all their overpopulated, overpaid unproductive faculty and staff. Until the easy money is cut off and a critical mass of students begins to pick schools and subjects using sound financial strategies, only then will things begin to change. That is, it would burst the bubble of college as a place to hang out and party for up to 6 years for a worthless 4 year degree subsidized by taxpayers. “Junior the dummy” won’t be able to afford to pay it back because he thinks he is entitled to continue to live an undisciplined life while he plays with all his high tech gadgets.
Just imagine a world . . .where the college loan is granted based on the value of the degree sought . . .The average student would become smarter before he enters college (!) . . . a lot of worthless college departments dry up. . . and the size colleges take on “smaller footprints” (eco-friendliness?!). . .degrees would become more competitive and valuable . . .
“It is not possible to work your way thru college...”
Its alot of work...and I mean it looks like ALOT of work; but, I’ve know many people who have done it...even recently. I have alot of admiration for them.
On the flip side of the coin, I have a liberal co-worker, whose wife has racked up around $220k in loans, going for her PHD in Spanish!?!?! I feel sorry for hium really, because he has no idea what is about to hit him.
How did she rack up that much debt?
Living off of the loans.
I suggested to him that the loans should be limited to tuition, books, fees, etc; and, he got offended. In his mind, everyone DESERVES and education; and, in order to be a full time student and get said education, one has to borrow money for living expenses.
Its a recipe for disaster. There is no restriction on how the loans are used. In fact, I got the feeling that he had actually been encouraged to use the loans for living expenses, at the student aid office.
At the very least, I think the loans should only go for tuition and books. If the student has to get a part time job to buy his Ramen noodles, so be it...things in life are not always easy. And, if you shop at the organic food grocery store instead (like my nit wit co-worker), you are only delaying the hard parts of life.
My daughter is a senior in HS, she now carries a 4.25 gpa. I am amazed at some of the offers she has gotten, Indiana State University gave her a 4 year free ride a couple of weeks ago and my daughter had no idea why I was started crying when I read the letter.
She wanted to work through high school but the wife and I made her concentrate on her grades, with her I know we made the right decision.