Posts Tagged ‘college’

One More Thing, Before You Go…

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011


(photo credit: bredgur)

It’s not often that the Wall Street Journal writes for readers under 40, but they just published a really good article with financial advice for the pre-college population. Now, we’re not trying to get all parenty on you, but as pseudo-grownups we can assure you that a little planning goes a long way.* (And it really doesn’t take that much time out of your schedule.) Here are some of the points writer Zac Bissonnette makes:

  • > Debt becomes part of your life once you take it on. If you’re planning to use student loans to pay for school, remember that paying back those loans after graduation means part of every paycheck will belong to the bank.
  • > Speaking of paying for college, do you really need to pay for an ivy league degree? Success doesn’t depend on which school you go to – it depends on the effort you put in.
  • > Don’t get sucked in by materialism. The vast majority of people are not rich but still perfectly happy. But there are a lot of forces around you conspiring to make you feel poor and deprived. Tell them to go away.

(TILE Fun Fact: A small amount of debt can actually help you, by rounding out your credit history and boosting your credit score. But ONLY if you use it responsibly – that means pay it off, and never miss a due date.)

The most important question you need to ask yourself is this: What is this college degree really going to cost me, in terms of my dreams? Maybe you’d like to travel the world after graduation, or take an entry-level job in the nonprofit sector, or buy your first house before you’re thirty. Massive debt can really screw up your plans, so plan accordingly.

* For example, if you chose to invest $1,000 at age 18 and earned a paltry 3% return, you could have $3,500 waiting for you when you’re 60. (And by the time you’re 60, 60 will be the new 30.) All that with absolutely no effort. Well, you do have to take an hour to invest that $1,000 when you’re 18. See what we mean about planning?

Play with your own numbers to see what a little investment today can earn you: Compound Interest Calculator

Are college students too “foolish” to vote?

Monday, March 7th, 2011

If you ask some politicians, they are. And they’re mucking up the whole political system, dag-nabbit. According to a Washington Post article, some lawmakers have had it up to here with whipper-snappers voting with their feelings.

Average taxpayers in college towns, [Sorg] said, are having their votes “diluted or entirely canceled by those of a huge, largely monolithic demographic group . . . composed of people with a dearth of experience and a plethora of the easy self-confidence that only ignorance and inexperience can produce.”

Their “youthful idealism,” he added, “is focused on remaking the world, with themselves in charge, of course, rather than with the mundane humdrum of local government.”

– New Hampshire State Rep. Gregory Sorg

The solution? Proposals differ from state to state, but basically every voter would be required to show ID or proof of residence in order to vote. That would mean anyone without an appropriate ID would have to get one.

But identification costs money! That’s unconstitutional! It’s akin to the poll tax used to disenfranchise African-American voters in the 19th century!

What does this have to do with me and my money, you say? Well, since state governments can’t legally force people to buy the right (or the ID) to vote, taxpayers would have to absorb the costs.

And according to one estimate, the state of Wisconsin alone would have to pony up $2.7 million just to provide valid identification cards to voters who do not currently have them.

What do you think? Do you want to pay for that? Or are you too foolish to know?

Your parents aren’t going to be happy about this…

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Ouch. According to a new study, college students are spending four (or more) years and thousands of dollars on higher education, but they’re not actually learning anything.


(photo credit: peanutian)

Here’s the short story:

Students are slacking off, colleges are more focused on enrolling and keeping new students than they are on making sure each student gets a quality education, and professors are having trouble keeping up with their increasingly large class sizes as more and more people attend college.

Here are the fun facts:

  • 45 percent of students “did not demonstrate any significant improvement in learning” during the first two years of college.
  • 36 percent of students “did not demonstrate any significant improvement in learning” over four years of college.
  • Students who study by themselves for more hours each week gain more knowledge — while those who spend more time studying in peer groups see diminishing gains.
  • Students whose classes reflect high expectations (more than 40 pages of reading a week and more than 20 pages of writing a semester) gained more than other students.
  • Students who spend more time in fraternities and sororities show smaller gains than other students.

Read the whole story here.

College grad or auto mechanic? Is one more important than the other?

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

“Another perspective on the “american education is better than you think” is that many countries test young and track kids into special schools and into specific skill sets. For say, in Germany, one kid may go into a trade skill job and the other may go to school to prep for college. The USA treats every. single. kid. like he or she is college track, and we’re actually KILLING OFF vocational/trade programs. It’s senseless.”

- girlwithalessonplan

What do you think? Should we be preparing every child in America for college instead of investing in vocational schools for students that are interested in them?

Paying For A Single Year Of College: Waste Or Investment?

Monday, October 11th, 2010

Dropping out of college after only one year does more than anger parents. Some people are saying it’s a waste of taxpayer money, too.

  • A new study shows that between 2003 and 2008, states distributed about $6.2 billion to help a very special group of students pay for school. This group is made up of students who dropped out after one year.
  • Critics and regulators are generally of two opinions about this apparent waste of public education funding: one group says it shows that colleges are not doing enough to retain its students. Others say this problem makes it clear that too many students are being encouraged to attend four-year colleges.
  • There are two approaches as well: Ohio has started basing its funding decisions on how many students graduate from a university – not how many enroll. But the Obama administration and certain private funders have been focusing more on helping students get through life without a college degree.

Facts & Figures

  • In addition to the $6.2 billion states spent on higher education for dropouts from 2003-2008, federal and state governments spent almost $3 billion on grants for these students.
  • These figures represent 2-8% of states’ total higher education spending.

Best Quote

“We recognize an institution is not going to be perfect on graduation and completion rates. But at the same time, we know they can do better than they’re doing. And if you place the financial rewards around completion, then you will motivate that.” – Eric Fingerhut, Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents

Just graduated and they’re already hitting you up for an alumni donation? What’s the point?

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

“Hello, my name’s Susan and I’m calling you about your beloved alma mater… How about starting with a small monthly donation of $200?”

Sound familiar? Every graduate receives these calls seemingly moments after that graduation cap tassel crosses from right to left. Alumni donations have a large impact on colleges for several reasons and so they are solicited with what may appear to be overzealous enthusiasm. You may wonder how these people expect a new graduate to be able to donate anything. Don’t you need a job first?

Well, while your school is definitely hoping for a sizable check, that’s actually not the main reason for the unsolicited call. A large part of a school’s ranking is based on the rate of alumni donations – the percentage of graduates who give back to their school. By encouraging you to donate, sometimes even as little as $1, colleges are trying to maintain or even boost a significant factor in ratings determination. They also want to get you in the habit of giving.

While the size of your alumni donation right now might not be close to Warren Buffet’s, it still has a big impact on how your school is ranked and your giving patterns in the future.

Climate Change An Increasingly Popular Career Path For College Students

Friday, September 25th, 2009

This translation explores the changing landscape of the economy and different ways young people are getting involved with issues that matter.

  • Concern about climate change is inspiring unprecedented numbers of undergrads to study science and engineering, which is timely as there will soon be a shortage of engineers in this country.
  • The White House’s multi-billion dollar push to support “clean energy” will foster a new sector of  “green jobs.”
  • Helping solve large-scale societal problems is a major draw for young people.

Facts & Figures

  • Enrollment in graduate engineering programs dropped more than 5% from 2003 to 2005.
  • The rate at which American workers with science and engineering skills retire is expected to triple over the next decade.

Best Quote

“The most critical challenge over the long-term is people and brainpower.” – Karen Harbert, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy

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