Student loans and why you -shouldn't- get one.

[Litodude]

Re: Student loans and why you -shouldn't- get one.

Fair enough, those aren't the ONLY options, but the others aren't much better. Working is an option, but it takes some serious effort (and with the unemployment situation it's not going to be an option for everyone). It definitely depends on where you go and what kind of education you're looking for. And I wouldn't consider anything military an option, unless you're already planning on moving in that direction.

http://teenadvice.about.com/od/teenlifefaqsandqas/a/postgradchoices.htm

I swear "teenadvice" isn't some suicidal hotline shit.

[Patashu]

Re: Student loans and why you -shouldn't- get one.

The point isn't that students need to man up and make more money, the point is that loans are way, way more usurious than they ought to be. Note in particular that student loans are inflating faster than costs are inflating faster than wages (so everyone's actually being slowly screwed!) - There's no way such a growth is sustainable, and if it continues eventually no amount of personal responsibility will be able to dig your way out of it.

Not that personal responsibility is bad, but first it needs to be fair.

[DotKritic]

Re: Student loans and why you -shouldn't- get one.

http://teenadvice.about.com/od/teenl...radchoices.htm

Good read.

I would have been the one to work for a term (or a year max) before starting college, but my parents pressured me into starting college after the summer. Good thing I have my dad supporting me.

[ddrxero64]

Re: Student loans and why you -shouldn't- get one.

I agree, that article was a great read. I'd also like to point out to qqwerf that the military IS a great path to choose. People just fail to understand what the military does. They don't just war, they help out other nations as well. Reliefs, etc.They lead a job that is as dangerous as a firefighter or police officer. Some jobs may be more dangerous than others, but it only takes as little as one bullet to kill someone. Whether it's coming from a criminal or a soldier, it'll end a life. I rather be in the military (which isn't always a position that sends you overseas) and receive all these benefits than be a firefighter in my city. It gives me a little more pride in what I do.

My friend is able to college for practically no money because his dad fought in a war in the military. One of the most satisfying things about the military is knowing that you're kids will benefit financially in their future. Imagine that this economy doesn't improve after you join the military. You just might have the security of knowing that you're children don't have to join the military to pursue their dreams.

The military isn't the the best choice, but knowing what the military does for someone can make an opinion a little less influenced by society. I don't agree with war at all, but I'm only going to live so long. I'd join if it meant securing my primary career and taking into consideration the future my potential children may have.

[Reincarnate]

Re: Student loans and why you -shouldn't- get one.

I think people who typically pursue higher education over the military understand perfectly well what the military offers and understands that it just isn't for them.

To reply to qqwref, the choice isn't necessarily between paying loans and no school at all -- it just means that you may have to settle for a different school that offers better aid/a full ride/etc. Personally I chose the stubborn path of "I got into all these schools and it'd be such a waste if I settled for something that would just bore me after all this hard work I've done my whole life." The middle class gets absolutely screwed when it comes to higher education and right now it doesn't seem like there are many alternatives.

I agree that in many cases school should cost SOMETHING. But $50k/year for a top school is just ridiculous. It basically means that you should expect your future income to be able to afford the price you pay, the opportunity cost foregone, loan interest, and THEN a bunch extra in higher income -- in order for the NPV to be positive.

That's one reason I chose Penn over the other schools I got into (shitload of other Ivies + crap like Stanford/MIT) -- the business school is your bet bet again these loans. Many of my friends graduate into $60k+ jobs after leaving school (with many opportunities for growth, which is hard to get in other industries) and those who pursue investment banking start to clock disgustingly high salaries that make the education worth it.

Right now, I'm honestly not sure if my education was worth it. I'll probably decide, 10 years from now, that it was. It's just that higher education really, really requires that you become more work-oriented. Gone are the days of pursuing education for intellectual stimulation and enlightenment alone... it's not going to be worth it if you drown in loans whilst trying to self-actualize, lol.

[kmay]

Re: Student loans and why you -shouldn't- get one.

military was definitely something i thought about, but there is no way i could leave my family. both of my parents are disabled and i pretty much do everything around the house. It would have been nice to travel off somewhere, or actually get into shape, but i cant leave them. So I firgured i would get a job that pays pretty well, and work on weekends, hello restaurant, and recently i passed the menu test so i can start serving over the summer. if my manager isnt a dick. so instead of taking home ~$100 a weekend, ill be taking in closer to $200-250 a weekend.

while restaurants do suck, they are a great place to make money with no education needed.

[kommisar]

Re: Student loans and why you -shouldn't- get one.

I can't really relate since college here is apparently cheap as fuc, but people from anywhere else have to pay double.

better hope ya smart and have lotsa scholarships!!

[Crashfan3]

Re: Student loans and why you -shouldn't- get one.

Damn, I'm glad I found this thread.

I just came back early from basic training on an uncat/med discharge which was completely out of my control and now I need to get my shit together and go to school.

My goal is to take two years at a local CC and a program through my old high school which I'm in the process of signing up for makes those first two years almost cost-free, however I need a bachelor's for the job field I plan to enter so that means two more years at a more expensive university. In the end I'm gonna have somewhere around ~$28k I need to come up with. Of course I'm going to work part-time throughout all 4 years but I have only a few hundred dollars in the bank saved because my original plan was to have the G.I. bill pay for my schooling, but that went down the drain with my medical discharge.

I'm thinking about possibly investing some of the money, taking the rest of the summer to find the best possible job and then starting my classes in the fall term. Of course since I just came back from the Air Force only two days ago my plans are about as solid as tapioca pudding so I'm open to suggestions.

Side note: glad to be back on FFR and glad to see everyone again, how have things been?