Is a college degree worth it?
I did not go to college right after high school. I ended up going nine years later after the demise of my marriage. I was a full-time freshman in college at the age of 27. I paid for college with a little free money in the form of Pell Grants, student loans and work study. I was fortunate enough to have had my last year’s tuition of undergrad paid because I was the student with the highest GPA in the college of Liberal Arts and Education.
I graduated in 2002 and decided to go on to graduate school. I attended the University of South Carolina. I obtained my master’s degree in macro social work and had visions of changing the world. It is my desire to work with individuals and communities to help them identify problems and work to create sustainable solutions – and ultimately to one day become the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. I have since added paying off my student loans as one of my life’s ambitions.
I started making student loan payments in November 2006 when I returned to the United States from living abroad. I have not missed a payment. According to my payment disclosure, I have paid only $254.68 on the principle of my student loan. The rest of the monies have been applied toward the interest. At this rate, where is the light at the end of the tunnel? I will pay off my mortgage before my student loan.
I will not default. I did receive the money. I am grateful to have had the chance to attend college. I am proud to be the first in my family to graduate. If I had not been thinking about providing for myself and my two children as a single parent, I might have taken a slower pay-as-you-go route. I would certainly be in a better position financially if I had had the foresight and patience for that course of action.
President Obama has put forth as a goal or vision for our country that every high school graduate should attend college. How is that going to be possible if the only way to pay for their education saddles our children with a debt that will take them 30 years or more to pay?
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I see exactly where you are coming from. I too went to college! Did the whole graduate school thing. I am not where I expected to be after graduation. I do however have the mound of college loans that seem to not be going down. Was it all worth it?
Technical colleges provide the education needed to begin a career in only two years and at half the cost. Many of the associate degrees lead to jobs that pay more than jobs that require a four year college education. Even if a bachelors degree is the goal, technical colleges have articulation agreements with universities in South Carolina that assure students that courses taken at a two year institution will transfer to a four year institution. I believe students should attend post secondary education, but a four year college is not always the answer.
I can understand where you are coming from,however look at the bright side. You are setting a great example for your children!One can realize that your wallet don’t feel that way.
Nov 12th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
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Nov 20th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
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