The Higher Edumicated Thinking Humans

(Don't Pay for College Insanity and Astronomical Tuition Costs)
June 21, 2014

 University and College costs are no longer considered high. They are seen as an astronomical insanity. It is insane to pay for college costs that will take decades to pay back. It is literally insane to continue down a federally implemented loan structure where academia sarcastic progressive elites and greedy federal interests pocket the tax payers hard earned dollars, while families go broke. Those that take on these loans are like frogs in simmering pots, who are smiling and croaking culturally faddish tunes in complete oblivion to the choke hold coming their way. It is not so much their fault because our whole country is on the same hellish ride pretending that the bolts that have come loose on the ride will never effect them even though they are all crashing on the same hellish ride.

Besides the growing costs of governmental student loans, the idea of what a university is supposed to be is now in question. True universities teach a student ideas that help one grow in his life as a citizen, as a statesman, and as a child of God. Degrees have become nothing more than a way to administer facts about specific careers. Great noble ideas are left out of the college curriculum and this has defiled the word "university". This battleground of life is worth hacking over whether one pays over a hundred thousand dollars for an education not worth a penny compared to a true university.

 Bachelor degrees are now considered passe when put beside the master's degree because of the fact that a larger portion of society possess bachelor degrees than in the past. More people are actually getting PhD's because more people have master's degrees. As the jobs decrease and the over qualified job seekers are a dime a dozen, the competition increases---leaving us wondering, "Was the degree ever worth it in the first place?"

What options do students and parents have right now? Firstly, partner together as a family and agree that there is no easy fix. If college is the mode to get the student where he wants to be in the future, then costs can be eased when the student gets good grades in high school, studies to increase his/her scores on the SAT, goes through the FAFSA process, keeps a transcript resume during high school, does not expect luxuries while in college, works part time, and stays the course while in college (no heavy drinking, studies for tests, maintains a schedule).

Parents should help curtail some of the costs. Maybe mom can get a part time job to help with costs. Maybe some of that savings for a specific luxury, such as a sail boat, would be better spent on your child's education. Help with the FAFSA process, take the child to visit  potential colleges that cater to his/her interests that are economically within your budget, explore in state scholarships. Let your child know that this is a team effort and everyone in the family plays a role.

Having said that, is college right for everyone? Many entrepreneurs left school to pursue an idea and made it work with vision and perseverance. Some of those successful business people went back to night school or took online classes to hone in on specific skills or complete certain certifications that enabled them to grow their business. Options are available and one option is the apprentice/mentor idea. If you know without a doubt what you want to do with your life then start now. Find an expert you can trust in that field and ask them if you can help run errands, watch and take notes, get a list of resources (books or other people) that they believe will help you increase your knowledge in that  particular field.

Would technical classes be a better option? Maybe one or two years of computer, business, or sales classes is all that is needed to help the student earn a living in a field. Starting the college conversation with friends and family should include these ideas. It is a great way to broaden the scope of what is available and may help alleviate the pressure of what is "expected". Too often, we define ourselves by what society is doing and expecting, rather than what our own gifts and talents are. Seeking meaning in our work does not come because we followed the Jones'. It comes when we find joy in being what we were created to do (our work) with the short time we have on this planet.


http://spectator.org/articles/38984/idea-university
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/a-college-the-size-of-a-seminar/
http://www.cheapestcolleges.org/online-bachelors-degrees/