by Catherine Borella
Taking the SAT (twice) = $96
Sending the scores to every school: $10.50 each = $84
Five AP Tests: $82 each = $410
Application fees to all 8 schools = $550
A college education= priceless?
All the adults in my life have been telling me how important college will be, and how important it is that I pay attention in school so I can go to the college of my dreams, get a great job, and become happy, successful and rich. Although I appreciate your high hopes for me, Mom and Dad, this is not a reality.
Lately, with all the Wall Street chaos and failures, the main topic of discussion is over the stinking economy. Following this, we hear from recent college graduates who are in debt by thousands of dollars, without jobs, and definitely not happy, successful, or anywhere near rich. In a recent article in the Boston Globe, they stated that “one in four recent college grads are unemployed” making most of the 9% unemployment rate in America college grads.
One current senior in college is graduating with a degree in childhood education. Next year however, she plans on finding a job as a childhood ed. teacher and continue schooling to become a physical therapist. In total, that is about 10 years spent in college, and over $100,000 in debt.
Although she plans on finding a job and being a part time student, she already expects to pay hundreds of dollars each month for about 15 years until she pays off all the debt she will owe.
As I have been filling out my college applications this fall, I am now missing hundreds of dollars from my pocket as well, and I have not even heard from a school yet. In addition, I will soon apply for financial aid and receive a letter saying I cannot get any aid because my parents earn too much money.
Our stress, as seniors in high school, is not based upon classwork, or sending out the applications in time, or even hearing from these schools. It’s all about what happens when we get in. How will we ever survive financially if we are paying thousands a year on the side of everything else?
Ask any senior at HHS. One of the hottest topics of discussion among my friends at lunch is the college application process. “Where are you applying?” “When are you visiting [insert college here]” “Have you written your college essay yet?” All of these questions circulate multiple times.
Additionally, the state schools are currently sending out the “free tuition” scholarships. Students get drawn into these grants because they hear “Free Money!” and immediately run to it. Winners of this prestigious award seem to miss the catch: state schools have higher fee costs than tuition, and these awards do not cover fees. Funny how that works out. It sounds bad, but that is exactly why you should not base your choices on money instead of where you really like and can see yourself fitting in.
The key to getting into college is to know what you want to do. That does not mean you need to know what “major” you want, or the specifics of what type of college you want to attend. It is about what you plan on doing after college, whether it be getting a great paying job, attending grad school, traveling, or even starting a family. In order to do any of these things, you need to start with making decisions in high school that will reflect your life hereafter.
The answer is not getting a part time job and having to sacrifice the “high school experience” in order to plan on the unfortunate possibility of being in a hole of your own debt. As a wise man once told me, we have the rest of our lives to work and complain about working.
This Thanksgiving, while the previous seniors come home for turkey and football, they will be telling stories about living on their own, loving the college experience, making us high schoolers anticipate those days. The one thing they probably will not mention though is how much money they don’t have, or about how they have no free cash to blow on video games or clothes anymore.
It’s a bittersweet feeling, but living on your own, and suffering through hardships is all a part of becoming independent. So while I complain about paying for tests and applications, I also like to think about how awesome it will be when I get even just ONE letter of acceptance, that will open the doors for me and my future. And for everyone else graduating this year who is unsure of your plans next year or want to do something other than college, just remember that as long as you are happy with what you are doing, the money will not be an obstacle.