Many can agree that the major roles in a story could make a large change to the direction the story goes in. Same goes for the expenses that come with college. Someone’s dreams and direction they’re hoping to go in life can be put on hold due to the expenses that come with going to college.
The main tough part of college is arguably the tuition that has to be paid, if you don’t have the privilege to be able to pay up front for the college and get the expenses out of the way early, you’re stuck paying student loans half of your life. Although if you fortunately do make it into college, expenses aside, even more bumps in the road come along with just being prepared for class.
Madison Puckett, HHS Class of ‘24 graduate shared some of her struggles when buying resources that are needed for college.
“I am very surprised how expensive textbooks are. My Spanish textbook was 300 dollars!” Puckett said, “And sometimes you need multiple textbooks for one course.”
Some of the troubles that come along with applying for colleges can definitely keep people from partaking in going to college for their own good.
“Cost could definitely prevent people from wanting to apply. I think it would make higher education more accessible for everyone,” Puckett said, “And I think that’s one thing our world needs the most right now.”
A college student who deals with the backlash of worrying about how they will survive financially when they have to worry about how much college will cost them down the road.
HHS Junior Jordan Harvey goes to the Early College program and deals with this issue on a daily basis.
“I have to be very picky about what I spend my money on,” Harvey said, “But I’m motivated because I want to be number one.”
Boise State University’s study shows that college is now seen as the second largest expense that any student will make in their whole life.
An institution that’s main purpose is to educate a student enough to be able to excel in any career they have passion in should not leave people paying off debt for the rest of their lives. You should not have to pay millions of dollars to be successful in life.
The university’s research also shows that tuition prices for colleges have increased 114 percent since 1993, average net tuition rose 46 percent as well.
How are students so harshly expected to go to college, thrive in the career that they major in, and meet these high expectations that are sprung on them at such a young age if tuition, the price of books, and other resources just keep rising every 20 years?
The courage of people would shine more if there were more chances of affording college.
“I think more people would go if it was cheaper,” Harvey said, “You have more opportunities to get a higher paying job if you have a degree.”
I think it is unfair that people are constantly put down for not going to college, but people never think farther into it.
Are you the one that will have to come up with the money for books, a reliable laptop, and other resources that are needed for classes? Are you the one that has to worry about getting scholarships to decrease the amount of debt you’ll be in for the rest of your life at the cost of doing what makes you happy, and caring about your future? These standards should not be sprung on anybody.
What is even more unfair is that even after you get through college at a young age, you can still be dealing with the outcome decades later. College is one of the things in your life that continue to affect you for most of your life if you choose to go down that road.
“I think that the money you have to spend in college is outrageous,” Harvey said, “A lot of young folks go into debt. My mom is still paying even 17 years after graduation.”
The tuition is a concept that needs to be well thought out due to how effecting it can be to different people in certain situations. Families who are less fortunate are an example of people who have to think about the cost of college.
“Families with low income have a hard time getting loans, and their rates at which they get loans is unethical,” HHS College and Career Readiness Advisor Amie Branch said.
Throughout the years, college only increased in price. Busin/ess teacher Jim Meyer gave some insight on what prices come out annually for college students.
“College is getting way too expensive,” Meyer said, “Private colleges cost anywhere from $45,000 to $50,000 a year and state schools cost around $20,000.”
Most students get the same talk at some point in their life. “How could you possibly not go to college?” These kinds of questions cause young students to lose a little bit of confidence in themselves every time they’re asked. When you wonder why a kid doesn’t want to attend college, you have to think about what is being asked of them. They are being asked to give up a significant amount of money for a lot of their life to pay off student loans that come even after students get through the toughness of college itself. They’re being asked to give up even more money to pay for things like books and transportation. Students should not have to give up all of these things just to get an education to further better themselves.
