College Should Not Be A Foolish Investment.
People should minimize the debt they take out when going to school.
October 30, 2009.
When I was in High School I had a pretty passionate disagreement with my college guidance counselor. She argued that I should first look at colleges for what best suited my needs, and not be particularly concerned about cost. There would be financial aid and loans to help meet the gap. I disagreed, saying that while I would keep in mind the various options, cost would be of my foremost concern.
I chose to commute from my parent's house to Hudson Valley Community, a 30-mile drive from their house in Westerlo. I lived at home for the first few years of my college experience. I then decided to go SUNY Albany, and study there. After I was expelled, and forced to look at other colleges, I always had cost in the foremost of my mind, and decided on a strategy that both minimized my cost and maximized my experience for my final year of college. I paid for college with cash earned by my various jobs and government grants, and never took out a loan.
Now not everybody can live at home and commute to college. Not everyone will have the opportunities that I had to get out of school debt free and looking towards a brighter tomorrow. Yet, fisical responsibility should be at the top of every student's mind. They should push back against guidance counselors, parents, and peers, and say is there a less costly way to do this. Are community colleges an option? Commuting from home? Can one avoid buying these textbooks or supplies?
Fiscal responsibility must be key. Any debt one takes out should be proportional to the gain gotten through the education, and the potential to pay it back. It should be limited to absolute essentials, and paid off as soon as possible.
