Hellow Armor Gamers I bring to you a question: Is it worthwhile to pursue post secondary education? As a 19 year old Canadian male one would expect me to be off and about on a University or College campus, however, this is not the case. How can I, or anyone, attend post secondary institutes without money? It seems to me that the only way to attend university is to bring myself into debt. A debt that even with some of my own financial backing will take me roughly 15-20 years to pay off. I also ask you this: Should it be easier to attain scholarships? And should the government supply prospecting students with SOME financial backing that does not have to be repaid. Let us deal with scholarships first. I qualify for none. There is an Ontario scholarship that grants me 1000 dollars should I be in need of money. I do not qualify because I only completed my minimum community service hours. I do not qualify for any accademic schollarships despite achieving high marks in my areas of interest. My low math grades drop my average to about 78. And even my high English and History grades 86 and 85 (my areas of interest) are simply not not high enough. And lastly while I play sports I do not possess enough skill to merit a schollarship for soccer. Now, should the government lend students aid without having the students worry about repaying the government? I meet the government expectations in terms of graduating average. In fact I slightly surpass this average. Yet, depsite all this I must saccrifice an entire year to save up for my education, and even then I will have to ask for loans. And this is merely for ONE year. I plan on attaining a Masters degree in History. That takes SEVERAL years. So, should the goverment supply students with money? Not anything elaborate, but let us say...1500-5000 dollars depending on their average. I believe that such a program would encourage students to continue education and reduce drop out rates. It would also further increase the the education of the population.
So I ask you to discuss the following:
1. Is it worthwhile to pursure post secondary education at the cost of extreme debt and knowing that attending may not even result in what you wish to achieve?
2. Should scholarships be easier to attain. Furthermore should academic scholarships give higher yields? (Sport scholarships pay for almost everything)
3. Should the government provide students with money based on their geaduation average in order to assist them?
1. Is it worthwhile to pursure post secondary education at the cost of extreme debt and knowing that attending may not even result in what you wish to achieve?
No. But I don't think that you are accurately describing the cost of college. I'm sure it works out they way for many people (I know quite a few people with college degrees who are working retail), but it doesn't have to be that way. I mean, if you're going to be a lit major, what can you expect?
Most colleges allow you to double major, so you can get a degree in something fun + risky (like lit or anthropology) AND something profitable (like math or econ). Additionally, if you take the right classes before college, you should find yourself with a lot more room to take classes that you like right off the bat.
2. Should scholarships be easier to attain. Furthermore should academic scholarships give higher yields? (Sport scholarships pay for almost everything)
No and no. I did not apply for any scholarships, but ended up getting 24,000 per year* (for up to four years) from my school anyway, which was academic/merit based. I think that is about as easy as it can get. You just have to apply to the right schools (super elite schools give more scholarships) and make yourself desirable to said schools.
There are so many scholarships out there where all you need to do is write a compelling essay. If you know your major, you can also get grants from companies in the industry you plan to enter (this is especially true for jobs that currently have a shortage).
3. Should the government provide students with money based on their geaduation average in order to assist them?
Is that word supposed to be "graduation"? And by graduation average do you mean class rank, or GPA?
If so... maybe. I mean, neither class rank nor one's GPA doesn't really say anything about economic status. If the valedictorian is a billionaire, they don't need any financial aid. Especially if the aid would come at the expense or reducing aid available to lower income families. Furthermore, class rank doesn't say anything about extracurricular activities, leadership capabilities, or just talent of any kind.
At many schools (those that weight GPA, that is), class rank is just a reflection of how many AP classes one took.
*it is worth noting that I am attending a very expensive private college. 24k does not cover all of it, just most of it.
Trust me I'm not elite in any sense of the word but I should be able to secure at least half in scholarships and if I continue my current plan of getting my medical degree the loans wont be awful to pay back. It's still sad though but at the same time the educational experience is higher and it keeps away those who don't want a degree for any other purpose than to have one.
Ok, if you look at it like that it almost makes sense.. still.. I'm studying biology right now, and I aim at being a paleontologist; if I had to pay that much I could never do paleo, I couldn't even afford to pay back any loan with the salary I'd have.
Which is stupid, why should you have to postpone your dreams just so you can get the education you need?
Not sure if I fully understand what you mean, but, yeah it would be stupid. Unless the salary's in america are very different and an american paleontologist would gain enough to pay high loans. Luckily like grimml mentioned we only pay about 700 CHF here each semester, which is totally affordable
Does anyone live in Georgia? Apparently, if you attend a university there right out of high school, tuition is free. Any word on this?
Now that sounds great, but it's the first time I hear of something like that.
One word; scholarship. Nuff said. Althoug if you enlist in the military, I'm pretty sure you get free college there as well, so there's another option for ya. The US military, I mean. I'm not sure how they do it in Canada.
Looking at costs for college Im plumb astounded. The cheapest I found was around 12,000 with higher ones and out of state ones reaching 30,000. Fortunatly most colleges have jobs on campus and aid systems to help students.
sorries... i apologize... that's what i've heard... i'm not actually a resident of georgia.. nor do i go to a school in georgia... i was born there tho :'-(. i may be wrongs
Where are your subsidized/unsubsidized loans? Does the Canadian government not give you money as a loan for you to enter college? I completed a FAFSA before entering my college and I get $10,000 in subsidized/unsubsidized loans a year. The point of this loan is to wait until you are in your professional job to pay it back.
Where is it? If your government seriously does not have this, then the U.S. may be better off than I thought.
I misspoke...I meant the entire military armed forces, but was just too lazy to type it. That's nice, but it sounds like the kind of place that would require a degree to hire you. More like if someone wanted a second degree or something.
According to the link below, high school graduates can expect, on average, to earn $1.2 million; those with a bachelor's degree, $2.1 million; and people with a master's degree, $2.5 million.
It's a $900,000 difference between high school diploma and a Bashelor's degree. College doesn't cost $900K, so it's a good deal.
Ways to AVOID debt from college/university: -scholarships, meaning work your bottom off in highschool, and there are benifits. -a good high paying job that you start early, meaning, by the time you are in university, you will have a wage increase, and will have more seniority -sports, athletic ability pays off! -getting into a programme in which you get paid while earning a university credit.
