High College Tuition: The Challenge to Low Income Students

I originally planned on writing about the high cost of college and its effect on the middle class. After all, the increase in tuition has hurt the middle class the most, often because these students fall short of being eligible for financial aid strictly based on need and yet cannot afford the higher cost of a college education. But as I started to outline my ideas, my thoughts kept returning to a student who I had been working with for over a year.

Like many young first generation students, this young man was extremely driven to attend a good college. He did everything possible to be prepared, and had enrolled in a program that worked with students trying to gain scholarships to private schools. Although he was not able to obtain a scholarship, he continued to attend all of the enrichment activities of the program and focus on developing leadership skills. He was able to attend a national program over the summer, only after writing to friends and family members who could contribute money to attend the program. Maximizing the challenging courses available at his public school, he set out to apply for a multitude of scholarships and applied to a number of competitive schools on the Eastern seaboard. When reviewing his compositions and resume, I was struck by the difference in presentation, mainly due to a lack of professional preparation and advisement that so many other students I interview have. With each draft I returned to him, he struggled to produce a composition that not only reflected his raw talent, drive and determination but one that could compete with the sophisticated, maturely written compositions I was used to seeing.

I was happy to see that although my young student did not get into most of the highly competitive schools he aimed for, he was offered admission to a number of reputable schools in the area. I was also pleased to see that a number of the schools offered him what would appear to be sizable scholarships. His mother asked me to sit down with them and explain just what his financial award offered so that the family could start making plans. It was at this point that I began to have concern.

Although I spend considerable time warning parents about the actual award letter and the various parts of aid it includes, this particular award was upsetting, given the fact that this student had played by all of the rules in hopes of gaining a quality education. While part of the problem was in fact that this student applied to primarily private schools for admission in hopes of obtaining financial aid, the cost of education at either a public or private school was going to be a burden to his family. Perhaps some of the blame must be laid at the feet of parents ignorant of the real cost of college and the fact that financial aid rarely equals scholarship only. But I also must point to guidance counselors who fail to do their jobs, and schools that often fail to accurately explain what the true cost of their college education is to parents and to Federal and State grant agencies that often fail to adequately publicize the deadlines and eligibility requirements for grants their residents are eligible for.

It seems that in spite of efforts to ensure that all students, regardless of income, have an equal shot at a college education, this is in fact not the case. The complexity of the process, the lack of sufficient guidance at the public school level, the lower academic standards and lack of advanced course curricula at public schools, serve to widen the difference. Without even mentioning the poverty, drugs and violence many inner city students face every day in pursuit of an education, these kids still fail to compete because of a lack of resources, advisement and encouragement. Many bright students point out that their schools don’t offer AP of IB courses for a lack of teachers or interest. Many of the schools in these communities have block scheduling which significantly reduces the number of courses a student takes in high school, or the student attends schools that have a strong vocational focus placing less emphasis on solid academic preparation.

Here is a young man who in spite of managing to avoid many of these obstacles needs $20,000 to attend college. This is quite a burden for a single parent to take on if she wants her son to attend college in the Fall. And of course this is the amount due after receiving a sizeable scholarship, maximum Pell Grant and a Federally Subsidized loan. How could I in good faith encourage this young man to take on an additional $20,000 in loans to pay the difference between financial aid and the rest? Looking at this number, this student should expect to graduate with over $100,000 in loans, if he is able to graduate in 4 years. ( Nationally, most students are graduating in 5-6 years) And how guaranteed is his scholarship? How much will it change over the next 4 years? Is it renewable or subject to maintaining a minimum GPA?

What do I say to this young man and his mother? How do I counsel them? Yes, I could take the easier route and recommend the State University. His time commuting would be considerable and if he lives on campus, he will still have quite a bit to pay out of pocket. I could encourage him to go to the community college closer to home. Encourage him to buy a used car and commute to school. And statistically, he’d have about a 15-20% chance of graduating and going on for the BA. But is that in fact where that young man belongs? Wouldn’t his chances of succeeding be better if he were able to attend college in a community that focused on college, where his peers were all involved in educational and career pursuits, where his safety was not challenged and he could take full advantage of the college experience? How much better would it be for him if he didn’t have to worry about finding the additional monies to pay for his books and supplies and could use spare time studying and doing research? How much closer to his goals would he be?

For many young students like this young man, we have failed these students. The “uncommon education for the common man” that envisioned a system of public education which would ensure that all Americans have a chance at college has failed. The private colleges, while doing a tremendous job in raising millions of dollars for scholarships to educate the neediest students, have been a drop in the bucket in the face of such need. And every student is not Ivy League caliber. How does a solid B-C+ student get a shot at a college education that prepares them for the more competitive, professional jobs that continue to go to the brightest and the richest. In the 70’s, it seemed that some of these barriers were being torn down. But, the rising cost of college and increased sophistication, complexity and competition has served to reduce the number of low income and minority students being admitted and graduating from college. This number is even lower when we look at the admission and retention rates of minority males.

I usually have words of encouragement or advice at this point, suggestions for my readers, but there is no easy answer to this.

Parents, if you truly intend for your children to go to college, you must start planning and saving early. Do not rely on scholarships to pay the way, because they don’t. Rather than pushing your child to excel in a sport that they are mediocre at best, start saving money in a 529 plan. Get your family to contribute and as your child gets older, expect their contribution too. Stress academic excellence, it is the most important determinant for aid after financial need. The better the grades, the more competitive the student is and the more colleges will want your child. Encourage community service as well. Many scholarships and service organizations give their scholarships to students who have given to others. And finally, before you go college hunting, have a long talk with your child about expenses. Discuss what you can and cannot afford. Do research on college costs and develop a plan for how the family will afford a particular cost. It’s okay to apply to a couple of “reach” schools but make sure that you have quite a few affordable schools represented on your list. Get an estimate of your family EFC so you have some idea what the government thinks you can afford to contribute, but remember that it is only a guideline. If a school cannot afford to meet all of your need, your family will be expected to pay more than your EFC states. There are many tools that can help you figure out the EFC.

Students, ultimately this is your future on the line. You have to take responsibility for figuring out how you will be able to afford college. Picking expensive schools, with no thought to cost is irresponsible and immature on your part. Do your best to make yourself competitive. Aim for high grades, take challenging courses and if you can, take college level courses in high school. It not only helps you earn credit while in high school but it makes you better prepared to do well in college. Use your summers to earn additional money for college and start contributing to that 529 plan. Research scholarships early and pay attention to deadlines. It is not your parent’s responsibility to manage this. Apply early for financial aid in January of your senior year and research grant deadlines in your state. Consider attending your state university - it is cheaper. Remember that attending State universities outside of your home state is as expensive as most private schools. (Out of state residents can pay double the tuition of in state residents) I am sure there are equally comparable schools in your own state. Your parent’s taxes support these colleges. Do without the new car and trips over spring break; put your money towards tuition. You have the rest of your life to enjoy those things. And if you must take loans for college, borrow as little as possible. Research loan forgiveness programs and start working on a repayment plan that will get you debt free as quickly as possible.

Remember no one is asking you to give up your dreams or abandon your goals. I just want you to think about the cost and not stick your head in the sand. This is the very real world that you are moving into. It’s up to you how well you fare in it.

So what did I tell my student? Think about the cost, think about your end goal and think about your options. Whatever decision you make, you must consider all three and then take responsibility for that decision and go after it. It could be easier, but for many of you out there it isn’t. It’s just another one of the many challenges you’ll have in life, so now is as good time as any to take them on.

The Buck Stops Here

Have you had that talk with your kids yet? You know the one where you sit them down and explain that the world doesn’t revolve around them. The message that everything they want will not magically appear in front of them when they want it….No? Well what are you waiting for? We all comment on how this younger generation is spoiled and selfish, too soft and dependent. But what are you as a parent doing about it?
Have you raised your child with a strong sense of values, what’s right and wrong?
Do you live by those values or would you have to admit that sometimes you’re a hypocrite?
Have you raised your child sharing your religious faith? And then do you practice the love and charity it preaches on a daily basis?
Do you talk to your kids, really listen to their questions and concerns?
Do you play with your kids…you know sit down for a game of Monopoly on Saturday nights?
Do you sit down and eat together as a family at least 5 times a week?
Do you have structure in your home, routine and stability that they can rely on from day to day?
Do you have rules and then consistently enforce them or do you often cave in to the temper tantrums and acting out?
Have you taught you child manners and how to share with others?
Have you encouraged your child to compete in sports, stressing sportsmanlike behavior?
Does your child have chores and responsibilities like cleaning their room, making their bed, helping with the meals?
Do they get an allowance or are they treated to any and everything they want?
Are they encouraged to save for the things they want?
During the holidays, are they expected to buy presents for other family members and not just focus on their own list?
Do they spend time with their grandparents?
Have you talked with your child about finances and what the family can and can’t afford?
Do you encourage your child to start and complete class projects independently?
Are you able to say no to your teenage child?
Does your teen have a curfew?
Have you talked with your child about sex?
Have you encouraged your child to follow their dreams?
Are you saving money for your child’s college education?
Do you encourage your child to regularly volunteer by helping others?
Do you let the TV babysit your kids?
Do you monitor the movies, TV programs, video games and music your child is exposed to?
Do you know who their friends are?
Does your teen ask to go out and let you know where they are going?
Have you made your opinion about drugs and alcohol clear?
Have you given up on setting rules for your teens, believing that you have no control?

Think about all of the missed opportunities you may have had to really shape the adult your child will become. Are you proud of that adult? At some point we all have to stop blaming the media, society, peer culture and take a good look at ourselves. Rather than enact legislation or attempt to enforce laws that carry a particular moral view, we need to focus on our primary job as parents. Yes, our children will grow up to make adult decisions that we have no control over, but along the way have we allowed them to experience the consequences of those decisions? I believe if we are doing our job, we have far less to worry about in terms of what every one else is doing. If we are to have faith in this new generation, we must first know that we have done our job. Have you?

Seeking Diversity in the Supreme Court

In the last few weeks, there have been numerous articles and interviews published on Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court. I read with pride and excitement the news and having known Sonia from college, I swelled with pride that a fellow Princetonian had been nominated for this prestigious position. It was even more of an accomplishment knowing that she was the first Latina to be considered. But within minutes of the announcement I witnessed a shameless attack on her integrity and ability to render a fair, unbiased decision because she identifies as a Latina. We all expect the political posturing to occur - Republicans to attack Democratic nominees and so forth but what makes this different is the accusation that she is a racist.

While I may not have the audience of a Rush Limbaugh, I feel more than qualified to speak up as a Princeton graduate who attended college in the 70’s and who also happens to be a minority - African American. Interestingly, the arguments as to whether or not Sonia is qualified to serve have not come into question, given that she is a graduate of Princeton which has had, to my knowledge, 10 graduates who served on the court. What has come into play is the ludicrous notion that she is racist because she identifies herself as a woman of Latino descent. Her identification as a Latina has become the sole point of contention around the discussion as to her ability to serve on the court. If she identified herself as something other than what she is, would that have said more about her capabilities?

But this is not a new criticism. I remember the close scrutiny paid to Michelle Obama’s senior thesis during the election because she suggested that the experiences of minority students at Princeton were not ideal. The truth is the truth whether you choose to sugar coat it or not. Many Princeton graduates report similar experiences while attending Princeton. These views have been documented in numerous articles, interviews, videos and in discussions amongst alumni and faculty and comes as no surprise to both Princeton faculty and administrators who continue to look at ways that they can ensure that the educational experience at Princeton is one of mutual respect and inclusion for all of its students.

For many of us who attended Princeton in the early 70’s, Princeton was just becoming acclimated to the presence of women and minorities in larger numbers. While the university had successfully recruited and admitted freshman classes that were diverse, attracting African Americans, Latinos from the East and West Coast, Native Americans, Asian and foreign students from around the world, the old tradition-laden systems of Princeton were slow to catch up. Most minority students who came to Princeton found themselves on a campus that, while accepting them as enrolled students, treated them as second class citizens and found ways to exclude them from the full Princeton experience.

Princeton like many colleges in the 60’s and 70’s saw the value of having a diverse student body. Intellectual discourse that includes a variety of voices, perspectives and experiences enables all students to gain a richer understanding of the world. Princeton believed that these voices could not only be found in the hallowed halls of Exeter and Andover but also in inner city public schools, urban parochial schools, suburbs and rural schools across the nation. And in fact, by these measures, Sonia’s story is not just her success story but that of all of us who used our opportunities to reach goals we might not have reached under different circumstances. Many of us believe that our opportunity and success does not preclude us from reaching back and helping lift up those we left behind in our families, communities and country. Many minority graduates who attended college in the 60’s and 70’s share a passion to use their education to make a better world for everyone. We can no more forget our humble beginnings than we can forget our social security number.

Our accomplishments make us proud of what we have accomplished in spite of our humble beginnings. Since when is pride in family, culture or heritage racist? The assertion that she is a racist is sheer projection. Racism implies power, not attitude. When one group believes themselves to be superior to some other group and denies them the rights, respect and fair treatment they accord themselves because of that person’s race…then you have racism. The power to deny employment, access to education, or equal protection under the law is what we cannot allow. To assume that a person who expresses pride in their heritage is exercising power over someone else is erroneous and reflects a projection of the critics’ own beliefs. Nothing in Sonia’s history of employment suggests that she is anything but fair.

The critics of Sonia Sotomayor do not understand the true value of diversity. It is not about quotas or numbers, but rather about the diversity in experience, background and perspective which helps us understand each other. The value is that a more inclusive contribution of ideas and perspectives and talents renders an outcome far richer than one based on similar ideas and perspectives.

Defining what is American is difficult. We are a country of people - those native to the land, slaves brought here as property, immigrants looking for a better life. We come from every corner of the world. We represent the best and sometimes the worst in American history. We struggle with intolerance, racism, discrimination and all that ails society. But out of that we are a nation of peoples. This diversity is what truly defines American. No other nation has such a rich fabric. The Supreme Court should represent this fabric.

Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination represents change. An outspoken, intelligent Ivy League educated Latina, born in the slums of Bronx, challenges the notion of what makes a good Supreme Court Justice. Sonia Sotomayor is an American success story. She reflects our experiences, hopes and dreams for a society that is inclusive in spite of gender, ethnicity or class. Whatever decisions are ultimately rendered by the court must represent all Americans. Anything less will diminish the court’s respect and its value to our nation as we struggle with challenges of the 21st century.

President Obama’s Stimulus Bill: Are We Dummying Down our Children?

In our rush to ensure that the US remains competitive with the rest of the world in having a highly trained workforce, I am concerned that we may be doing a disservice to the next generation of “degreed” workers.

The number one topic in many political circles is the enormous “Stimulus Funding” coming out of Washington. Billions of dollars have been allocated to fund education, green projects and job retooling programs. As local politicians, school boards and colleges gear up for this influx of “much anticipated funding”, the debate begins on what programs or training approaches will be funded. To meet the need and demand, many schools are expanding short-term certificate programs and online studies circumventing many of the traditional liberal arts and basic skills requirements. Part of the reason is to provide less expensive ways of training individuals with a quicker turn around period. Online training reduces the need for classroom space and allows large numbers of students to enroll and learn at their convenience. Many of the programs, offered through proprietary schools, continuing education programs and community colleges, require minimum education and assume the student will have access to a computer as well as have the motivation and drive to study independently.

I can appreciate the demand for skilled workers, especially if we are going to compete globally. I also know that every student is not looking for a college degree. But, I believe that we are overlooking the fact that college has become for many students the “finishing school”, preparing them to take on the demands and responsibilities of full time employment. A number of formal surveys of Human Resource managers have found that few companies in corporate America believe that the average high school graduate is adequately prepared to work for them right out of high school.

The policies supporting “No Child Left Behind” required schools across the nation to divert educational funding for remedial courses that would prepare students to meet the minimal competencies required statewide. If physical education, music and art programs, enrichment courses and AP budgets were reduced, so be it. Schools faced with losing their accreditation and independence were forced to focus their efforts on seeing that their students pass these tests. The schools that suffered the most from having high percentages of poor achieving students and high drop out rates were the same schools that had to stop alternative programs that addressed teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol awareness, gang violence and college prep initiatives that worked to keep students in school and out of trouble.

Across this nation, there are high school grads who have reading levels and math levels that fall significantly below grade. While students may be more computer literate, reading comprehension and writing skills are deficient. Problem solving and logic has been supplanted by rote learning and an inadequate foundation in literature, history and the sciences. Many of these students know little about government and would have difficulty identifying countries on a map. While they may have learned the fifty state capitals, they may be unfamiliar with the location of the fifty states.

Although, many of these topics may not come up in the midst of doing a job, education is supposed to give individuals information and the background to think and adequately problem solve based on the information they have on hand. Often, we have to extrapolate that information from other sources and be able to identify when there is a discrepancy. This can only happen if the person has been sufficiently exposed to a wide variety of information. Reading becomes extremely important when we need to gain new information. How does a person build on their knowledge if they are unable to gain that knowledge through written material? Training methods tend to focus on learning the job by rote memorization of a procedure or series of steps without understanding the science or technology behind it.

Have you ever gone into your favorite fast food store and confused the cashier by either giving them change to get back a bill or asked for something not preprinted on one of the keys? Have you ever called customer service and had a confused person on the line reading a script and unable to understand your questions? Did you ever read a memo or email that didn’t make sense?

That type of training may be sufficient on paper and in the classroom, but in the real world, it falls short. Of course, you can put the responsibility for trouble shooting on the supervisor, but in every day work environments, employees are often asked to improvise, take on new jobs or supervise others with little to no supervision.

If it were just a matter of work performance, I could leave the problem to the employers who will need to weed out those workers barely competent. But as an educator, I believe this trend is short-sighted and has the potential to create more long-term problems.

Regardless of the training program employed, the most important factor is the effectiveness of the teaching approach. Most recently, the most popular trend for education and training has been via online course instruction. The approach not only offers convenience to students who can study from the comfort of their homes but is fairly inexpensive to the school and is able to accommodate large numbers of students. This approach appeals to both entering freshmen, part-time working students and adults returning to school. The question is whether or not this is the most successful way of teaching students. Although the upside is the convenience and availability, learning outside of a classroom environment poses its own unique challenges. Most courses require that the student complete a number of required online modules that may or may not be accompanied by programmed testing. This work is completed independently and then submitted to the instructor for feedback. In order to keep up with course requirements the student must possess a great deal of self discipline and structure. While there is usually opportunity to ask questions, it is often not in real time when the student needs to understand what he/she is reading or working on.

Compare this to the more traditional lecture hall college experience. The professor lectures as the students take notes. This lecture may be presented with straight lecture, demonstration, visual display or class discussion. Students are encouraged to ask questions and the student present has the benefit of asking questions and listening to other questions and explanations. Class discussion or debate affords further analysis of the material and alternative ways of understanding the material. Class also affords opportunity to meet and work with other classmates, to work on group projects, form study groups or continue discussions outside of class. Access to the library, labs and other sources of support and assistance further the student’s understanding of the material. This is not the case when a student studies at home. There are many distractions at home and most students find it hard to dedicate as much time to their studies as needed because of competing priorities. Students are far more likely to drop out of class if they are having problems because of a lack of support.

So how does this dummy down our kids?

Here is an opportunity to put some real money behind education and training programs that will ensure that our kids are competitive with the rest of the world. Right? But, in our rush to do this, we are looking for quick fixes and ignoring the deficiencies we have in our system. This funding is not going to be used to address the discrepancy in educational funding in inner city and suburban school districts. It is not going to address the complex systemic problems that plague the poor and inner city resident. It is not going to fund comprehensive programs that will truly encourage a P-16 educational approach. Because we are looking at making an impact now, that will expediently turn out a workforce for the future, training programs and community college programs will receive the lion’s share of the funding. Rather than address the increasing cost of a college education, alternative, shorter term programs will be offered, especially to those students who cannot afford the more expensive liberal arts education. (Interestingly, many of these programs, while shorter in duration, lasting on average 6 to 18 months, are more expensive on a “per credit” or “hour” basis.)

I also am concerned that this two-tier system of education, job training versus traditional liberal arts education, will cause further stratification of workers and class. The college-educated individuals will earn significantly more money than job-specific trained individuals in the same way that vocational education prepared individuals do jobs that are now being phased out, outsourced or replaced by technology. This form of education would not contribute to the growth of a more inclusive upwardly mobile work force, but rather reinforce some of the old distinctions between the elite and working class.

I believe that President Obama’s vision that ensures that all citizens have access to higher education is not reflected in the emphasis on training. His own story reflects that of being the son of two students who believed that education was the means to achieve in this society. When he went to college, he did not have a clear vision of the job he would end up with or the specific skills he would need. He used his education to broaden his knowledge base and understanding of the world and his experiences to forge career goals. And along the way, he realized that he could achieve what few people with his background would ever have thought they could have achieved.

Education is a lifelong process. It is a right that many slaves and immigrants and women fought for with the belief that education could be the great equalizer. While it is important that education always be relevant and meaningful, it is more than just a “means to an end.” Every society has made enormous strides once it made education available to all of its citizens. The greatest thinkers, inventors, entrepreneurs and leaders have benefited from learning, not just in how to do business or perform a procedure or understand complex science but in their understanding of the world, its history, culture and science. To remain competitive, we must not abandon our traditions of a liberal arts education, but rather broaden its scope, make it affordable and ensure that all students are able to gain access to it.

A Dream Deferred...at What Price?

(NOTE: Although this blog is lengthy, it is worth reading in its entirety!)

If you’re like most people out there, you’ve got to be tired of hearing about how bad the economy is. The rising cost of gas and home heating oil as well as increases in food, air fare and goods is through the roof. There are few places one can go without seeing evidence of increasing costs. The other day I walked into a pizza parlor that had a sign apologizing up front for the increased cost of pizza due to increases in the price of flour. That 2.00 dollar slice now cost 3.00 dollars. The next thing you know, a White Castle slider would cost as much as a Big Mac. (And I remember when they were 12 cents.)

Aside from the rising cost of fast food, which I am reminded is not good for me anyway, for many of you the most obvious increase has been in college tuition. It’s bad enough that the cost of a college education has gone up, but when students are unable to obtain loans to make up the difference, there is a big problem. While many students over the years have accepted the fact that college is expensive and will require more family contributions and the added indebtedness caused by federal and private loans, being turned down for a loan greatly reduces one’s options for affording college. Now when you consider the fact that private loans have become the middle class solution for financing a private college education, any change in the availability of loans has the potential to affect millions of college bound students this Fall. Each day I talk with undergrads, adults returning to school, parents and med students who report no longer qualifying for loans although they were able to obtain them in previous years. Many students enrolled in college programs expecting to finance their education by taking loans. Many now find themselves without adequate funding to enroll in school this year. What happens to their dreams? They are further faced with a predicament: dropping out of school means immediate repayment of loans after the 6 month grace period. Taking loans intending to repay them after earning a degree is much easier than having to do so without a degree.

So what happened? How did we get to this place? Private loans have always been a higher risk for lenders. Offering loans to college students with little to no credit history based on the assumption that completion of a college degree will enable them to pay off that debt, while not flawed in thinking, is no guarantee. Unlike the Stafford and Direct loan programs guaranteed by the federal government, private loans enjoy no such guarantee. These loans are financed by banks or private loan originators in ways similar to mortgage financing. As the credit markets collapsed this Spring in response to increasing foreclosures in the sub prime market, other credit markets were inadvertently affected, driving interest rates through the roof, scaring off investors on Wall Street and bankrupting lenders who lost sources for funding loans. In addition, consolidation loans were no longer profitable to lenders and, as a result, became unavailable this Spring. Decreased profits on federally guaranteed loans as well as no liquidity in the market further reduced the number of lenders that offered loans and significantly reduced if not eliminated the borrower benefits offered to students. As a result, many banks, credit unions, private and non profit lenders have either left the business or seriously curtailed their loan offerings The lenders who remained in the space have had to become more selective by raising credit criteria to reduce risk and maximize profit. Many lenders have chosen to focus their marketing on private and large state universities rather than community colleges, proprietary schools as well as those schools with high cohort default rates. (The rate of default on college loans amongst graduate or attendees of a particular school) And if you happen to be a student attending one of those schools, a good credit rating may not help if your school is not on the approved list.

Now try explaining this to a third year med student or first year college freshman. It is a tough job! I have spent over 30 years encouraging high school students, rich, middle class and poor to pursue their dreams, to plan on attending college and now I fear that the poor kids and many of the middle class kids will think that a college education is beyond their reach. It seems like we’re undoing all of the progress gained in the last 50 years.

At one time, it was the richest and smartest individuals who could plan on attending school. It wasn’t until the late forties and fifties that a new generation of people were able to attend school on the GI Bill. The sixties added to these numbers with a growth in state funded college programs making college affordable to middle class and working students. In NYC, a student could attend CUNY for free. Whether you saw college as a means of avoiding the draft or bettering your chances in life, college was a bargain that all but the very poor were taking advantage of. As federal grants like the BEOG (what we now call PELL) and DSL loans came on the scene, the dream of a college education was one that could be shared by large numbers of students like myself entering college as first generations in the 70’s.

Now fast forward to the present. The average cost of public college can be as much as 25,000 dollars for tuition, room and board. At a private school, the cost of tuition room and board can be in excess of 40,000 dollars. While the PELL grant and Federal loan programs are still available, the average grant award and maximum loan amount is not sufficient to cover the cost of a college education. This is where private loans have played the role in bridging the gap in funding. Unless alternative resources are found to fund loans, students who rely on these loans will have few alternatives. These alternatives may not be possible: Reduce college tuition, (Highly unlikely given the growth of tuition in both public and private colleges); Find alternative ways of paying for school; or Change expectations about college and how one will obtain a degree.

In response to high costs, many students may consider enrolling in community colleges or seek admission to technical, vocational and on line programs that offer certificate and associate degree programs which can be completed in a shorter period of time. While this may be a good alternative, there are pros and cons to do this. Community colleges are inexpensive alternatives for career training and associate degrees. Unfortunately, many of these schools still struggle for recognition of their programs, acceptance of their degrees and courses for transfer credit for their graduates. In addition, these schools will need more funding to accommodate the growing number of applicants. This may inadvertently affect those students who may find themselves locked out of school because the school is taking the more academically prepared students, leaving less room for less competitive students.

At the same time, many of the “For Profit” schools that offer specific career prep programs charge tuition that is significantly higher than community colleges. These schools rely heavily on federal and private loans to finance their high cost. These schools have fought for recognition and accreditation by the state and DOE in order to qualify for federal education programs. Many of these schools have not been approved to participate in the federal or private loan programs because of a lack of accreditation or higher cohort default rates. Interestingly, the groups most vocal in voicing concern about the loan unavailability are community colleges and proprietary schools who are the most affected by the situation.

It is hard to convince a poor student that college is affordable when they can’t get a loan to meet the costs. Why bother? The problem is that not having a college degree in 2008 makes upward mobility far less likely than in 1960. The job landscape looked very different back then. Unions were strong, a person could feel secure in having some measure of job security and home ownership was possible for both middle and working class families. This is no longer the case. Today we are faced with an economy that has seen lay offs in all sectors of business, retail, finance, manufacturing, automobiles and service. Plant closings have devastated many towns and cities across the nation, outsourcing the remaining jobs to workers in China, India and the Philippines. The jobs left for unskilled workers may offer sub standard wages, little to no benefits, and provide few opportunity for advancement and upward mobility. In other words, if you’re lucky enough to land that job rounding up carts at Wal-Mart, that may be the best you can do without having the benefit of additional skills and training. And for the immigrant who comes to the US without the benefit of education, knowledge of the language or the legal status, the future is even gloomier. Of course there are those politicians who argue that reducing incentives to come to the US is a good thing, but the fact is that many of the people who come here come from situations so bad that leaving their home is incentive enough.

I hate to be all doom and gloom, but I also don‘t believe in fairy tales and to say that this problem will be fixed overnight is a lie. While fixing the economy is something we all have little control over, there are ways you can deal with the current situation.

First of all, “Don’t Give Up on your Dreams!” Most of us can point to having ancestors that had to overcome tremendous odds to succeed in life. Compared to the challenges they faced, finding a way to pay for college is easy. It means being creative, working harder and maybe having to sacrifice, but then we tend to appreciate those things we work harder to obtain. The fact is that eventually, the economy will correct itself and you want to be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that will come your way. Having a college degree will be very important.

Second, there are many schools out there that you can afford if you do your homework. Attending a public college in the state where you reside, commuting to school or attending part time can all significantly lower tuition costs. Applying for financial aid early, exhausting all forms of grants and loans and applying for as many scholarships as possible goes a long way in reducing costs to you. If you are an adult returning to school, make sure that you take advantage of employee reimbursement programs to help pay for school.

If you are in high school and have a chance to take AP courses, you can earn college credits that will ultimately save you money and time in school. If you are an adult starting college, you may be able to earn college credit by taking the CLEP exam in your state.

Parents should start saving early for college and take advantage of tax savings and incentives by participating in 529 plans for college. Enlist the support of grandparents, aunts, uncles and god parents to help put money away for college. Start looking for scholarships and assistance early so that you can offer your child as much support as possible. Consult with financial advisors, personal accountants, and financial aid specialists to develop strategies for paying for college.

Be smart when researching college. Do advance planning for careers and college majors. Many students change their major several times. Unfortunately, changing majors may require additional course requirements, so plan carefully.

Focus on developing strong basic skills in math, reading and writing while in high school. Not only will this contribute to better grades, but you will be better prepared to handle college courses. You don’t want to spend 5 years in college because you have to take remedial courses in your freshman year. Those courses are billed at the college rate but often don’t count towards the amount of credits you need for a degree. Take challenging courses in high school so that you will be ready for college level work from the first day of freshman year.

Research loan forgiveness programs that help you pay down college loans by working in a particular field. Take advantage of internships and cooperative educational programs that provide opportunity to gain valuable on the job experience along with college credit and a salary or stipend. Look at all of the on campus opportunities to save on tuition, room and board. If you go out of state, stay with a relative to save on room and board or look into cheaper off campus housing. Take a job as a resident advisor or campus security to save on costs.

Consider community college for the first 2 years. Rather than taking on the cost of a four year college, limit costs by completing the first 2 years at the local community college and then transfer to the school of your choice. Another option is to go to school part time and work full or part time to pay for school. It takes longer but taking courses over the summer can accelerate the process. Although it is tougher to go to school and work, if you are motivated and disciplined enough, part time college can be a good choice. Often, adults returning to school use this option because they have bills to pay and families to support.

In the final analysis, the road to obtaining your dreams, although longer and rockier, may hold just as much promise and reward for you. And nothing can replace the confidence you feel in taking charge of your life and going after your dreams. You may not have much control over the cost of a gallon of gas or a slice of pizza, but you do have control over your future…so go after it and let the politicians and banks figure out the rest.

Donna’s Monthly to Do List - April

Seniors:

• You should hear from any other colleges that you have applied to.
• Visit Open houses, alumni receptions and April Hosting programs for new admits.
• Meet with Financial Aid if you have additional concerns about your financial aid offer.
• Discuss and compare the various offers with your parents

Financial Aid Woes Revisited A Year Later

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I wrote about the lender scandal and how it affected the public and loans. Now it is a year later and although we read less in the press about the scandal, concern about the current credit crisis, difficulties on Wall Street and the looming recession have many parents of college bound students worried about how college financing is affected. Of course it doesn’t help when we read in the paper about lenders leaving the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and the tightening of credit in response to the sub prime debacle. But what does it mean for the average person out there?

I believe that there are both long term and short term consequences to be considered which will ultimately change the landscape in terms of college finance. Although these changes will force a change in the way we do business, it isn’t a call for panic. The simple answer to many parents’ concerns about the availability of loans is that federally subsidized loans offered within the Direct Lending and FFELP Programs will continue to be available to students. These are the loans you know as Stafford, Perkins and PLUS loans. Although we’ve heard about a number of lenders leaving the market, there are over a thousand lenders - banks, origination companies, and credit unions still offering these loans. In addition, many of these companies also offer private loans, which many feel will become more expensive.

Recent changes enacted by Congress reduced the subsidies lenders were receiving. In addition, the cost of participating in the FFELP program increased and significantly impacted on the profit margins. As a result, most lenders, in particular small lenders, have not been able to remain competitive in this market because they have had to pass on to the consumer fees that at one point they covered. Because many lenders have dropped out in response, the competition is shrinking and unfortunately, we know that it is competition which keeps prices low. When that goes away, the consumer suffers. While many people point to the Direct Lending Program as a solution, they forget that it was the option of more choice in lenders, improved service and competition by reducing or offering no fees that drove many schools to leave Direct Lending and participate in FFELP. (At the present time, 80% of the colleges and universities participate in the FFELP program.) This problem is further exacerbated by threats to financing these loans caused by a “frozen” auction rate securities system. With a disruption in this process, lenders find themselves unable to sell loans and therefore cannot finance new loans. While the larger banks have the ability to carry these loans on their books while financing new loans, smaller lenders who rely on the sale of their loans have found few takers in today’s market, hence putting many companies out of business. While this largely affects the lending industry, as discussed earlier, reducing competition leaves the public with limited choice in what was once a highly competitive market.

On the private loan side, the tightening of credit caused by the failure in the sub prime market has driven underwriters to tighten credit requirements and look more closely at schools that have struggled with higher cohort default rates. This affects many technical and proprietary schools as well as some community colleges. For individuals with low credit scores or students enrolled in the aforementioned schools, obtaining private loans will be more difficult.

We have also read about the continued increase in college tuition and the number of private schools that have announced changes in their financial aid offerings including the reduction or elimination of student loans. While this is a wonderful effort on their part, the number of colleges that have been able to do so is small and impacts a small percentage of students. For most students, there is little to no relief promised at the present time, other than threats to publish a list of the highest priced schools. Interestingly, applications and enrollment in these schools have not decreased in spite of this.

I advise parents to use this time to think strategically about college, the cost of college and the debt incurred. It is clear to me that in general, college tuition is going to continue to grow. The demand for an educated, highly trained workforce that will enable the US to maintain its economic advantage is critical. Therefore, a college education is requisite for most if not all young adults. With the demand for enrollment at state public colleges/universities increasing, tuition will continue to climb in order to accommodate growing numbers of students enrolling, as well as the updating and funding of new classroom and research facilities, and attracting and hiring faculty.

To meet this cost, the public must become savvy and strategic in looking at ways to finance college. There are several approaches that one can take. First, more and more students are saving on tuition by completing the first two years of their education in community colleges. The cost of tuition is significantly lower at these schools and allows them to save on the overall cost of a Bachelors Degree. This is especially appealing to students who may need to take remedial courses in their first term before enrolling in college level, credit bearing courses.

Some students are looking at part time or full time work along with college enrollment. This enables them to “pay as they go”, thereby reducing or eliminating college debt. While there are strong financial reasons for doing this, the evidence indicates that students doing this are less likely to complete their education on time, have more problems academically and become less involved in campus life.

Many people are concerned about increasing debt that many students incur to attend undergraduate and graduate school, often extending their payments out to 20 years post graduation. The public may need to start looking at ways of either reducing the amount they borrow or looking at ways they can shorten repayment of that debt. Congress has discussed possible ways of addressing this and has promised to consider loan forgiveness and income based repayment programs.

The one factor we are all faced with is how quickly the economic landscape can change and how it impacts on our daily lives. It also affects our decision making and is at the core of our values. In the coming months with a recession looming and fear that many of us can no longer take for granted the jobs or investment returns we enjoyed over the past years, we will all have to make tough decisions. The decision to go to college is an easy one; the way to pay for it will remain an uncertainty.

Donna’s Monthly to Do List - March

Seniors:

• Other than making sure you’ve submitted grant and financial aid forms before the deadlines, sit back and relax, You’re in the final stretch!

Juniors:

• You should be compiling a list of schools that you will visit over the summer as well as send for applications.
• Plan to attend spring college fairs
• Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss options
• Get a copy of your transcript to review your grades and course work

Donna’s Monthly to Do List - February

Seniors:

• Make sure that you have submitted appropriate forms for state grants, pay attention to deadlines

Juniors:

• Start researching scholarships
• Register for the SAT and any SAT II’s
• Start researching colleges
• Register for an SAT prep courseResearch summer academic programs

The Competition for College: Out of Control

Just a few weeks ago I was participating in a college fair sponsored by a large company in New York. I was scheduled to speak to parents about “Applying to College” and had been told that the audience would consist of parents with college bound students. Following the session, I stayed around to answer the questions of many of the participants. One parent came up to me and apologized for monopolizing my time, but she had real concerns and wanted to ask me about what plans she should be making for her 3 year old.

This came to me as no surprise because over the last few years I have found a growing number of parents of elementary age children seeking information and suggestions on how to help their child prepare for college. Anecdotes abound about parents who race to enroll their kids on waiting lists for prestigious private schools months after the child’s birth. Parents compare the most effective strategies for giving their child an advantage and some have gone so far as to hold their child back from entering kindergarten to ensure this. They explain that a more mentally and physically developed child can have an advantage not only in the classroom, but also in athletic competition. If Junior is competing with other 1st graders in soccer, but is older, he has an advantage that wouldn’t be there if he was competing against 2nd graders. I have had parents describe in detail the extensive research they put into college athletic programs and scholarships to determine where the funding is and the sports where they believe their child will have a better chance of competing. Football is out while fencing is in. Even the requisite piano lesson now includes performances not just at the local nursing home, but at Carnegie Hall to underscore “real” talent. Dance classes abound with ambitious stage mothers who all insist their child must be on point by age 7. The under riding drive to ensure that one’s child stands out seems to be fueled by parents’ anxiety about the growing competition for college admissions and scholarships and a fear that their children will be left out or in some way be disadvantaged by programs that they believe favor other kids. And as their fears heighten, the steps parents will take to ensure their child’s place grows out of control.

With no relief in sight, parents struggle to keep up with the Jones, Johnsons and Smiths. Beleaguered parents find their weekday afternoons spent chauffeuring their children from soccer practice, Girl Scouts, Pee Wee football, dance class, piano lessons and a variety of enrichment programs, before returning home to wolf down dinner and finish homework. Everyone has a tutor or is enrolled in some type of learning center for homework help. Time spent watching Saturday morning cartoons has been supplanted by a schedule of Math and Science classes, athletic practice and competitions and, if you’re lucky, a trip to the museum or hands on science exhibit.

Now don’t get me wrong, many of these activities are important. They teach our children team work, reinforcing the values of hard work and sacrifice, and help our children build strong bodies and minds. The problem is that these activities are not prompted by interest or curiosity on the child’s part, but rather based on parents’ notions of what their child needs to be successful. The national curiosity and interest of childhood is not allowed to unfold based on the individual child’s development, but rather subject to the aspirations and expectations of the parent. Every minute of every day is scheduled and planned, to the extent that most children find little time to be a kid. They fail to learn how to amuse themselves outside of organized activities and often burn out before they reach adolescence. For every Tiger Wood, Mary Lou Retton or David Beckham, there are hundreds of kids who suffer stress related injuries due to athletics started too early. And while the stage parent may be ostracized for seeking personal glory in living vicariously through their child, we are okay with justifying that same behavior as it applies to college.

The problem does not just manifest itself in athletics and extracurricular activities. The community service requirement many schools have adopted to encourage students to look beyond their own need often ends up becoming another strategy for padding resumes. Many parents actively research unique and high profile opportunities that will make their child stand out. Very often, the work is completed by the parent who “steps in” to help out when the student finds him/herself overcommitted. Parents will often use their influence to convince others to arrange a position or vouch for service hours not completed. In effect, they are cheating, but all is fair in love and academics, right? The defending argument is, “It looks good on the college application and everyone else is doing it and it’s not like a real course that they are cheating on…” But if we compare that child to another child who takes time each week to help out at a local soup kitchen or clean up a park or visit the elderly, isn’t it cheating?

And the competition doesn’t end when Junior grows up. I know several parents in my own social circle who regularly respond to the inquiry, “How are you doing?” with a long list of each adult child’s accomplishments. They recount efforts to obtain valued internships, pass along resumes and use influence to find highly valued job and training opportunities and then brag that this was accomplished solely by their child’s own efforts. I am not arguing here that this is inherently unfair, after all nepotism has been around since...forever but lets not kid ourselves into believing that there is a level playing field for all. Some of the harshest critics of Affirmative Action will staunchly defend college legacy preferences. Is that a true meritocracy? Aside from the fact that this makes for rather boring cocktail conversations, the real problem is that the competition for college has gone off the deep end. Parents eager to keep up with the competition are doling out thousands and thousands of dollars to engage “experts” who guarantee admission to college. The degree that this assistance can go to ranges from strategizing about which colleges are good matches to assisting in the completion of application materials including suggesting topics, editing grammar and writing content for college essays. Again, advising a student about college may be perfectly legal, but providing content and assistance in the writing of a college essay is paramount to cheating when you think of what is at stake - scholarship dollars and college admission. And for many parents, “The ends justifies the means”…after all many of us have come to believe that getting into the right college is the most important goal to be achieved.

This value or lack thereof has serious ramifications for how our children approach competition and in part has contributed to grade inflation, as well as a rise in cheating and plagiarism at the high school and college level. Parents confront teachers and professors if their children don’t receive high grades and the standards for excellence often vary depending on who you are and what you look like. Parents not only flex their weight in the classroom and guidance office but in Admissions as well. Many parents see alumni involvement and financial contributions to their alma mater as a way of insuring a place for their child when they apply. Now don’t get me wrong, many alumni start out donating their time and money generously to the college out of loyalty and high regard for their education, but for some, it is part of a long term strategy to ensure a place for their child. This is especially evident when that same generosity stops if the child is not admitted.

I am encouraged when I speak with parents who elect to not join in the competition, although they worry about whether their noble choices will prove harmful when it is time for their child to go to college. As I return to college for Alumni days and reunions, I find two growing camps of alumni - those with legacy admits and those whose kids have gone elsewhere. “Poor So and So’s child didn’t quite make the grade.” And it’s hard not to wonder whether being the rebel is somehow a measure of having failed as a parent. Is that what it means to be successful? Getting your child into the right school, gaining the best job, making the most money? I think as parents we need to take a close look at what we want for our children. In the crazy world we live in, helping your child to become an adult who is healthy, honest, responsible, happy, educated, and free of life-crippling addictions to alcohol and drugs, seems like a lot. Must they be highly educated and wealthy too?

In the coming months it is not just the high school senior who sits with baited breath waiting for that letter to come from the college of choice: A nice fat envelope that says “Mom and Dad, you did a great job!” For parents, it will be a couple of tough months until the answer comes. Often it is the parent nervously watching the mail or checking on line for information on acceptance and rejection rates.
Even scarier is how those same parents will deal with their disappointment and manage their child’s feelings of rejection if the offer letter doesn’t come.

I suggest that parents use this time to really figure out what they believe in, whether they have communicated those beliefs to their child and will those values be helpful to them as they advance through life. If the message has always been about success, what will you say when they finally face failure? If you’ve told them that winning trumps everything else, what laws or ethics will they trample later in life? And if they fail in spite of all the strings you pull, how will they approach competition in the future?

At some point, things will have to change. They have to, because the world is changing and as much as we all want to hold onto the slice of the pie that we feel entitled to, that slice is getting smaller as more people demand a space at the table. Will our kids be able to live and compete in that world? Or will they contrive new and better ways to hold onto what they believe is theirs by birthright? Maybe we should stop telling our kids that the world is their oyster. Maybe the message should be that life is tough and full of both success and failure and that they will experience both. Maybe we should also let them know that they are loved and valued for who they are and not what they become and that happiness is not contingent upon success, fame or popularity, but a state of mind that only they can define. Maybe we should start valuing all people, poor and rich, young and old, educated and illiterate and stop making distinctions among the groups. How much easier would our jobs be as parents and how much happier would our kids be. We have turned high school graduation, an achievement in its own right, into a high pressured, stressful year-long event, full of anxiety, competition and disappointment. Instead of celebrating our children’s achieving their majority, their opportunity to venture out into the world to pursue higher education or careers, we cripple them with self doubt, fear of inadequacy, and a lack of confidence to make sound decisions and take responsibility for them. They in fact are being defined by the schools they get into rather than the achievements of the last 12 years. How many of us still remember that letter saying we just weren’t smart enough to be selected? How much did that hurt? I hear that in many parents’ voices when they discuss their dreams for their child to attend the school they failed to be admitted to. A rejection letter says nothing about the student, their talents, dreams, ability or potential. At best it is a measure of how much they stood out or failed to stand out in an applicant pool the size of a small town. At worst it was an arbitrary decision based on factors beyond the student’s control. And it is a process that does not serve to build character and confidence in our children. In the coming months, as parents of seniors, juniors or younger, let’s think about the messages we send them. After all, when we buy into this competition today, we do our children a disservice in the long run.

Parents waiting to hear from college admissions offices take heart. The fact is that getting in to that one special school says little to nothing about ability or success. The fact that the competition has become a foot race between parents who can use enormous financial resources to gain an advantage is unfair. But the fact is that schools are wising up to this and beginning to scrutinize applications more. While the number of kids competing for a limited number of highly popular and selective schools continues to rise, many students are becoming savvy and opting to apply and look elsewhere and in the process discovering that there are many diamonds waiting to be discovered. Ultimately, this competition will have to burn itself out as tuitions increase and parents opt out of the competition. Ultimately those kids will graduate and have to compete in a world where connections and influence can only carry so much weight. Without the experience of sacrifice, hard work and the experience of failure and disappointment, they will be less prepared to compete for the bigger stakes.

Donna’s Monthly to Do List - January

Seniors:

• FAFSA can be submitted on line any time after January 1.
• Complete any additional financial aid applications with the colleges including the CSS profile.
• If required arrange to have first semester grade sent.

Donna’s Monthly to Do List - December

Seniors

• Complete your application. Make sure that your school has time to send out transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.
• Review your checklists to make sure that every application is complete. Proof read your application. Don’t just use spell check, have at least 2 other people read it for mistakes. It’s amazing what we miss.
• You should have applied for a PIN.
• Urge your parents to complete tax forms early.
• Anytime after January 1, you should submit the FAFSA along with any other forms required for financial aid. Remember that to qualify for Federal and State Grants you must submit this form. Do so early so that you meet your state’s deadline.

Juniors

• Although the holidays are here, keep your eyes on your grades; remember this is the last full year of grades that count.
• Review your Spring schedule to make sure that you are programmed for the courses you need.
• Start looking for summer jobs that offer you opportunities to work and learn at the same time. Internship programs are looking for students like you.
• Look into summer study programs, state sponsored institutes and foreign exchange opportunities. Remember that many of these programs and jobs will be taken if you wait until the Spring.
• Consider participating in a mentoring program. This is a way to learn about careers, network and gain valuable advice from others. Your mentor can be especially helpful when looking for colleges, and internships.
• Are there proficiency tests required in your state in order to graduate? Pay attention to the testing schedule in your particular school.
• Look into a SAT prep classes for the Spring or start arranging to take the first SAT in the Spring. Do some research on the ACT and consider whether or not you could benefit from taking both tests.

The Cost of a Dream

It's that time of year when I make the rounds of various college fairs, regional and local to talk to students about college. It is exciting to talk to so many young people and their parents who are focused on obtaining information about college, financial aid or just some words of advice and encouragement.

I am always amazed at the energy and optimism which continues to draw me back to this work every year. I also can't help but address the growing concern many families have about the cost of a college education, the growing indebtedness of college graduates and the frustration many families share around ensuring that their child can still attain the dream of a college education.

It is a complex problem at best and does not have a simple solution. This is especially true for the majority of families I speak to who have not saved or are insufficiently prepared to meet the cost of their child's education. There is nothing more frustrating than to talk with parents who have encouraged their child to study and work hard to attend college and fear that the dream of a college education may be beyond their reach.

I grew up believing in the value a college education. The fact is that a college education is the great equalizer and can open up the doors of opportunity to the poorest people in our nation as well as immigrants or anyone seeking to improve their job prospects by obtaining a college education. And in fact that has been true for millions of first generation college graduates who have gone on to obtain jobs in education, business, the health field, law, etc., We all have our own success story or can recount the story of our parents, relatives and friends. And today, these are the same dreams shared by so many parents and young people I meet.

The problem is that the times of "free college" or low tuition that could be covered by grants is over. At a college fair down in Maryland, I met with a couple who were surprised by the cost of college. Their son had wanted to attend a small private college in a neighboring state and the cost was $22,000 dollars. They had never saved for their son's education assuming that he would either receive an athletic scholarship or get enough grants to cover the cost of college. When I explained to them how financial aid is determined, they were floored. Both parents had no idea how expensive a college education is and did not have the resources to deal with it. While they understood and placed a high value on a college education, their lack of experience and knowledge about the process left them woefully unprepared to meet their Expected Family Contribution.

For the new parent, the answer is simple. Start saving early. Take advantage of any and all savings programs that allow you to put money away for college. Have a plan for not just college financing but a strategy for helping your child to be as competitive as possible for college. In the past, many parents sought athletics as a vehicle for helping their child to obtain scholarships for college. But that is not the only way. There are many more scholarships that look for talent, community service and academic achievement. Make sure your child participates in activities or opportunities that may make them eligible for scholarships, grants and internships. Find out about your employer's educational benefits. Do they offer scholarships? Be aware of the deadlines. Help your child research scholarships as they get closer to senior year. Look at the church, local service organizations, professional or social organizations you belong to. Do they offer scholarships?

Work with a financial planner to help identify ways of saving or investing, to add to your nest egg and overall financial resources. Do you have equity in your home that you can borrow against? What other resources are available to you for long term and short term finance options? By planning early, you can be much better prepared for the sticker shock that a college bill creates. And remember that there are many other costs outside of tuition, fees, room and board. Don't forget books, computers, travel/commuter expenses, laundry, spending money and telephone. Have you factored in these expenses when your child leaves home?

Sit down with your college bound child and have the talk about finances. As much as we want to encourage and support our children, this does not mean that we offer a blank check. The conversation should start early and include honest discussions about your child's career goals, the education needed, the cost of that education and a plan by both parent and child to address those costs.

• Should your child be encouraged to work and set aside part of their earnings for college?
• Are they looking for internship opportunities in their field of interest which may offer mentoring and scholarship opportunities?
• Are they taking a course of study that makes them more competitive?
• Are they taking advanced or AP courses that they can use to earn college credit?
• Are they willing to take loans for college and if so, do they understand their responsibility for paying off that debt as well as the consequences if they don't?
  

Even if you've decided to shoulder the cost of college, does your child understand their responsibility to attend class, keep up their grades, live on a budget and be responsible in keeping extraneous bills low? Many parents assume that their children are equally motivated to attend and complete college, although that is often not the case.

Out of all of the students who enroll in college, almost half will fail to graduate within 6 years. What happens to these kids? While many may eventually return to graduate, the fact is that they are leaving school without the advantage of the college degree but with the debt that was incurred while they were a student. It is one thing to graduate with 30,000 dollars in debt and repay that debt with what you hope is a good paying job. It is a very different scenario if you are struggling to pay back that same debt without the benefit of a college degree. Is your child aware of this? I spoke to a father who lamented that his college graduate daughter was waiting tables at a local restaurant with a degree in Anthropology. She had $25,000 in college debt. A broken ankle on a skiing trip forced her out of work and behind on her loan payments. These are the stories we hear about. Should she have not gone to college? Should she have not taken out loans? Should she have majored in something else? I wish I could say yes, but that is not the right answer.

A college graduate's lifelong earnings is estimated to be a million dollars more than a high school graduate. So obviously, there is monetary value in the degree. There are many doctors, lawyers, teachers, social workers, accountants and nurses who would not have been able to go to college if they had not taken out loans. And yes, there are Anthropology majors who are working as professors, teachers, writers, social workers, and a whole slew of professions.

The key is in planning. College students, research careers in your chosen profession. Take advantage of opportunities to work in fields related to the course of study. Leave employment options open. Instead of that job in “fast food”, look for internship opportunities close to your career. Even if the pay is poor, experience is often what it takes to get your foot in the door. Use loans wisely, live on a budget and look for ways to reduce college costs. Living on campus? Become a resident advisor or look into college work study. You don't eat breakfast? Skip the 3 meal a day option in your meal plan. You can save money taking the two meal option or better yet, cook your own meals. Although it seems like everyone is going, can you afford the Spring Break trips every year? And, attending a college "in state" can save you at least half the tuition you'd pay to attend a similar school "out of state". Learning to live on a budget as a student will teach valuable lessons for later.

These seem like common sense solutions and in fact that is what they are. There is no easy solution for the family that wants their child to go to college but just can't afford the price. Many families have to make harder choices. Maybe it means staying home and commuting to school to save on room and board. Maybe it means starting at a community college and transferring later. Maybe it means working and going to school part time. These are all choices that some families and young people make every day. But they make these decisions because a college education is a big investment.

So ultimately I tell parents and students that the final decision remains with them. We all know the success stories and of course we read in the paper about the failures. But each story is different and written by the individual. In my line of work, I choose to believe in happy endings.

Donna’s Monthly to Do List - November

Seniors

• Early Decision Applications are due and interviews should be scheduled.
• If you haven't taken the SAT, this is the last SAT you can take if you want your scores to reach the college in time.
• If you are still dragging your feet on applying, use the college fairs going on in November to narrow down your choices. Speak with alumni to get a sense of the school.
• Scholarship applications should be submitted, pay attention to deadlines. Make sure that you have completed financial aid forms and completed the CSS profile if the school requires it.
• Check individual school deadlines.
• Apply for a PIN in preparation for applying for the FAFSA online.

Juniors

• You should also be attending college fairs. Collect material about a variety of schools that may interest you. Ask questions about admissions requirements.
• Review your academic schedule to make sure that you are on track to graduate and take all of the courses that you need. Review your transcript and familiarize yourself with graduation requirements.
• Consider enrolling in AP classes if you are eligible, to challenge yourself.
• This is your year to shine! Pay special attention to getting the best grades that you possibly can. Don't drop language and science courses. Although your school may only require 2 years of lab science and foreign language, most competitive schools want to see 3-4 years. Electives are wonderful but make sure that they are challenging you and going to prepare you for college level work.

Donna’s Monthly to Do List - October

Now that you’re back in the swing of things, October becomes a very busy month. For Juniors and Sophomores, use this time to focus on getting good grades, participating in school and extracurricular activities and attending the numerous college fairs that will be held during October and November. It’s never too late to start looking. If you are a junior, this is the ideal time to start creating that long list of schools you might want to consider. Don’t just pick up brochures: use the opportunity to speak with admissions representatives as well as alumni who attend many of the local fairs.

This is also the month for the PSAT. Juniors should be signed up for this test which also is used to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. Sophomores looking to get a head start with a practice PSAT are also encouraged to register. October is also the month many students will take the SAT for either the first or last time. Both the SAT and ACT are offered this month. But, pay attention to registration deadlines for these tests is in September. (More and more students are choosing to take both tests to compare their performance on them.) If you are a senior and already know what schools you are applying to, check to see whether you need to take the SAT subject tests. Many competitive schools require them. While it is recommended that you take them after finishing the subject, you’ll do best on the Math and English ones if you wait to take them in your senior year. In either case, take them early in order to meet college application deadlines.

Seniors planning on applying for early action or early decision admission should have completed their applications and submitted them to their schools to be sent out. The deadline for most of those applications is early November (November 1 or November 15) so it is important to have them ready now. Many schools may take as long as 2-3 weeks to get transcripts out, so get your requests in early. This is also important for school recommendations. Don’t assume that a teacher will be able to get that recommendation letter to you immediately, so give them time.

For those students applying regular decision or rolling decision, you should be using your time to narrow down your choices to a short list. Attend local and regional college fairs to collect information and pick up applications. Stop by the table of colleges that you are applying to. Introduce yourself to the college rep and ask them questions. You not only may pick up valuable tips, but you make yourself known to individuals who can be a useful resource. Although you may have your parents accompany you to these fairs, it is your job to step up and ask specific questions you have about the school. After all, you are the one who will be ultimately attending that school. Ask about admissions deadlines, interview requirements, open houses and campus tours. If you have the opportunity to speak with alumni, don’t be afraid to ask them about their own experience. They may have a very different perspective from the admissions counselor. The information you collect will help you create that short list of schools that you will eventually apply to.

Picking a College: Finding the Right Fit

Just about this time every year I find myself talking to young people about the sacrifices they and their families will be making to go to college. And each year, that number increases as more and more young people realize the value and necessity of earning a college degree. For many young high school graduates, the decision has been made years ago and the question becomes one of which school becomes the top choice. Reasons for a particular choice abound and it is all a matter of where one enters the competition for highly sought after Ivy Leagues, Flagship State Universities, small select private colleges, National Service Academies and the thousands of junior and senior colleges located around the country. While the number of students attending college is impressive, only 55% of these students will complete their degree in 6 years. The reasons for such a low retention rate are complex and sought after by college administrators across the nation. Understanding how students choose a particular school as well as how they fair once they attend their school of choice provides important insight for us all. It is equally important to understand what factors go into a student dropping out or failing to complete a course of study. Given the cost and time invested in a college education by both the individual and their family and through federally supported grants and loans, it is imperative that we gain some understanding into this phenomenon.

Often we will point to a student’s poor college performance or lack of adequate preparation at the high school level to explain high drop out rates, especially in the first years of college. Maybe they just weren’t “motivated enough.” Unfortunately, we would be simplifying the fact that many factors go into this. We know that many bright and motivated students drop out while other “late bloomers” may go on to successfully complete programs and graduate on time. Would that same drop-out have done better attending school elsewhere?

Choosing College

How do people go about choosing a college? What is it in their motivation, expectations, life experience or goals that makes them choose to go to a particular school? What are they expecting to get from their college experience?

I have been interviewing high school seniors for college for over 30 years. And when I ask them why they chose a particular college, the most frequent answers have to do with studying a particular major, pursuing professional goals, parent expectations or the desire to be successful and make a lot of money. It is interesting that they attribute the fulfillment of their goals to attending a particular school rather than a particular course of study or profession. “I know I will be successful if I go to X University!” Somehow, the student’s expectation is that attending a particular school is the sole determinant for attaining success. The right school equals the right job. The problem is that in today’s competitive landscape, the right school may have 20,000 applicants for a freshman class of 1,000. Given that the competition has become so fierce, I worry about how these same students will redefine their definition of success. In other words, if the key to success is getting into the right school, what happens when you don’t? This attitude also sends a crazy message to students. A number of years ago I remember interviewing a student who had set a particular Ivy League as his goal from the tender age of 6. To accomplish this, he studied hard, forsaking social opportunities to hang out with friends, attended college preparatory programs every summer from 9th grade on, got up early for extra tutoring in college level math and physics and entered every academic competition in the state. He scored perfect SATs and was class Valedictorian. Everyone told him…..with his scores and grades, he was a sure thing….until he received a rejection letter. What do you tell that student?
How do you convince that student that their success lies not in gaining admission to a particular school, but in the same type of efforts, sacrifice and motivation that got him/her through the first 18 years of their life?

For many students, the drive to attend a specific school may have less to do with gaining an academic advantage and more about the image the school projects. Party schools, jock schools, preppy schools, elite schools, public schools, all project an image, which often attracts the student who wants to identify with that image. We all have some idea of college, garnered from movies and television. In my day, Animal House was a particular favorite with the outrageous antics of Jim Belushi and his fellow frat brothers. More current movies and televisions shows depict college life in a way that appeals to a wide variety of students seeking the independence, social life and scholarly pursuits found on today’s campuses.

Some students are more excited about moving away from home, joining a fraternity or pursuing an athletic career than picking a major or planning a career. Universities notorious for being known as “party schools” struggle with an image that, while negative, attract large numbers of applicants every year. Some people fall in love with the whole college image: ivy covered buildings, shady quad settings, late night study breaks, football games and homecoming. Some students feel enormous pressure as a legacy to fill their parents’ shoes or fulfill their parent’s dream by attending a particular school. And let’s not forget the draw membership in a sorority or fraternity has in many college students’ lives. Whether these reasons seem valid to you, the point is that students are motivated by a variety of factors. So, should we really be surprised when things inevitably go wrong?

Why Do Students Fail to Finish?

In spite of the strength of some of these motivations, they may not be sufficient in enabling a student to stay on course and complete a college degree. The fact is that in addition to being fun, college is “tough”. Many students have not had the experience of dealing with things that are “tough”. For the first time, there is no one around to tell them when to study or how to study. Studying in high school may have been simply doing homework and looking over notes before an exam. No mom to make sure you’re eating properly or getting enough sleep. How do you pace yourself when there is a tendency to overdo it…just because you can? College work can be frustrating and whether you attend a big university or small college, it can be down right lonely at times. Missing family and childhood friends, comfort foods and family rituals seems particularly distressing when you’re having a bad day. Some schools can be so large and impersonal that it is easy to get lost in the crowd. It can seem like everyone else is having a great time but you! College is expensive. Have you checked out the price of those science text books? If you have to take a lot of loans or use up your savings or work part time, there is even less time to just have fun. While everyone else seems to be partying, shopping and going off on holiday breaks, the poor student is counting pennies and feeling just a little envious of the rich roommate with the great car and latest electronic “necessities”.


Finishing the Course

Those that stay in school and make it through have an idea of the bigger picture: A life goal where college is a stepping stone, a boot camp for the real world. They are able to balance the hard work against the tremendous opportunity to grow and test one’s wings. They recognize the opportunities to forge life-long friendships, get involved in real life issues and learn about the world in disciplines they were never exposed to. That first internship or work study program was just the experience to expose them to a future profession. The first failure or frustration taught them how to grow and learn from mistakes. Budgeting taught them how to prepare for living on that first pay check. They started out going to school with a best friend and made three new ones along the way. They learned to really multitask and had the satisfaction of succeeding at something they never thought they’d understand or be able to master: All important lessons for life on the job, in personal relationships and as a parent.

For those students who ended up dropping out, maybe it was finances, or adjustment problems or plain old homesickness. Maybe the courses were too tough and they just couldn’t keep up with the work. Maybe it was the wrong fit or circumstances beyond their control. After all, time doesn’t stand still. Circumstances change: one’s health may decline, people grow up and the world around us changes. For whatever reason, the course one charted has changed, veered off in uncharted waters. This becomes a life lesson as well. How does one deal with change, crisis, frustration, disappointment? How does one transition or adapt to change?

Every person changes their mind, or fails at something. We all have challenges we will have to take on. The difference is how we handle them. There are many college students who will change their major several times. There are graduates who will change their professional goals and many adults who will change careers several times in their lifetime. The idea that the career you choose will become a lifelong profession is no longer the norm. This current generation will spend an average of 2-3 years at each job.


The time when you worked at one company until you retired at age 65 is long gone. It’s what life is all about. Staying the course is less about how long it takes to finish but how close you get to your goal and what you learn about yourself along the way.

So, if you can figure it out the first time…good for you and if not, remember that college is an adult education. It does not have an age limit or a time limit. More and more adults are returning to school to pursue new careers or expanding on their skill sets. Some are taking courses just to expand their knowledge and interest in a particular field. And the only cost to you is time and money. For some people, waiting and working before attending college or graduate school, gives them opportunity to figure out what they really want. What work environment fits, what profession matches their lifestyle? This strategy may actually save you money and time. Knowing what you really want can help you focus your energies in a particular direction. This is the case with many adults who return to college. They know what they want and go after it. The young newly graduated high school student may need the time and opportunity to explore a number of disciplines before they choose a major. In either case, as long as you weigh all of these factors, you’re likely to come out that much closer to your goals in the end. And after all, isn’t that what going to college is all about?

Remember, college should never be seen as the goal, but rather as the shortest part of a long journey.

Donna’s Monthly to Do List - September

For both college students and the college bound student:

You’re on your way! Whether in college or high school, your focus is on your classes. What do you need to do to do your best? Don’t wait until midterms to seek out that tutor or ask for help. Make friends in all your classes, join or start your own study group. Find people who share your dreams and want to succeed as much as you do. Take time to get involved, whether it is student government, sports, arts or community service. Find activities that help you to grow and work towards your dreams. Create a support system around you, whether it is family, classmates or friends, surround yourself with positive thinking people who want you to succeed as much as you do. Be confident and the rest of the year will keep you on track.

Donna’s Monthly to Do List - August

Some of you will be packing to head off to college for freshman orientation. Saying goodbye to family and friends while looking forward to making new friends is exciting and sad at the same time. Take the time to contact your roommate in advance, if you know them. You can decide on items to bring to make that dorm room more comfortable. Rather than having 2 of everything, agree on who is bringing what. Talk with your parents about finances so that both you and your parents know what the budget looks like.

Those of you returning to high school should be focused on what is ahead of you. Are you a senior? If so, you should have already drawn up a list of colleges, and started on their applications. You should know all the various deadlines and familiarize yourself with your schools procedures. If you are applying early decision to a college, this is important. Although you can't fill out the FAFSA until January of your senior year, have you downloaded a copy to familiarize yourself with it? Have you put the dates for college fairs that are being held locally or regionally on your calendar? Have you planned to take the SAT or ACT in the early fall? Although school hasn't started yet, you can't afford to wait for a couple of weeks to get started on some of these things. The first month goes by so quickly and deadlines creep up very quickly. This is especially true if you are applying to college Early Decision. Most colleges have early November as a deadline. The only way to make these deadlines is to be prepared before school starts. Remember, you are not the only person requesting transcripts and teacher recommendations. Depending on each teacher and the school, these requests can be delayed by a couple of weeks; you need to make sure that those delays don't hurt you. Have you reviewed your academic program with your counselor to make sure you are taking the most challenging course load you can handle? Too many kids I meet have never done this, assuming that the guidance counselor has made that determination. If you feel that the guidance counselor is not helping, ask your parents to come with you to speak to them.

The Virginia Tech Tragedy: A Wake up Call to Every Parent’s Nightmare

Just recently, the news announced Virginia Tech’s plans to reopen the dorm and academic building where 32 young men and women, students and faculty were gunned downed by a student. Although the dorm will continue to house residential students, the university announced that classes no longer would be held in the other building.

While avoiding the scene of so much loss for students makes sense, we can’t help but be reminded of that tragic day in April of 2007. That day, we were all touched by this tragedy. Every parent and student could relate to the sheer terror of the events that unfolded. Even for those adults who didn’t have kids, the shock and sadness was just as painful as was the demand for increased security measures on school and college campuses across the country. "It could have been me, my child, my spouse, relatives, co workers, or neighbors that went to work or class that day and never returned."

So, months later there are still many parents who worry about the safety of their children in schools and universities across the nation. Whether we are sending our young ones off to the local public school or driving our freshman to college for the first time, we can’t help but worry that something might happen that prevents them from coming back home. We expect and accept that we live in a violent world. We see it in the media and believe that violence occurs elsewhere: Iraq, Sudan, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and Israel but not here. We are aware of the gang violence and drive by shootings that plague neighborhoods in Los Angeles, New York, Detroit and Newark. But, we don’t expect it to happen in suburban, upper class communities or on elite college campuses. While urban schools and colleges have had to assure parents that their students were safe by putting in place security measures, that included campus police, metal detectors, random locker searches, and locked dorms, schools in suburban and rural areas were slower to respond. After all, the common notion is that violence is bred by poverty and over crowded conditions and unlikely to prevail outside of those communities. So it came to us as a shock when we started seeing a number of violent shooting incidents occurring in rural and suburban communities across the country.

The safety and security of our children has become a source of anxiety shared by parents across the nation. As the Baby Boomer generation, we place a high priority on this. We were the children growing up in the 50’s and 60’s practicing duck and cover drills in the face of an escalating cold war. We grew up in a post war age where nuclear deterrence was the main strategy for preventing war. We watched Leave it to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet and Father Knows Best: Idyllic nuclear families with few problems that couldn't be solved within a 30 minute sitcom. By the time the Brady Bunch came along, we knew that blended families were cool and divorce was a rarity. As parents, we made sure we read Dr Spock, signed up for Lamaze classes, and rejected baby formula, opting to breast feed our babies instead. We changed our diets, quit smoking and limited our alcohol consumption to ensure a healthy baby. And once the child was born, we spared no expense hiring a whole slew of nannies, tutors, babysitters and coaches to help us protect and nurture our children. We give them beepers and cell phones so that we can stay in contact and spend years chauffeuring them around from dance classes to piano lessons to soccer practice. We make sure they go to the best schools, often taking on the burden of huge real estate taxes to live in communities that we believe offer better and safer schools. We monitor their music, TV watching and computer use. We screen their friends. And in spite of all of our efforts, they are still at risk for drug abuse, alcoholism, STD’s and death by violence.

How does a parent handle this? Obviously, home schooling your child through graduate school is not an option and we can’t control every situation our kids will find themselves in. It would be so easy if we could identify and eliminate all the "bad" situations, "negative influences" and "dangerous" people in their life. But we can’t. While some murderers "look" like "scary people", most don’t. While millions of Americans suffer from mental illness, only a handful ever acts out violently. So how do we deal with the increasingly dangerous world that our children will have to live in?

I think we start by allowing our kids to learn about the real world. Sheltering them from all the bad stuff just makes them naïve and more curious. Our notions of what is safe and unsafe need to change. While most of us would agree that home is a safe place, there are thousands of men, women and children who would disagree. Domestic violence, sexual and physical abuse are unfortunate realities for many. As parents, we can try to make our homes safe by looking at the environment we create. Is there supervision? Is there structure and routine? Are there adult figures one can rely upon? Does the child feel safe in the community they live in: Safe from bullies and abusers, safe from gang violence? Does the community have trust for the police and criminal justice system, believing that their rights will be protected and they will be treated fairly? Are their adults in your child’s lives who are supportive and positive role models? As your child gets older, are the lines of communication kept open so that they are allowed to grow and become independent while benefiting from parental guidance and expectations. Has that child been taught how to make decisions for him/herself and how to be their own person?

As your young adult prepares to leave home how prepared are they to live on their own? Whether they live in a college dorm or rent an apartment have you discussed and shared with them your concerns around security? We often assume that colleges or chaperones will provide the necessary supervision and guidance but we know that the average young adult will make choices that can place them in danger. It wasn’t that long ago that we all anguished over the outcome of a young student who went on vacation out of the country. Why do we allow our young people to travel and naively believe that they are safe in situations that you or I would feel nervous about? A young woman, out drinking with her friends who then goes off with a stranger…in what situation would that not be scary?

We can call for better mental health screening, question confidentiality policies that serve to keep parents uninformed about their adult child’s mental status. We can tighten up gun registration laws and enhance campus security, but we owe it to our children to help them to be less cavalier about their life and the choices they make. When we rush to fix a problem, bail them out of a bad situation or shelter them from real life consequences, we do them a disservice.

As your child starts back to school this fall or heads off for college or jumps on a bus rushing off to camp, think about what else you could do to help them be safe in a world that is fast becoming a scary place. The world we grew up in was very different from the one our children live in.

I agonized over the loss of so many young lives on that day in April. I also am saddened when any young life is needlessly snuffed out by the whims of another. I can only imagine the loss and pain of losing one’s child. As a parent, I still whisper a prayer when my adult kids are traveling, or driving late at night. My instinct is to want to hold on to them and keep them safe. And while that might lessen my anxiety, it wouldn’t in fact make them any safer or prepare them to live out in the world. As parents, the tougher job we face is figuring out how we can toughen them up; Make them resilient and able to adapt to a changing world. We made those changes in our lifestyle and parenting when they were young for a reason: Not to protect as much as to prepare our kids for a future that while of our making, will also reflect the choices and values of their generation.